About The Safe Schools Project
Mission Statement:
The mission of the Safe Schools Project of Santa Cruz County is to partner with youth, schools, and school districts to create and maintain safe, inclusive, and affirming schools for all LGBTQIA2S+ students, staff, and allies.
The Safe Schools Project of Santa Cruz County (SSP) works in collaboration with local schools and local and state-wide community organizations to provide support, professional development and learning, and resources for school administrators, teachers, counselors and support staff to ensure LGBTQIA2S+ youth feel safe at school and their rights are respected.
Objectives:
- Raise awareness of the laws and education codes that protect LGBTQIA2S+ students.
- Work with school administrators and staff to implement best practices for supporting LGBTQIA2S+ students.
What We Do:
- Directly support LGBTQIA2S+ youth and their families to ensure they have a safe and supportive school environment
- Provide professional development and learning opportunities for teachers, school staff, administrators, and organizations that work with youth
- Provide curriculum guides with standards-aligned lesson plans for teaching FAIR Act-compliant LGBTQ+ history and California Healthy Youth Act-compliant comprehensive sexual health education
- Host a free annual conference with workshops and activities for elementary school students and their families, middle and high school students, and parents, teachers, and adult allies.
- Maintain an active list of regional LGBTQIA2S+ student clubs and contact information for their advisors.
- Provide support and community for regional LGBTQIA2S+ student club advisors.
- Provide support and community for school and community sexual health educators.
- Speak on panels and work with local schools, nonprofits, colleges and universities to provide insight and guidance on best practices for supporting LGBTQIA2S+ students.
- And more!
Goals:
The overall goal of SSP is for every LGBTQIA2S+ student, parent, guardian, and school staff member in the K-12 system within Santa Cruz County to know their rights, be free from bullying or harassment, and feel safe on every school campus.
Overview:
Under the California Student Safety and Violence Prevention Act of 2000 (AB 537 / Ed Code 220), all California public schools have a duty to protect students from discrimination and/or harassment on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. Many studies and reports have shown that when students are empowered with the knowledge of their rights and those rights are enforced, schools are safer for ALL students. Subsequent legislation has been passed to protect and support LGBTQ+ youth. To learn more about the California state laws and education codes that protect LGBTQ+ youth, visit K-12 California LGBTQ+ Education Protection Information for Parents, Students, and Educators
Contact:
Ron Indra, Director, Safe Schools Project
(831) 566-7931 or email.
Safe Schools Project
P.O. Box 3143
Santa Cruz, CA 95063
The Safe Schools Project is a program of the Queer Youth Task Force of Santa Cruz County (QYTF), a fiscal agent of The Diversity Center. See our services and publications that can support your district and schools.