In New York City, our schools are some of the most segregated in the nation. How is this still possible more than six decades after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Brown vs Board of Education?

Schools By Us For Us

Ever since mayoral control started in 2002, Mayors have continuously shut out and dismissed the opinions of those most impacted by education inequity — public school students. Adults typically assume that low youth participation on advisory panels and boards is due to a lack of interest, when in fact, it's due to exhaustion with being treated like a token.

Reasonable accommodations and accessibility are not considered for meaningful participation.  In addition these spaces often have little protection, from bias and harassment, which courageous youth have experienced time and time again. What we find most disappointing is that at the highest level little has been done to enact ideas offered by the Chancellor's Student Advisory Group, nor do any of the students who sit on the Panel for Educational Policy have any voting power. High School Students work and pay taxes on their income and are affected daily by the decisions of officials appointed by the Mayor for the rest of their lives. We deserve to have a vote.

Instead many of us  join advocacy groups, and take time from homework studying,  to protest and make demands to the Mayor and Chancellor who have shown that youth opinion has no value.  It was our protest that created the DOE’s office of Student Voice, which to this day is  staffed by one adult for over 1 million students. There is no investment in students having self determination over their own schools, and future.

It’s time to give us back our schools. We want schools for us, by us.

  1. Increased Youth Leadership: 5R and Youth Power supporter students sit on Community Education Council and the Panel for Education Policy

  2. Students on CEC and Panel for Educational Policy have voting power. Increase student representation on Panel for Educational Policy to 4 seats

Spring 2021


#
F
theTest

Standardized testing creates stressful and overly competitive learning environments that
harm
students’ growth as learners and people.

High stakes testing is
racist
.

Ever since they were created, standardized high stakes tests have largely favored and been beneficial to white students and families who had access to better resources and educational support. While some students were being advantaged by standardized testing, it has caused other students to be actively prevented from getting the opportunities and education they deserve due to their race, financial status, ability, home language, and other identities.

Every year it perpetuates discrimination against already marginalized groups in society. As it has in so many ways, COVID-19 exacerbates these problems and makes the impacts of standardized testing harm students of color at an even larger scale than before.

It has always been inhumane to administer a test that caused harm for disadvantaged students, and this is even more true in the middle of a global pandemic.

In partnership with NYC Opt Out, we call on The Board of Regents to cancel Spring 2021 Regents for all high school students and New York State to halt the Spring 2021 3rd-8th grade state tests.

Signatory organizations

Summer 2020


End Discriminatory Admissions Screens

New York City has the most competitive admission screening process in the country. While the high school admissions process is called “open choice,” the choices students have are dictated by factors like zip code, grades, number of suspensions and arrests, and if a student is able to attend an in-person interview.

This process does not offer an accurate measure of a student’s potential. Instead, it has created a school system that privileges wealth, whiteness, and access. In honor of the 66th anniversary of Brown vs Board of Education, more than 50 organizations and 200 community leaders have already joined us and a coalition of integration advocates in calling for the end to discriminatory admissions screens that perpetuate segregation.

We are calling on Mayor Bill de Blasio, Chancellor Richard Carranza, and the NYC DOE to eliminate all exclusionary public school admissions "screens”.

Summer 2020


Segregation is Killing Us

Contrary to popular belief, COVID-19 is no great equalizer. In New York City, the damaging effects of the virus mirrors the destruction left by generations of segregated communities and schools.

In response to the deep impacts of COVID-19 on our community, we developed the Admissions Impact Score with the help of Territorial Empathy. This policy tool proposes a data-driven method of prioritizing youth in the hardest hit communities. Our goal is to end cyclical racism, which is deeply embedded in the NYC admissions system.

The Admissions Impact Score accounts for key variables:

  • Neighborhood-level COVID-19 deaths

  • Lack of insurance

  • Linguistic isolation

  • Poverty

  • Multigenerational housing

  • Lack of computer access for online learning

In addition, individual student circumstances are taken into consideration, so factors like being a multilingual learner or in temporary housing. These come together to determine a student’s application priority.

The report, Segregation is Killing Us, examines the data that links COVID-19, Redlining, and school segregation. The report also outlines our solution.

Spring 2019


Retire Segregation

On May 17, 2019, the 65th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education, we demand we #RetireSegregation.

Pictures of students with #RetireSegregation on the bottom of image students from left to right Coco, Jace, Aneth, Benji, Devaun, Leanne, Veronica, Joaquin, Obrian, Kadija and Eliza

Ahead of the 65th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education, we compiled our policies and 5R framework into an eye-catching, newspaper-style zine titled The News. It was inspired by a photograph taken on the eve of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling, The News includes games, photographs, student testimonials, quotes, and more. Our goal was to create a document as informative as it is engaging and symbolic.

On May 17, 2019 it came down to five boroughs, five teams, and one goal: to flood NYC with a total of 25,000 copies of The News.

Students from all boroughs helped distribute the paper in trains, streets, residential buildings, you name it. That day, it would have been impossible not to see someone with a copy on your commute home.

Once we had distributed enough copies, we came together at Times Square to throw a retirement party for segregation. After all, 65 years sounds like retirement age. That evening, as young people from across the five boroughs enjoyed cupcakes, loud music, and spirited chants, Times Square was more vibrant than usual.

People from all over the world came to the commercial mecca of NYC to glare at the big screens but left with a fresh perspective on the fight for educational equity.

Image 1_ Person is wearing a bright orange shirt with a newspaper print on the front, standing with papers ready to be handed out. The shirt coordinates with the flyers they are handing out stating, 65 years later retire segregation.jpg
Image 2_ Integrate member is handing a flyer and explaining the message of segregation in NYC to another person. Integrate member is wearing a bright orange shirt, the other person is wearing dark tones. The o.jpg
Image 3_ Integrate member is handing out a flyer stating, _65 years later retire segregation_, on the front to another person in front of a subway station.jpg
Image 4_ A box of flyers stating, _65 years later retire segregation_ with a photo of an adult and child sitting outside a court house..jpg
Image 5_ Integrate member is holding a stack of flyers while handing one out to another person in front of the subway station. Integrate member is wearing a bright orange shirt and the other person is dressed in dark tones.jpg
Image 7_ Integrate member is explaining the flyer and the program to another person on the sidewalk. Integrate member is wearing a bright orange shirt and the other person appears to be dressed in traditional middle eastern clothing.jpg
Image 8_ Integrate member is waving flyers and trying to catch the attention of people who are walking out of a train station. Member is wearing a bright orange shirt with black legging and white converse..jpg
Image 9_ Two Integrate members are holding stack of flyers while talking to another person about racial inequality. Members are wearing bright orange shirts and the other person is wearing a light green jacket. .jpg
Image 10_ Integrate member is handing a flyer out while explaining modern segregation to a interested man. Member is wearing a bright orange shirt with light gray jeans and the man is wearing a black jacket with grey sweatpants.jpg
Image 14_ Integrate member is standing in front of a camera for her picture to be taken. She is wearing a bright orange shirt with a neon yellow sweater tied around her waist and black leggings. .jpg
Image 18_ A group of IntegrateNYC students, directors, and adult coaches are pictured wearing bright orange tees are shown with holding their fists in the air and newspapers title _Retire Segregation_.jpg
Image 19_ A IntegrateNYC student wearing a bright orange tee is showing a man the _Retire Segregation_ newspaper and explaining it.jpg
Image 20_ An IntegrateNYC team member in a bright tee is pictured showing an elderly lady the _Retire Segregation_ newspaper. Other IntegrateNYC team members in bright orange tees are pictured in the background.jpg
Image 21_ An IntegrateNYC team member is pictured wearing a bright orange tee labeled _Retire Segregation_ poses for a picture_.jpg
Image 22_ A group of IntegrateNYC students pictured wearing bright orange tees are giving the _Retire Segregation_ newspaper to a lady.jpg
Image 23_ A black and white picture shows an IntegrateNYC team member wearing a shirt labeled _Retire Segregation_ holding up a newspaper with the same saying _Retire Segregation_ at a NYC Subway Station_.jpg
Image 24_ An integrateNYC team member wearing a bright orange tee is pictured handing out the _Retire Segregation_ to a person in a NYC subway station.jpg
Image 25_ An IntegrateNYC team member in a bright orange tee is pictured giving a _Retire Segregation_ newspaper to a person in a NYC subway station.jpg
Image 26_ Three IntegrateNYC team members are pictured wearing bright orange tees and holding up the newspaper labeled _Retire Segregation_ at a NYC subway station.jpg
Image 27_ A IntegrateNYC team member wearing a bright orange tee labeled _Retire Segregation_ is holding the _Retire Segregation_ newspaper and posing with a peace sign at a NYC subway station_.jpg
Image 28_ An IntegrateNYC team member wearing a bright orange tee is pictured holding up the _Retire Segregation_ newspaper. Other team members wearing the same bright orange tee are pictured in the background.jpg
Image 29_ An IntegrateNYC student wearing a bright neon tee is pictured giving a _Retire Segregation_ newspaper to a MTA driver.jpg
Image 30_ A large group of IntegrateNYC team members (15) are pictured in neon orange tees and holding up the _Retire Segregation_ newspaper.jpg
Image 31_ A large group of IntegrateNYC team members (15) are pictured in neon orange tees and holding up the _Retire Segregation_ newspaper.jpg
Image 32_ A large group of IntegrateNYC team members wearing bright orange tees are pictured reading the _Retire Segregation_ newspaper.jpg
Image 33_ A large group of IntegrateNYC team members wearing bright orange tees are pictured reading the _Retire Segregation_ newspaper_.jpg
Image 34_ A group of IntegrateNYC students wearing bright orange tees labeled _Retire Segregation_ are pictured holding up the _Retire Segregation_ newspaper. One student is talking into a mic and the other students around him are pictured smiling.jpg
Image 37_ The picture focuses on a Integrate NYC member smiling while holding newspapers. He is looking off to the right and has a few people around him also wearing the program_s neon orange shirts.jpg
Image 39_ This is a photo of the outside of a school. 4 IntegrateNYC members are entering the school through a light blue bridge. The door is painted with art and a sign above it says the name of the school _National blue ribbon school of excellence__.jpg
Image 40_ An IntegrateNYC member wearing the program_s neon orange shirt and is surrounded by people. She is looking at a woman- probably listening to what she is saying while holding all the newspapers.jpg
Image 41_ Outside of a school is a crowd of people and Integrate NYC members are giving out the programs_ newspapers. A man is approaching a member with a smile and the member is smiling right back_.jpg
Image 42_ 3 IntegrateNYC members are holding up the program_s newspaper which has the headline of _65 YEARS LATER RETIRE SEGREGATION_. All girls are smiling at the camera_.jpg
Image 44_ A group of IntegrateNYC members are in front of the Times Square red stairs and are surrounded by crowds of people. They hold up two signs with the IntegrateNYC logo and a sign that says _It_s time to #RETIRE segregation_.jpg
Image 45_ A group of IntegrateNYC members are in front of the Times Square red stairs and are surrounded by crowds of people. They hold up two signs with the IntegrateNYC logo and a red sign that says _THE BRONX_.jpg
Image 48_ An IntegrateNYC member standing on the red steps in Times Square surrounded by a large amount of people is holding up a newspaper that says _Retire Segregation_ while speaking into a megaphone_.jpg
Image 49_ IntegrateNYC members are grouped up in Manhattan wearing bright pink and orange shirts while 2 members are greeting each other with 1 member holding a phone and camera and the other holding newspapers_.jpg
Image 51_ A student wearing a bright pink shirt that says _Retire segregation_ in Times Square is holding up a sign that says _It_s time to #RETIRE segregation_ while surrounded by other people wearing the same shirt in orange or pink_.jpg
Image 53_ Emma Rehac, centered in the picture is in a neon blue _Retire Segregation_ t-shirt and is holding IntegrateNYC_s #Retire Segregation campaign newspaper with a sign behind her that reads _65 years is enough_.jpg
Image 54_ Two youth standing side by side reading the inside pages of IntegrateNYC_s Retire Segregation campaign newspaper.jpg
Image 55_ The same two youth from image #54, now facing the camera and smiling, holding the #Retire Segregation newspapers closed in front of them.jpg
Image 61_ Little boy in a dinosaur fossil t-shirt is facing the camera and holding an IntegrateNYC #Retire Segregation newspaper.jpg
Image 62_ A group of youth int the forefront of the image wearing neon pink shirts and displaying the #Retire Segregation campaign newspapers to the camera. There are a few youth in the background walking wearing neon green shirts.jpg
Image 64_ A drummer from ____ drumming on the red steps of Times Square in front of a group of cheering youth with signs.jpg
Image 65_ A woman in a neon pink _Retire Segregation_ t-shirt is handing out newspapers and other _Retire Segregation_ t-shirts in different colors to people joining the event.jpg
Image 67_ This picture is getting youth leader Josiah Ramesar_s left side profile as he_s speaking into a mini megaphone_.jpg
Image 68_ A youth in a neon green _Retire Segregation_ t-shirt is cheering and holding a camera with other youth in neon green behind her.jpg
Image 69_ Imxn wearing bright orange shirt holding a bright blue sign that says _It_s time to #retire segregation_ in front of a crowd of people.jpg
Image 70_ Imxn wearing a bright orange shirt holding a bright blue sign that says _It_s time to #retire segregation_ in front of a crowd of people.jpg
Image 71_ Student wearing a hijab and bright green shirt talking into a microphone in front of a crowd of people.jpg
Image 72_ Arms holding a iphone and recording a speaker and a crowd of people.jpg
Image 73_ Student with pink bright shirt is blurred and recording Person wearing a hijab and bright green shirt talking into a microphone.jpg
Image 74_ A crowd of people wearing integrate merchandise shirts, one person in the front is holding news paper, people behind are holding signs that read _it_s time to #retiresegregation_ and another person is holding a sign with an integrate symbol.jpg
Image 75_ Student wearing an orange shirt and a headscarf talking to a crowd of people while holding a mobile device.jpg
Image 76_ Benji wearing a pink bright show talking into a microphone in front of a crowd of people.jpg
Image 77_ Benji wearing a pink bright shirt talking over a microphone with mouth open to a crowd of people .jpg
Image 78_ Student with bright blue shirt talking over a microphone with a crowd of people behind them.jpg
Image 79_ A singer with a white shirt and white pants smiling with hand raise in front of a microphone and a crowd of people with white clothing as well. .jpg
Image 80_ Singer with white clothing is in front of a microphone with their mouth open and hands are up about to applaud. There is a crowd of people with white clothing in the background .jpg
Image 81_ Kadija wearing a bright orange shirt with overalls holding a phone while speaking into a microphone in front of a what looks like crowd of people.jpg
Image 82_ Kadija wearing a bright orange shirt with overalls holding a phone while speaking into a microphone in front of a crowd of people.jpg
Image 83_ Crowd of People holding up IntegrateNYC newspaper.jpg
Image 84_ Person with bright orange shirt and suit talking into a microphone in front of a crowd of people wearing bright shirts.jpg
Image 85_ Person wearing bright orange shirt with integrate pin, holding a mobile device at hand while speaking into a microphone in front of a crowd of people.jpg
Image 86_ Crowd of many students wearing different colored t shirts hold up many signs.jpg
Image 87_ Crowd of many students, two yellow signs seen first says queens seconds says it_s time to #Retire Segregation.jpg
Image 88_ Crowd of students hold up newspapers in times square students in back hold different signs.jpg
Image 89_ Crowd of students hold up newspapers in times square students in back hold different signs.jpg
Image 90_ Crowd of students hold up newspapers in times square students in back hold different signs.jpg
Image 92_ Performer wears white robe holds microphone many people behind clap and sing also wear white.jpg
Image 93_ Two students pose for camera crowd of many students behind them, student on left wears a suit holding integrate nyc’s logo and student on right holds retire segregation newspaper.jpg
Image 94_ Two students pose for camera student on left holds up newspaper student on right covers torso with red the bronx sign.jpg
Image 95_ Picture taken from lower angle, two students pose standing up wearing orange t shirts student on left holds newspaper student on right holds red the bronx sign at bottom right student wearing green t shirt holds up peace sign.jpg
Image 96_ Performer wears white robe sings into microphone many people behind clap and sing also wear white.jpg
Image 97_ Student wearing orange retire segregation t shirt with black jacket on top holds up red the bronx sign on right hand and newspaper on left hand, many students and people in background.jpg
Image 98_ Two students wearing suits pose and hold up retire segregation newspaper.jpg
Image 99_ Up close picture of student wearing orange t shirt speaking into microphone.jpg
Image 100_ Two students wearing bright green t-shirts that say _Retire Segregation_ wave their arms in Times Square. A third student wearing a bright orange shirt that says _Retire Segregation_ waves her hands as well.jpg
Image 101_ Four students wearing an orange, pink, orange, and green shirt with the words _Retire Segregation_ pose for a picture in Times Square.jpg
Image 102_ Four students wearing an orange, pink, orange, and green shirt with the words _Retire Segregation_ pose for a picture in Times Square.jpg.jpg
Image 103_ Four students wearing bright color shirts are reading through the pages of a newspapers that says _The News_ Retire Segregation_.jpg
Image 104_ Four students wearing bright color shirts pose for a picture in Times Square while holding up newspapers that say _The News_ Retire Segregation_.jpg
Image 105_ Four students wearing bright color shirts pose for a picture in Times Square while holding up newspapers that say _The News_ Retire Segregation_.jpg
Image 106_ Three students wearing a pink, orange, and green shirt with the words _Retire Segregation_ pose for a picture in Times Square.jpg.jpg
Image 107_ Three students wearing a pink, orange, and green shirt with the words _Retire Segregation_ pose for a picture in Times Square.jpg
Image 108_ A DJ with a black bucket hat and large headphones mixes music in Times Square.jpg
Image 109_ Two students posing for a close-up picture of them wearing bright t-shirts that say Retire Segregation_ while at Times Square.jpg
Image 110_ A sheet cake on an orange-blue-red tablecloth. The cake says _Happy Retirement_.jpg
Image 111_ A sheet cake on an orange-blue-red table cloth. The cake has the words _Happy Retirement_ glazed on top in reference to Retire Segregation.jpg
Image 112_ Zaps in Times Square wears a bright orange t-shirt and makes a funny facial expression while holding a sheet cake that says happy retirement in reference to Retire Segregation.jpg

Spring 2018


Still Not Equal

Most history textbooks will refer to 1954 as the year that school segregation was ended when Brown v Board of Education passed the verdict that segregated schools were inherently unequal.

And yet, it keeps on keeping on. Across the U.S., schools are more segregated than they were 40 years ago.

By May 17, 2019, the 65th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education, we the students demand:

Red background, student stands with one arm out, student's open hand is seen had one stripe of black paint across palm and a second stripe on fingers including thumb

Relationships

The city release money for schools to design curriculum for an ethnic studies electives in all high schools and pay teachers to do that work.

Red background, second student in blurred background stands with one arm out, student's open hand is seen had one stripe of black paint across palm and a second stripe on fingers including thumb

Race and Enrollment

That the DOE builds on IntegrateNYC’s algorithmic prototype and Teens Take Charge’s 3-Point Enrollment Equity Proposal to release a comprehensive plan that will racially, socioeconomically, and academically integrate public high schools. This plan must be created by a working group with meaningful student representation, alongside community leaders, educators, parents, and experts.

Red background, third student in blurred background stands with one arm out, student's open hand is seen had one stripe of black paint across palm and a second stripe on fingers including thumb

Resources

The DOE releases the first equity report, as outlined in the student Constitution for Real Integration, documenting resources available to students across the city.

The state releases a plan for providing $1.6 billion owed to public schools from the 2003 lawsuit Campaign for Fiscal Equity v. State of New York.

Red background, third student stands with one arm out, student's open hand is seen had one stripe of black paint across palm and a second stripe on fingers including thumb

Representation

The DOE names a group of educators, policymakers, and advocates like NYC Men Teach, and students to design a blueprint for a teaching fellowship that provides scholarships for NYC students to become educators who serve NYC public schools.

Red background, fifth student in blurred background stands with one arm out, student's open hand is seen had one stripe of black paint across palm and a second stripe on fingers including thumb

Restorative Justice

The DOE invites Center for Popular Democracy, Urban Youth Collaborative, Teachers Unite, and the Dignity in Schools Campaign to join the citywide and district level desegregation planning efforts so that their amazing work on restorative justice is included in desegregation planning.

Students and allies pose for a picture in front of city hall while holding a red banner that says hashtag still not equal and has two large handprints on it.
About a dozen students stand on the steps of city hall, raising their palms which have two black horizontal lines drawn on them.
Students stand on the steps of city hall, raising their palms which have two black horizontal lines drawn on them.
A student holds up her hand which has two black lines drawn horizontally on it. She is holding a small zine that has the IntegrateNYC logo on it.
Seven students and advocates link arms outside of city hall. All of them are wearing sun glasses and bright pink t-shirts with a black and white graphic about school segregation on them.
Dozens of students and adult allies sit in an auditorium posing for a picture with their left hands raised. They have two black horizontal lines drawn on their hands.

Fall 2017–2018


D15 Diversity Plans

District 15’s schools are among the most socio-economically and racially segregated schools in New York City.

The following text was adapted from the D15 Diversity Plan Final Report

In June 2017, the New York City Department of Education (DOE) shared Equity and Excellence for All: Diversity in New York City Public Schools, a citywide plan that stated the DOE’s commitment to making its schools more diverse. The plan set forth a citywide vision, but also recognized that, in a city as diverse as New York, it can be difficult to create a uniform policy that works well for each community.

Throughout this process, local engagement provided an opportunity to overcome the challenge of adapting a citywide policy to meet the unique needs of each community.

So in the fall of 2017, the DOE initiated a community planning and engagement process, The District 15 (D15) Diversity Plan, aimed at creating diverse, meaningfully integrated middle schools in a way that would meet the needs of the district.

The D15 Diversity Plan followed years of previous advocacy work led by local parents, school leaders, and elected officials. The Plan’s community-based process sought to build off these earlier efforts, to engage the larger D15 community in conversations on race, class, diversity, and integration, and to use community engagement to develop solutions reflective of the diverse needs of D15’s school community.

Through the guidance and leadership of a Working Group—comprised of school community members from across D15 including, IntegrateNYC students, parents, teachers, principals, administrators, community advocates and members of local community-based organizations—the D15 Diversity Plan evolved through four large public events, more than 80 stakeholder meetings including Spanish- and Mandarin- language meetings, a community-based survey and a website all in an effort to understand key concerns, gather feedback and develop recommendations. 

D15 MS Students

(6,016 Students) Source: NYC DOE, Grades 6–8, SY 17/18

D15 Suspensions

(218 Suspensions) Source: NYC DOE, District 15 Principal Suspensions, SY 2016–2017

The Working Group’s recommendations fell within two major themes: Integration and Inclusion.

Integration recommendations address the mechanisms necessary to create integrated school communities, such as school screens, admissions priorities, access to information, transit, and the need for transparency, coordination and ongoing monitoring.

Equally as important are the Inclusion recommendations which reflect the need to create and provide support for welcoming and inclusive school environments for all students by addressing issues related to restorative practices, resource inequity, students with special needs, and physical access.

Hebh Jamal from IntegrateNYC sits with other community members to discuss the plan at a public workshop..jpg

In the fall of 2018, Mayor Bill de Blasio and Chancellor Carranza approved the D15 Diversity Plan and launched a $2 million school diversity grant program for other school districts and communities across the City to develop their own community-driven diversity plans.

“We believe that our schools can reflect our whole city and we are proud to support and invest in the future of New Yorkers for generations to come. This isn’t going to be one size fits all. This is a ripe moment and this community built a powerful grassroots plan. Now, we have to execute and deliver on it to show parents across the city this approach can work,” said Mayor de Blasio.