DISCIPLINARY PRACTICES UPDATE Student Support Initiatives 2013-14 2 Current State of Affairs • Arrests (2011-12) 1,062 school-related; 754 misdemeanors Between July 2012 and February 2013 • Broward – 562 school-related arrest • 8% Reduction From Previous Year • Palm Beach 41% Reduction • Dade 17% Reduction • Florida 15% Reduction 3 Current State of Affairs /Broward Total Number of Suspensions By Student Race/Ethnicity (2011-12) 70,000 60,000 50,000 40,000 Black Hispanic White 30,000 20,000 10,000 0 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 4 Current State of Affairs /Broward Incidents Resulting In A Suspension (2011-12) 35,000 30,000 25,000 20,000 15,000 10,000 5,000 Black Hispanic White 0 5 Percentage of Expulsion Abeyance Placement Among General Education Students MF - 0 MM - .5 IF - 0 IM - .5 AF - 0 AM - 1 WF - 5 WM - 17 HF - 4 HM - 13 BF - 11 BM - 48 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 6 Percentage of Expulsion Abeyance Placement Among Exceptional Education Students MF - 0 MM - 0 IF - 0 IM - 0 AF - 0 AM - 0 WF - 2 WM - 16 HF - 4 HM - 17 BF - 6 BM - 55 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 7 Frequency of Expulsion Abeyance Events Among General Education Students 2012-2013 School Year V.A.3.r - False Report Bomb Threat V.A.3.p - Extortion -1 V.A.3.k - Battery on SB Employee - 1 V.A.3.j - Serious Battery - 19 V.A.3.h - Robbery / Attempted Robbery - 13 V.A.3.d - Class A Weapon - 27 V.A.3.c - Sexual Battery - 2 V.A.3.a - Serious Assault - 2 IV.A.7 - Class B Weapon - 2 IV.A.6 - Grand Theft - 1 IV.A.5 - Campus Disruption - 4 IV.A.3 - Battery - 3 IV.A.2 - Assault - 7 III.C - Transmittal of Substances - 21 III.B.1 - Unauthorized Substance - 14 III.A.3 - 3rd Offense Drugs - 1 III.A.2 - 2nd Offense Drugs - 52 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 8 Frequency of Expulsion Abeyance Events Among Exceptional Education Students 2012-2013 School Year V.A.3.k - Battery on SB Employee - 2 V.A.3.j - Serious Battery - 9 V.A.3.h - Robbery / Attempted Robbery - 2 V.A.3.d - Class A Weapon - 8 V.A.3.a - Serious Assault - 4 IV.A.5 - Substantial Campus Disruption - 2 IV.A.3 - Battery - 2 IV.A.2 - Assault - 1 IV.A.1 - Serious Breach of Conduct - 2 III.C - Transmittal of Substance - 4 III.B.1 - Unauthorized Substance - 2 III.A.2 - 2nd Offense Drugs - 13 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 9 Arrest Data By Race Between July 2012 and February 2013 500 450 400 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0 Race 10 The Hard Facts…. • 2011- Broward County had the highest number of school-related arrests in the State of Florida • Broward County Public Schools is a major contributor to the school to prison pipeline in Florida • Black and Brown males disproportionately affected • We can’t ignore the facts…We MUST Act! 11 Myths • Schools must implement harsh, zero tolerance, “tough on crime” approaches in order to best protect students from harm and keep schools safe. • Police engagement is the most effective means of preventing school violence and making the school environment safe. • Only the most dangerous students end up in court as the result of incidents at school. • Students who are arrested at school or referred to court from school receive needed services from a nonpunitive juvenile system. 12 BCPS Efforts to Address the Issue • District’s Discipline Vision & Mission • Eliminate the Schoolhouse to Jailhouse Pipeline Collaborative Role of Police, Courts, Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, NAACP, Public Defenders Office and State Attorneys Office Collaborative Role of Parents & Community • Engagement of parent & Community, BTU, BPAA • Proposed Memorandum of Understanding Between The School District, law enforcement, and others • Policy Changes 13 Accountability & Liability Principal Discretion Statement: “ School principals have the discretion to deviate from these guidelines by assessing an appropriate consequence other than stated in the Discipline Matrix if he or she determines in his or her sole discretion that there are mitigating or aggravating circumstances” -Superintendent’s Accountability Structure -Council of State Government Justice Center -Advancement Project -Local Advocates -Office of Civil Rights 14 PROMISE Goal: to reduce school related arrests for non-violent misdemeanors Not an option; it is an opportunity Behavior-focused intervention You play a critical role Juvenile Justice System of Care Transition Process Civil Citation Restorative Justice 15 Questions Amalio Nieves, Debra Kearns or Nordia Sappleton 754.321.2568 Al Alexis, Chris Bolden, or Scott Jarvis 754.321.3636 PROMISE at Pine Ridge Education Center • Belinda Hope, Principal • Adrienne Dixson, AP Designee • Lakeshia Flint, AP Designee 16 Resources • Advancement Project advancementproject.org • National School Board Association nsba.org legalclips.nsba.org Publication: Addressing the Out-of-School Suspension Crisis American Federation of Teachers (AFT) National Education Association (NEA) The National Association of Elementary School Principal (NAESP) The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) Numerous National Conferences on this issue 17 Great School Leaders: View discipline as an educative rather than a punitive opportunity Value the students rights to an education and finds them worthy of the investment of time and opportunity to develop academic and appropriate behavior skills Are advocates for social justice Address Equity issues Move the dialogue…by having “Courageous Conversations” Are “champions” for children Be A Champion!