SFUSD: ALTERNATIVE TO SUSPENSION
DRAFT
Stand Up & Rise Up: Saturday School Academy
6th through 12th grades
STAND UP AND RISE UP: SATURDAY SCHOOL ACADEMY
Traditional punitive measures are best set
aside if there are alternative means to
address the problem situation (Monk 2010).
QUESTIONS POSED TO
HIGH SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS
 Brainstorm a creative name for the Saturday School.
 How do you envision using the Saturday School Academy?
 What do you consider as constructive activities for students attending
the Saturday Academy as an alternative to suspension from school?
CREATIVE NAMES PROPOSED
 Opportunity School
 Community School
 Reaffirmation School
 Breakfast Club
 Alternative Saturday Academy
 Changing Academy
 Horizons
THEMES THAT EMERGED FROM QUESTIONS POSED TO HS PRINCIPALS
& ASSIST PRINCIPALS ON ALTERNATIVES TO SUSPENSION
 RESTORATIVE PRACTICE APPROACH
 RTI – SERVICES ORIENTED
 MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
 COMMUNITY SERVICE COMPONENTS
 PARENT INVOLVEMENT
 ACADEMIC/CURRICULUM APPROACH
 REFLECTIVE COMPONENT/RESTORE HARM DONE
 REDIRECTION TO IMPROVE BEHAVIOR/ACADEMICS
 COULD ADDRESS SUSPENSIONS UNRELATED TO 5-MANDORTOY
SUSPENSIONS
 CAPACITY
DESIGN OF THE SATURDAY ACADEMY
The following is proposed:
 Opening day: February 15th, 2014
 Instructional Hours: 9:00am - 12:00pm
 Restorative Practices: A central premise of Restorative
Practice is that people are happier, more cooperative,
productive, more likely to make positive changes in their
behavior and improve academic learning when those in
positions of authority do things with them, rather than to
them or for them (Monk 2010).
DESIGN OF THE SATURDAY ACADEMY
Curriculum is designed for two to three days of
suspensions
A needs assessment will be conducted for each
student – parent involvement is desired
Behavioral/Socio-emotional needs/Nutrition
Choices in programs offered
Academic needs (review of assignments from
school-site)
REFERENCES
 Monk, G. (2010). Building a restorative practice curriculum in the
middle and high schools in the U.S. San Diego State University.