Board Resolution to End Suspensions, Expulsions for ECE-3
Following a press announcement at Godsman Elementary School yesterday, the Board of Education tonight passed a resolution stating its intent to end suspensions and expulsions for students in Early Childhood Education (ECE) through third grades in favor of more thoughtful disciplinary practices.
"The message that we are sending to our youngest students and families is that we are starting early and we are starting smart," said Board Member Rachele Espiritu. "The best place for you to be is in school. And, that's where we want to see you thriving and being successful."
The resolution states that "it is well-established that removal from school through discipline negatively impacts engagement and connection to school in the early years of a student's life. These earliest exposures to education are intended to develop students' perceptions and trust of school and teachers, and to instill fundamental social-emotional and academic skills that will become the foundation for success."
"Taking this important step to help our kids, to change our culture to keep our kids in school and drive our success, is fundamental," said Superintendent Tom Boasberg. "Equally important is to dialogue with our teachers, our parents and our community members to determine how we make sure that we implement this successfully."
It calls for developmentally appropriate strategies for preventing future behavior incidents, including development of behavior plans that should involve families, teachers, leaders and other support staff.
The district will elicit feedback over the next two months on how to implement the resolution, with a strong emphasis on the supports necessary for teachers and school leaders to meaningfully support student development and school safety. Watch for additional information and details in DPS newsletters.
"I think that it is terribly important to make sure that we are listening to teachers and school leaders as part of the plan," said Board Vice President Barbara O'Brien. "We have to understand the tools they need to help students when they really need it, so we can improve what is happening in kids' lives and help them get back to the business of absorbing everything that is around them."
DPS has been a national leader in discipline reform efforts focusing on the elimination of racial disparities in discipline, elimination of the school-to-prison pipeline, and an emphasis on restorative justice practices and other positive alternatives to suspension and expulsion. The district's out-of-school suspension rate has dropped by more than two-thirds and expulsions have been reduced by more than 70% in the past 10 years.
|