Data obtained from the Illinois State Board of Education through a Freedom of Information Action (FOIA) request show that Chicago Public Schools (CPS) administered in-school suspension to 17,020 students, out-of-school suspensions to 40,662 students and 217 expulsions in the 2010-2011 academic year. Specific demographic information about these suspensions and expulsions has yet to be released.
Total Numbers of Chicago Public School Students Suspended & Expelled (2010-2011)
|
 |
In-School Suspensions |
Out-of-School Suspensions |
Expulsions |
TOTAL |
| Elementary School (pre-k-8th grade) |
4,950 |
18,878 |
59 |
23,887 |
| High School |
12,070 |
21,784 |
158 |
34,012 |
| TOTAL |
17,020 |
40,662 |
217 |
57,899 |
It would be advantageous to see the related demographics supporting these numbers. Charter Schools are included, and I had first hand experience with one. My granddaughter was suspended for one day for a fight. She was not allowed to tell her side of the story. After months of, literally, of trying to get a meeting to resolve these issues (like in late July when school was out), I finally met with the principle and found that the teacher making the report was not present (as my child was not allowed to state), that the ALTERCATION, involved one young lady pulling her hair, and my child pushing her to stop. I was told that they had violated to zero tolerance law. I informed the principle that there was no zero policy in the code book, that there were several options from the minimum to the maximum in alternatives the school could have used. That the school skipped all the graduated option and went straight to a days suspension. I was informed that they did not have enough teachers for in school suspensions. I asked what about a parent conference. I then asked what the suspension rate was for the school was, and was informed that it was pretty high, although she did not provide a number. I then asked wasn’t it the mission of the school to retain the students and educate them. Why when the drop out rates are so high, wasn’t she doing more to keep them in school. She had no answer. I later found, first hand, the school was very fluid about who was suspended and about what. The only good thing in this story is that the principal was replaced. My child had the suspension removed from her record. Parents should not accept the teachers position, facts must be verified for our children sake.