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Improving School Climate: Alternative Approaches to

Discipline

Karen Webber Ndour Office of Student Support and Safety

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Alternatives to Suspension: What are they and why do we

need them?

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MATH READING

Students Who Have Been Suspended Scored Lower on Tests

2013 MSA

NOTE: Beginning in 2009, Mod-MSA was reported with MSA totals

NOTE: Ns refer to the total number of students who took the MSA

31,471 2,009 893 31,516 2,021 901N =No

Suspensions 1 Suspension 2+ Suspensions

No Suspensions 1 Suspension 2+

Suspensions

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NOTE: *SY1213 suspension data are preliminary, unofficial, and subject to change

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SCHOOLS WITH HIGHER RATES OF SUSPENSION:

Lower academic quality ratings regardless of student demographics

Spend disproportionate time on discipline

Pay less attention to school climate

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Skiba ,R.J & Rausch, M.K. (2006). Zero tolerance, suspension, and expulsion: Questions of equity and effectiveness. In C.M. Evertson & C.S. 

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Research indicates that Alternatives to Suspension:

Reduce school disciplinary problems Also increases and supports a positive school climate. 

(Skiba ,R.J & Rausch, M.K. (2006). Zero tolerance, suspension, and expulsion: Questions of equity and effectiveness. In C.M. Evertson & C.S.) 

CLIMATE AND ALTERNATIVES TO SUSPENSION

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WHAT WE THINK SUSPENSIONS ACCOMPLISH6

I L E A R N E D

M Y L E S S O N

I WILL NEVER DO IT

AGAIN

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WHAT SUSPENSIONS ACTUALLY ACCOMPLISH

I J U S T B E AT M Y H I G H

S C O R E

“Hey girl, What are you doing after school?”

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What are some of the most common ways that we respond to challenging behaviors

Sending students to the office

DetentionPlacing students outside the

classroom in the hallwaySuspension In-school Suspension Refusing to accept students

back in class without a parent teacher conference

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Shifting the MindsetThere is a need for adults to shift the way we think about student behavior.

Modeling the desired behavior actually has an impact

Appropriate behavior can actually be taught

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Moving from punitive...10

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...to restorative 11

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Punitive Responses Restorative Responses

Focusing on the offender

Assigning blame to the wrong doer

Imposing harsh punishment

Social Injury (shaming/ demoralizing)

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Addressing all persons harmed

Holding wrong doer accountable

Repairing the harm done/restitution

Becoming a stronger member of the community

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There are many successful alternative approaches to discipline

They all have these components in common

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Alternatives to

Suspension

Student Voice

Restorative

Accountability

Relationships

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Student Voice

“Too many schools operate under the false assumption that the quality and character of schools can be shaped by adults alone.”

(How Listening to Students Can Help Schools to Improve, Pedro A. Noguera, PhD. , professor New York University.)

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B A LT I M O R E S U N M A R C H 2 , 2 0 0 5

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RelationshipsAlternatives to Suspensions build:

Student-

student relationships

Adult-student relationships

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Gaylord, V., Quinn, M., McComas, J., & Lehr, C. (Eds.). (2005). Impact: Feature Issue on Fostering Success in School

(Skiba R.J., Peterson, R.L. & Williams, T. (January, 1999). The dark side of zero tolerance: Can punishment lead to safe schools? Phi Delta Kappan, 80(5), 372-381)

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Accountability

Students must understand what they did wrong.

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Restorative 1. Everyone

affected comes together

2. Everyone has a voice

3. Everyone agrees

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THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE ON SUSPENSIONS

As positive climate increases

the need for suspensions decreases

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Questions

Comments

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WHAT ARE WE ALREADY DOING?20

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Alternatives to Suspension21

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School Climate

“There is considerable evidence that a history of school suspension does one of two things – either it puts a child on the path toward delinquency or it accelerates his journey there.”(Report of the Task Force on the Education of Maryland’s African American Males, 2006)

(Report of the Task Force on the Education of Maryland’s African American Males, 2006)

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ALTERNATIVES TO SUSPENSION IS A SHIFT IN THINKING

ALL STUDENTS CAN CHANGE

Take Aways

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