Over a year after the country witnessed the murder of George Floyd and countless others, the need to address the social and racial injustices that have affected Black communities remains at the forefront of the news and social media.

Over a year after the country witnessed the murder of George Floyd and countless others, the need to address the social and racial injustices that have affected Black communities remains at the forefront of the news and social media. Advancing social justice is our ethical obligation as educators. Our roles give us a powerful opportunity to address these issues, both in how we serve individual students and in making sure our schools abide by best practices that address systemic barriers for our students, their families, and their communities. Below is a list of suggestions on ways we can actively participate in addressing issues of social and racial injustices in our schools:<ol><li>	Learn about and discuss the impacts of historical and systematic racism with students and other school personnelGain a better understanding of your students, the community you serve, and the issues they face</li><li>	Gain a better <a href="https://www.nasponline.org/resources-and-publications/resources-and-podcasts/diversity/social-justice" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">understanding of yourself</a>, your beliefs, biases, privileges, and responses</li><li>	Have discussions with administration about addressing practices and policies that perpetuate racismEnd Zero Tolerance Practices and implement <a href="https://www.edutopia.org/blog/restorative-justice-resources-matt-davis" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Restorative Practices</a></li><li>Utilize and work with teachers to implement explicit lessons about race, trauma, and conflict resolution</li><li>	<a href="https://socialjusticebooks.org/booklists/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Best Books on Social Justice</a></li><li>	<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/3721.Best_Multicultural_Books_for_Children" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Best Multicultural Books</a></li><li>Help your school build community partnerships that provide resources to families in need</li><li>	Establish a connection to outside mental health services</li><li>	Donate and partner withorganizations who are combating issues of racism and inequality &nbsp;</li><li>Seek out and uplift Black students and families in the school and community</li></ol>This list is not meant to be exhaustive, rather a snapshot of ways to get started. Thank you for your continued support and dedication during this time. We appreciate your on-going commitment to ensuring that students attend schools and live in communities that are safe, stimulating, and supportive.&nbsp;

SOCIAL AND RACIAL INJUSTICES: APPROACHES FOR SCHOOL SPECIAL EDUCATION PROVIDERS