DISCIPLINARY PRACTICES UPDATE Student Support Initiatives

2

Current State of Affairs Arrests  ( ) 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 ( ) 4

Current State of Affairs /Broward Incidents Resulting In A Suspension ( ) 5

Percentage of Expulsion Abeyance Placement Among General Education Students 6

Percentage of Expulsion Abeyance Placement Among Exceptional Education Students 7

Frequency of Expulsion Abeyance Events Among General Education Students School Year 8

Frequency of Expulsion Abeyance Events Among Exceptional Education Students School Year 9

Arrest Data By Race Between July 2012 and February

The Hard Facts… 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 non- punitive 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 Al Alexis, Chris Bolden, or Scott Jarvis 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.orglegalclips.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!