EXPLORE: Weekly PodcastCA State Supt. of Schools RaceGetting Down to Facts

Tag: Suspensions and Expulsions
September 20, 2018

Suspensions in California schools drop, but trouble spots remain

Instruction days lost to suspensions dropped nearly by half from 2011-12 to 2016-17, according to a new report. But African American and Native American students -- and students with disabilities -- are still suspended at disproportionately high rates.

David Washburn
September 17, 2018

Reversing 760,000 lost days of learning in our schools

Schools must be both creative and effective at responding to discipline problems.

Pedro A. Noguera and Joseph P. Bishop
September 4, 2018

Expanded suspension ban gets approval from California Legislature

The bill passed Friday would expand the current ban, which covers grades K-3, to grades K-8. However, Gov. Jerry Brown, who several years ago vetoed a similar bill, has yet to signal support.

David Washburn
August 31, 2018

The price of punishment — new report shows students nationwide lost 11 million school days due to suspensions

The report, based on federal government data from 2015-16, also found that racial disparities in suspensions remain an acute problem. Nationwide, African-American students lost five times as many days as white students.

David Washburn
July 25, 2018

Improving California school environments focus of pilot program

UCLA and two county education departments are collaborating to train teachers and administrators throughout the state on alternatives to traditional discipline.

David Washburn
June 21, 2018

Discipline reform gets boost in California budget

Efforts to expand California's ban on suspending students for “willful defiance," now limited to K-3 grades, also still in play.

David Washburn
June 4, 2018

Will state budget deal include expanded ban on 'willful defiance' suspensions?

Tucked inside Gov. Jerry Brown’s May Revision of the state budget is a proposal to extend California's ban on suspensions for “willful defiance” in early elementary grades.

David Washburn
May 15, 2018

Resources often don't match rhetoric for restorative justice in California schools

While awareness of restorative justice is high among school officials statewide, budgets for programs remain tiny in most school districts.

David Washburn
May 13, 2018

The rise of restorative justice in California schools brings promise, controversy

Many tout the practice as a groundbreaking alternative to zero-tolerance policies and a way to alleviate discipline disparities, while some say it's being oversold as a quick fix.

David Washburn and Daniel J. Willis
March 21, 2018

California tops in suspension reform, but still not properly targeting disparities, report says

The report finds no other state does a better job than California at holding districts accountable for reducing overall school suspensions. But districts still don't adequately prioritize cuts in suspension rates for students of color and other marginalized groups.

David Washburn
March 13, 2018

Linking a school massacre to Obama-era school discipline policies

President Trump suggests that federal guidelines put forward by the Obama administration encouraging alternatives to suspension and expulsion somehow contributed to the Parkland school massacre.

Louis Freedberg
February 20, 2018

Suspension rates for black male students in California higher for foster youth, rural students

Study finds African-American students make up just over 5 percent of California’s public school enrollment, but account for nearly 18 percent of suspensions, with black boys and young men accounting for most of those.

Lee Romney
February 15, 2018

Countdown to expand ban on ‘willful defiance’ suspensions in California schools

With the current ban on such suspensions for grades K-3 set to expire in July, a bill that would expand the ban to include all schools is making its way through the state Legislature.

David Washburn
January 24, 2018

California leaders must act to extend progress on school discipline

Legislature has until July 1 to extend ban on suspending students for willful defiance of school authorities, a category that is used too often to punish students for minor infractions

Robert Ross
November 8, 2017

California moves to curtail expelling children from preschool — yes, preschool

California is part of a national effort to restrict pushing children out of preschool for disruptive behavior.

Lee Romney