Here are my comments to the Maryland State Board of Ed: Good Afternoon. My name is Melissa Schober. I'm the parent of an 11th grader in Baltimore City and former Disability Rights appointee to the Parent and Community Advisory Board. On April 24, the Maryland State Board of Education 1/12 - ThreadSky

melissaschober.bsky.social • 2 days ago

Here are my comments to the Maryland State Board of Ed: Good Afternoon. My name is Melissa Schober. I'm the parent of an 11th grader in Baltimore City and former Disability Rights appointee to the Parent and Community Advisory Board.

On April 24, the Maryland State Board of Education 1/12

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melissaschober.bsky.social•2 days ago

Issued a letter reaffirming its commitment to complying with Title VI and other federal laws. In a separate statement, Drs. Wright and Michael pledged transparency in ensuring that all students have access to high quality education, noting that doing so is a moral calling and that Maryland law 2/12

melissaschober.bsky.social•2 days ago

Gives us this charge.

Although Drs. Wright and Michael named race, ethnicity, gender, neighborhood, disability, socioeconomic status, and language spoke at home as protected they failed to include sexual orientation and gender identity, each protected by MD Ed Code 26-704. 3/12

melissaschober.bsky.social•2 days ago

Given the commitment to transparency, I respectfully request that Drs Wright and Michael explain why these two groups were not included in the list of student characteristics afforded protection under the law. As the parent of a trans kid, I am all too aware that is precisely this group 4/12

melissaschober.bsky.social•2 days ago

Of young people who are under threat, and as such their omission from the statement was both notable and alarming.

The statement is separate from the letter to the US Department of Education certifying compliance. Why is there distance between the statement and the letter when other states 5/12

melissaschober.bsky.social•2 days ago

Are making explicit their moral and legal duties? For example, Oregon responded to the federal government writing, "There is no circumstance where it is okay to leverage children's resources as a political tool...We are standing up for the rights of all Oregonians and will continue to promote 6/12

melissaschober.bsky.social•2 days ago

Diversity in our schools because we recognize it enhances learning outcomes for all students."

In 2021, this body adopted a model policy on bullying so it should recognize "unwanted, demeaning behavior that involves a real or power imbalance." 7/12

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