The school-to-prison pipeline begins with zero tolerance policies.
It ends with keeping kids in school.
Long-term goals:
A system focused on restorative justice. Quality-assured student behavioral plans. 360-support for students who need it most.
Safety Valve Project is a non-profit focused on providing legal assistance to students facing expulsion or other severe punishments. Such harsh punishments are proven to lead to much more detrimental outcomes down the road, giving rise to the “school-to-prison pipeline.” We are working towards the long-term goals listed above by spreading awareness of our services, providing services, and soliciting assistance of attorneys and attorney-hopefuls with similar passions. We want to create a safety valve in the pipeline.
Short-term goals:
Providing legal defense and social support to students facing long-term punishments.
Founded by a team of passionate attorneys and teachers, we hope to be a value-centric, transparent organization with big goals attained through initially simple means: defending students from life-altering punishments. Through this process, which often requires addressing issues with IEPs, 504 plans, RTI goals, staffing and funding for school systems, and even misinterpretation of the Georgia statutory code, we hope to uncover and put a spotlight on a number of structural, systemic issues.
Harsh punitive measures in schools are short-term fixes with long-term repercussions.
Where do you fit in?
If you are a student (parent/guardian) seeking help…
You have the right to seek legal help. Reach out. We will see what we can do to provide support. As a growing organization, our toolkit will vary depending on the case.
If you are an attorney (or law-student) hoping to help…
We would love your help. Contact us to see where you fit in. From conducting interviews, to reviewing footage, to completing research, there is work to be done.
If you agree with our mission but don’t know where you fit into the picture…
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You can also donate to support SVP’s goal of keeping kids in schools. Your donation will help:
- Support students facing expulsion and other critical, life-altering outcomes
- Power our mission to dismantle the School-to-Prison Pipeline through legal representation
- Help change Georgia's zero tolerance policies by keeping kids IN school!