Rethinking suspensions to keep kids learning

08-03-2011

Commentary by Jane Sundius and Faith Connolly/Education Week

Jane Sundius is the director for the education and youth-development program at the Open Society Institute-Baltimore. Faith Connolly is the executive director of the Baltimore Education Research Consortium

Much of the discussion about education reform today centers on increasing the time that students spend learning. Extended days, Saturday school, summer learning programs, and even year-round-school initiatives all reflect the urgency of time on task. Yet many school districts are frittering away valuable instructional time with discipline codes that literally push the most vulnerable kids out of school. Last month’s report on nearly 1 million Texas students underscores the consequences of such strict discipline. More than half the students had been suspended at least once between 7th and 12th grade. Those suspended repeatedly were more likely to become involved in the juvenile-justice system, be retained a grade, and drop out of high school. They also missed a lot of school: (more...)

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