Assemblyman Roger Dickinson has introduced a bill that would limit the use of the broadest category of student suspensions: “willful defiance.” California data shows that more than 40% of out-of-school suspensions are for this one area, and more Latino and African American students are held out of school for “willfully defying” authorities than other students. ... Read More
Retired California Superior Court Judge Leonard Edwards has seen the results of high suspensions and expulsions, and he knows there’s a better way. In an oped in the San Jose Mercury News he writes that “suspensions and expulsions are not necessary.” He cites the example of Garfield High in East Los Angeles, which reduced its ... Read More
This year the state of California adopted 5 school-discipline-related laws. These new laws will make a difference in your schools and classrooms — but it’s going to be up to us to help implement them. Here are some resources to help community members and educators work together to make these changes a reality. Explore the ... Read More
A brand new law to help reduce suspensions and expulsions of foster youth goes into effect in January. But Elk Grove Unified, located in Sacramento County, has applied the principles of AB 1909 early and is already seeing positive results. Foster youth are being suspended 69% less often in 2010-2011 compared to 2009-2010, EdSource reports. ... Read More
As students, parents, and educators get ready for this academic year, seven school discipline reform bills sit at Governor Jerry Brown’s desk. Laura Faer, an attorney with Public Counsel Law Center, points out the disturbing fact that “California issues more suspensions than diplomas each year.” Mail or fax your letters of support to (916) 558-3177 by this ... Read More
Today in Los Angeles, students, parents, and teachers from across the country launched a national “Solutions Not Suspensions” campaign calling for a moratorium on out-of-school suspensions and for schools to adopt more constructive disciplinary actions that benefit students, classrooms and communities. The effort is sponsored by the Dignity in Schools Campaign and Opportunity to Learn ... Read More
Eight bills to fix school discipline are moving ahead in the California Legislature, with the final votes coming just hours before the July 4 holiday. If given final approval by the Legislature and signed by the Governor, the bills will lead to positive discipline accountability alternatives for students in schools with the most out-of-school suspensions, ... Read More
It’s one of the biggest endorsements for school discipline change yet! California’s biggest school district is on board to fix school discipline. On Thursday, June 28, the Los Angeles school board voted unanimously for a resolution to support seven bills. “Student discipline policies should focus on helping pupils improve negative behavior with research-based strategies, appropriate ... Read More
The walls at Theodore Roosevelt High School in Boyle Heights are painted with bright-red reminders of the future president and his famous charge up San Juan Hill. Now students and educators there are leading a new charge: for positive behavior support. The 90-year-old school is set to become a pioneer as it prepares to adopt ... Read More
