“Youth Incarceration Is Down But Not For Youth Of Color”

Posted on April 4, 2014 by Suspensionstories

“OAKLAND, Calif., April 1, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The National Council on Crime and Delinquency (NCCD) has published a series of reports regarding the dramatic reduction of youth incarceration rates in most US states. The latest data from the US Justice Department showed that the rate of youth in confinement dropped 41% between 2001 and 2011. Since 2001, 48 states have experienced such a decline.

Yet, despite the overall reduction in incarceration rates among youth, much higher percentages of youth of color remain under formal supervision and in state secure facilities. Dr. Angela Irvine, an author of the study and the director of research in NCCD’s Oakland office, said, “States across the country have been successful at reducing the overall numbers of youth in the juvenile justice system. At the same time, youth of color have jumped from 68% to 81% of all youth sentenced in juvenile court. In order to reverse this trend, we will have to find solutions that we’ve never tried before on a large scale—solutions that come from the communities most impacted by incarceration.”

NCCD collected information for the study through interviews and listening sessions involving than 140 key stakeholders, who were well-versed in research that exposes the problems associated with unnecessary contact with the juvenile justice system.”
Read the rest here.

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“At Reedley (CA) High School, Suspensions Drop 40%, Expulsions 80% In Two Years”

Posted on April 1, 2014 by Suspensionstories

Social Justice Solutions: “In 2009, when the Kings Canyon Unified School District in California’s rural Central Valley offered its 19 schools the opportunity to adopt a system that would reduce school suspensions and expulsions, Reedley High School jumped at the chance.

Today, Reedley is in its fourth year of changing a zero-tolerance policy that has failed this school and community miserably, just as every zero-tolerance policy across the country has. The school, which has 1,900 students, is feeling its way out of those draconian days by integrating PBIS — Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support — and entering into a unique partnership with the West Coast Mennonite Central Committee and the local police department to implement a successful restorative justice program.

This approach is already having remarkable effect. The school saw a 40% drop in suspensions from the 2010-2011 to the 2012-2013 school year — from 401 to 249 suspensions involving198 and 80 students, respectively. Expulsions went from 94 in 2010-2011 to 20 last year. But this year’s trends indicate that impressive decline may have stalled out.

Although everyone interviewed for this story – including the principal, learning director, and a teacher — says that suspensions don’t work, Reedley is still stuck with a harsh suspension policy that the district and the school board have barely loosened. Although the district was forward-thinking enough to support program changes and the school is beginning to deliver, like any entrenched system, the old ways of discipline pull hard against change, even if the data and the science that show the old ways damage kids are indisputable.

“It’s been a journey,” says Mary Ann Carousso head of student services. “We’re taking it in pieces.”

___________________________

The sprawling Reedley High School campus includes an auditorium, library, and five hexagonal and several rectangular rows of classrooms around a large two-story building. On a clear winter day, the snow-capped Sierra Mountains form a stunning backdrop. As in most large high schools, adults barely corral the high-octane teen energy that erupts across the plaza between classes, and struggle to ignite and channel it during classes. The school draws as many students from the city of 25,000 as it does from the agricultural farming country it serves – nearly 80% are Latino, 16% are white, 1.5% are Asian, 1% are Filipino, and 0.7% are African-American. About 65% come from families that live just above, at, or below poverty level. The nearest city, Fresno, is 25 miles distant and worlds away.

Like most school districts in California, Kings Canyon adopted a zero-tolerance policy in the late 1990s. Just one year after the U.S. Congress passed the Gun-Free Schools Act of 1994, theadoption of broad zero-tolerance policies spread like a virus across the United States. Once zero tolerance was locked in, school boards, districts, teachers and principals warped it, some say, by the pressure to perform well on tests. Kick the troublemakers out, and there’s less disruption and interruption in class.

But in the mid-2000s, data began showing that zero tolerance wasn’t working. In fact, it was shunting kids into a school-to-prison pipeline that disproportionately targets minorities. The research, the U.S. Office of Civil Rights and the American Civil Liberties Unionconvinced people at the Fresno County Office of Education to look for alternatives for its 32 districts, which include Kings County.

“The research was constantly telling us that even one suspension could put a kid down a path we don’t want them on,” says Carousso. Providing reports to the U.S. Office of Civil Rights and being watched by the ACLU also put Fresno County on notice. “Even though I’m not always glad of it,” Carousso says of the ACLU, “they point out things we should be aware of.”

The program that Fresno County settled on was PBIS, which is used in more than 20,011 schools nationwide; more than 700 of those are in California. In essence, says Carousso, PBIS helps the entire school system — teachers, administrators, janitors, bus drivers, cafeteria workers — “set up kids for success first, instead of ‘gotcha’. It sounds hokey. It sounds corny.” But it works…to a point.”

Read the rest here.

 

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Radio Times: Experts & Educators Discuss Suspensions, Expulsions & Arrests of Minority Students

Posted on March 31, 2014 by Suspensionstories

Radio Times: “Guests: Harold Jordan, Deborah Klehr and Matthew Steinberg

New information released by the Department of Education shed more light on a disturbing difference when it comes to school discipline — minority students are suspended at a much higher rate than white students. The same applies to expulsions and harsher punishments and the problem is particularly acute in Pennsylvania. With more research to show that zero tolerance policies are ineffective, some educators are rethinking the whys and hows of school discipline. In this hour of Radio Times we’ll talk about the issues around suspensions, expulsions and even arrests, particularly when it comes to minority students. Our guests are HAROLD JORDAN of the ACLU of Pennsylvania, DEBORAH KLEHR of the Education Law Center, and University of Pennsylvania education professor MATTHEW STEINBERG.”

Click here to listen.

 

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Classroom exclusion starts as early as preschool

Posted on March 29, 2014 by Suspensionstories

Electronic Urban Report:

“Between the Lines: Report on Increasing Black Student Class Exclusions is Troubling

*Last week, a new report offered a renewed look at a persistent problem in how public education is failing our children.

Disproportionately excluding black children from the classroom, through suspensions, expulsions and non-learning “holding rooms,” are a glaring problem in U.S. public schools. The U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights released new data that suggests that suspension/expulsion problem, which we all knew existed in LAUSD, was deeper than we ever suspected.

While previous data focused on the race gaps and exclusion disparities of middle and high school systems, this latest study found that out of class exclusions are continuing to be a K through 12 problem—regardless of grade level, across public school systems, nationwide.

Okay…so what else is new? Well, here’s what’s new and it’s shocker…

The new study reports that classroom exclusion starts as early as preschool.

That’s right… preschool.

If you’re not shocked, you should be.

Even the Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, is. The study shows that black children in preschool enrollment—and only 60% of the nation’s school districts even have pre-schools—represent 42% of students suspended, even though they represent only 18% of the preschool population. Nobody saw this coming. What’s wrong with this picture, everybody?

Well, what is wrong is that, according to the study, students that are suspended once—are more likely to be suspended again, and thus—are less likely to graduate. Students least likely to graduate, are most likely to dropout. Dropouts are most likely to become involved in criminal behavior, and are the leading targets for perpetual imprisonment.”

Read the rest here.

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National Education Association Promotes Restorative Justice in Schools & Have Released a New Toolkit

Posted on March 26, 2014 by Suspensionstories

National Education Association:

NEA and Partners Promote Restorative Justice in Schools

“Educators cannot stand by as tens of thousands of African-American, Latino, and other students get pushed out of school for minor disciplinary infractions, said NEA President Dennis Van Roekel, who on Friday helped release a new toolkit that aims to end the “school-to-prison pipeline” through the use of restorative policies and practices.

“Far too many of our most vulnerable students are excluded from class for minor, non-violent behavior,” cautions Van Roekel, “putting them at great risk for academic failure and an unnecessary journey down the school-to-prison pipeline. And far too many educators lack the support and resources to meet their students’ developmental needs.”

The racial disparities start at a shockingly early age. According to a new U.S. Education Department study,Black 4- and 5-year-old students account for almost half of the preschoolers suspended more than once from school, even though they make up just 18 percent of preschool students. Overall, federal data shows that Black students of all ages are 3.5 times more likely to be suspended or expelled than White students.

The consequences are huge: Even a single suspension greatly increases the odds of students repeating a grade, dropping out of school, and ending up in the criminal justice system. What’s more, a closer look at the data shows that students of color, as well as LGBT youth and children with disabilities, are more likely to be suspended, expelled, or arrested for behaviors that go undisciplined in their White peers. Research also shows that White students are more likely to be suspended or expelled for “observable” offenses, like fighting or drug possession, while Black students are much more likely to be disciplined for less objective offenses, like “disrespect.””

Read the rest here.

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“Sensible Policy, Not Smaller Handcuffs”

Posted on March 24, 2014 by Suspensionstories

ACLU: “You may have heard recently about Dontadrian Bruce, the Mississippi high-school student who was almost expelled for holding up the number “3” with his fingers in a photo taken by his science teacher. Dontradian is number 3 on the football team – and despite his being an A/B student with no history of serious disciplinary problems, the school said he was making a gang sign.

This isn’t the first time the school district has been quick to label a Black student a “gang member.” And in fact the unnecessarily harsh treatment of students of color for misbehavior—or perceived misbehavior—at school is a huge problem across the country. Too many young people are being pushed out of school and into the juvenile and criminal justice systems instead of given the chance to learn from their mistakes. This phenomenon is frequently referred to as the school-to-prison-pipeline.

New data from the federal government, released on Friday, shows just how serious the problem is—and highlights how students of color and those with disabilities are being systematically denied access to education. According to the new data, during the 2011-2012 school year, Black students were suspended and expelled at a rate three times greater than white students. And students with disabilities were more than twice as likely to receive an out-of-school suspension than their non-disabled peers. Both groups of students were also disproportionately likely to be referred to law enforcement and arrested at school.”

Read the rest here.

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14 Disturbing Stats About Racial Inequality in American Public Schools

Posted on March 22, 2014 by Suspensionstories

The Nation: “Comprehensive data released Friday by the US Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights offers a striking glance at the extent of racial inequality plaguing the nation’s education system.

Analysts found that black, Latino and Native American students have less access to advanced math and science courses and are more likely to be taught by first-year instructors than white students. Black and Native American students are also suspended and expelled at disproportionate rates.

For the first time in history, the Education Department also examined school discipline at the pre-K level, finding that black students as young as four years old are already facing unequal treatment from school administrators.

The Education Department released four papers with the data, analyzing inequality in school discipline, early learning, college readiness and teacher equity (pdfs). Here’s a breakdown of some of the key findings, taken straight from those papers. During the 2011–12 school year:

  1. Black students accounted for 18 percent of the country’s pre-K enrollment, but made up 48 percent of preschoolers with multiple out-of-school suspensions.
  2. Black students were expelled at three times the rate of white students.
  3. American Indian and Native-Alaskan students represented less than 1 percent of students, but 3 percent of expulsions.”

Read the rest of the findings here.

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“Students Draw Attention to Wake Schools Disciplinary Policies”

Posted on March 19, 2014 by Suspensionstories

ABC Local: “CARY, N.C. (WTVD) — Wake County high school students sent a powerful message to school board members Tuesday evening.

Students have criticized school disciplinary policies in the past, but, now, they were advocating for a classmate in jail.

Some students showed up wearing prison suits and handcuffs.

“In Wake County, black students make up 25 percent of the student body, and over 60 percent of suspensions,” said Cary High School student Qasima Wideman.

About a half dozen with the student advocate group NC HEAT  used the public comment portion of Tuesday’s meeting to blast what they call the system’s school-to-prison pipeline.

“You’re just constantly, constantly trying to be pushed out of school,” said Knightdale High School student Tavon Bridges. “Whether it be in jail, or you just sitting at home not doing any work.”

They claim zero-tolerance policies involving minor incidents lead to arrests, juvenile detention referrals and jail. That’s the case with their friend Selina Garcia.”

Read the rest here.

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Madison La Follette’s Restorative Justice Program Empowers Students to Change Behavior

Posted on March 19, 2014 by Suspensionstories

The Capital Times: “There’s no question that discipline practices that let students own up to their mistakes and find a way to make amends help them avoid messing up again, say students at Madison La Follette High School who guide their schoolmates through the process.

Seniors Celina Pollard, Khaleah Monger and Alex Booker volunteer as “circle keepers” in the school’s restorative justice program, run in partnership with the Madison YWCA.

“It’s amazing,” Pollard says of the way that teenagers are able to move away from behavior that is hurtful to family members or friends. “When we do a circle, they seem never to do that behavior again.”

The circle keepers lead discussions about why a participant acted the way he did and how that behavior is harming others and come up with a way to restore the relationship. Pollard recalls a boy, whose father was stung by his deteriorating academic performance, who wrote his dad a song of apology and started attending the homework club.

“It helps you realize what you did wrong and what you can do to make it better,” Pollard says.

The circles are a great way to short-circuit the drama that flares up among groups of friends, often girls, and frequently on social media, says Monger.”

Read the rest here.

 

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“Video–BYP100: Black Youth, Black Police & Transformative Justice”

Posted on March 18, 2014 by Suspensionstories

Black Youth Project: Members of BYP100, a black youth activist organization, have a dialogue with a black police officer after being profiled on Princeton University’s campus, where they had convened for a conference.

Watch the dialogue here:

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“Black, Disabled Students More Likely to Face School Suspension, Report Finds”

Posted on March 17, 2014 by Suspensionstories

Atlanta Black Star: “A so-called school-to-prison pipeline flows from school discipline that lands disproportionately on students with disabilities and students of color, according to a set of reports by 26 experts released on Thursday.

African-American students and students with disabilities are suspended at “hugely disproportionate rates compared to white students,” said a report by the Discipline Disparities Research-to-Practice Collaborative, which includes experts from fields such as advocacy, policy, social science and law. Latino students, girls of color, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students also were disproportionately suspended — a punishment the report said increases dropout risks and helps push troubled students out of classrooms and into the justice system.

“We already knew that African-Americans were disproportionately affected, but this new research is also saying that it’s also Latino students, it’s also students with disabilities, it’s also girls of color,” said Russell Skiba, the Indiana University professor who directed the project. “LGBT students may be at risk for increased discipline. These things have a big effect on achievement.””

Read the rest here.

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“Zero-Tolerance Strikes Again: Holding Up Three Fingers in a Photo Got This 15-Year-Old Suspended”

Posted on March 14, 2014 by Suspensionstories

Take Part: “Dontadrian Bruce is the kind of kid the U.S. Departments of Education and Justice might have had in mind when they released the new school disciplinary guidelines in January. The new federal approach urges schools to move away from harsh policies that remove kids from the learning environment.

After 21 days of suspension, Bruce was recently allowed back to Olive Branch High School in Olive Branch, Miss. Bruce had been accused of using a gang sign in a picture taken by his biology teacher after the student had finished building a DNA model out of Legos. In the photo the African American boy holds up three fingers of one hand, which he says was meant to indicate the number on his football jersey.

It didn’t matter that Bruce earns As and Bs. Didn’t matter that he said he had no knowledge that the gesture he’d made was a sign used by a gang known as Vice Lords. Didn’t matter that he’d never been in trouble at school before. Or that his football coach could have testified that the boy spent too much time practicing to be involved in gang activity. The disciplinary hearing officer sentenced Bruce to “indefinite suspension with a recommendation of expulsion.”

Bruce’s readmittance to school came only after community outcry. Bruce’s parents involved the ACLU and the NAACP. The story was featured on local ABC news and went viral. And on a newly created Facebook page, people posed in photos with three fingers held up in solidarity. One such picture (below) taken at Olive Branch High School led to Bruce’s brother being suspended as well.”

Read more here.

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