Acknowledgements

More than 2,000 Sikh students and their parents in 30 states plus Washington, DC, participated in the Sikh Student Survey, trusting us with their school experiences and voices. This project would not be possible without their trust in our team and this work, for which we are grateful and humbled. They are why we will continue to fight until every student feels safe and seen in their classroom, and we thank them for their part in ensuring future generations are better protected. 

We are also deeply appreciative of the more than 100 gurdwara leaders, Khalsa school staff, students, and sangat members at more than 60 gurdwaras across the country who volunteered their time to help ensure that the diversity of our sangat was captured in this study. From facilitating the survey in Khalsa school classrooms, tabling, volunteer training, and coordinating schedules, we remain deeply appreciative of their commitment and support.

Our immense gratitude goes to our incredible colleagues Dr. Kavita Kaur Atwal (Research Partner) and Dr. Erin Knight (Research Consultant), who were true partners in all aspects of this study. From survey design to navigating IRB processes in favor of sangat members to data collection and analysis, we are grateful for their ongoing dedication and partnership. 

Our many thanks to the student artists who provided their artwork to be included in this report, adding a tone of hope and Chardi Kala throughout.

We appreciate the Solutions Institutional Review Board for valuable oversight and guidance throughout the ethical approval process.

The entire Sikh Coalition team, including both former and current staff as well as board members, has worked on the report in some way: drafting the surveys, visiting gurdwaras for data collection, disseminating the survey, or drafting recommendations. It has been an all hands on deck project and a labor of love for our sangat, and we are thankful for our team’s commitment.

Last but not least, we are grateful to the hundreds of Sikh Coalition donors and supporters whose generous contributions continue to fund our work—including this report—to make schools safer for Sikh students and advocate for more inclusive classrooms.