A progressive discipline policy that limits the use
of exclusionary discipline practices and encourages all schools to respond to misbehavior using supportive, restorative discipline practices to promote social and emotional development.The result of this policy shift and accompanying professional development efforts has been a dramatic decrease in suspensions and expulsions and an increase in the use of instructive, corrective, and restorative responses to misconduct.
In order to move toward a more equitable system, Pinellas must abandon its use
of exclusionary discipline practices.
ESSA requires states to describe how they will assist districts to reduce: bullying and harassment, the overuse
of exclusionary discipline practices (e.g. suspensions, expulsions, school - based arrests), and seclusion and restraint.
The current study tests whether a professional development program with these three characteristics helped change teachers» use
of exclusionary discipline practices — especially with their African American students.
Effective remedies to improve instruction, learning and school climate (including, e.g., decreases in bullying and harassment, use
of exclusionary discipline practices, use of police in schools, and student referrals to law enforcement) for students enrolled are implemented in any school where the school as a whole, or any subgroup of students, has not met the annual achievement and graduation targets or where achievement gaps persist.
As of May 2015, 22 states and the District of Columbia had revised their laws in order to require or encourage schools to: limit the use
of exclusionary discipline practices; implement supportive (that is, nonpunitive) discipline strategies that rely on behavioral interventions; and provide support services such as counseling, dropout prevention, and guidance services for at - risk students.
Not exact matches
The Appendix lists many recommendations for policy and
practice, with the general theme
of reducing the use
of exclusionary discipline (suspension and expulsion) and providing
discipline through positive approaches.
In particular, schools will need to adopt alternative
practices, rather than eliminating or dramatically reducing the use
of exclusionary discipline in a policy void.
Rachel Flynn, an education researcher at New York University, recently studied the impact
of such professional development and found when its done well it has «the potential to improve teacher behavior management
practices and reduce
exclusionary discipline.»
Finally, the letter contains a significant appendix
of «illustrative» specific suggestions for policy and
practice that could serve to help states and districts avoid violations, urging schools to reduce the use
of suspension and other forms
of exclusionary discipline, focusing instead on positive approaches.
The 2014 letter declares that «Studies have suggested a correlation between
exclusionary discipline policies and
practices and an array
of serious educational, economic, and social problems, including school avoidance... decreased academic achievement... increased likelihood
of dropping out; substance abuse; and involvement with juvenile justice systems.»
Restorative
practices are a burgeoning alternative to traditional punitive justice such as suspensions (both in school and out
of school) and other
exclusionary forms
of discipline.
These evidence - based approaches help schools support students with challenging behaviors and were recommended by the Mayoral Leadership Team on School Climate and
Discipline to keep students in school learning instead
of punishing them through
exclusionary discipline practices, which do not address the underlying causes
of the behavior.
Here are some
of the negative outcomes research has linked to harsh, punitive,
exclusionary discipline practices:
The move away from harsh, punitive,
exclusionary (and, let's face it, ineffective)
discipline practices in schools and districts across the country is a welcome wave
of change.
They argue that
exclusionary discipline practices such as suspension and expulsion can have detrimental impacts, and they discuss the use
of restorative justice to address bullying Other topics include Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supporters (PBIS) and social and emotional learning.
That they're effective in preventing and reducing problem behaviors makes the use
of harsh, punitive,
exclusionary discipline practices unnecessary.
To further support their efforts, the OLN conducted a review
of the research literature and provided the Beaverton team with eight promising
practices to reduce
exclusionary discipline.
We also have experience helping develop alternatives to
exclusionary discipline practices, and we have tools and resources that can support your school's creation and implementation
of school wide expectations and consequences.
We have experience helping develop alternatives to
exclusionary discipline practices, as well as tools and resources that can support your school's creation and implementation
of school wide expectations and consequences.
Reform
of school
discipline to reduce
exclusionary practices and foster positive social, behavioral, emotional, and academic success for students;
Our schools contribute to these conditions when we respond to student misbehaviors and acts
of defiance with
exclusionary and punitive
discipline practices.
In the proposed resolution, the NAACP delegates cited concerns that charter schools deepen the segregation
of public schools, disproportionately use highly punitive or
exclusionary discipline practices and deprive public schools
of resources.
And, you know, speaking to education and justice, in 2011, the u.s. department — the departments
of education and justice launched a supportive school
discipline initiative to reduce
exclusionary discipline policies,
practices and their impact on youth
of color and youth with disabilities.
An unintended consequence
of these policies and
practices was that youth with behavioral health needs were put at an increased risk for
exclusionary discipline and school - based arrests.
The ultimate goal
of this moratorium is to reduce the reliance on all forms
of exclusionary discipline and to replace them with best
practices that support students, teachers and all members
of the school community in creating safe and engaging classroom environments.
In Chicago, the number
of suspensions given in a school year declined after the district made changes to its student code
of conduct in 2012, and began using less
exclusionary discipline practices.
No - excuses disciplinary
practices can contribute to high rates
of exclusionary discipline (e.g., suspensions that push students out
of school) and may not support a broad definition
of student success.
Studies have suggested a correlation between
exclusionary discipline policies and
practices and an array
of serious educational, economic, and social problems, including school avoidance and diminished educational engagement; 9 decreased academic achievement; 10 increased behavior problems; 11 increased likelihood
of dropping out; 12 substance abuse; 13 and involvement with juvenile justice systems.14
The studies, undertaken at the request
of the Oregon Leadership Network Research Alliance and the Maryland State Department
of Education, respectively, examined
exclusionary discipline practices (i.e., suspension and expulsion) and whether there are disparities by race, grade level, or special education status.
Ensure that the school's written
discipline policies provide for alternatives to in - school and out -
of - school suspensions and other
exclusionary practices (i.e., expulsions).
That federal guidance helps teachers and schools reduce
exclusionary discipline like suspensions and encourages proactive approaches to address the causes
of misbehavior and hold students accountable in the inevitable cases when students make the wrong choices, known as restorative
practices.
This is alarming because D.C. doesn't have a full picture
of current in - school suspension, and if more schools start to substitute this
practice for out -
of - school suspensions, there is a real risk
of exclusionary discipline persisting but obscured from view.
Pedro Noguera argues that
exclusionary discipline practices «effectively deny targeted students access to instruction and the opportunity to learn and do little to enable students to learn from their mistakes and develop a sense
of responsibility for their behavior» (2008, p. 133).
Chicago Youth Call Out Charter Schools» Extreme Punishments After determining that Chicago charter schools have expulsion rates seven times that
of their counterpart public schools (see factsheet), youth leaders
of Voices
of Youth in Chicago Education urged the state charter school commission to intervene and hold charter schools accountable for
exclusionary discipline practices.
Curbing Preschool Suspension and Expulsion:
Exclusionary discipline practices occur at high rates in early learning settings, and at even higher rates for young boys
of color.
Here are some
of the negative outcomes research has linked to harsh, punitive,
exclusionary discipline practices:
That they're effective in preventing and reducing problem behaviors makes the use
of harsh, punitive,
exclusionary discipline practices unnecessary.
The move away from harsh, punitive,
exclusionary (and, let's face it, ineffective)
discipline practices in schools and districts across the country is a welcome wave
of change.
This
practice can help connect children to interventions that address the underlying issue, thereby reducing disruptive behaviors.27 Policymakers can also promote the use
of school - based counseling and mental health programs as an alternative to
exclusionary discipline by providing funding and technical assistance to programs.