CFN 204 School Counselor and Deans Meeting Suspensions and Safety Procedures November 2012 David Abbott Director of Student Services CFN 204 · Diane Foley

CFN 204School Counselor and Deans Meeting

Suspensions and Safety Procedures

November 2012

David Abbott Director of Student Services

CFN 204 · Diane Foley · Network Leader


What would you do???

A student reports to you that he/she witnessed another student place stink bombs in their book bag on the school bus.

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Chancellors Regulation A-432Search and Seizure

Done with Dignity-Not all Searches Yield Contraband Must be reasonable suspicion of violation of law or school rules and

regulations.

Search must be conducted by SSA in the presence of principal/designee.

Search must be conducted in a location designated by the principal/designee.

Student must first be questioned whether he/she has anything in his/her possession which is not permitted to in school.

If student declines, or denies, principal shall direct the SSA to search the student. (To the maximum extent, the search shall be conducted by a SSA of the same sex as the student being searched.)

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Done with Dignity-Not all Searches Yield Contraband If object is found, SSA will first ask student to remove object. If the

student refuses to remove the object, the SSA shall remove it.

In the event of an emergency which requires immediate intervention to protect the safety and security of the school community or any individual, a SSA may search a student provided the SSA has reasonable suspicion to believe that a student has violated or is violating the law or school rules and regulations. Once the emergency situation is under control, the SSA shall immediately take the student to the principal/designee and advise the principal/designee of the situation.

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Done with Dignity-Not all Searches Yield Contraband

Under no circumstances shall a strip-search of a student be conducted!!!

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Discovery of Contraband Where a student is found to be in possession of illegal contraband, the

appropriate procedures must be followed for notification of the police and arrest of the student (CR A-412)

Where the police arrest a student for possession of illegal contraband or illegal contraband is found on school property, the police will take custody of and voucher the seized item.

School officials must request a copy of the NYPD voucher.

If a school needs the contraband as evidence in a superintendent’s suspension hearing, the principal/designee should contact the BSD, Borough Safety Director, who will make the necessary arrangements.

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SuspensionsStudent Safety Act (2010)

Citywide Suspension Rates

2010-2011: 73,441

2011-2012: 69,643

Reduction of 5%

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SuspensionsThe Good News…

CFN 204 Suspension Reductions 2010-11 to 2011-2012

Principal Suspensions: 2010-748 2011-610

Reduction of 18%

Superintendent Suspensions: 2010-154 2011-115

Reduction of 25%

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Why the Decline?

Organizational Vs. Philosophical

• Changes in the Discipline Code

• Greater focus on Restorative Practices and Classroom Interventions – Positive Learning Community

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CFN 204 · Diane Foley · Network Leader 10


Disproportionality

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What subcategory of students are suspended the most?

New York City Department of Education has been cited by New York State Education Department for disproportionality under state performance plan (SPP) indicator 4B for six consecutive years for the overrepresentation of Black students with disabilities suspended for more than 10 days.

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Disproportionality is…

The overrepresentation of a specific group in special education programs relative to the presence of this group in the overall student population, and/or the under-representation of a specific group in accessing intervention services, resources, programs, rigorous curriculum and instruction relative to the presence of this group in the overall student population.

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Disproportionality occurs when students are:

• Overrepresented in special education services due to inappropriate referrals to special education

• Underrepresented in intervention services, resources, access to programs, and rigorous curriculum and instruction-either through placements in more restrictive special education placements or discipline policies that remove students from school

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Disproportionality in 2011-2012

Black Students: 28.1% of Total NYC Student Body

Black Students: Comprise 52.8% of Students Suspended in NYC

Students with IEPS: 12% of Total NYC Student Body

Students with IEPS: Comprise 32.6% of Students Suspended in NYC

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Teacher Expectations and Misconceptions (Beliefs)

Ferguson (2001) finds that while the misbehaviors of White boys are often viewed as simply “naughty,” similar behaviors done by Black boys are “adultified” and regarded as more serious in comparison.

Teachers form judgments about students (both consciously and unconsciously) based on race, gender, size, and movement style (Andrews et al. 19997; Neal et al., 2003; Rist, 1970)

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Questions to Consider???

• Do our schools have the necessary tools to address disproportionality?

• Does the school staff truly believe that all of our students can learn academically and behaviorally?

• What interventions do our schools have in place in their classrooms? How do we examine these interventions?

• Are there any patterns that we can draw from the data within our schools?

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Moving Forward…

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The 8 Principles of Culturally Responsive Practices:

1. Communication of High Expectations

2. Active Teaching Methods

3. Practitioner as Facilitator

4. Inclusion of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Students

5. Cultural Sensitivity

6. Reshaping the Curriculum or Delivery of Services

7. Student-Controlled Discourse

8. Small Group Instruction

From Ladson-Billings, G (1994)

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When in Doubt:

PUT IN OORS!!!

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Documents

CFN 204 School Counselor and Deans Meeting Suspensions and Safety Procedures November 2012 David Abbott Director of Student Services CFN 204 · Diane Foley