Chalkbeat

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School Discipline

Diversity Matters

Tennessee
June 15, 2017

Here’s what male teachers of color want their districts to know about them

They're in high demand but also exiting the profession at a high rate at a time when Tennessee is making investments to diversify its teaching workforce.

the gender gap

National
June 8, 2017

Girls outnumber boys in charter schools, study shows. Here’s why that matters.

As of the 2010–11, 50.7 percent of charter school students were girls, compared to 48.8 percent of students in traditional public schools — a small but notable gap.

Dealing with discipline

National
May 25, 2017

Former Newark schools chief Cami Anderson’s new mission: getting schools to rethink student discipline

After a rocky tenure as superintendent of the Newark Public Schools, Cami Anderson is now working with charter networks and school districts to reform…

student discipline

Tennessee
May 25, 2017

Frustrated with high suspension rates, Memphis schools shift to restorative justice

Taking a cue from Nashville, Memphis school leaders are working to change the way their educators discipline students in Shelby County Schools.

Discipline matters

Tennessee
October 25, 2016

Tennessee students more likely to be suspended if they’re black boys — or live in Memphis

The latest data shows half of suspensions in the 2014-15 school year were handed out in just 8 percent of schools, many of which serve black students in Memphis.

discipline debate

New York
August 11, 2016

What’s next for the city’s controversial proposal to ban suspensions for grades K-2?

The new policy is expected to take effect sometime this fall, but members of the public can still weigh in.

School discipline

Colorado
August 10, 2016

Colorado’s suspension rate may not be as high as recent report found

The number of suspensions more than doubled in those Colorado districts.

First Person

New York
July 26, 2016

Yes, teachers do want safer schools, and ending suspensions is an important step

The lives of black youth matter, and we have to keep them in the classroom.

Student Voices

New York
May 11, 2016

Why should schools move away from suspensions? We asked student activists to weigh in

Over pizza one recent afternoon, a group of students from high schools that have adopted new discipline approaches explain what has changed.

First Person

New York
April 28, 2016

First Person: How can we teach students to be productive members of a community by removing them from it?

As public school educators, we cannot allow for our frustrations with the sloppy rollout of restorative practices in New York City to justify a call for punitive discipline.

Code Switch

New York
April 20, 2016

As New York City’s suspension rate falls, some educators see a parallel dip in discipline

Some teachers say schools are not giving suspensions even when they're warranted, and their union says teachers need more training and support.

a c+ for dps

Colorado
April 11, 2016

Denver Public Schools pledges to address student discipline concerns

Acting DPS chief Susana Cordova made the promises in response to a new report that highlights racial disparities, concerns about underreporting of data, other issues.

how low will they go?

New York
March 31, 2016

School suspensions continue to drop sharply under de Blasio

Schools gave out 31 percent fewer suspensions in the first half of this school year than they did in 2014.
Indiana
March 8, 2016

Viral video of a teacher tearing a student's paper sparks renewed school discipline debate

In the weeks since a viral video exposed what critics described as “no excuses” gone too far, parents and educators across the country have rekindled a debate about how far is too far when it comes to punishing kids.
New York
March 7, 2016

‘No excuses’ no more? Charter schools rethink discipline after focus on tough consequences

As the charter sector grows, some school leaders say they're tweaking behavioral codes slightly as they search for the right balance.
Indiana
February 18, 2016

A strong push is needed to make discipline more fair for all students, panelists say

About 70 people, including the mayor and superintendent, gathered for a conversation on school equity.
New York
February 18, 2016

As de Blasio pushes fewer suspensions, advocacy group attacks school safety record

An advocacy group known for its opposition to de Blasio’s education policies says the mayor misled the public about a drop in violence in New York City schools.
Indiana
December 3, 2015

An app to track behavior is one tool schools are using to promote fairer discipline

Two Teach Plus groups work to find strategies to reduce high discipline rates for black and Hispanic students.
New York
November 13, 2015

De Blasio faces questions about class size, discipline, and testing at town hall

Members of the public grilled the mayor on crowded classes and school discipline during a two-hour-plus education forum Thursday night.

scanning shifts

New York
November 2, 2015

New wave of discipline changes could pave way to reduce number of school metal detectors

The plans continue his administration’s effort to shift the school system away from discipline policies that remove misbehaving students from school.

By the numbers

New York
October 30, 2015

School suspensions fall sharply, but continue to land most heavily on black students

Schools gave out about 9,000 fewer suspensions in 2014-15 than in the previous academic year.

school rules

New York
October 9, 2015

Coalition proposes sweeping changes to state’s school discipline law to reduce suspensions

The changes would also require schools to consider alternatives to suspension, including methods meant to de-escalate conflict.
Indiana
July 28, 2015

IPS aims to scale back suspensions and expulsions

Teachers will get guidance on how to interpret the new student code of conduct.

next steps

New York
July 23, 2015

City task force recommends new ways to reduce school suspensions

A fraction of schools accounts for an outsize portion of serious school punishments, according to a new report.
Indiana
July 22, 2015

New law encourages use of grants, data to improve discipline

House Bill 1635 requires city schools disaggregate discipline data by factors such as race and gender. It also offers grants for those that adopt new discipline models.
Indiana
July 10, 2015

Discipline reporting changes could explain why black children are suspended more

Beginning in 2016, schools will have new categories to choose from when reporting their discipline data in an effort to make the data more specific.
New York
April 21, 2015

What Eva Moskowitz gets wrong about restorative discipline

A teacher turned discipline researcher says that, contrary to what Moskowitz argues, “restorative schools” achieve joy, safety, and learning while suspending few students.

Where We Stand

Colorado
April 10, 2015

Report: Students of color still more likely to face harsh discipline in Colorado schools

Harsh disciplinary actions were less common in Colorado schools during the 2013-14 school year than in previous ones, according to a report.

maintaining the spotlight

New York
April 6, 2015

Success Academy: A guide to the city’s largest, most controversial charter-school network

There has been an ongoing fascination with the city’s largest and most polarizing charter school network as it grows in size and in scope within the education landscape.
New York
March 31, 2015

Suspensions down 10 percent this school year as city prepares to apply new policies

Suspensions in city schools over the first seven months of the school year are down 10 percent compared to that period last year, officials said Tuesday.
New York
March 18, 2015

Fariña on McDonald’s beating: ‘outraged would be an understatement’

"What I saw on that video served as a stark reminder that our young people need more than an academic education in our schools," Fariña wrote.

School discipline

Tennessee
February 23, 2015

Students suspended at an ‘alarmingly high’ rate in Memphis, report says

More than 40 percent of all black middle and high school students in Memphis were suspended at least once during the 2011-12 school year – an "alarmingly high" rate, say authors of a new statistical analysis.

in focus

New York
February 23, 2015

Suspensions at city charter schools far outpace those at district schools, data show

Charter schools suspended 11 percent of their students in 2011-12.
New York
February 23, 2015

How Chalkbeat analyzed district and charter-school suspensions

Here’s what we considered in our analysis of charter school suspension data.

new approach

New York
February 13, 2015

Long-awaited discipline policy changes further restrict suspensions, restraints

The plan includes a new review process for suspensions for insubordination, though advocates say there's more to be done.

Rethinking Discipline

New York
February 11, 2015

Council Speaker adds high-profile voice to calls for school discipline reform

Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito said Wednesday that she will push the city to further reduce suspensions.
Indiana
January 28, 2015

Educators worry legislature's effort to cut red tape could go too far

When are state rules for schools "distractions" or "red tape" and when do they matter to protecting kids or helping them learn?

By the numbers

New York
October 31, 2014

Spring suspensions drop as overall figures hold steady

Virtually the same number of students were suspended in 2013-14 as were suspended the year before, ending a recent trend of steep declines, according to new data from the Department of Education.

arrested development

New York
October 29, 2014

City dragging its feet on school discipline overhaul, NYCLU says

Children as young as five are still being handcuffed in schools too often, advocates say, and there's been no word from the city about promised changes.

Rethinking Discipline

New York
September 3, 2014

Changes to school discipline policies delayed again

Unlike in years past, the Department of Education will not make any updates to the discipline code as the school year begins this week.
New York
June 25, 2014

As discipline code revisions delayed, advocates want some suspensions banned

Advocates want the revised code to ban suspensions for Infraction B21, or “defying or disobeying authority.”

a different approach

New York
June 23, 2014

As city prepares to rethink school discipline, a look at restorative justice programs in action

What do restorative justice practices look like in action at Validus Preparatory Academy?

discipline policy

New York
June 20, 2014

City preparing to expand restorative justice programs

The city is poised to dramatically expand restorative justice programs aimed at improving school climate and rethinking school discipline next year.
Colorado
June 20, 2014

Rise & Shine: Rural school district to push for waivers from reforms

New York
May 21, 2014

An overlooked part of fixing school discipline policies: reducing fear

A behavior coach and former Bronx school administrator argues that overhauling teachers understand misbehavior and interact with their toughest students is key to improving school discipline policies.
Colorado
April 22, 2014

Fewer expulsions but huge racial disparities in Denver’s discipline numbers

Denver Public School’s disciplinary actions overwhelming target students of color, according to a report released Tuesday. The report was produced…

Policing the Schools

Colorado
March 28, 2014

School suspensions, expulsions down but racial disparities still exist in Colorado schools

"The country has been watching us," said State Sen. Linda Newell. "I'm ecstatic we're already seeing positive results. But our work is not done. We need to ensure our children walk out with a diploma, not a criminal record."
New York
January 24, 2014

What it took for me to start listening to my “difficult” students

Teacher Sarah Camiscoli writes that it wasn’t until several months into her first year teaching, after her relationship with one student had soured, that she began to recognize the role inexperienced teachers play in pushing students out of classrooms instead of finding ways to keep them in.
New York
October 31, 2013

Suspensions fall, but disparities for some students persist

Student suspensions have plummeted in the last school year, but the rate is falling more slowly for black students and students with special needs, according to an analysis of new disciplinary data released  by the Department of Education. A total of 53,465 suspensions were handed out to students in the 2012-2013 school year, a 23 percent decrease over the 2011-2012 school year, when nearly students received nearly  70,000 suspensions. That's a significantly larger decline since the numbers began dropping in 2011-2012, after a new transparency law began requiring the city to release detailed data about suspensions and student safety. "Sunshine is a great medicine," said Johanna Miller, advocacy director at New York Civil Liberties Union, which pushed for the transparency laws in 2010.
New York
August 23, 2013

Quinn calls for principals to have more school discipline power

Mayoral candidate Christine Quinn shakes the hand of Cheyanne Smith, who will be a senior at the Bushwick School for Social Justice and has worked with the Urban Youth Collaborative. Mayoral candidate and City Council Speaker Christine Quinn called for principals to have more control over disciplinary decisions in schools. But she stopped short of saying she would transfer full authority back to principals from the New York Police Department. While the Bloomberg administration has famously considered principals to be the CEOs of their schools, principals’ authority does not extend to safety agents, who since 1998 have been under the authority of the New York Police Department in an arrangement that advocates say breeds tension. Some Democratic candidates for mayor have said they would restore authority to principals if elected. But Quinn said she would seek a healthy balance between the NYPD and educators' influence in school discipline. "I think you want the school safety agents to also have NYPD training, you want them to also have that focus," she said at a press conference at City Hall today. "But we want the majority of focus and we want final decisions to be made by the principals. That's critical."
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