Aaliyah Jackson*—a 15-year-old with special needs—was constantly bullied and harassed at school. Instead of getting to the root of the problem and ensuring Aaliyah had a safe place to learn, school officials began to blame her.

One day, a group of kids began bullying Aaliyah and she fought back. Instead of stopping the bullies, a school administrator put Aaliyah in a chokehold.  

Her brother Malik, a senior, stood up for Aaliyah. The school responded by suspending both for more than a month. School officials told Malik he’d be barred from graduation activities and might not be allowed to graduate at all. 

Children’s Law Center has worked with hundreds of kids like Malik and Aaliyah facing unnecessary, egregious suspensions. Help us keep children in the classroom with the support they need to learn safely.   

Aaliyah and Malik’s mother reached out to Children’s Law Center for help.

As a result of our advocacy, school officials reduced Malik’s suspension and created a plan for him to make up missed work and graduate on time. We developed a plan for Aaliyah’s safety when she returned to school and made sure she had more time with teachers who could support her needs.

Black and Brown students—especially those with special needs—are disproportionately suspended and expelled. In addition to direct advocacy for families, we’ve fought for city-wide solutions like increasing the number of behavioral health clinicians in schools and reducing the number of unfair suspensions. 

But kids are facing unprecedented challenges this school year, and we can’t do this work alone. Please make a first gift so that students like Aaliyah and Malik can feel safe in school and learn in 2023 and your gift will be matched dollar for dollar!** 

With gratitude, 

Judith Sandalow

Executive Director

P.S. If you are participating in Champions for Children, your gift will count towards your team’s campaign!





*Children’s Law Center works hard to protect our clients’ confidentiality. Names and some other identifying details have been modified. Learn more about Ms. Jackson and her fight for her children’s safety and education here. 

**Thanks to Children Can’t Wait Fund donors Diana and Stephen Goldberg, The Andrew & Julie Klingenstein Family Fund, and others, eligible gifts will be matched up to a combined $150,000 through 12/31/22.