The Pearl Remote Democratic High School

We're Raising Money to Create a Safe Space for Our Students

Protecting Our Queer Youth

The rights of queer students are at risk now more than ever. With the increase of anti-LGBTQ curriculum laws across the US, school can be literally life-threatening for queer students. Conservative, homophobic backlash forces queer teachers out of schools for their identity, which not only threatens their livelihoods but shows queer kids there is no safe place in the world for them. Legislation like Florida's "Don't Say Gay" bill bans the education on sexual or gender identity for students in grades K-3, which could include even the acknowledgment of the existence of any 2SLGBTQ people. Many students have dropped out of school for fear of bullying, having their dead name used by teachers and staff, or transphobic and homophobic curriculums. Unfortunately, with the recent election's outcome, it is more likely than ever that these issues will continue to worsen. 

 In 2025, we aim to provide a haven for more queer students who need a safe place to complete high school.

Decolonizing Education   

Racism can be an extremely dangerous barrier to a student's education. From bullying to curriculums rooted in white imperialism, students of color deserve a safe learning environment that honors them. 

In many curriculums, history has been told by the victors, devaluing the history and importance of people of color and glossing over issues like colonization, slavery, and genocide. Legislation to ban Critical Race Theory forbids the ability to even discuss the impact of colonialism and systematic racism in schools. During and since the pandemic, many Black families have chosen to homeschool their children due to problems in public schools, such as racial bias, bullying, and a lack of connection to their culture. Students of color are more likely to be disciplined for behavioral issues and denied access to gifted programs. 

Even the structure of public schools reflects a colonized mindset. Students are forced to wake up at a time proven to be misaligned with their brain development, stay inside, sit still for hours, and not question authority. Students who fail to thrive in this environment are disciplined and not given the tools they need to succeed. 

At The Pearl, we believe education should be empowering, inclusive, and driven by student interests.

We serve students who have not been well served in traditional schools, including BIPOC, 2SLGBTQ+, and students with disabilities. We are committed to using technology to remove educational barriers and provide a supportive environment for students with diverse learning styles and needs. 

Our student body is 60% BIPOC, 67% 2SLGBTQ+, and 53% neurodivergent. We give our students a safe space to shine.

In our course evaluations, students consistently report they feel safe, seen, and heard. Parents have shared that not only do they feel that their teens are receiving an exceptional education, they believe we have saved their child's life. 

We know that our educational program is impactful. We need your help to scale up and make The Pearl available to more students. We also need to make sure we have scholarship funds available so we never need to turn a student away who feels we are the right school for them. 

Help Us Reach Our Goal of $10K by Giving Tuesday, December 3rd. 

No donation is too small. As a small non-profit, your donations help students in need and keep The Pearl running for every student and teacher in our community.