Fort Worth, TX- Today, the Liberty Legal Institute, LULAC, Free Market Foundation and Ministers for Education declared a state of emergency and demanded school choice for parents and students to protect them from the violence and unsafe conditions in our Tarrant County public schools. This diverse group is demanding parents immediately receive the right to transfer their children to other safe public schools of the parents’ choosing. Current regulations do not require school districts to grant such transfers.
“The parents of our communities are crying out for school choice now to save their kids from these tragically violent schools and send them to a school where they can grow and learn in a safe environment.” said Pastor Kyev P. Tatum, Sr., Pastor of Servant House Baptist Church, Mansfield, Texas and President of Ministers for Education.
Minority community leaders and pastors are concerned about the recent rash of violence in Tarrant County public schools such as:
- Trimble Tech High School students were placed on “lockdown” after Black & Hispanic students engaged in a “race riot” in the cafeteria. Several students were arrested.
- Students from Arlington and Mansfield ISDs engaged in organized “street fight clubs” and sold the videos over the internet.
- A student was shot by a policeman at South Hills High school in Fort Worth after the officer was attacked by the students and several of his friends. Several students were arrested.
- Gang activity broke out at Arlington Heights High School, 20 students were arrested for their involvement.
“School choice shouldn’t just be for those who can afford it,” said Hiram Sasser, Director of Litigation for the Liberty Legal Institute.
The community leaders are asking the school districts of Tarrant County and the State of Texas to act immediately to save the children.
“We will lose an entire generation of young people if we do not act now to give parents the right to choose another school where their children can learn and grow in safety,” said Pastor Tatum.