Founded in 2013, School Justice Project (“SJP”) is a DC-based legal services and advocacy organization dedicated to ensuring that older, court-involved students with disabilities receive a quality education.
SJP improves access and outcomes for students at the “deep end” of the school-to-prison pipeline by using special education law to: 1) increase access to a quality education; 2) reduce incarceration through individualized, less-restrictive alternatives to pretrial detention and jail terms; 3) improve reentry services, policies, and procedures; and 4) empower students to successfully transition to post-secondary education and employment. One hundred percent of SJP’s clients are students of color with disabilities who qualify for free legal services.
SJP is also focused on systemic change on behalf of incarcerated students with special education needs. They launched the nation’s first special education attorney panel in adult criminal court and continue working on two class action lawsuits, both on behalf of DC’s incarcerated students with special education needs.
In 2024, SJP served nearly 450 young people and their families. SJP advocated for clients during 70 court hearings, mitigating outcomes in 87% of them. Ninety-four percent of SJP clients were enrolled in an education program. 100% of clients released from incarceration re-enrolled in school within 30 days of release. 88% of clients reported increased empowerment, and 95% demonstrated increased understanding of education rights. Additionally, SJP participated in 50 trainings, presentations, and community events, reaching over 1,300 participants.
The Many Hands Impact Grant will be transformative for School Justice Project. In addition to supporting their existing work, the Impact Grant will support the creation of a structured social work internship program in partnership with Howard University’s School of Social Work.
Impact Grant: $100,000
