Congresswoman Katherine Clark this week joined a White House strategy session on school discipline with experts from across the country.
Advertisement
Indianapolis Public Schools Superintendent Lewis Ferebee and two other administrators are at the White House today for a conversation on school discipline.
The conference is part of a joint effort by the U.S. Justice and Education departments to examine school discipline, particularly racial disparities that result in students of color facing suspensions and expulsions at rates far higher than their white counterparts. Capitol Hill officials also told several parents that re-enrolling their children was a “waste of time” because of the re-enrollment date. Reducing suspension and expulsions rates is a priority of the Obama administration. The district taught the teacher about other ways to change student behavior and reduced suspensions.
The likelihood that a student will get suspended from school may have a lot to do with their geographic location.
In response to the problem, the district last year convened a task force on school climate, with the goal of rewriting the student code of conduct and placing a larger emphasis on restorative justice practices that research shows are more successful at engaging students and curbing poor behavior.
Oklahoma Watch is now working on an in-depth look at the overuse of discipline on special education students in the Sooner State, and how that affects students personally and academically.
The U.S. Department of Education on Wednesday released maps detailing where students are most likely to get suspended from school, with specifics for Native Americans, blacks, Hispanics and those with disabilities. The district also requires students to complete schoolwork they missed during short suspensions.
Advertisement
They Syracuse City School District in New York is training staff on alternative approaches to discipline, and has hired an independent monitor to oversee its programs.
