(L-R) Jennifer Hall Lee, PUSD Board President; Julianne Reynoso, Assistant Superintendent for Student Wellness and Support Services; and Julian Vasquez Heilig, NPE founding member (Photo – PUSD)
It was an intense two days of discussions about public education and vouchers, gerrymandering, and DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) in Columbus, Ohio, on April 5 and 6.
By Jennifer Hall Lee
Assistant Superintendent for Student Wellness and Support Services Dr. Julianne Reynoso and I represented the Pasadena Unified School District at the meeting in Columbus, with members of one of the largest pro-public education organizations, the Network for Public Education.
We participated in a discussion titled Public Schools: Where ALL Students Must Be Welcome, joined by NPE founding member Dr. Julian Vasquez Heilig.
I kicked things off with a brief history of disability rights in the U.S.—from institutionalization to the momentous passage of IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) in 1975, which finally granted students with disabilities the legal right to a free public education.
Dr. Reynoso followed with highlights of Pasadena Unified’s significant work in assisting students in experiencing connectedness with school including compelling data: chronic absenteeism dropped from 34% in 2021–2022 to 21% currently, and suspensions decreased from 3.4% to 1.25% over the same period.
Dr. Heilig and the audience acknowledged the tremendous progress Dr. Reynoso shared. Heilig then guided us through current federal efforts threatening equal access and inclusion for all students, urging us to use our voices to protect public education.
The weekend was eye-opening. Most participants came from Midwestern states and were passionate defenders of public education, which is under intense threat in many of their communities. Their stories reflected deep turmoil: Ohio is “heavily gerrymandered,” and some districts have already abandoned previously approved DEI commitments. We learned that the Texas governor repeatedly calls special legislative sessions each time his voucher bill fails. (Vouchers are controversial proposals that redirect public funds from public schools to cover private school tuition.)
Ohio third-grade teacher Ms. Lindsay Rice told me about efforts to use of vouchers for students with special needs. She explained: “Students with special needs qualify for either the Autism Scholarship or the John Peterson Special Needs Scholarship to attend private schools or pay credentialed service providers. The child’s home district remains responsible for maintaining and updating the IEP. From there, it’s up to the parent to ensure the IEP is upheld in the private sector.”
Despite the many advancements we’ve made in public education, there has always been fierce resistance—evidence of an underlying discomfort with the idea of education for all children.
But more important than these detractors is the rightful presence of every child in public education. As Dr. Reynoso said, “Our schools are creating environments where students belong and connect.”
Public Schools: Where ALL Students Must Be Welcome. This workshop will discuss the importance of attending to and meeting the needs of all students--especially those students who in the past were left behind and underserved--students with disabilities, LGBTQ students, and students of color. It will discuss the present attacks on inclusivity and how we should respond to ensure that all children are welcome in our schools. ~ April 6, 2025 Columbus, Ohio
Jennifer Hall Lee is the President of the Pasadena Unified Board of Trustees.
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