Meet the Safety, Dignity, and Belonging Research Team - Research For Us, By Us: Safety, Dignity and Belonging for Black Girls

Oct 15, 2026

IDRA’s Safety, Dignity, and Belonging project is a legal youth participatory action research initiative co-led by youth researchers and an adult researcher. It examines school discipline experiences of Black girls in Atlanta-area schools through YPAR/LYPAR, treating students as leaders who build community knowledge and solutions. The report explains how racial and gender stereotypes shape discipline, how harsh consequences harm future academic and life outcomes, and how discriminatory discipline violates civil rights, undermining students’ futures and underscoring the need for safe, supported schools.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages24

Reading Time1 h 0 min

AccessFree to download

Meet the Safety, Dignity, and Belonging Research Team

Project overview and approach (YPAR/LYPAR)

Acknowledgments

About IDRA

Research For Us, By Us: Safety, Dignity and Belonging for Black Girls

Stereotypes and daily experiences

Disparities in punishment and consequences

Civil rights implications

Why the research was undertaken

2 Meet the Safety, Dignity, and Belonging Research Team IDRA’s Safety, Dignity, and Belonging project is a legal youth participatory action research project co-led by four youth researchers and an adult researcher studying the school discipline experiences of Black girls in Atlanta-area schools. Youth participatory action research (YPAR) is a type of research that situates young people as leaders and experts in the research process.Traditional research often underestimates the power of youth and community voice, whileYPAR supports young people in studying and building knowledge about the problems that impact themselves and their communities.YPAR is also an opportunity for young people to build connections and community around important issues and develop solutions for change. Our project is even more unique because our research and research process considers the civil rights issues that students may face with respect to school discipline. For this reason, we refer to this project as a legal youth participatory action research (LYPAR) project.This report is a culmination of our research and findings. Acknowledgments Our research was made possible with the generous support of Equal Justice Works. We would also like to express our gratitude to the Cool Girls Club of Decatur, Georgia, for its support and partnership. About IDRA IDRA’s mission is to achieve equal educational opportunity for every child through strong public schools that prepare all students to access and succeed in college. To achieve our mission, IDRA uniquely advances system equity through four lenses: policy and legal advocacy; family and community engagement; educator and student support; and research and data analysis. We are experts in each of those four areas and – critically – in where they intersect. Get Education News Connect with IDRAon Social Media Nickell Brown Nickell Brown: I love watching movies and talking about issues that affect youth. I aspire to become a journalist. Natiyya Carswell A few hobbies that I have are doing nails and lashes. I love speaking my mind. I also like clothing and shopping. I want to go to the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) for fashion design Betzayda Domingo I aspire to make a meaningful impact in the lives of children, and I’m considering career paths as a pediatric nurse, an elementary schoolteacher, or a child life specialist. In my free time, I love immersing myself in music and reading romantic comedies, which provide a delightful escape from the world around me. I also enjoy engaging in social media, where I connect with others and find entertainment. Additionally, I recognize the value of rest, which fuels my love for napsas a way to recharge. I am genuinely excited about my future and the chance to make a positive impact on the next generation, believing that every small effort can create a ripple of change in their lives. Eden Frazier I have always been passionate about social justice and environmental issues, especially climate change. After high school, I plan to attend college in environmental science with an emphasis on marine biology. I also enjoy learning about marketing. Outside of school, I take modern and aerial dance classes, and I am a member of various organizations, including Bioneers, Cool Girls and Girls Inc. I am also a junior conservationist in the Beginner Environmental Leadership Program atthe Georgia Aquarium. Makiah Lyons, J.D. I am a staff attorney at IDRA and recent Equal Justice Works Fellow hosted by IDRA, working to advance education equity and justice. In my work, I enjoy working with an uplifting the voices of young people. In my spare time, I like to read, cook and go thrift shopping. 3 4 Research For Us, By Us: Safety, Dignity and Belonging for Black Girls We know that racial and gender biases contribute to harmful stereotypes and beliefs about who Black girls are and what they are capable of. We see and confront these ste

FAQs

What is YPAR/LYPAR and why does this project use it?

The project uses youth participatory action research (YPAR) to position young people as leaders and experts. It is further framed as legal youth participatory action research (LYPAR) because it centers civil rights issues related to school discipline.

How does school discipline affect Black girls’ futures, according to the report?

The report states that harsh discipline and removal from school (such as suspensions, expulsions, or detentions) can push students behind academically, increase dropout risk, and reduce college attendance. It also notes increased risk of future involvement with jail or prison.

Why does the report say school discipline discrimination is a civil rights violation?

It explains that racial and gender bias in school discipline constitutes discrimination and violates students’ civil rights. These biases can derail Black girls’ futures by producing severe consequences.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Aria Callaghan