Political & Advocacy
Please note: Membership in this organization is open to graduate students in the fields of law, social work, education, and public policy only.The Student Rights Project (SRP) is an interdisciplinary project of law, social work, education, and public policy graduate students from the University of Michigan. SRP was founded in 2013 in response to the tremendous need for free, high-quality representation and support for students facing suspension and expulsion hearings in southeast Michigan. In all of our activities, SRP seeks to keep students in school, learning, and out of the criminal justice system. Members of our organization become talented interviewers and oral advocates. They also develop zeal and cultural humility.In addition to advocating for students in disciplinary hearings, SRP advocates also:support community outreach and youth development work;lobby for youth-centered and restorative school discipline policies and laws;provide targeted special education support for students facing disciplinary exclusion due to disability related behaviors;engage in non-hearing advocacy in disciplinary matters;host and attend events designed to educate the university and larger community about the school-to-prison pipeline in Michigan and best practices to oppose it; andchallenge institutional threats to educational opportunities for children.A centerpiece of SRP is its interdisciplinary advocacy, combining the strengths of education, social work, public policy, and law in order to promote positive outcomes for Michigan’s youth. Our advocates are valued for their contributions to student advocacy, whether that be training in client interviewing, statutory research, or helping families access community resources. For this reason, each hearing advocacy is comprised of students from each discipline, insofar as possible.Since our founding, SRP has partnered with the Student Advocacy Center of Michigan (SAC) in the shared drive to end the school-to-prison pipeline in the state. SAC is a nonprofit educational advocacy organization headquartered in Ypsilanti, Michigan. SRP receives its referrals through SAC’s intake process, and our case advocacy is supervised by an SAC attorney. Each organization supports the other in their collective youth justice efforts.
General members :
Members :
###
/ Board members :
/ Board :
###
Roles :
Preferred Skills :
