Your guide to NYC's public proceedings.
AGENCY TESTIMONY
Safety, wellness, and support for immigrant and LGBTQ+ students
0:19:52
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Chancellor Aviles-Ramos outlines various programs and initiatives aimed at ensuring safety and wellness in schools, with a particular focus on supporting immigrant and LGBTQ+ students.
- Highlights programs such as Project Pivot, mindfulness work, and school-based mental health clinics
- Emphasizes the commitment to protecting the rights of all students, regardless of immigration status or identity
- Mentions specific initiatives like Respect for All Week and updated guidelines on gender inclusion
- Reports a 44% decrease in religious bias incidents in schools compared to the previous year
Melissa Aviles-Ramos
0:19:52
We have a wide range of programs to meet this commitment including our violence prevention program, Project Pivot, our mindfulness work in classrooms, our social workers and school counselors, our partnerships with community based organizations, our school based mental health clinics, and we are adding 20 more this year, and our expansion of community schools.
0:20:13
We are also making sure to reaffirm both our values and our commitment to supporting all students and families.
0:20:20
We've sent out communications to families about our supports for immigrant students and LGBTQ plus students, and we have reaffirmed our values to staff, encouraging them to continue their excellent work in our classrooms.
0:20:32
We have reiterated and will continue to reiterate none of our policies have changed.
0:20:40
New York City Public Schools remains committed to protecting the right of every student to attend public school, regardless of immigration status, national origin, religion, or any aspect of their identity.
0:20:52
We have also led extensive training sessions for principals, school counselors, safety agents, and more on our long standing protocols for access to our buildings.
0:21:03
Additionally, we remain steadfast in our support for LGBTQ plus students.
0:21:08
And in 2021, as just one example, we updated our guidelines on gender inclusion to enshrine this support and policy.
0:21:17
We recently held respect for all week and are currently celebrating civics week, both annual events that help us achieve our mission of building graduates with bold futures.
0:21:28
We also continue to promote safety and civil discourse through our meeting the moment initiative.
0:21:32
I'm proud to share that religious bias incidents in schools are down approximately 44% since this time last year.