School to Prison Pipeline Interviewing and Education Project with Texas Appleseed

Students will interview greater Austin middle and high school students and their parents, as well as administer a written survey, regarding students’ experiences with school district discipline systems. The goal of this project is to document students’ experiences with school discipline systems in order to better understand and remedy the reality of the school to prison pipeline. Texas Appleseed will use the collected information to develop advocacy and litigation strategies to combat the over-criminalization of minority youth.

Organization

Texas Appleseed

Texas Appleseed is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that works for justice for underrepresented Texans. Texas Appleseed’s School to Prison Pipeline Project is working to dismantle the school-to-prison pipeline and keep children in school and on track to graduate.

Project Details

Project Start Date

November 2015

Approximate hours of work requested
3 hours, including training session; students may have the opportunity to conduct additional interviews with a commitment of approximately 1 hour per interview
Training
A 1.5 hour training will be held Friday, November 6, 2pm-3:30pm in TNH 2.123
Skills used
Client communication/interviewing
Project location
Location selected by student interview team and subject; limited follow-up work on campus or location of students’ choice
Address
1609 Shoal Creek, Suite 201, Austin, TX 78701
Number of student volunteers requested
6
Class year preference
1L, 2L, 3L, LLM
Required skills
Experience working with kids a plus but not required
To Apply
Submit email stating interest to Sarah Sedgwick at ssedgwick@law.utexas.edu; to complete your application you'll be asked to fill out a doodle poll with your availability during the project time period, including weekdays you are available after 4pm and weekends; students who are members of Texas Law minority affinity groups (TMLS, CHLSA, etc.) are encouraged to apply