All students are safe and welcome in Atlanta Public Schools!

At the January 9, 2017 board meeting, the Atlanta Board of Education adopted a resolution expressly stating that all students are safe and welcome in Atlanta Public Schools.

Read the English resolution below, or select your language of choice:

Resolution

Atlanta   Georgia

January 9, 2017

RESOLUTION EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION

THAT ALL STUDENTS ARE SAFE AND WELCOME IN THE ATLANTA

PUBLIC SCHOOLS

(FINAL ADOPTION)

WHEREAS, The Atlanta Board of Education (ABOE) understands that a

                 commitment to diversity, in every form, is a bedrock value of this

                 public school district and the entire Atlanta community; and,

WHEREAS, the Atlanta Public School system was proud to peacefully desegregate

                over fifty years ago, and has maintained a focus on educating every

                child in Atlanta since that time; and,

WHEREAS, the city of Atlanta and its residents hold an important historical role in

                the global fight for social justice, human rights and civil rights; and,

WHEREAS, equity is a core value held by this Board and this District; and,

WHEREAS, the core mission of Atlanta Public Schools is to ensure that with a

                caring culture of trust and collaboration, every student will graduate

                ready for college and career; and,

WHEREAS, every child residing in the United States of America has the right to live

                in a safe and secure community, free from threat, harm or

                intimidation; and,

WHEREAS, in accordance with Board Policy JAA, Equal Educational Opportunities,

                the ABOE believes that all students are entitled to equal educational

                opportunities regardless of their race, color, religion, sex, citizenship,

                ethnic or national origin, age, disability, medical status, military status,

                veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or

                expression, genetic information, ancestry, or any legally protected

                status; and,

WHEREAS, Board policy further states that no student shall be subjected to

                discrimination or harassment because of the student’s race, color,

                religion, sex, citizenship, ethnic or national origin, age, disability,

                medical status, military status, veteran status, marital status, sexual

                orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information,

                ancestry, or any legally protected status; and,

WHEREAS, a free, adequate, public education is a right owed to every schoolaged

                child in America, regardless of their, or their family’s,

                immigration status; and,

WHEREAS, any resident in the state of Georgia who has attained the age of six

                years and is under the age of twenty-one years is entitled to attend

                public school in the school district where he or she is a resident; and,

WHEREAS, key to a quality education is an education in citizenship, democratic

                values and fairness; and,

WHEREAS, in order to ensure our students are prepared to compete in a global

                economy and workforce, the ABOE is committed to fostering diversity

                within our schools; and,

WHEREAS, recent political events across America have stirred up worry and fear

                among certain populations within Atlanta, including immigrant

                communities. Now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the Atlanta Board of Education publicly declares its unwavering

                 commitment to establishing Atlanta Public Schools as a safe, secure

                 and welcoming space for all of its students, and, be it further

RESOLVED, That the Atlanta Public Schools will continue to educate and serve all

                 eligible students without regard to their immigration status.

                                                                                  ___________________________

                                                                                  Courtney D. English, Board Chair

Attest

_______________________________

Wayne Martin

Board Executive Administrator