Racial Justice for All Children Task Force
Our mission is to eradicate the childhood to school to prison pipeline
Please join us via zoom at 4:30 pm on the 3rd Tuesday of each month
Contact Task Force Chair for zoom link
To confirm current month meeting times, see the MOSES Calendar
Our Working Groups
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Our mission is to improve racial justice support for schools in Dane County
We are currently working to ensure that all our kids can read to learn by grade 4 by early literacy in general and the identification of kids with dyslexia, in particular.
Our Issues
Dyslexia Evaluation and Treatment
Dyslexia is a widespread neurological condition, which is undiagnosed for most students in Dane County’s public school districts.
We conduct extensive research, engage impacted families and school district personnel, and take other measures to pursue implementation of dyslexia evaluation for entering kindergarten students and treatment to assure appropriate education measures for all students with dyslexia according to evaluation results.
Eviction Records Retention Reduction
Wisconsin Supreme Court Rules formerly required a 20-year retention period for eviction records, which places a significant, long-term burden on families who need stable, affordable housing for the well-being of their children.
We successfully opposed this unreasonable and unjust rule and support a change to reduce the retention period for most cases.
Eviction Records Retention Reduction
Alternatives to Exclusionary Discipline in Schools
We support MMSD’s Restorative Justice (RJ) programming and participate in the Superintendent’s Wellness Advisory to assure a reduction in exclusionary discipline and to support a sense of belonging for all students.
Our People
History
Formation
RJAC was formed in July 2020 with a broad scope as noted in these Founding Principles.
To focus our initial efforts, we formed two working groups:
- Education Advocacy Group’s mission is to improve racial justice support for schools in Dane County, where we presently are working to ensure that all our kids can read to learn by grade 4 by focusing on the identification of kids with dyslexia.
- Housing Group’s mission is to expand access to affordable housing for families with children in Dane County, where we presently are working to reduce eviction records retention.
In October 2024 we formed a third working group:
- Restorative Justice and School Wellness Group’s mission is to support restorative justice and other wellness enhancing practices to create an inclusive culture and climate that increases well-being for all students and reduces behaviors that currently lead to exclusionary practices.
RJAC Organizational Context
MOSES is part of a statewide and national network of organizations advocating for social justice. See About MOSES for a brief description of how these fit together.
RJAC is one of several task forces within the WISDOM and MOSES organizations. See Get Involved for more information.
Background, Education and Community Connections
RJAC formed over a six-month period of individual conversations among members of MOSES followed by professional facilitation to help articulate and focus our effort. We then initiated preliminary education about how Adverse Childhood Experiences and trauma can contribute to challenges to success in school, which can cause further trauma, behavioral issues, and disciplinary actions, which feed the prison pipeline.
The Education Advocacy Group formed in September 2020 and immediately initiated contact with the Madison Metropolitan School District, including Superintendent Dr. Carlton Jenkins and others within the administration and on the Board of Education. The group also formed connections to the Sun Prairie Area School District. In 2022, after extensive exploration of potential areas of focus, the group selected the issue of Dyslexia Evaluation and Treatment for further learning, publicity and action.
The Housing Group formed in May 2021 and sought advice from several housing experts in the community. The group participates regularly with community organizations focused on housing including the Homelessness Services Consortium and the Affordable Housing Action Alliance. As a result of these associations, the group selected the issue of Eviction Records Retention Reduction for publicity and action.
The Restorative Justice and School Wellness Group formed in October 2024 following a year of discernment around a broad set of school safety and wellness concerns. As a result of engagement with the Madison Metropolitan School District Superintendent’s Wellness Advisory, the group selected the issue of Restorative Justice and School Wellness to learn, engage more deeply, and take action in a set of topic areas described in the issue paper.