The Anti-Racist Education Alliance, Inc. Calls for Restorative Supports in Wake of Long Reach High School Incident

Columbia, MD- On April 28, there was an altercation involving two students at Long Reach High School. The altercation left a student seriously injured. Our thoughts are with the family of the student, and the greater Long Reach Community as they work through this trauma. We are hoping for a full recovery for that child.

We know that behaviors like these communicate a need not being met.

This incident further underscores the Anti-Racist Education Alliance, Inc.’s (AREA) call for a restorative culture in Maryland schools. It is time that the Howard County Public School System specifically, and school systems in Maryland broadly, begin to increase funding for mental health services, restorative justice, and social emotional learning. 

We call upon the school system to fund an increase in the hiring of school counselors and school psychologists at the recommended levels. According to the National Association of School Psychologists, there should be one school psychologist for every 500 students. Moreover, according to the American School Counselors Association, it is recommended that there be 1 school counselor for every 250 students. Though it is promising to see that the Howard County Public School System, in conjunction with the Howard County government, has committed $2.1 million to expand school based mental health initiatives for the next two years for our students, we ask for a long term sustainable solution to the mental health crisis in our schools.  

Furthermore, we call upon the school system to provide Restorative Justice Coordinators in each school to help students work through conflict, restore relationships, and help repair harm. The Restorative Justice coordinator at each of Howard County’s 77 schools will be responsible for:

• Implementation of school wide restorative justice programming,
• Providing coaching and support to school staff in implementing restorative justice programming.
• Helping to mitigate the disproportionate number of suspensions and expulsions levied against Black and Brown students, and students with disabilities.

These positions are long overdue in the continuing work to create an equitable, inclusive, and safe school environment where Black, Brown, and students of color can thrive.

Additionally, we call upon the school system to center the social emotional well being of students over state mandated test driven curriculum. Culturally responsive teaching practices has taught us that students cannot take risks and develop a growth mindset if they are consistently in a state of heightened anxiety, and feeling as though they do not belong. Now is the time to double down on social emotional learning in classrooms with daily community circles and check ins, and not to pull away.

Moving Forward Together,

The Anti-Racist Education Alliance, Inc. Board of Directors

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