1

1
Strategies to Reduce Suspensions

• Los Angeles Unified School District
• LOCAL DISTRICT 5

2
STRATEGIES TO REDUCE SUSPENSIONS

• GARFIELD FAMILY - ELEMENTARY
• Primary Cause
• Threat/cause physical injury
• Disruption/defiance
• Possible Reasons
• Poor impulse control
• Situations/conflict outside of school which
  overflows/carries over into school
• Lack of social skills
• Lack of parental supervision/role models
• Parent approval of eye for an eye
• Bullying unchecked or glorified by students
• Actions/Strategies to Reduce Suspensions
• Clear expectations
• Progressive discipline program with clear and
  consistent consequences
• Personalization in order to reveal possible
  external influences
• Consistent acknowledgement of appropriate
  behavior

3
STRATEGIES TO REDUCE SUSPENSIONS

• GARFIELD FAMILY - SECONDARY
• Main Reasons for Suspension
• Disruption and defiance
• Possible Reasons
• Students are trying to build a reputation
• Street credibility
• Establishing a social identity vs. an academic
  identity
• 8th grade teachers expectations traditional,
  parent voice unrealistic
• Teachers lack of understanding of forming
  learning relationships for students
• Students lack of vocabulary to be able to
  negotiate non-verbal actions
• are interpreted in attitudes
• Lack of understanding of students developmental
  stage
• Teachers expecting students to meet the teaching
  needs vs. teachers adjusting to learning needs of
  students
• Pay-off is too far in the future
• Transition period
• Lack of quality instruction
• We do not teach students how to learn

4
STRATEGIES TO REDUCE SUSPENSIONS

• GARFIELD FAMILY SECONDARY
• (continues)
• ACTIONS/STRATEGIES TO REDUCE SUSPENSIONS
• SST
• Positive behaviors need to be taught to students
• Teach students how to learn and behave in
  classroom setting
• Teach teachers about the developmental stages of
  our students and how to deal with their behaviors

5
STRATEGIES TO REDUCE SUSPENSIONS
JEFFERSON FAMILY

• Do not suspend because students do not bring
  materials to school. Find a different way of
  dealing with the situation.
• Pairing students with teachers whenever possible.
  Make a conscious assignment of students to a
  class and a specific teacher.
• Organize instructionally to meet the needs of
  students.
• Break up groups that have needs when possible.
• Make teachers accountable Have a list of items
  that a teacher has tried before sending students
  to the principal.
• Have a discipline policy in place and enforce the
  policy.
• Work with teachers on personalization How to
  have a conversation with students and parents.
• Give teachers tools to deal with students
• Help staff understand that children go through
  stages and changes and what these stages/changes
  are.
• Work with students in small groups to change
  behavior.

What actions/strategies can staff use to reduce
suspensions?
Professional Development for teachers
6
STRATEGIES TO REDUCE SUSPENSIONS

• LINCOLN FAMILY
• Identify other activities that can take place
  during lunch for students
• Professional development for faculty that have a
  difficult time working with students
• Share ideas among schools that work via a Family
  News Letter
• Elementary schools will revisit the Monday
  Morning Assembly idea as a way of reiterating the
  site expectations of students being Responsible,
  Respectful, Ready
• Training of support staff on how to deal with
  difficult children (assistance from Office of
  Special Education needed)

7
STRATEGIES TO REDUCE SUSPENSIONS

• ROOSEVELT FAMILY
• Student expectations up front.
• School-wide comprehensive discipline plan.
• Policies for common areas.
• M.S. teachers need to be trained in the
  characteristics of the young adolescent.
• Build relationships
• Build community training of teachers in classroom
  management.
• Back in control CBOs Partner with community
• Parent Training, Parent Academics
• 40 developmental assets
• Forming collaborative with other schools and
  CBOs
• Special Ed needs to provide training before
  ED/Autistic Classes are placed.
• Coordinate Services to IWEN students by Special
  Ed. Unit.
• Referrals need to be explicit.
• Early intervention Peer Mediation HEART

Middle School - most students are suspended for
defiance and disruption. Elementary, most
students are suspended for physical injury and
verbal threat.
8
STRATEGIES TO REDUCE SUSPENSIONS

• SANTEE FAMILY
• Train Deans on how to work with students
  (district-wide).
• In-school suspensions with packets
  (instructional).
• Culture of School How do we work with students
  at this school?
• Parent involvement is critical (Building
  relationships)!

Students at all grade levels are taught
age-appropriate social and emotional skills. The
Second Step curriculum at fourth and fifth grade,
for example, addresses empathy training, impulse
control, conflict resolution and problem solving
as well as anger management. Post Second Step
Posters in every classroom Calming Yourself
Down, How to Solve Problems, and What to Do When
You Are Angry Use the Second Step Parent
component in meetings/trainings with all parents
prior to problems occurring. Administrators
assure that all classrooms are well-managed to
reduce the conditions that contribute to student
misbehavior. Administrators analyze office
referrals as they would other data to determine
where the locations or conditions exist which
contribute to behavior infractions. If
necessary, administrators should consult with
high-referral teachers to problem-solve
strategies to improve behavior.
9
STRATEGIES TO REDUCE SUSPENSIONS
SANTEE FAMILY - continues

• Implement a schoolwide positive behavior program
  where
• Positive student behavior or behavior improvement
  is consistently recognized and affirmed by all
  adults on the campus
• There are clear, consistent expectations for
  student behavior accepted and understood by
  students and adults
• Appropriate student behavior is explicitly taught
  during instructional time across the school
• If necessary, specific target behaviors are
  reviewed and/or retaught during difficult periods
  of the year, e.g., before a holiday vacation
• Reminders of desired behavior are posted in
  selected common areas of the school, e.g.,
  correct cafeteria behavior is posted as a
  reminder in the cafeteria
• All school supervisors are taught active
  supervision strategies, e.g., moving around the
  supervision area, scanning the entire supervision
  area, neutral demeanor etc.
• Provide positive leadership experiences for
  special education students, e.g., play leaders,
  cross age tutoring.

Develop recess/lunch assignments to maximize the
entire yard and mix grade levels
10
STRATEGIES TO REDUCE SUSPENSIONS

• WILSON FAMILY
• Why do we suspend students?
• Safety issues
• Used as last resort
• Used as a deterrent
• To get parents attention
• Alternatives to suspension
• Identify role models to work with students
  individually.
• Provide Health and Human Services support
• Use city resources, involve the community
• Look at referrals - should include steps taken
  prior to making the referral
• Talk to teachers and parents
• Change school culture
• Safe and Civil schools
• Second step
• Lee Cantors Assertive Discipline
• Farmdale 5