REPORT: Handcuffs on Success: The Extreme School Discipline Crisis in Mississippi Public Schools

7/29/2019 REPORT: Handcuffs on Success: The Extreme School Discipline Crisis in Mississippi Public Schools

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The Extreme School Discipline Crisis in Mississippi Public Schools


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Advancement Project

American Civil Liberties Union of Mississippi

Mississippi State Conference of the NAACP

Mississippi Coalition for the Prevention of Schoolhouse to Jailhouse


3/28 3(ANDCUFFSON3UCCESSs*ANUARY

ExecutiveSummaryMississippi is mired in an extreme school discipline crisis. Across the state, public schools are hindering the success of children and

YOUTHBYEMPLOYINGHARSHANDDESTRUCTIVEDISCIPLINARYPRACTICES4HESEPRACTICESNOTONLYEXCLUDESTUDENTSFROMTHECLASSROOM

THEREBYREDUCINGLEARNINGOPPORTUNITIESBUTEVENWORSE-ISSISSIPPISCHILDRENAREBEINGTRAPPEDINAPIPELINETOPRISONTOOOFTEN

FORTHEMOSTTRIVIALMISBEHAVIORS7HETHERITISADRESSCODEVIOLATIONPROFANELANGUAGEORASCHOOLYARDSCUFmEYOUNGPEOPLE

AREBEINGHERDEDINTOJUVENILEDETENTIONCENTERSANDINTOTHEREVOLVINGDOOROFTHECRIMINALJUSTICESYSTEM3ADLYNONEOFTHISIS

SHOCKING!FTERALLTHE3TATESHARSHAPPROACHTODISCIPLINESTILLALLOWSCORPORALPUNISHMENT)NFACTASONEOFONLYSTATESLEFTTHAT

PERMITTHEPADDLINGOFSTUDENTSINPUBLICSCHOOLS-ISSISSIPPIHASTHEHIGHESTPERCENTAGEOFSTUDENTSBEINGBEATENBYEDUCATORS

&INALLY-ISSISSIPPISTRACKRECORDISBEINGEXPOSED

)N/CTOBERTHE5NITED3TATES$EPARTMENTOF*USTICElLEDSUITAGAINSTTHECITYOF-ERIDIANTHE#OUNTYOF,AUDERDALETWO

YOUTHCOURTJUDGESTHE3TATEOF-ISSISSIPPIANDTWOSTATEAGENCIESFOROPERATINGASCHOOLTOPRISONPIPELINE4HECOMPLAINT

ALLEGESTHATTHESEACTORSAREhENGAG;ING=INAPATTERNORPRACTICEOFUNLAWFULCONDUCTTHROUGHWHICHTHEYROUTINELYAND

SYSTEMATICALLYARRESTANDINCARCERATECHILDRENINCLUDINGFORMINORSCHOOLRULEINFRACTIONSWITHOUTEVENTHEMOSTBASICPROCEDURAL

SAFEGUARDSANDINVIOLATIONOFTHESECHILDRENSCONSTITUTIONALRIGHTSv3 Among other disturbing facts, the complaint alleges

THAT-ERIDIANSCHOOLSREPEATEDLYRESPONDTOINFRACTIONSSUCHAShDISRESPECTvhREFUSALTOFOLLOWDIRECTIONSvANDhPROFANITYvBY

REFERRINGSTUDENTSTOLAWENFORCEMENT4HEYALSOROUTINELYSUSPENDSTUDENTSONJUVENILEPROBATIONRESULTINGINTHEIRAUTOMATIC

INCARCERATIONFORSUCHLOWLEVELBEHAVIORSASUSEOFVULGARLANGUAGEmATULENCEINCLASSANDDRESSCODEINFRACTIONSLIKEHAVINGA

shirt untucked.4

7HILETHESUITISTHEMOSTRECENTEVENTTOSOUNDTHEALARMTHESCHOOLTOPRISONPIPELINEISNOTHINGNEWTO-ISSISSIPPIANDITIS

CERTAINLYNOTUNIQUETO-ERIDIAN)NFACTITISAPROBLEMTHATHASPLAGUED-ISSISSIPPISCHOOLSSTATEWIDEFORYEARS&ORWELLOVERA

DECADEHEARTBREAKINGSTORIESOFEXTREMEDISCIPLINEANDTHECRIMINALIZATIONOFYOUNGPEOPLEHAVEPOUREDOUTOF-ISSISSIPPIPUBLIC

schools.

)NWHATBEGANWITHAFEWSTUDENTSPLAYFULLYTHROWINGPEANUTSATONEANOTHERONASCHOOLBUSENDEDINlVE

"LACK MALE HIGHSCHOOLSTUDENTSBEINGARRESTEDFORFELONYASSAULT WHICH CARRIESA MAXIMUMPENALTY OFlVEYEARS

INPRISON7HENONEOFTHEPEANUTSACCIDENTALLYHITTHEWHITEFEMALEBUSDRIVERTHEBUSDRIVERIMMEDIATELYPULLED

OVERTO CALLTHEPOLICEWHO DIVERTEDTHEBUSTOTHE COURTHOUSEWHERETHESTUDENTSWEREQUESTIONED5

4HE3HERIFFCOMMENTEDTOONENEWSPAPERh;4=HISTIMEITWASPEANUTSBUTIFWEDONTGETAHANDLEONITTHENEXTTIMEITCOULD

BEBODIESv6

Around the same time, for one 4th grade Black girl, minor disrespectful behavior led to her being pushed out of her

SCHOOLENTIRELY!FTERREFUSINGTOPARTICIPATEINACLASSASSIGNMENTSHEWASSUSPENDEDOUTOFSCHOOLFORTHREEDAYS

FORhDElANCEOFAUTHORITYv3UBSEQUENTLYSHEWASGIVENANOTHERTHREEDAYOUTOFSCHOOLSUSPENSIONFORhDElANCEOF

AUTHORITYvFORHUMMINGANDTAPPINGHERDESK4HESCHOOLTHENREFERREDHERTOANALTERNATIVEEDUCATIONPROGRAMFOR

hDRUGRELATEDACTIVITYvWHENSHEWOREONEPANTLEGUPALTHOUGHTHEREWASNOOTHERINDICATIONOFANYINVOLVEMENT

WITHDRUGS7HENTHEALTERNATIVESCHOOLWOULDNOTACCEPTHERBECAUSEITPROVIDEDINSTRUCTIONFORGRADESONLY

the school district promoted her despite her failing grades, in order to get her out of the mainstream school.7

-ORERECENTLYININ3OUTHAVEN$E3OTO#OUNTYARMEDPOLICEOFlCERSRESPONDEDTOANARGUMENTBETWEENTHREE

STUDENTSONASCHOOLBUSBYREPORTEDLYARRESTINGAHALFDOZEN"LACKSTUDENTSCHOKINGANDTACKLINGONE"LACKFEMALE

STUDENTANDTHREATENINGTOSHOOTTHEOTHERSTUDENTSONTHEBUSBETWEENTHEIREYES8

)NONE"LACKMOTHERIN(OLMES#OUNTYREPORTEDOPENINGHERDOORONEMORNINGTOAPOLICEOFlCERONHER

DOORSTEP/VERHISSHOULDERSHECOULDSEEHERFRIGHTENEDlVEYEAROLDSONLOCKEDINTHEBACKSEAT(ERCHILDSCRIME

VIOLATINGTHEDRESSCODE(ERSONSSCHOOLREQUIREDSOLIDBLACKSHOESANDDESPITEHERBESTEFFORTSTOCOVERTHEMWITH

ABLACKMARKERREDANDWHITESYMBOLSWERESTILLVISIBLEONHERSONSBLACKSHOES7HENSHEFOLLOWEDUPWITHHERSONS

PRINCIPALHEJUSTIlEDHISACTIONSBYTELLINGHERTHATHERSONNEEDEDTOBEhTAUGHTALESSONv


4/284 (ANDCUFFSON3UCCESSs*ANUARY

)NIN*ACKSON0UBLIC3CHOOL$ISTRICTUNTILALAWSUITWASlLEDSTAFFATONESCHOOLREGULARLYHANDCUFFEDSTUDENTSTO

METALRAILINGSINTHESCHOOLGYMNASIUMANDLEFTTHEMTHEREFORHOURSIFTHEYWERECAUGHTNOTWEARINGABELTAMONG

OTHERMINORINFRACTIONS&OREXAMPLEONEYEAROLDBOYWASREPORTEDLYHANDCUFFEDTOTHERAILINGWHENHEWOREA

STOCKINGCAPTOCLASSTHREWHISPAPERSONTHEGROUNDANDREFUSEDTODOHISSCHOOLWORK

)NTHELASTFEWYEARSIN -ERIDIANA MALE STUDENTESTIMATEDTHAT HEWENTBACKANDFORTHBETWEENSCHOOLANDTHE

JUVENILEJUSTICESYSTEMTHIRTY TIMES )NthGRADEHEWASPUTONPROBATIONBYAYOUTHCOURTJUDGEFORGETTINGINTO

AlGHT3INCETHENREPORTEDLYANYINFRACTIONEVENSOMEASMINORASBEINGA FEWMINUTESLATETO CLASSOR WEARING

THEWRONGCOLORSOCKSINVIOLATIONOFTHEDRESSCODEWASCOUNTEDASAVIOLATIONOFHISPROBATIONANDRESULTEDIN

immediate suspension and incarceration in the local juvenile detention center.

4HESESTORIESBEGINTOPROVIDEAGLIMPSEINTOTHEDEVASTATINGREALITYOFTHESTUDENTSANDFAMILIESLIVINGIN-ISSISSIPPISSCHOOLTO

PRISONPIPELINE%VERYYEARACROSSTHE3TATEZEROTOLERANCEANDOTHEROVERLYHARSHSCHOOLDISCIPLINARYPOLICIESANDPRACTICESPUSH

TENSOFTHOUSANDSOFSTUDENTSOUTOFSCHOOLCRIMINALIZINGANDINCARCERATINGSTUDENTSFORTRIVIALMISBEHAVIORSANDNORMALAGE

APPROPRIATEMISCONDUCT!ND-ISSISSIPPISEXTREMESCHOOLDISCIPLINECRISISHASBROADREACHINGEFFECTSTHEHARMITCAUSESEXTENDS

EVENBEYOND-ISSISSIPPISCHILDRENANDFAMILIESREACHINGOUTINTOITSCOMMUNITIESTOITSTEACHERSANDLAWENFORCEMENTOFlCIALS

and to the State at large.

4HISREPORTDISCUSSESTHEWAYSINWHICHTHESEEXTREMEANDDESTRUCTIVEAPPROACHESTOSCHOOLDISCIPLINENOTONLYHAVEDIRECTLYHARMEDSTUDENTSANDFAMILIESBUTALSOHAVECAUSEDTEACHERSLAWENFORCEMENTOFlCIALSANDCOMMUNITYMEMBERSTOHAVE

THEIRLIVESANDCAREERSMADEMOREDIFlCULTBYTHESEINEFFECTIVEANDCOUNTERPRODUCTIVESCHOOLDISCIPLINEPOLICIESANDPRACTICES

&URTHERMORETHEENTIRESTATEOF-ISSISSIPPIHASSUFFEREDDAMAGETOITSECONOMICHEALTHANDWELLBEING'IVENTHISTHE3TATESHOULD

ELIMINATEITSSCHOOLTOPRISONPIPELINEANDTHISREPORTPROVIDESRECOMMENDATIONSFORHOWITSHOULDBEGINTODOSO

THE FIRST SECTION OF THE REPORT PROVIDES A BRIEF BACKGROUND ON THE

CURRENT STATE OF SCHOOL DISCIPLINE IN MISSISSIPPI.

)NRECENTYEARSTHELAWENFORCEMENTSTRATEGIESTHATHAVEFUELEDTHEMASSINCARCERATIONCRISISINTHEADULTCRIMINALJUSTICESYSTEM

HAVEBEENINAPPROPRIATELYECHOEDINTHESCHOOLDISCIPLINEPOLICIESAPPLIEDTO-ISSISSIPPISSTUDENTS)N,AUDERDALE#OUNTYFOR

EXAMPLETHESCHOOLDISTRICTSHANDBOOKADOPTSAVERSIONOFMANDATORYMINIMUMSENTENCINGBYREQUIRINGINSCHOOLSUSPENSIONOUTOFSCHOOLSUSPENSIONOREXPULSIONFORMANYOFFENSESEVENSOMEHIGHLYSUBJECTIVEBEHAVIORSLIKEhINSUBORDINATIONv)NTHE

0ASCAGOULA3CHOOL$ISTRICTTHEDISTRICTUSESAhBROKENWINDOWSvSTRATEGYALAWENFORCEMENTSTRATEGYOFAGGRESSIVELYPOLICING

TRADITIONALLYIGNOREDMINOROFFENSESWITHTHEINTENDEDPURPOSEOFPREVENTINGMORESERIOUSCRIMES&OREXAMPLETHEDISTRICTS

DISCIPLINARYPOLICYALLOWSFORANIMMEDIATEOUTOFSCHOOLSUSPENSIONANDORRECOMMENDATIONFOREXPULSIONFORhANYACTIONWHICH

ISDEEMEDDISORDERLYCONDUCTORMISCONDUCTvINCLUDINGMISBEHAVIORASMINORASREFUSALTOGIVEANAME

-ISSISSIPPISCHOOLSARRESTSTUDENTSANDREFERSTUDENTSTOJUVENILEDETENTIONCENTERSATHIGHRATESANDDOSOMOSTLYFORTYPICAL

ADOLESCENTNONVIOLENTBEHAVIOR&OREXAMPLEINONEOF-ISSISSIPPISLARGESTSCHOOLDISTRICTS*ACKSON0UBLIC3CHOOLSONLYOF

ARRESTSONSCHOOLGROUNDSDURINGTHESCHOOLYEARWEREFORBEHAVIORTHATACTUALLYPOSEDASERIOUSTHREATTOSTUDENTS

staff, or the school.)NFACTTHEMOSTPREVALENTOFFENSEACCOUNTINGFORABOUTONETHIRDOFARRESTSONSCHOOLGROUNDSWASTHE

VAGUEANDSUBJECTIVEOFFENSEOFhDISORDERLYCONDUCTv

-ISSISSIPPIS"LACKSTUDENTSAREHITTHEHARDESTBYHARSHDISCIPLINEPRACTICES3TATEWIDETHEYARETHREETIMESMORELIKELYTORECEIVE

ANOUTOFSCHOOLSUSPENSIONTHANTHEIR7HITEPEERSWITHANEVENGREATERDISPARITYINSOMESCHOOLDISTRICTS)N,AWRENCE#OUNTY

FOREXAMPLE"LACKSTUDENTSAREEIGHTTIMESMORELIKELYTORECEIVEANOUTOFSCHOOLSUSPENSIONTHAN7HITESTUDENTS

-ISSISSIPPISTUDENTSAREALSOMORELIKELYTORECEIVEANOUTOFSCHOOLSUSPENSIONTHANSTUDENTSINITSNEIGHBORINGSTATESOF

,OUISIANA'EORGIA!LABAMA4EXASOR!RKANSAS !MONG-ISSISSIPPISSCHOOLDISTRICTSSEVERALHAVETHEDISHONOROFMAINTAINING

OUTOFSCHOOLSUSPENSIONRATESTHATAREOVERNINETIMESHIGHERTHANTHENATIONALAVERAGE


5/28 5(ANDCUFFSON3UCCESSs*ANUARY

THE SECOND SECTION OF THE REPORT EXAMINES HOW THESE HARSH SCHOOL DISCIPLINARY

PRACTICES HAVE UNDERMINED THE WORK OF MISSISSIPPI EDUCATORS AND OVERALL

PROGRESS IN THE STATE EDUCATION SYSTEM.

$ESPITETHESCHOOLREFORMEFFORTSOF-ISSISSIPPISEDUCATORSANDPOLICYMAKERSTHE3TATESGRADUATIONRATESREMAINAMONGTHE

LOWESTINTHECOUNTRY!CCORDINGTO%DUCATION7EEK-ISSISSIPPIRANKSOUTOFTHESTATESFORITSGRADUATIONRATE-ISSISSIPPIS

HARSHDISCIPLINARYPRACTICESARELIKELYUNDERMININGSUCHEFFORTS

!SDISCUSSEDBELOWAGROWINGBODYOFRESEARCHANDDECADESOFEXPERIENCETELLUSTHATTHEOVERUSEANDMISUSEOFHARSHDISCIPLINARYCONSEQUENCESLIKEOUTOFSCHOOLSUSPENSIONEXPULSIONANDREFERRALSTOLAWENFORCEMENTINHIBITSTUDENTACHIEVEMENT

4HEYRESULTINMASSIVEAMOUNTSOFLOSTLEARNINGTIMEANDFREQUENTLYTRIGGERCYCLESOFDISENGAGEMENTFROMSCHOOLANDAN

escalation of rule breaking.3IMPLYPUTTHEREARENOSUCCESSFULSCHOOLSTHATSUSPENDEXPELANDREFERLARGENUMBERSOFSTUDENTS

TOLAWENFORCEMENT

9ETTHEREARENOSTATEWIDEPRESCRIBEDSTANDARDSFORSCHOOLDISCIPLINETHATENSURETHATTHECODESOFSTUDENTCONDUCTIN-ISSISSIPPIS

SCHOOLDISTRICTSMEETBASICSTANDARDSOFFAIRNESSANDCOMMONSENSE4HISLACKOFSTANDARDSALLOWSSCHOOLSTOUSEHARSHAND

EXTREMEPUNISHMENTSFORMINORINFRACTIONS3UCHHARSHANDEXTREMEPUNISHMENTWORKSATCROSSPURPOSESWITHTHE3TATESSCHOOL

IMPROVEMENTEFFORTSANDEDUCATORSEFFORTSTOPROMOTETEACHINGANDLEARNINGINHEALTHYANDPRODUCTIVEWAYS&OREXAMPLE%AST

*ASPER3CHOOL$ISTRICTSMIDDLESCHOOLDISCIPLINEPOLICIESSTATETHATAWIDERANGEOFMINORBEHAVIORSSUCHAShREFUSALTOGIVENAME

UPONREQUESTvORhREFUSALTOCOMPLYWITHGROOMINGRULESvCANRESULTINOUTOFSCHOOLSUSPENSIONFORAlRSTOFFENSEANDLEADTO

expulsion after a third offense.

&URTHERMORETHEHARMFULEFFECTOFHARSHSCHOOLDISCIPLINARYPOLICIESONTHE-ISSISSIPPIEDUCATIONSYSTEMISOFTENEXACERBATEDIN

SCHOOLSWITHAPOLICEANDORSECURITYPRESENCEWHERESTUDENTSAREREGULARLYARRESTEDORREFERREDTOTHEJUVENILEJUSTICESYSTEM!S

DISCUSSEDBELOWRESEARCHHASSHOWNTHATTHESEDYNAMICSPREVENTSCHOOLSFROMBEINGASAFEHAVENFORYOUNGPEOPLELEADINGTO

deepening student resentment and further deterioration of school climate.

THE THIRD SECTION OF THE REPORT DISCUSSES HOW MISGUIDED DISCIPLINARY MEASURES HARM

LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL AND OVERALL PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY.

(ARSHDISCIPLINARYAPPROACHESWORKATCROSSPURPOSESWITHLAWENFORCEMENTEFFORTSTOENFORCELAWSANDPREVENTCRIMEBECAUSE

ITPUTSYOUNGPEOPLEATHOMEWITHOUTADULTSUPERVISIONINCREASESTHELIKELIHOODTHATTHEYWILLENGAGEINFUTUREMISBEHAVIOR

INCREASESTHELIKELIHOODTHATSTUDENTSWILLDROPOUTOFSCHOOLANDINCREASESTHERISKTHATTHEYWILLBEFUNNELEDINTOTHEJUSTICE

SYSTEM

3TUDENTSNEGATIVEORTRAUMATICEXPERIENCESWITHPOLICEOFlCERSINSCHOOLALSORESULTININCREASEDANTAGONISMANDRESENTMENT

TOWARDLAWENFORCEMENTWHICHCONTINUESBEYONDTHESCHOOLHOUSEDOOR4HISCANFRUSTRATETHEEFFORTSOFMANYHIGHQUALITYLAW

ENFORCEMENTOFlCIALSBECAUSEITWEAKENSTHEIRRELATIONSHIPSWITHTHECOMMUNITIESTHEYSERVE)TALSOCOMPROMISESTHEIRSAFETYAS

THEYCONTINUETOWORKINTHESECOMMUNITIES

&INALLYWHERELAWENFORCEMENTOFlCERSAREFOCUSEDONTHENONVIOLENTANDTRIVIALMISBEHAVIORSOFSTUDENTSTHEIRENERGIESARE

DIVERTEDFROMTHESERIOUSCRIMINALBEHAVIORSTHATERODEPUBLICSAFETYANDPUBLICHEALTH



THE FOURTH SECTION OF THE REPORT ADDRESSES HOW HARSH DISCIPLINE WEAKENS MISSISSIPPIS

ECONOMY AND IS COSTLY TO ITS TAXPAYERS.

4HEUSEOFHARSHDISCIPLINARYPOLICIESHASHADANDWILLCONTINUETOHAVEDRAMATICIMPLICATIONSFOR-ISSISSIPPISECONOMICHEALTH

ANDWELLBEING)FTHE3TATECONTINUESTOCLINGTOTHESEFAILEDPOLICIESITWILLLITERALLYPAYTHEPRICEINTHEFORMOFFAILINGSCHOOLS

deteriorating communities, and lost tax revenue.

-ISSISSIPPILEGISLATORSSHOULDCONSIDERTHEHUGEAMOUNTSOFMONEYSPENTEVERYYEARONMAINTAININGTHECURRENTSCHOOLDISCIPLINE

POLICIESANDPRACTICES4HECOSTSASSOCIATEDWITHSUCHhGETTOUGHvPOLICIESTONAMEJUSTAFEWINCLUDETHECOSTOFSECURITYGUARDSANDSCHOOLPOLICEOFlCERSTHECOSTOFSECURITYEQUIPMENTSCHOOLADMINISTRATIVECOSTSASSOCIATEDWITHPROCESSINGSUSPENSIONS

EXPULSIONSANDOTHERHARSHDISCIPLINARYMEASURESCOSTSOFINCARCERATINGYOUTHANDCOURTADMINISTRATIVECOSTS

4HEIMPACTON-ISSISSIPPISECONOMYISFURTHERCOMPOUNDEDBYTHELONGTERMCOSTSOFLOSTTAXREVENUEYOUTHWHODONOT

GRADUATEFROMHIGHSCHOOLEARNSUBSTANTIALLYLESSOVERTHEIRLIFETIMEHIGHERPUBLICHEALTHANDPUBLICASSISTANCECOSTSANDHIGHER

criminal justice costs.%CONOMISTSHAVEESTIMATEDTHATEACHSTUDENTWHOGRADUATESFROMHIGHSCHOOLONAVERAGEGENERATES

ECONOMICBENElTSTOTHEPUBLICSECTOROFOVERHERORHISLIFETIME

THE FINAL SECTION OF THE REPORT PROPOSES

FIVE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MISSISSIPPI STATE LEGISLATORS.

4HE3TATEFACESACHOICEBETWEENCONTINUINGTOhGETTOUGHvONSCHOOLDISCIPLINEORSTARTINGTOhGETSMARTvABOUTHOWWETREATOUR

YOUTH3TATELEGISLATORSSHOULDCONSIDERPOLICIESTHATIMPROVESCHOOLQUALITYPUBLICHEALTHPUBLICSAFETYANDECONOMICPROSPERITY

throughout the State through the implementation of common sense school discipline. Recommendations for such policies

INCLUDE

1.Guided Discretion. 7ERECOMMENDREQUIRINGSCHOOLDISTRICTSTODEVELOPPOLICIESTHATUSEAGRADUATEDAPPROACHTODISCIPLINEANDAREBASEDONDISCIPLINARYhBESTPRACTICESvWHILEALLOWINGDISTRICTSTORETAINSIGNIlCANTCONTROLOVER

SHAPINGLOCALDISCIPLINARYSTRATEGIES

2.Meaningful Accountability and Transparency.7ERECOMMENDIMPROVINGSTATEWIDETRANSPARENCYANDACCOUNTABILITYBY

! 2EQUIRINGSCHOOLDISTRICTSTOSUBMITQUARTERLYREPORTSOFTHEIRDISCIPLINEDATATOTHE-ISSISSIPPI

$EPARTMENTOF%DUCATION-$%ATLEASTFORTHENEXTTWOYEARS

" 2EQUIRING-$%TOREVIEWTHEDISTRICTDATAANDUSEITTODETERMINEWHICHDISTRICTSAREFOLLOWINGTHEBEST

PRACTICESLISTEDIN2ECOMMENDATIONANDREQUIREACTIONPLANSFROMTHOSETHATAREOUTOFCOMPLIANCE

RELEASEANNUALREPORTSOFSTATEWIDEDISCIPLINEDATAPROVIDEANOPPORTUNITYFORPUBLICCOMMENTATTHE

ENDOFBOTHTHElRSTANDSECONDYEARSOFREPORTINGMAKERECOMMENDATIONSTOTHELEGISLATUREATTHE

ENDOFTHESECONDYEAROFREPORTINGFORHOWTOENSUREDISTRICTCOMPLIANCEWITHTHEBESTPRACTICESLISTEDIN

2ECOMMENDATION

3. Resources and Incentives for Developing Safer and More Effective Schools. We recommend creating a grantprogram to support school districts in the development of positive school climates.

4.Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration.7ERECOMMENDPROVIDINGFUNDINGANDINCENTIVESTOENCOURAGECOMMUNITYstakeholders and local agenciesincluding, but not limited to students, parents, school districts, the juvenile justice

SYSTEMLAWENFORCEMENTCOMMUNITYORGANIZATIONSANDSOCIALSERVICEGROUPSTOADOPTA#OOPERATIVE!GREEMENTOR

-EMORANDUMOF5NDERSTANDINGFORTHEPURPOSEOFWORKINGTOGETHERTOREDUCETHENUMBEROFSTUDENTSENTERINGTHE

JUVENILEANDCRIMINALJUSTICESYSTEM

5. Improved Training.7ERECOMMENDFUNDINGTHE-$%TODEVELOPANDIMPLEMENTTRAININGCURRICULAANDTODIRECTLOCALDISTRICTSTOTRAINEDUCATORSSCHOOLRESOURCEOFlCERSANDOTHERSCHOOLSTAFFONTHELOCALDISCIPLINEPOLICYINORDER

to ensure all are informed of their roles and responsibilities.


7/28(ANDCUFFSON3UCCESSs*ANUARY

INTRODUCTION-UCHHASBEENWRITTENINRECENTYEARSABOUTHOWZEROTOLERANCEANDOTHERHARSHSCHOOLDISCIPLINARYPOLICIESANDPRACTICES

HAVEFAILEDTOMAKESCHOOLSSAFERORMOREEFFECTIVE4HEREHASBEENEXTENSIVERESEARCHANDDOCUMENTATIONOFTHEDEVASTATING

HARMCAUSEDTOYOUTHANDPARTICULARLYYOUTHOFCOLOR9ETACROSS-ISSISSIPPIPUBLICSCHOOLSAREUSINGZEROTOLERANCEANDOTHER

DESTRUCTIVEPOLICIESANDPRACTICESEXCLUDINGSTUDENTSFROMTHECLASSROOMANDTRAPPING-ISSISSIPPISYOUTHINAPIPELINETOPRISON

Mississippi is mired in an extreme school discipline crisis.

)NTHEMOSTRECENTEVENTTOSOUNDTHEALARMTHE5NITED3TATES$EPARTMENTOF*USTICElLEDSUITIN/CTOBERAGAINSTTHECITY

OF-ERIDIANTHE#OUNTYOF,AUDERDALETWOYOUTHCOURTJUDGESTHE3TATEOF-ISSISSIPPIANDSTATEAGENCIESFOROPERATINGASCHOOL

TOPRISONPIPELINE4HECOMPLAINTALLEGESTHATTHESEACTORSAREhENGAG;ING=INAPATTERNORPRACTICEOFUNLAWFULCONDUCTTHROUGH

WHICHTHEYROUTINELYANDSYSTEMATICALLYARRESTANDINCARCERATECHILDRENINCLUDINGFORMINORSCHOOLRULEINFRACTIONSWITHOUT

EVENTHEMOSTBASICPROCEDURALSAFEGUARDSANDINVIOLATIONOFTHESECHILDRENSCONSTITUTIONALRIGHTSv!MONGOTHEREXTREMELY

DISTURBINGFACTSTHECOMPLAINTALLEGESTHAT-ERIDIANSCHOOLSREPEATEDLYRESPONDTOINFRACTIONSSUCHAShDISRESPECTvhREFUSALTO

FOLLOWDIRECTIONSvANDhPROFANITYvBYREFERRINGSTUDENTSTOLAWENFORCEMENT4HEYALSOROUTINELYSUSPENDEDSTUDENTSONJUVENILE

PROBATIONRESULTINGINTHEIRAUTOMATICINCARCERATIONFORSUCHLOWLEVELBEHAVIORSASUSEOFVULGARLANGUAGEmATULENCEINCLASSAND

dress code infractions like having a shirt untucked.33

"UTWHILETHESUITISTHEMOSTRECENTEVENTTOSOUNDTHEALARMTHESCHOOLTOPRISONPIPELINEISNOTHINGNEWIN-ISSISSIPPIANDITISCERTAINLYNOTUNIQUETO-ERIDIAN)NFACTITISAPROBLEMTHATHASPLAGUED-ISSISSIPPISCHOOLSSTATEWIDEFORYEARS&ORWELLOVERA

DECADEHEARTBREAKINGSTORIESOFEXTREMEDISCIPLINEANDTHECRIMINALIZATIONOFYOUNGPEOPLEHAVEPOUREDOUTOF-ISSISSIPPIPUBLIC

schools.

)NWHATBEGANWITHAFEWSTUDENTSPLAYFULLYTHROWINGPEANUTSATONEOTHERONASCHOOLBUSENDEDINlVE"LACK

MALEHIGHSCHOOLSTUDENTSBEINGARRESTEDFORFELONYASSAULTWHICHCARRIESAMAXIMUMPENALTYOFlVEYEARSINPRISON

7HENONEOFTHEPEANUTSACCIDENTALLYHITTHEWHITEFEMALEBUSDRIVERTHEBUSDRIVERIMMEDIATELYPULLEDOVERTOCALL

THEPOLICEWHODIVERTEDTHEBUSTOTHECOURTHOUSEWHERETHESTUDENTSWEREQUESTIONED344HE3HERIFFCOMMENTED

TOONENEWSPAPERh;4 =HISTIMEITWASPEANUTSBUTIFWEDONTGETAHANDLEONITTHENEXTTIMEITCOULDBEBODIESv35

Around the same time, for one 4th grade Black girl, minor disrespectful behavior led to her being pushed out of her

SCHOOLENTIRELY!FTERREFUSINGTOPARTICIPATEINACLASSASSIGNMENTSHEWASSUSPENDEDOUTOFSCHOOLFORTHREEDAYS

FORhDElANCEOFAUTHORITYv3UBSEQUENTLYSHEWASGIVENANOTHERTHREEDAYOUTOFSCHOOLSUSPENSIONFORhDElANCEOF

AUTHORITYvFORHUMMINGANDTAPPINGHERDESK4HESCHOOLTHENREFERREDHERTOANALTERNATIVEEDUCATIONPROGRAMFOR

hDRUGRELATEDACTIVITYvWHENSHEWOREONEPANTLEGUPALTHOUGHTHEREWASNOOTHERINDICATIONOFANYINVOLVEMENT

WITHDRUGS7HENTHEALTERNATIVESCHOOLWOULDNOTACCEPTHERBECAUSEITPROVIDEDINSTRUCTIONFORGRADESONLY

the school district promoted her despite her failing grades, in order to get her out of the mainstream school.36

-ORERECENTLYONE"LACKMOTHERIN(OLMES#OUNTYREPORTEDOPENINGHERDOORONEMORNINGTOAPOLICEOFlCERONHER

DOORSTEP/VERHISSHOULDERSHECOULDSEEHERFRIGHTENEDlVEYEAROLDSONLOCKEDINTHEBACKSEAT(ERCHILDSCRIME

VIOLATINGTHEDRESSCODE(ERSONSSCHOOLREQUIREDSOLIDBLACKSHOESANDDESPITEHERBESTEFFORTSTOCOVERTHEMWITH

ABLACKMARKERREDANDWHITESYMBOLSWERESTILLVISIBLEONHERSONSBLACKSHOES7HENSHEFOLLOWEDUPWITHHERSONS

PRINCIPALHEJUSTIlEDHISACTIONSBYTELLINGHERTHATHERSONNEEDEDTOBEhTAUGHTALESSONv37

)NIN3OUTHAVEN$E3OTO#OUNTYARMEDPOLICEOFlCERSRESPONDEDTOANARGUMENTBETWEENTHREESTUDENTSON

ASCHOOLBUSBYREPORTEDLYARRESTINGAHALFDOZEN"LACKSTUDENTSCHOKINGANDTACKLINGONE"LACKFEMALESTUDENTAND

THREATENINGTOSHOOTTHEOTHERSTUDENTSONTHEBUSBETWEENTHEIREYES38

)NIN*ACKSON0UBLIC3CHOOL$ISTRICTUNTILALAWSUITWASlLEDSTAFFATONESCHOOLREGULARLYHANDCUFFEDSTUDENTSTO

METALRAILINGSINTHESCHOOLGYMNASIUMANDLEFTTHEMTHEREFORHOURSIFTHEYWERECAUGHTNOTWEARINGABELTAMONG

OTHERMINORINFRACTIONS&OREXAMPLEONEYEAROLDBOYWASREPORTEDLYHANDCUFFEDTOTHERAILINGWHENHEWOREA

STOCKINGCAPTOCLASSTHREWHISPAPERSONTHEGROUNDANDREFUSEDTODOHISSCHOOLWORK



)N A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT WAS SUSPENDED AND SENT TO ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL FOR lVE WEEKS AFTER HIS SCHOOL

ADMINISTRATORSLEARNEDABOUTARAPSONGHEHADWRITTENANDRECORDEDWHILEATHOMEABOUTHISSCHOOL

)NTHELASTFEWYEARSIN -ERIDIANA MALE STUDENTESTIMATEDTHAT HEWENTBACKANDFORTHBETWEENSCHOOLANDTHE

JUVENILEJUSTICESYSTEMTHIRTY TIMES )NthGRADEHEWASPUTONPROBATIONBYAYOUTHCOURTJUDGEFORGETTINGINTO

AlGHT3INCETHENREPORTEDLYANYINFRACTIONEVENSOMEASMINORASBEINGA FEWMINUTESLATETO CLASSOR WEARING

THEWRONGCOLOR SOCKSIN VIOLATION OFTHE DRESSCODE WERE COUNTEDASVIOLATIONSOF HISPROBATIONANDRESULTEDIN

immediate suspension and incarceration in the local juvenile detention center.

4HESEAREJUSTAHANDFULOFSTORIESFROMAMONGTHETENSOFTHOUSANDSOF-ISSISSIPPISTUDENTSWHOEVERYYEARAREHAVINGTHEIRLIVES

TURNEDCOMPLETELYUPSIDEDOWNBYHARSHDISCIPLINARYCONSEQUENCESTOOOFTENINRESPONSETOMINORAGEAPPROPRIATEMISTAKESLIKE

VIOLATINGDRESSCODESMAKINGSARCASTICREMARKSANDlGHTINGWITHTHEIRPEERS

7HENHARSHDISCIPLINARYPOLICIESANDPRACTICESREMOVEHUGENUMBERSOFSTUDENTSFROMSCHOOLOFTENSENDINGTHEMINTOTHE

JUVENILEANDCRIMINALJUSTICESYSTEMSTHEHARMTOINDIVIDUALYOUTHANDFAMILIESISOBVIOUS7HATISLESSOBVIOUSHOWEVERISTHE

DAMAGETHATTEACHERSLAWENFORCEMENTOFlCIALSCOMMUNITIESANDTHE3TATEOVERALLHAVEALSOSUFFEREDOVERTHELASTDECADE

BECAUSEOFTHESEEXTREMEDISCIPLINARYPRACTICES

4HISREPORTWILLBEGINWITHABRIEFBACKGROUNDONTHECURRENTSTATEOFSCHOOLDISCIPLINEIN-ISSISSIPPI)TWILLTHENDISCUSSTHEIMPACT

OFTHESEhGETTOUGHvAPPROACHESTOSCHOOLDISCIPLINE!NANALYSISOFTHESEEXTREMEANDDESTRUCTIVESCHOOLDISCIPLINEPRACTICES

SHOWSTHAT

s (ARSHSCHOOLDISCIPLINARYPRACTICESHAVEUNDERMINEDTHEWORKOF-ISSISSIPPIEDUCATORSANDIMPEDEDTHEOVERALLPROGRESS

OFTHESTATEEDUCATIONSYSTEM

s -ISSISSIPPILAWENFORCEMENTOFlCIALSAREMADELESSEFFECTIVEANDOVERALLPUBLICSAFETYANDHEALTHARECOMPROMISEDBY

THISMISGUIDEDDISCIPLINARYAPPROACH

s (ARSHDISCIPLINEWEAKENS-ISSISSIPPISECONOMYANDISCOSTLYTOITSTAXPAYERS



I.TheCurrentStateofSchoolDiscipline)NRECENTYEARSSCHOOLDISTRICTSHAVEBEENADOPTINGANDAPPLYINGTOYOUTHTHESAMESTRATEGIESTHATHAVELEDTOTHEMASS

incarceration of adults.4HREEOFTHEMOSTSIGNIlCANTSTRATEGIESMANDATORYMINIMUMSENTENCINGTHREESTRIKESLAWSANDhBROKEN

WINDOWSvPOLICINGALAWENFORCEMENTSTRATEGYOFAGGRESSIVELYPOLICINGTRADITIONALLYIGNOREDMINOROFFENSESWITHTHEINTENDED

PURPOSEOFPREVENTINGMORESERIOUSCRIMESAREECHOEDTHROUGHOUTSTUDENTDISCIPLINEPOLICIESACROSS-ISSISSIPPI&OREXAMPLE

s -ANDATORYMINIMUMSENTENCING4HEPOLICIESOF,AUDERDALE#OUNTYREQUIREINSCHOOLSUSPENSIONOUTOFSCHOOL

SUSPENSIONOREXPULSIONFORMANYOFFENSESEVENSOMEHIGHLYSUBJECTIVEBEHAVIORSLIKEhINSUBORDINATIONv43

s 4HREESTRIKES3OUTH$ELTA3CHOOL$ISTRICTMANDATESTHATSTUDENTSWHOCAUSEAhDISTRACTIONvINCLASSTWOTIMESARESUBJECT

to be sent to alternative education the third time.44

s "ROKENWINDOWS4HEPOLICIESOF-OSS0OINT3CHOOL$ISTRICTSTATETHATVIRTUALLYANYMISBEHAVIORCANRESULTINA

student being expelled.450ASCAGOULA3CHOOL$ISTRICTALSOALLOWSFORANIMMEDIATEOUTOFSCHOOLSUSPENSIONANDOR

RECOMMENDATIONFOREXPULSIONFORhANYACTIONWHICHISDEEMEDDISORDERLYCONDUCTORMISCONDUCTvINCLUDINGMISBEHAVIO

as minor as refusal to give a name.46

4HEPRIMARYEFFECTOFTHESEPRACTICESHASBEENTOPUSHOUTANDCRIMINALIZELARGENUMBERSOF-ISSISSIPPISSTUDENTSFORAWHOLE

RANGEOFBEHAVIORSMANYOFWHICHHADNOTPREVIOUSLYBEENCONSIDEREDTOBEGROUNDSFORSCHOOLEXCLUSIONORTHOUGHTOFASBEING

hCRIMINALv

1) Mississippi schools arrest students and refer students to juvenile detention centers at high rates,and mostly for typical adolescent, non-violent behavior.

s -ISSISSIPPISCHOOLSARETOOOFTENRESPONDINGTONORMALADOLESCENTBEHAVIORWITHTHEMOSTSEVERESCHOOLDISCIPLINARY

RESPONSEARRESTINGANDORREFERRINGTHESTUDENTTOJUVENILEDETENTIONCENTERS)N-C#OMB3CHOOL$ISTRICTFOREXAMPLE

PUBLICSCHOOLSINREFERREDOUTOFEVERYSTUDENTSINTHEIRSTUDENTSCHOOLSYSTEM4

s 2EFERRALTOLAWENFORCEMENTANDTHEJUVENILEJUSTICESYSTEMISALSOUSEDONVERYYOUNGCHILDREN&OREXAMPLEDATA

COLLECTEDIN!MITE#OUNTY3CHOOL$ISTRICTSHOWTHATOFSTUDENTSREFERREDTOJUVENILEJUSTICEANDORLAWENFORCEMENTIN

THEANDSCHOOLYEARSWEREOFSTUDENTSINTHEthGRADEORYOUNGERANDINCLUDEDSEVERAL

STUDENTSINTHEnd and 3rd grades.48

33.5

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

Mc

Comb

Jackson

Public

N

atchez

Adams

Hatt

iesburg

Public

Rankin

#OUNTY

4upelo

Public

'REEnville

P

ublic

VicKSBURG

W

arren

'REE

NWood

Public

$ESOTO

#OUNTY

Referrals to Juvenile Detention Centers per 1000 Students

39

3OURCE-ISSISSIPPI$EPArtment of Education

3#(//,$)342)#4S

2%&%22!,30%2345$%.4S



s While Mississippi school districts do not make

COMPREHENSIVESCHOOLBASEDARRESTDATAPUBLICLYAVAILABLE

ACCORDINGTODATACOLLECTEDBYTHE-ERIDIAN0OLICE

$EPARTMENTTHEREWEREARRESTSONSCHOOLGROUNDSFOR

EVERYSTUDENTSIN-ERIDIAN-ISSISSIPPIINTHE

SCHOOLYEAR

s )NONEOF-ISSISSIPPISLARGESTSCHOOLDISTRICTS*ACKSON0UBLIC

Schools, according to data collected from the Jackson

0OLICE$EPARTMENTONLYOFTHEMISCONDUCTTHATLEDTO

ARRESTONSCHOOLGROUNDSDURINGTHESCHOOLYEAR

WASFORBEHAVIORTHATACTUALLYPOSEDASERIOUSTHREATTO

students, staff, and the school, such as aggravated assault.

)NFACTTHEMOSTPREVALENTREASONACCOUNTINGFORONETHIRD

OFARRESTSONSCHOOLGROUNDSWASTHEHIGHLYSUBJECTIVEAND

VAGUEOFFENSEOFhDISORDERLYCONDUCTv

s 4HEEFFECTOFARRESTONYOUTHGOESFARBEYONDTHE

RAMIlCATIONSOFHAVINGAPOLICERECORD!CCORDINGTO

RESEARCHAlRSTTIMEARRESTDOUBLESTHEODDSTHATASTUDENTWILLDROPOUTOFSCHOOLANDAlRSTTIMECOURTAPPEARANCE

QUADRUPLESTHEODDS!SFORTHEEFFECTSOFINCARCERATIONASONESTUDYFOUNDINCARCERATEDYOUTHAREMORELIKELYTO

ATTEMPTSUICIDETHANTHEIRNONINCARCERATEDPEERSANDTHECOMPLETEDSUICIDERATEISFOURTIMESTHECOMPLETEDSUICIDE

RATEOFYOUTHOVERALL53%VENAFTERRELEASEANESTIMATEDONElFTHTOTHREElFTHSOFYOUNGPEOPLEWHOHAVEEXPERIENCED

INCARCERATIONWILLATTEMPTSUICIDEATSOMETIMEINTHEIRLIFE544HEFACTTHATTHEACADEMICANDPSYCHOLOGICALIMPACTOF

ARRESTANDINCARCERATIONONYOUTHISDEEPLYHARMFULANDFARREACHINGWASFURTHERHIGHLIGHTEDININTERVIEWSWITHMULTIPLE

-ISSISSIPPISTUDENTSANDFAMILIES&OREXAMPLE

/NE MOTHER DESCRIBED HOW AFTER HERCHILD WASSENT TO A *UVENILE $ETENTION #ENTERFOR A CLASSROOM DISRUPTION

HEWOULDCRYANDBEGHISMOTHERNOTTOSENDHIMBACKTOSCHOOLBECAUSEHENOLONGERFELTSAFETHERE55

!NOTHERSTUDENTFROM*ONES#OUNTYDESCRIBEDHOWAFTERBEINGARRESTEDFORAMINORlGHTINTHELUNCH

ROOMSHESUFFEREDANXIETYINDUCEDASTHMAATTACKSDURINGSUBSEQUENTINTERACTIONSWITHSCHOOLADMINISTRATION56

2) Black students are hit the hardest by harsh

discipline practices.

s "LACKSTUDENTSAREDISPROPORTIONATELYAFFECTED

BYHARSHDISCIPLINEPOLICIESANDPRACTICESIN

-ISSISSIPPI!CCORDINGTODATAGATHEREDON

-ISSISSIPPISCHOOLDISTRICTSBYTHE53$EPARTMENT

OF%DUCATIONS/FlCEFOR#IVIL2IGHTS/#2INITS#IVIL

2IGHTS$ATA#OLLECTIONFORTHESCHOOL

YEAR"LACKSTUDENTSWHOMADEUPHALFTHESTUDENT

population in these districts, received almost

OFTHEOUTOFSCHOOLSUSPENSIONSINTHESE

DISTRICTSMAKINGTHEMOVERTHREETIMESMORELIKELY

THAN7HITESTUDENTSTORECEIVEANOUTOFSCHOOL

suspension.57

&ELONY Misdemeanor

Arrests on School GroundsFelonies v. Misdemeanors

in Jackson, MS393OURCE#ITYOF Jackson



s )NSOMESCHOOLDISTRICTSTHEREWASANEVENGREATERDISPARITY)N,AWRENCE#OUNTYFOREXAMPLE"LACKSTUDENTSWEREEIGHT

TIMESMORELIKELYTORECEIVEANOUTOFSCHOOLSUSPENSIONTHAN7HITESTUDENTS58

s 2ACIALDISPARITIESINSCHOOLDISCIPLINEAREASTATEWIDEPROBLEMTRANSCENDINGLOCATIONANDSCHOOLDEMOGRAPHICS"LACK

STUDENTSARESUSPENDEDOUTOFSCHOOLATHIGHRATESINBOTHMAJORITY"LACKANDMAJORITY7HITESCHOOLSANDINURBANAND

suburban districts across the State.4HEGRAPHBELOWSHOWSTHAT"LACKSTUDENTSARESUSPENDEDOUTOFSCHOOL

ATMUCHHIGHERRATESTHANTHEIR7HITEPEERSINMAJORITY7HITESCHOOLDISTRICTSACROSS-ISSISSIPPI

s "LACKSTUDENTSAREOFTENTREATEDDIFFERENTLYTHAN7HITESTUDENTSWHOEXHIBITSIMILARBEHAVIOR.ATIONALRESEARCHON

student behavior has found that racial disparities in school discipline are not the result of Black students acting out

MORERATHERTHEDIFFERENCESLIEINHOWADULTSINTHESCHOOLBUILDINGRESPONDTOSTUDENTBEHAVIOR"ROADDISCRETIONARY

OFFENSECATEGORIESLIKEhDISORDERLYCONDUCTvhDISRESPECTOFAUTHORITYvORhDISOBEDIENCEvAREMAINLYINTHEEYEOFTHE

BEHOLDERLEAVINGSIGNIlCANTROOMFORIMPLICITANDEXPLICITRACIALBIASESTOCREEPINTOTHEDISCIPLINEPROCESSANDEXACERBATE

disparities.4HISFACTWASALSOHIGHLIGHTEDDURINGINTERVIEWSWITHMULTIPLE-ISSISSIPPISTUDENTSABOUTTHEIRSCHOOLS&OR

EXAMPLE

)NANINTERVIEWTHEMOTHEROFA"LACKMIDDLESCHOOLSTUDENTIN*ONES#OUNTYDETAILEDHOWHERSONWASARRESTEDAND

CHARGEDWITHASSAULTWHENHEGOTINASCHOOLYARDSCUFmEWITHA7HITESTUDENTWHOHADUSEDRACIALEPITHETSTOREFER

TOHIS"LACKPEERS!CCORDINGTOTHEMOTHERTHE7HITESTUDENTWASNOTDISCIPLINEDFORHISACTIONS

!"LACKthGRADERIN*ONES#OUNTY-3RECOUNTEDTHESTORYOFA"LACKCLASSMATEWHOWASEXPELLEDFORUSING

MARIJUANAANDCHEWINGTOBACCOINTHEBATHROOM!CCORDINGTOTHESTUDENTA7HITESTUDENTCAUGHTFORTHESAMEOFFENSEWASONLYSUSPENDEDFORAFEWDAYS

4HEthGRADERWENTONTOEXPLAINThe White kids dont get handcuffed. If a White kid gets into an altercation it depends on who they are and how

they act . . . . They wont go to jail. They will just get suspended for three to five days and come back to school. . . . . I was handcuffed and arrested for getting into a

fight at school. They took us straight from school to the detention center where we were stripped of our clothes, forced to shower in front of others, and required to

take a drug test. We had to spend the night there. I had never been in trouble in school before. 62

46

34

8 88

5 53

65

4 4

NorthPike

Harrison

#OUNTY

'RENAD

A

Neshob

a

#OUNTY

Smith

#OUNT

Y

Forres

t

#OUNT

Y

.EW

!LBAN

Y

Madiso

n

#OUNTY

Rankin

#OUNT

Y

Bilox

i

Public

$E3OT

O

#OUNT

Y

Jones

#OUNT

Y

Black Out-of-School Suspension (OSS) Rates per 100 Students v.

White Out-of School Suspension (OSS) Rates per 100 Students

in Select Majority White School Districts

393OURCE53$Epartment of Education

Black Students

White Students

3#(//,$)342)#4S

/332!4%0%2345$%.4S



s 'IVENTHISITISNOSURPRISETHATNOTONLYARE"LACKSTUDENTSSUSPENDEDEXPELLEDANDARRESTEDATSCHOOLATRATESHIGHER

THANTHEIR7HITEPEERSBUTTOOOFTENTHESEPUNISHMENTSAREFORBEHAVIORTHATDOESNOTMERITTHESEVERITYOFTHE

DISCIPLINARYRESPONSE4HESTORIESTHATILLUSTRATETHISHIGHLIGHTEDINTHEINTRODUCTIONTOTHISREPORTAREHEARTBREAKING)N

(OLMES#OUNTYAlVEYEAROLD"LACKCHILDWASESCORTEDHOMEINASHERIFFCARFORTHEDRESSCODEVIOLATIONOFWEARINGSHOES

WITHSOMEREDANDWHITESYMBOLSONTHEMWHERETHEDRESSCODEREQUIREDSOLIDBLACKSHOES63)N3OUTHAVENINRESPONSE

TOANARGUMENTBETWEENTHREESTUDENTSONASCHOOLBUSPOLICEOFlCERSREPORTEDLYARRESTEDAHALFDOZEN"LACKSTUDENTS

choked and tackled a Black female student, and threatened to shoot the other students on the bus.64

3) Mississippi schools suspend a high volume of students out of school every year.

s )NTHESCHOOLDISTRICTSCOVEREDIN/#2SDATACOLLECTIONTHEREWEREOVEROUTOFSCHOOLSUSPENSIONSREPORTEDFOR

THESCHOOLYEAR)NTHATSCHOOLYEAR-ISSISSIPPISUSPENDEDSTUDENTSOUTOFSCHOOLATARATEOFALMOSTSIXOUTOF

EVERYSTUDENTSARATEHIGHERTHANMOSTNEIGHBORINGSTATESANDHIGHERTHANTHENATIONALAVERAGE65

s &URTHERMORETHOSESCHOOLDISTRICTSIN-ISSISSIPPITHATHAVETHEHIGHESTOUTOFSCHOOLSUSPENSIONRATESFARSURPASSthe national average.66!STHEGRAPHBELOWSHOWSTHESIX-ISSISSIPPISCHOOLDISTRICTSWITHTHEHIGHESTOUTOFSCHOOL

suspension rates have rates that are more than nine times higher than the national average.67%AST*ASPER3CHOOL$ISTRICTS

OUTOFSCHOOLSUSPENSIONRATETHEHIGHESTINTHESTATEISMORETHANSEVENTEENTIMESHIGHERTHANTHENATIONALAVERAGE

4.6

4.4 3.7

345

67

Miss

issip

pi

Louisia

na

Alab

ama

'EOR

GIA

Arka

nsas

4exa

s

Natio

nal

Out-of-School Suspension (OSS) per 100 StudentsMississippi v. Neighboring States393OURCEU.S.$Epartment of Education

/332!4%0%2345$%

.4S

Averag

e

63.4

37.6 37.5

3.7

East Jasper 4unica

#OUNTYMoss Point Meridian

Public

Noxubee

#OUNTYMcComb National

Average

39

3OURCE53$Epartment of Education

Out-of-School Suspension (OSS) per 100 Students

in Mississippi Counties with Highest Rates v. National Average

/332!4%0%2345

$%.4S

3#(//,$)342)#4S



II.HarshDisciplineUnderminestheWorkofEducatorsandtheStateEducationSystem

/VERTHELASTTENYEARS-ISSISSIPPIHASIMPLEMENTEDNUMEROUSSCHOOLREFORMSTRATEGIESINCLUDINGTONAMEAFEW-ISSISSIPPIS

AND%DUCATION2EFORM!CTSTHE-3$ROPOUT0REVENTION0LANAIMEDATMONITORINGDROPOUTNUMBERSTHEh/N4HE

"USv#AMPAIGNAPRIVATELYFUNDEDMILLIONPUBLICAWARENESSDROPOUTPREVENTIONCAMPAIGNANDTHE#HILDREN&IRST!CT

WHICHAUTHORIZEDPLACINGUNDERPERFORMINGSCHOOLDISTRICTSINCONSERVATORSHIP68 Yet for all these efforts, the state graduation rate,

ACCORDINGTO%DUCATION7EEKISONLYWHICHISTHE thLOWESTAMONGTHESTATES For Black students, the graduation rate is

and Mississippi has the 4thLOWESTGRADUATIONRATEFOR7HITESTUDENTSANDTHEthLOWESTGRADUATIONRATEFOR,ATINOSTUDENTS

INTHECOUNTRY4HEREASONS-ISSISSIPPISCHOOLSHAVEFAILEDTOACHIEVEGREATERACADEMICSUCCESSAREMANY"UTASDISCUSSEDBELOW

THEOVERUSEOFHARSHSCHOOLDISCIPLINARYPRACTICESARELIKELYUNDERMININGEDUCATIONREFORMEFFORTSANDNOTHELPINGTHEWORKOF

EDUCATORSANDTHESTATEEDUCATIONSYSTEM

7HILESCHOOLDISTRICTSOFTENATTEMPTTOJUSTIFYTHEIRHARMFULANDEXTREMEDISCIPLINARYPRACTICESASNECESSARYFORTHEPURPOSESOF

REMOVINGTHEhBADvSTUDENTSSOTHATTHERESTOFTHESTUDENTSMAYLEARNNATIONALEVIDENCEINDICATESTHECONTRARYSCHOOLSWITH

EXCLUSIONARYDISCIPLINEPRACTICESHAVELOWERACADEMICOUTCOMES)NDEEDASTHEGRAPHBELOWSHOWSTHEREISNEGATIVERELATIONSHIP

BETWEEN-ISSISSIPPISCHOOLDISTRICTSOUTOFSCHOOLSUSPENSIONRATESANDTHEIR1UALITY$ISTRIBUTION)NDEXANACCOUNTABILITYMETRIC

THATTHE-ISSISSIPPI$EPARTMENTOF%DUCATIONCOMPUTESANNUALLYFOREACHSCHOOLDISTRICTBASEDONTESTSCORESANDSTUDENT

PROlCIENCYDATA

4HISISCORROBORATEDBYEXTENSIVENATIONALRESEARCHWHICHHASFOUNDTHATSCHOOLSWITHHIGHRATESOFSUSPENSIONANDEXPULSIONALSO

TENDTOHAVELOWERTESTSCORESANDLOWERGRADUATIONRATES73ANDTHATHARSHDISCIPLINARYPRACTICESARELINKEDWITHPOORSCHOOLWIDE

academic achievement.74

9ETTHEREARENOSTATEWIDEPRESCRIBEDSTANDARDSFORSCHOOLDISCIPLINETHATENSURETHATTHECODESOFSTUDENTCONDUCTIN-ISSISSIPPIS

SCHOOLDISTRICTSMEETBASICSTANDARDSOFFAIRNESSANDAREALIGNEDWITHEDUCATIONALGOALS4HELACKOFSTANDARDSALLOWSSCHOOLSTOUSE

HARSHANDEXTREMEPUNISHMENTSFORMINORINFRACTIONSCONSEQUENTLYDEPRIVINGSTUDENTSOFCLASSROOMTIME&OREXAMPLEIN%AST

*ASPER3CHOOL$ISTRICTTHEMIDDLESCHOOLDISCIPLINEPOLICIESSTATETHATAWIDERANGEOFRELATIVELYMINORORSUBJECTIVEBEHAVIORS

SUCHAShREFUSALTOGIVENAMEUPONREQUESTvhREFUSALTOCOMPLYWITHGROOMINGRULESvANDhOTHERMISBEHAVIORASDETERMINEDBYTHE

ADMINISTRATIONvCANRESULTINOUTOFSCHOOLSUSPENSIONFORAlRSTOFFENSEANDLEADTOSCHOOLEXPULSIONAFTERATHIRDOFFENSE75

Mississippi School Districts Percentage of

Out-of-School Suspensions (OSS) v. Quality Distribution Index (QDI)

39SourceUS and MISSISSIPPI$EPARtments of Education

-33CHOOL$ISTRICTS

1

$)

0%2#%.4/&345$%.432%#%)6).'/3S



4HESEEXTREMEPOLICIESHAVESERIOUSCONSEQUENCESNOTONLYFORTHEEDUCATIONALOPPORTUNITIESOFSTUDENTSWITHINTHOSEDISTRICTS

BUTALSOFORTHEENTIRESTATEEDUCATIONALSYSTEMASTHEYEFFECTIVELYACTLIKEAGIANTBRAKEONSTATEWIDESCHOOLIMPROVEMENTEFFORTS

4HEREARENOSUCCESSFULSCHOOLSTHATSUSPENDEXPELANDREFERLARGENUMBERSOFSTUDENTSTOLAWENFORCEMENT4HUSTHEMANYSCHOOLS

THROUGHOUT-ISSISSIPPITHATAREOVERUSINGZEROTOLERANCEANDhGETTOUGHvSTRATEGIESAREWORKINGATCROSSPURPOSESWITHTHEBROADER

STATEINTERESTINPROMOTINGTEACHINGANDLEARNINGINHEALTHYANDPRODUCTIVEWAYS

(ARSHANDEXTREMEAPPROACHESTODISCIPLINEAFFECTSCHOOLSINAVARIETYOFWAYSTHATBOTHINHIBITSCHOOLPROGRESSANDCREATESIGNIlCANT

DIFlCULTIESFOREDUCATORS&OREXAMPLEONEOFTHEMOSTIMPORTANTFACTORSINVOLVEDINIMPROVINGSTUDENTACHIEVEMENTISMAXIMIZING

time engaged in academic learning.76(OWEVEROUTOFSCHOOLSUSPENSIONSEXPULSIONSANDARRESTSRESULTINMASSIVEAMOUNTSOFLOSTLEARNINGTIMEHUNDREDSOFTHOUSANDSOFINSTRUCTIONALHOURSEVERYYEARIN-ISSISSIPPI 77/BVIOUSLYSTUDENTSWHOARENOTINCLASSARE

NOTDOINGMUCHLEARNING4HUSSTUDENTSSUBJECTEDTOHARSHDISCIPLINARYMEASURESTENDTOFALLBEHINDACADEMICALLY78

)TISALSOIMPORTANTTORECOGNIZETHEEFFECTSTHATSTUDENTEXCLUSIONCANHAVEONTHELEARNINGENVIRONMENTEVENWHENTHESTUDENT

ISALLOWEDTORETURN&IRSTBECAUSETHEZEROTOLERANCEAPPROACHISINEFFECTIVEATTEACHINGAPPROPRIATEBEHAVIORSORADDRESSINGROOT

CAUSESOFDISCIPLINARYPROBLEMSTHEMISBEHAVIORSTHATLEDTOTHEPUNISHMENTARELIKELYTOBEREPEATED!DDITIONALLYBECAUSE

STUDENTSOFTENFALLBEHINDINCLASSTHEIRTEACHERSFREQUENTLYMUSTDEVOTETIMETOCATCHINGTHEMUPWITHTHERESTOFTHECLASSTAKING

TIMEAWAYFROMOTHERSTUDENTSANDTHUSHURTINGOVERALLACADEMICPERFORMANCE!NDIFSTUDENTSDONOTCATCHUPTHEYOFTEN

BECOMEFRUSTRATEDOREMBARRASSEDTHATTHEYARENOTONLEVELWITHTHEIRPEERSANDTHUSDISRUPTCLASSEVENMORE

!DDITIONALLYTHESEHARSHDISCIPLINARYCONSEQUENCESFREQUENTLYTRIGGERACYCLEOFDISENGAGEMENTFROMSCHOOLSANDESCALATING

rule breaking.3TUDENTSOFTENBECOMELESSTRUSTINGANDMORERESENTFULOFTHEIRTEACHERSLOSINGTHEhCONNECTEDNESSvTHATISSUCHa critical part of academic success.834HISISOBVIOUSLYDEEPLYCONCERNINGASITRELATESTOTHEINDIVIDUALSTUDENTSBUTITALSOPOSES

SERIOUSCHALLENGESFORTHESTUDENTSTEACHERSBECAUSETHESEYOUTHBECOMEMUCHMORECHALLENGINGTOTEACH(AVINGINCREASINGLY

ALIENATEDSTUDENTSWITHINASCHOOLALSOLEADSTOADETERIORATIONOFSCHOOLCULTUREMAKINGITEXTREMELYDIFlCULTIFNOTIMPOSSIBLEFOR

EDUCATORSTOCREATETHETYPEOFHEALTHYANDPRODUCTIVELEARNINGENVIRONMENTTHATALLOWSTHEMTOBEEFFECTIVEINTHEIRJOBS84

3IMPLYPUTTHESTUDENTSWHOAREDROPPINGOUTANDACHIEVINGACADEMICALLYATLEVELSFARLOWERTHANTHEIRPEERSAREUSUALLYTHE

STUDENTSWHOAREBEINGSUSPENDEDEXPELLEDANDARRESTEDINSCHOOL85:EROTOLERANCEPOLICIESTENDTOEXACERBATEWHATEVER

CHALLENGESTHOSESTUDENTSAREFACINGMAKINGITMORELIKELYTHATTHEAFFECTEDSTUDENTSWILLFALLBEHINDACADEMICALLYORLEAVE

school.867HILEMANYEDUCATORSAREACTIVELYWORKINGTOACHIEVEGREATEREQUITYANDJUSTICEWITHINTHEEDUCATIONALSYSTEMANDTO

HELPSTUDENTSACHIEVEACADEMICSUCCESSHARSHSCHOOLDISCIPLINEPRACTICESAREEFFECTIVELYCUTTINGTHESEEFFORTSOFFATTHEKNEES

&URTHERMORETHEHARMFULEFFECTOFHARSHSCHOOLDISCIPLINARYPOLICIESONTHE-ISSISSIPPIEDUCATIONSYSTEMLIKEMANYOTHERSCHOOLSYSTEMSNATIONWIDEISOFTENEXACERBATEDINSCHOOLSWITHAPOLICEANDORSECURITYPRESENCEANDWHERESTUDENTSAREREGULARLY

ARRESTEDORREFERREDTOTHEJUVENILEJUSTICESYSTEM4HERESPONSETOSAFETYCONCERNSISOFTENTOADDMOREPOLICESECURITYGUARDS

metal detectors, and surveillance cameras to school.87"UTWHILEMANYSCHOOLRESOURCEOFlCERSANDSECURITYGUARDSDOEXCELLENT

WORKTHEUNFORTUNATEREALITYISTHATTHESECURITYPRESENCEOFTENCONTRIBUTESTOANEGATIVESCHOOLCULTURE884HELOOKANDFEELOF

MANYSCHOOLSCHANGESDRAMATICALLYWITHTHEADDITIONOFSECURITYBECOMINGLESSWELCOMINGANDMORETHREATENINGTOSTUDENTS

!SARESULTOFTHEOVERRELIANCEONPOLICEOFlCERSTOHANDLEROUTINEDISCIPLINARYMATTERSSTUDENTSTHROUGHOUTTHE3TATEAREREGULARLY

HAVINGNEGATIVEORTRAUMATICENCOUNTERSWITHTHEPOLICEWITHINSCHOOLS4HESEDYNAMICSPREVENTSCHOOLSFROMBEINGASAFEHAVEN

FORMANYYOUNGPEOPLELEADINGTODEEPENINGSTUDENTRESENTMENTANDFURTHERDETERIORATIONOFSCHOOLCLIMATE)NDEEDONEOFTHE

UNFORTUNATEANDIRONICCONSEQUENCESOFTHEZEROTOLERANCEDISCIPLINARYMETHODISTHATITCANEVENPROVOKEADDITIONALDISRUPTIVE

behavior, rather than prevent it.2ISKINGTHESEHARMSMAYBEJUSTIlEDWHENSTUDENTBEHAVIORPOSESASERIOUSTHREATTOTHE

SAFETYOFOTHERS(OWEVER-ISSISSIPPISCHOOLSAREUSINGHARSHDISCIPLINARYMEASURESFORLOWLEVELBEHAVIORS4HUSMANYSCHOOLS

THROUGHOUT-ISSISSIPPIAREUNNECESSARILYCAUSINGSIGNIlCANTHARMTOTHEOVERALLEDUCATIONSYSTEM

/FCOURSETHECOROLLARYISTHATTHEREARESUBSTANTIALACADEMICGAINSTOBEMADEBYELIMINATINGTHESEUNNECESSARILYHARSHMEASURES

3CHOOLDISTRICTSOUTSIDETHE3TATEAREEXPERIENCINGGREATSUCCESSBYREJECTINGTHEZEROTOLERANCEAPPROACH3AFERANDMORE

EFFECTIVESCHOOLSAREBEINGCREATEDBYUSINGCOMMONSENSEDISCIPLINARYAPPROACHESTHATMAXIMIZECLASSTIMEANDLIMITTHEROLE

OFLAWENFORCEMENTINSCHOOLSTOADDRESSINGTRULYSERIOUSBEHAVIORS!NDTHESECOMMUNITIESAREREAPINGTHEREWARDSINTERMSOF

improved attendance rates, academic achievement levels, and graduation rates.!LLOFTHESETHINGSMAKEEDUCATORSJOBSEASIERAS

WELL



%XAMPLESOFSUCHSUCCESSCANBEFOUNDINPLACESLIKE$ENVER#OLORADOAND"ALTIMORE-ARYLAND)NTHESEDISTRICTSBEHAVIORSTHAT

MANYSCHOOLSWOULDHAVERESPONDEDTOWITHHARSHPUNISHMENTARENOWMORELIKELYTOLEADTOSCHOOLPERSONNELATTEMPTINGTO

ADDRESSTHEROOTCAUSESOFTHEINCIDENTWHILETEACHINGTHESTUDENTMOREAPPROPRIATEBEHAVIORS As a result, school suspension

IN$ENVERHASDECREASEDFROMARATEOFSUSPENSIONSFOREVERYSTUDENTSINTHEDISTRICTINTOABOUTFOREVERY

STUDENTSIN%XPULSIONSAREALSODOWNBY)N"ALTIMORESCHOOLSUSPENSIONSDROPPEDFROMINTHE

SCHOOLYEARTOBELOWIN

!TTHESAMETIMETHESEREFORMSHAVECONTRIBUTEDTOACADEMICGAINSWITHBOTHDISTRICTSEXPERIENCINGSIGNIlCANTIMPROVEMENTS

INTHEIRGRADUATIONRATES"ALTIMORE#ITYSGRADUATIONRATEINCREASEDFROMINTHESCHOOLYEARPRIORTODISCIPLINEREFORMEFFORTSTOINTHESCHOOLYEARANINCREASE3IMILARSTRIDESOCCURREDIN$ENVERWHERETHE

SUPERINTENDENTSOFlCEHASLAUDEDDISCIPLINEREFORMASAMAJORREASONFORINCREASEDACHIEVEMENT Because these districts

RECOGNIZEDTHATOVERUSINGHARSHDISCIPLINEISALOSINGSTRATEGYTHEYHAVEREAPEDTHEREWARDS)TISTIMEFOR-ISSISSIPPITODO

the same.

Thedownwardspiralofharshschooldiscipline

EFFECTS ON EDUCATORS EFFECTS ON

LAW ENFORCEMENTStudent misses class time, fallsbehind, becomes frustrated or

embarrassed, and becomes

more disruptive.

4eacher has to take time to catch

student up, takiNGTIMEAWAY from

other students and hurting overall

academic performance.

StudentS actual problem not

addressed, and alternative behaviors

not taught, makiNGITLIKELYmisbehavIORWILLBEREPEATED.

Student becomes less connected to

school, less trusting and more

resentful of teachers,MORELIKELYTO

engage in riskYANDUNLAWFUL

behaviors, and harder to teach.

)NCREASINGLYALIENATEDSTUDENT

contributes to overall deterioration

of learning environment.

3TUDENTRESENTMENTOFWHATIS

experienced as oppressive condi

tions makes it more difficult to

create productive and healthY

learning environments.

CuLTUREOFVIOLENCEANDHOSTILITY

created in school, making

teachers less safe.

Student left at home or in the street,

often unsupervised, making

criminal acTIVITYMORELIKELY.

Student more liKELYto drop out

of school, making criminal

acTIVITYMORELIKELY.

3TUDENTWHOENTERSTHEJUSTICE

SYSTEMMAYBECOMEMORE

DANGEROUSANDMORELIKELYTO

commit future crimes.

Student resents excessive

involvement of police, becomes

distrustful and evENHOSTILETOWARD

LAWENforcement generallY,AW

enforcement is less effective,

compromising safeTY.

Being forced to spend time on

MINORORTRIVIALMATTERSTAKESLAW

enfoRCEMENTPERSONNELAWAYFROM

more serious criminal behavior,

compromising public safeTY.

Unnecessary

Pushout of Students

Using HarshDisciplinary Practices

Unnecessary

Criminalization of

Students Through

Arrests, Referrals,

and Overall

Police/Security

Presence in Schools



III.MisguidedDisciplinaryMeasuresHarmLawEnforcementEffortsandOverallPublicHealthandSafety

4HEZEROTOLERANCEAPPROACHHASALSOCAUSEDSIGNIlCANTDETRIMENTALEFFECTSTO-ISSISSIPPISLAWENFORCEMENTPERSONNELBECAUSE

ITHASUNDERMINEDRATHERTHANIMPROVEDPUBLICSAFETY4HEGOALOFTHELAWENFORCEMENTCOMMUNITYISTOPROTECTTHEPUBLICBY

ENFORCINGLAWSANDPREVENTINGCRIME(ARSHDISCIPLINARYAPPROACHESAREATODDSWITHTHISGOALASTHEYPUTYOUNGPEOPLEATHOME

WITHOUTADULTSUPERVISIONINCREASETHELIKELIHOODTHATTHEYWILLENGAGEINFUTUREMISBEHAVIORINCREASETHELIKELIHOODTHATTHEYWIL

DROPOUTOFSCHOOLANDINCREASETHERISKTHATTHEYWILLBEFUNNELEDINTOTHEJUSTICESYSTEM For example, the strongest predictor

OFLATERARRESTAMONGADOLESCENTFEMALESISSUSPENSIONEXPULSIONORBEINGHELDBACKDURINGTHEIRMIDDLESCHOOLYEARS4HUS

HARSHDISCIPLINARYPRACTICESMAKEITMOREDIFlCULTFORLAWENFORCEMENTOFlCIALSTOPREVENTCRIMEANDPROMOTEPUBLICSAFETY

-OREOVEREVERYYEARTHEREARETENSOFTHOUSANDSOFSTUDENTSALLOVER-ISSISSIPPIWHOEITHERDIRECTLYORINDIRECTLYHAVENEGATIVE

ANDORTRAUMATICEXPERIENCESWITHPOLICEOFlCERSOROTHERLAWENFORCEMENTPERSONNELINSCHOOLSORBECAUSEOFSCHOOLRELATED

behaviors.4HISPOSESAPROBLEMFORLAWENFORCEMENTOFlCERSACROSS-ISSISSIPPI4HESENEGATIVEORTRAUMATICEXPERIENCESBREED

WIDESPREADRESENTMENTANDDISTRUSTAMONGYOUTHDIRECTEDATTHEVERYPEOPLECHARGEDWITHKEEPINGTHEMSAFE9OUNGPEOPLE

RESENTBEINGTREATEDASTHREATSTHEYLOSEFAITHINTHEGOODWILLOFPOLICEWHENTHEYBELIEVETHEYAREBEINGTREATEDUNFAIRLYANDTHEY

FREQUENTLYBECOMEANTAGONISTICTOWARDLAWENFORCEMENTINRESPONSE

4HISFURTHEREXACERBATESANYDISCONNECTORRESENTMENTTHATMAYALREADYEXISTBETWEENCOMMUNITIESANDPOLICEGIVENTHE

HISTORICALLYNEGATIVERELATIONSHIPSTHATOFTENEXISTBETWEENLAWENFORCEMENTANDCOMMUNITIESOFCOLOR7HENOFlCERSONTHE

STREETENCOUNTERSOMEONEWHOHASANEGATIVEASSOCIATIONWITHTHEMITBECOMESMORELIKELYTHATAVIOLENTINCIDENTWILLOCCUROR

THATASITUATIONWILLESCALATE4HUSINAPPROPRIATEUSESOFHARSHDISCIPLINARYMEASURESNOTONLYFRUSTRATETHEEFFORTSOFMANYHIGH

QUALITYLAWENFORCEMENTOFlCIALSBECAUSEITWEAKENSTHEIRRELATIONSHIPSWITHTHECOMMUNITIESTHEYSERVEACRITICALELEMENTOFTHEI

success.)TMAYALSOCOMPROMISETHEIRSAFETYASWELLASTHESAFETYOFTHEBROADERCOMMUNITY

!NOTHERDAMAGINGEFFECTOFTHESEPRACTICESISTHATINSTEADOFHAVINGLAWENFORCEMENTPERSONNELDEVOTINGTHEIRENERGIESTOWHAT

THEYWERETRAINEDTODOWHICHISTOADDRESSSERIOUSCRIMINALBEHAVIORSTHATERODEPUBLICSAFETYANDPUBLICHEALTHTHEYAREFORCED

to spend valuable time on minor or even trivial offenses.

/NCEAGAINTHISCOMPROMISESPUBLICSAFETYBECAUSETIMETHATCOULDBESPENTADDRESSINGTHECOMPLEXCHALLENGESASSOCIATEDWITHSERIOUSCRIMINALSISINSTEADSPENTONSERVINGASSCHOOLDISCIPLINARIANS

/NTHEOTHERHANDALTERNATIVEAPPROACHESCANIMPROVETHERELATIONSHIPBETWEENCOMMUNITIESANDPOLICEKEEPMOREYOUNG

PEOPLEINSCHOOLANDOFFTHESTREETSANDMAKEOURCOMMUNITIESHEALTHIER!SASTRATEGYTOREDUCECRIMEANDVIOLENCE&IGHT

#RIME)NVESTIN+IDSANATIONALORGANIZATIONOFMORETHANPOLICECHIEFSSHERIFFSPROSECUTORSATTORNEYSGENERALOTHERLAW

ENFORCEMENTLEADERSANDVICTIMSOFVIOLENCEHASADVOCATEDFORREDUCTIONSINTHEUSEOFSCHOOLDISCIPLINARYMEASURESTHATPUSH

students out of school.4HESELAWENFORCEMENTOFlCIALSHAVERECOGNIZEDTHATSCHOOLDISCIPLINARYAPPROACHESTHATMAKESTUDENTS

LESSLIKELYTOGRADUATEHIGHSCHOOLANDMORELIKELYTOWINDUPINCARCERATEDAREASERIOUSTHREATTOOVERALLPUBLICHEALTHANDSAFETY

ANDMUSTBEREPLACEDWITHTHESUPERIORALTERNATIVESAVAILABLE



IV.HarshDisciplineWeakensMississippisEconomyandisCostlytoTaxpayers

)NTHELASTFEWDECADESASINCARCERATIONRATESHAVESPIKEDSOTOOHASTHECOSTTOTAXPAYERS&ROMTO-ISSISSIPPISPENAL

SYSTEMEXPANDEDBYANDTHE3TATESCORRECTIONCOSTSHAVEINCREASEDBYWELLOVERMILLIONAYEARINTHELASTDECADE

Yet, state funding for public education decreasedIN&ISCAL9EARFORTHEFOURTHYEARINAROWEVENWHILETHEOVERALLSTATEBUDGET

increased. Mississippi also ranks 45thLOWESTINTHENATIONINPERPUPILSPENDINGANDnd highest for percentage of school revenue

PROVIDEDBYTHEFEDERALGOVERNMENT4HUSINlSCALTERMSTHE3TATEISPRIORITIZINGINCARCERATIONOVEREDUCATION

4HEUSEOFHARSHANDEXTREMESCHOOLDISCIPLINEPOLICIESWHICHCAUSESMOREYOUNGPEOPLETOBEPLACEDINTOTHEJUVENILEAND

CRIMINALJUSTICESYSTEMSLEADSTOINCREASEDSPENDINGONINCARCERATION4HESELOCALGOVERNMENTDECISIONSAREECONOMICALLY

UNSUSTAINABLEANDTHEYHAVEHADANDWILLCONTINUETOHAVEHUGElSCALIMPLICATIONSFORTHEENTIRE3TATE&OREXAMPLECONSIDERTHE

MANYCOSTLYCOMPONENTSOFTHEhGETTOUGHvDISCIPLINARYAPPROACH

s 3ECURITYGUARDSANDSCHOOLPOLICEOFlCERSSALARIESANDBENElTSFORSCHOOLBASEDSECURITYPERSONNEL

s -ETALDETECTORSSURVEILLANCECAMERASANDOTHERSECURITYEQUIPMENTPURCHASINGANDUSINGEXPENSIVEEQUIPMENT

s 3CHOOLADMINISTRATIVECOSTSTIMESPENTBYSCHOOLSTAFFONINVESTIGATIONSHEARINGSPROCESSINGSTUDENTSANDIMPLEMENTING

SUSPENSIONSEXPULSIONSANDOTHERHARSHDISCIPLINARYMEASURES

s 0OLICEADMINISTRATIVECOSTSTIMESPENTBYPOLICEOFlCERSONINVESTIGATIONSPROCESSINGCITATIONSTRANSPORTINGSTUDENTSANDCHARGINGANDDETAININGSTUDENTSFORSCHOOLBASEDOFFENSES

s #OURTADMINISTRATIVECOSTSTIMESPENTBYJUVENILEANDCRIMINALCOURTSONPROCESSINGCASESARRAIGNMENTSHEARINGSAND

TRIALSFORSCHOOLBASEDOFFENSES

s $ISCIPLINARYALTERNATIVESCHOOLSCOSTSOFEDUCATINGSTUDENTSREMOVEDFROMTRADITIONALSCHOOLSFORDISCIPLINARYREASONS

s )NCARCERATIONCOSTSCOSTSOFDETAININGYOUTH

s ,OSTFEDERALEDUCATIONREVENUEDECREASEDPERPUPILREVENUERECEIVEDBYTHE3TATEANDLOCALSCHOOLDISTRICTSWHEN

DISCIPLINARYPRACTICESLEADORCONTRIBUTETOSTUDENTSNOTBEINGINSCHOOL

7HENALLTHESHORTTERMDIRECTCOSTSOFZEROTOLERANCEARECOMBINEDTHETOTALCOSTTO-ISSISSIPPISLOCALANDSTATEGOVERNMENTSIS

LIKELYTENSIFNOTHUNDREDSOFMILLIONSOFDOLLARSEVERYYEAR"UTTHECOSTSASSOCIATEDWITHZEROTOLERANCEDONOTENDTHERE"ECAUSE

THESEPRACTICESARESIGNIlCANTCONTRIBUTORSTOLOWERINGGRADUATIONRATESANDINCREASINGINCARCERATIONRATES there are substantial

LONGERTERMINDIRECTCOSTSASSOCIATEDWITHTHESECOUNTERPRODUCTIVEDISCIPLINARYPRACTICES

s ,OSTTAXREVENUEYOUTHWHODONOTGRADUATEFROMHIGHSCHOOLEARNSUBSTANTIALLYLESSOVERTHEIRLIFETIMERESULTINGINLESS

tax revenue for the government)

s (IGHERPUBLICHEALTHCOSTSALESSEDUCATEDPOPULACELEADSTOGREATEREXPENSESONPROGRAMSLIKE-EDICAIDAND

Medicare)

s (IGHERPUBLICASSISTANCECOSTSADDITIONALFOODHOUSINGANDWELFAREEXPENSESASSOCIATEDWITHHAVINGALESSEDUCATED

populace)

s (IGHERCRIMINALJUSTICECOSTSLOWEREDUCATIONLEVELSPREDICTHIGHERCRIMELEVELSWHICHLEADSTOHIGHERPUBLICEXPENDITURES

ONPOLICETHECOURTSYSTEMTHEPRISONSYSTEMETC



%CONOMISTSHAVEESTIMATEDTHATEACHSTUDENTWHOGRADUATESFROMHIGHSCHOOLONAVERAGEGENERATESECONOMICBENElTSTOTHE

PUBLICSECTOROFOVERHERORHISLIFETIME4HUSTHEMORETHANMEMBERSOFEVERY-ISSISSIPPIthGRADECLASSWHO

fail to graduate on time cost the State over 3 billion dollars.'IVENTHENEGATIVEIMPACTHARSHDISCIPLINARYPRACTICESHAVEON

GRADUATIONRATESITISCLEARTHATTHETENSOFTHOUSANDSOFOUTOFSCHOOLSUSPENSIONSEXPULSIONSREFERRALSTOALTERNATIVEPROGRAMS

ANDSCHOOLBASEDARRESTSTHATOCCURINTHE3TATEEVERYYEARARECOSTINGTHE3TATEMILLIONSIFNOTBILLIONSEVERYYEAR

4HElSCALLYSOUNDAPPROACHTOSCHOOLDISCIPLINEISTOELIMINATEPOLICIESANDPRACTICESTHATAREPUSHINGYOUNGPEOPLEOUTOFSCHOOL

ANDTOWARDJAILANDTHECORRECTIONALSYSTEM)NDEEDORGANIZATIONSANDPOLICYMAKERSACROSSTHEPOLITICALSPECTRUMHAVERECOGNIZED

THENEEDFORAMORESENSIBLEANDCOSTEFFECTIVEAPPROACHTOADDRESSINGTHECHALLENGESOFOURYOUTH&OREXAMPLEEVENTHE

ORGANIZATION2IGHTON#RIMEWHOSESTATEMENTOFPRINCIPLESHASBEENSIGNEDBYSUCHSTAUNCHCONSERVATIVESAS.EWT'INGRICH

'ROVER.ORQUISTAND*EB"USHPROPOSESSHRINKINGTHEPUBLICINVESTMENTINTHEJUSTICESYSTEMBYADDRESSINGOVERCRIMINALIZATION

ANDIMPLEMENTINGGRADUATEDAPPROACHESTOSCHOOLDISCIPLINETHATSHARPLYREDUCETHEUSEOFTHEJUVENILEJUSTICESYSTEM

4HEREAREENORMOUSECONOMICGAINSTOBEREALIZEDFROMREPLACINGMISGUIDEDDISCIPLINEPOLICIESANDPRACTICESWITHALTERNATIVES

THATCANACTUALLYIMPROVEGRADUATIONRATESLEADTOLOWERINCARCERATIONRATESANDULTIMATELYCREATEAMOREEDUCATEDHEALTHY

ANDPRODUCTIVECITIZENRY%VERYDOLLARTHATISCURRENTLYBEINGSPENTONPOLICEMETALDETECTORSANDSURVEILLANCECAMERASISADOLLAR

THATCOULDBEUSEDFORTEACHERSGUIDANCECOUNSELORSANDSCHOOLPSYCHOLOGISTS4HISISANOPPORTUNITYFOR-ISSISSIPPINOTONLYTO

SAVETAXPAYERDOLLARSBUTALSOTOFREEUPADDITIONALRESOURCESTHATCOULDTHENBEALLOCATEDTOWARDTHEEXPANSIONOFEDUCATIONAL

OPPORTUNITIESFORYOUTHAMONGOTHERPRIORITIES

)NOTHERWORDSTHROUGHBETTERUSEOFRESOURCESTHE3TATECANENSURETHATTHECURRENTDOWNWARDSPIRALINSTEADBECOMESAN

UPWARDSPIRALTOWARDEFFECTIVESCHOOLSSTRONGERCOMMUNITIESANDlSCALHEALTH-AKINGSMARTINVESTMENTSINOURYOUTHSAVESTHE

3TATEHUGESUMSOFMONEYNOWANDPOSITIONS-ISSISSIPPITOBEFARMOREPROSPEROUSINTHEFUTURE

HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN THE SHORT TERM . . .

. . . AND BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN THE LONG TERM

Harsh School Discipline:

An Expensive Problem

for MississippiIncarceration

Costs

Police

Administration

Costs

Suspension &

Expulsion

Administrative

Costs

Security

Guards &

School Police

Officers

Metal

Detectors &

Surveillance

Cameras

Disciplinary

Alternative

Schools

Juvenile/

Criminal Court

Administration

Costs

Lost Federal

Education

Revenue

Lost Tax

RevenueHigher Public

Health Costs

Higher

Criminal

Justice Costs

Higher Public

Assistance

Costs



V.ConclusionandRecommendations

4HEREISNOGREATMYSTERYTOCREATINGSAFEANDEFFECTIVESCHOOLS9OUNGPEOPLENEEDTOFEELVALUEDANDCAREDFORTHEYNEEDTOBE

PROVIDEDTHEAPPROPRIATERESOURCESANDTHEYNEEDTOBEALLOWEDTOMAKETHESAMEMISTAKESTHATALLOFUSMAKEWHENWEARE

YOUNG5NFORTUNATELYTOOMANY-ISSISSIPPISCHOOLSHAVETOOOFTENFAILEDTOPROVIDESUCHLEARNINGENVIRONMENTSANDASARESULT

THE3TATEISATACROSSROADS4HESTUDENTSWHOARESUSPENDEDEXPELLEDANDARRESTEDINSCHOOLDONOTJUSTDISAPPEAR4HEYSHOW

UPINTHESTREETSINTHEUNEMPLOYMENTLINEANDINOURJAILSANDPRISONS4HEYCONTINUETOREMINDUSINVERYVISUALANDCOSTLYWAYS

THATWEHAVEFAILEDTHEMANDTHATINDOINGSOWEHAVEALSOFAILEDEDUCATORSMEMBERSOFLAWENFORCEMENTCOMMUNITIESANDTHE

entire State.

"ELOWARElVEKEYRECOMMENDATIONSFOR-ISSISSIPPISTATELEGISLATORSTHATWILLIMPROVESCHOOLQUALITYPUBLICHEALTHPUBLICSAFETY

ANDECONOMICPROSPERITYTHROUGHOUTTHE3TATETHROUGHTHEIMPLEMENTATIONOFCOMMONSENSESCHOOLDISCIPLINE

1. Guided Discretion

7ElRMLYBELIEVETHATLOCALSCHOOLSYSTEMSSHOULDHAVEBROADDISCRETIONTOIMPLEMENTDISCIPLINARYPOLICIESANDPRACTICESTHATBEST

lTTHECONDITIONSWITHINTHEIRSCHOOLS4HEREARELITERALLYDOZENSOFPOTENTIALDISCIPLINARYRESPONSESTOSTUDENTMISBEHAVIORANDITIS

NOTTHEROLEOFTHE3TATETODETERMINEWHICHOFTHOSEINTERVENTIONSAREAPPROPRIATEINPARTICULARSITUATIONS(OWEVERITISCRITICALLY

IMPORTANTTHATTHEMOSTSERIOUSDISCIPLINARYCONSEQUENCESTHOSETHATCARRYSIGNIlCANTNEGATIVEIMPACTFORINDIVIDUALSTUDENTS

FAMILIESCOMMUNITIESANDTHE3TATEOVERALLSHOULDNOTBEUSEDFORLOWLEVELSTUDENTMISCONDUCTASHASBECOMEROUTINE

throughout Mississippi.

4HEREFOREWERECOMMENDTHATSCHOOLDISTRICTSBEREQUIREDTODEVELOPPOLICIESTHATUSEAGRADUATEDAPPROACHTODISCIPLINEWITHIN

WHICHTHEYWILLRETAINSIGNIlCANTCONTROLOVERSHAPINGLOCALDISCIPLINARYSTRATEGIES%VENWITHINTHATDISCRETIONHOWEVERTHERE

SHOULDBEAFEWREQUIREMENTSBASEDONDISCIPLINARYhBESTPRACTICESv

! !RRESTSREFERRALSTOJUVENILEDETENTIONCENTERSEXPULSIONSDISCIPLINARYREFERRALSTOALTERNATIVEPROGRAMSANDLONGTERM

OUTOFSCHOOLSUSPENSIONSSHOULDBELIMITEDTOSERIOUSSCHOOLBASEDSTUDENTINFRACTIONSTHATTHREATENSCHOOLSAFETY

NAMELYOFFENSESINVOLVINGAlREARMORDEADLYWEAPONDEALINGORDELIVERINGINCONTROLLEDSUBSTANCESORANYOTHEROFFENSE

RESULTINGINSERIOUSBODILYINJURYTOANOTHER

" 3TUDENTSSHOULDNOTBEEXCLUDEDFROMSCHOOLFORMORETHANlVEDAYSINAGIVENSCHOOLYEARABSENTASHOWINGOFNECESSITY

MADEATAFORMALHEARINGGOVERNEDBYSTRONGDUEPROCESSPROTECTIONSFORSTUDENTSANDPARENTSGUARDIANS

# 4HEREVISEDPOLICIESMUSTADDRESSTHENEEDSOFVICTIMSOFVIOLENTACTSBULLYINGANDOTHERFORMSOFHARASSMENTBUTTHESE

EFFORTSSHOULDNOTCONmICTWITHANYOFTHEABOVEPROVISIONSANDTHUSSHOULDIDENTIFYALTERNATIVESTOEXTENDEDSCHOOL

EXCLUSIONANDJUSTICESYSTEMINVOLVEMENTFORADDRESSINGTHESEBEHAVIORS

2. Meaningful Accountability and Transparency

#URRENTLYNOTHINGHOLDSSCHOOLDISTRICTSORLAWENFORCEMENTAGENCIESACCOUNTABLEFORENSURINGTHATDISCIPLINARYPRACTICESARENOT

ABUSEDORIMPLEMENTEDUNFAIRLY&URTHERMOREGAPSINDATACOLLECTIONPREVENTACOMPREHENSIVEUNDERSTANDINGOFTHEFULLEXTENTO

POLICEANDJUVENILECOURTINVOLVEMENTINSCHOOLBASEDMATTERSANDTHECONNECTIONSBETWEENSCHOOLDISCIPLINEINVOLVEMENTINTHE

JUVENILEANDCRIMINALJUSTICESYSTEMSANDACADEMICPERFORMANCE

7ERECOMMENDIMPROVINGSTATEWIDETRANSPARENCYANDACCOUNTABILITYINTHEFOLLOWINGWAYS

! 2EQUIRINGSCHOOLDISTRICTSTOSUBMITQUARTERLYREPORTSOFTHEIRSCHOOLDISCIPLINEDATATO-$%ATLEASTFORTHENEXTTWOYEARS

4HESEREPORTSSHOULDINCLUDESUSPENSIONEXPULSIONANDARRESTDATA4HEDATASHOULDBEDISAGGREGATEDBYOFFENSERACE

ETHNICITYGENDERSCHOOLAGEGRADESPECIALEDUCATIONSTATUSANDLIMITED%NGLISHPROlCIENCYSTATUS



" 2EQUIRING-$%TODOTHEFOLLOWING

2EVIEWTHEDISTRICTDATAREPORTSANDUSETHEMTODETERMINEWHETHERORNOTADISTRICTHASCOMPLIEDWITH

2ECOMMENDATIONABOVE)FTHEREHASBEENNONCOMPLIANCEWITH2ECOMMENDATIONORIFTHEREARESIGNIlCANT

RACIALDISPARITIESEVIDENTINTHEDISTRICTSDATATHEDISTRICTSHOULDBEREQUIREDTOCREATEANACTIONPLANFOR

ADDRESSINGTHOSEISSUESANDSUBMITITTO-$%

2ELEASEANNUALLYAREPORTTHATPUBLISHESSTATEWIDESCHOOLDISCIPLINEDATAINCLUDINGDATAONOUTOFSCHOOL

SUSPENSIONSEXPULSIONSDISCIPLINARYREFERRALSTOALTERNATIVESCHOOLSSCHOOLBASEDARRESTSANDACADEMIC

achievement.

0ROVIDEAYEARLYOPPORTUNITYFORPUBLICCOMMENTONDISTRICTSCOMPLIANCEWITH2ECOMMENDATION

-AKERECOMMENDATIONSTOTHELEGISLATUREFORHOWTOENSUREDISTRICTCOMPLIANCEWITH2ECOMMENDATION

including recommendations for remedial actions, such as heightened monitoring and technical assistance.

3. Resources and Incentives for Developing Safer and More Effective Schools

4OOFEWRESOURCESARECURRENTLYALLOCATEDFOREFFORTSTHATWILLPROMOTEPOSITIVESCHOOLCLIMATESANDALTERNATIVESTOHARSHSCHOOL

discipline.

7ERECOMMENDCREATINGAGRANTPROGRAMTOSUPPORTSCHOOLDISTRICTSINTHEDEVELOPMENTOFPOSITIVESCHOOLCLIMATESSUCHASBY

IMPLEMENTINGRESTORATIVEJUSTICEPROGRAMSTRAININGSCHOOLSTAFFANDLAWENFORCEMENTPERSONNELINRESTORATIVEJUSTICEANDHIRING

ADDITIONALSTUDENTSUPPORTSTAFFSUCHASGUIDANCECOUNSELORSSOCIALWORKERSANDSCHOOLPSYCHOLOGISTS7ERECOMMENDREQUIRING

THOSEDISTRICTSTHATAPPLYFORTHEFUNDSTOSHOWTHATTHEYAREINCOMPLIANCEWITH2ECOMMENDATIONORHOWTHEYWILLUSETHE

FUNDSTOINCREASETHEIRCOMPLIANCEWITH2ECOMMENDATION

4. Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration

4OREDUCETHEUSEOFEXCLUSIONARYDISCIPLINEANDTHENUMBEROFSTUDENTSENTERINGTHEJUVENILEANDCRIMINALJUSTICESYSTEMSWE

must engage multiple stakeholders in creating comprehensive local strategies. Such stakeholders should include, but not be

LIMITEDTOPARENTSSTUDENTSSCHOOLDISTRICTSTHEJUVENILEJUSTICESYSTEMLAWENFORCEMENTCOMMUNITYORGANIZATIONSANDSOCIAL

service groups.

We recommend providing funding and incentives to encourage stakeholders and local agencies to adopt a Cooperative

!GREEMENTOR-EMORANDUMOF5NDERSTANDINGTHATDOESTHEFOLLOWING

! %STABLISHESAPARTNERSHIPRELATIONSHIPAMONGCOMMUNITYSTAKEHOLDERSANDLOCALAGENCIESTHATAREINVOLVEDINTHE

HANDLINGOFDISCIPLINARYINCIDENTS

" #HARGESTHECOALITIONWITHDEVELOPINGCOMPREHENSIVESTRATEGIESFORDOINGTHEFOLLOWING

,IMITINGTHENUMBEROFSCHOOLREFERRALSTOLAWENFORCEMENTANDJUVENILECOURT

2EDUCINGTHEDISPROPORTIONATECONTACTSTUDENTSOFCOLORHAVEWITHSCHOOLDISCIPLINEANDTHEJUVENILEJUSTICE

SYSTEM

)NCREASINGGRADUATIONRATES

$ECREASINGTHEUSEOFSTATEANDLOCALFUNDSFORJUVENILEJUSTICEINTERVENTIONSFORMINORMISBEHAVIORINSCHOOL

5. Improved Training

4OOMANYEDUCATORSLAWENFORCEMENTPERSONNELANDOTHERADULTSWITHINTHESCHOOLENVIRONMENTAREUNAWAREOFTHESERIOUS

CONSEQUENCESOFHARSHSCHOOLDISCIPLINEANDTHECRIMINALIZATIONOFYOUTHANDNEEDMOREINFORMATIONONTHEIRIMPACTASWELLAS

TRAININGREGARDINGHOWTOAPPROPRIATELYADDRESSSTUDENTMISBEHAVIOR



7ERECOMMENDFUNDINGTHE-$%TODEVELOPANDIMPLEMENTTRAININGCURRICULAANDTODIRECTLOCALDISTRICTSTOTRAINADMINISTRATORS

EDUCATORSSCHOOLRESOURCEOFlCERSANDOTHERSCHOOLSTAFFONTHEIRROLESANDRESPONSIBILITIESUNDERTHELOCALDISCIPLINEPOLICY7E

also recommend the legislature provides funds for the implementation of these trainings in districts found to be out of compliance

WITH2ECOMMENDATION3PECIlCALLYTRAININGCURRICULASHOULDINCLUDEATAMINIMUM

! 4RAININGFORSCHOOLADMINISTRATORSTEACHERSSCHOOLSTAFFANDEXPULSIONHEARINGOFlCERSONTHEADVERSECONSEQUENCESOF

EXCLUSIONFROMSCHOOLEFFECTIVECLASSROOMMANAGEMENTTECHNIQUESADOLESCENTDEVELOPMENTANDRELATIONSHIPBUILDING

CONmICTRESOLUTIONRESTORATIVEJUSTICERESTORATIVEPRACTICESOTHERDISCIPLINARYALTERNATIVESANDSTUDENTENGAGEMENT

THROUGHCHALLENGINGANDCULTURALLYRELEVANTCURRICULA7ERECOMMENDTHATTHISTRAININGBECONDUCTEDATMINIMUMTWICE

PERYEARANDBEINCLUDEDINPROFESSIONALDEVELOPMENTTHATISALREADYPROVIDEDTOSCHOOLOFlCIALS

" 4RAININGFORPOLICEANDSECURITYOFlCERSONCHILDANDADOLESCENTDEVELOPMENTCULTURALCOMPETENCEANDBUILDING

RELATIONSHIPSWITHSTUDENTSDEESCALATINGVIOLENTSITUATIONSIDENTIFYINGTHESOCIALEMOTIONALANDMENTALNEEDSOFSTUDENTS

DIRECTINGYOUTHTOAPPROPRIATESERVICESRATHERTHANUSINGFORCEANDDUEPROCESSPROTECTIONSFORSTUDENTS!LLOFlCERS

SHOULDBEREQUIREDTOCOMPLETESUCHTRAININGPRIORTOBEINGPERMITTEDTOSERVEINASCHOOL

For too long, extreme and destructive approaches to school discipline have devastated the students and families of Mississippi,

HARMEDITSTEACHERSMEMBERSOFLAWENFORCEMENTANDCOMMUNITYMEMBERSANDCAUSEDPROFOUNDDAMAGETOTHEECONOMIC

HEALTHANDWELLBEINGOFTHE3TATEATLARGE"UTWHILETHISIS-ISSISSIPPISREALITYITDOESNOTHAVETOBEITSFUTURE-ISSISSIPPIHASAN

OPPORTUNITYTOPROMOTEPOLICIESTHATCREATEEFFECTIVESCHOOLSSTRONGERCOMMUNITIESANDlSCALHEALTH4HETIMEHASCOMEFORTHE

3TATETOREVERSETHETIDEFROMhGETTOUGHvINVESTMENTSINHANDCUFFSANDJAILCELLSTOWARDhGETSMARTvINVESTMENTSIN-ISSISSIPPIS

YOUNGPEOPLE



4HE#ENTERFOR%FFECTIVE$ISCIPLINE$ISCIPLINE

AT3CHOOL.#!#03 HTTPWWWSTOPHITTINGCOM

index.php?page=statesbanning.

4HEDEFENDANTSINTHE$/*SSUITARETHECITY

OF-ERIDIANTHECOUNTYOF,AUDERDALETWOYOUTH

COURTJUDGESIN,AUDERDALE#OUNTYTHE3TATEOF

-ISSISSIPPITHE-ISSISSIPPI$EPARTMENTOF(UMAN

3ERVICESANDTHE-ISSISSIPPI$IVISIONOF9OUTH

3ERVICES#OMPLAINTlLEDIN53$ISTRICT#OURT3OUTHERN$ISTRICTOF-ISSISSIPPI/CT#ASE

CV(47,2!5NITED3TATESOF!MERICA

V#ITYOF-ERIDIANETALAVAILABLEAT HTTPWWW

JUSTICEGOVCRTABOUTSPLDOCUMENTSMERIDIAN?

COMPLAINT?PDF.

3 Id.AT

4 Id.AT

5 ADVANCEMENT PROJECT & THE CIVIL RIGHTS PROJECT

HARVARD UNIVERSITY, OPPORTUNITIES SUSPENDED: THE

DEVASTATING CONSEQUENCESOF ZERO TOLERANCEAND

SCHOOL DISCIPLINEAVAILABLEAT HTTP

CIVILRIGHTSPROJECTUCLAEDURESEARCHKEDUCATIONSCHOOLDISCIPLINEOPPORTUNITIES

SUSPENDEDTHEDEVASTATINGCONSEQUENCESOF

ZEROTOLERANCEANDSCHOOLDISCIPLINEPOLICIES

CRPOPPORTUNITIESSUSPENDEDZEROTOLERANCE

pdf[hereinafter OPPORTUNITIES SUSPENDED].

6 Id.

7 Id.AT

8 American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU Files

,AWSUIT#HARGING0OLICEAND3CHOOL/FlCIALSIN

-ISSISSIPPIWITH2ACIAL$ISCRIMINATIONAND%XCESSIVE

&ORCEAGAINST3CHOOLCHILDRENv!PRIL

available at HTTPWWWACLUORGRACIALJUSTICEACLU

lLESLAWSUITCHARGINGPOLICEANDSCHOOLOFlCIALSMISSISSIPPIRACIAL.

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HANDBOOK(2012-2013) 29, available at HTTPWWW

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#IVIL2IGHTS$ATA#OLLECTION

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Moss Point, Meridian, Noxubee, and McComb.See

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MEDIADIPLOMASCOUNT?PRESSRELEASEPDF .

AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION ZERO TOLERANCE

TASKFORCE, ARE ZERO TOLERANCE POLICIES EFFECTIVEIN

SCHOOLS? AN EVIDENTIARY REVIEWAND RECOMMENDATIONS

!UGAVAILABLEAT HTTPWWWAPA

ORGPUBSINFOREPORTSZEROTOLERANCEREPORTPDF

[hereinafter APA ZERO TOLERANCE TASKFORCE, ARE ZERO

TOLERANCE POLICIES EFFECTIVE?].See also COUNCILOF STATE

GOVERNMENTS JUSTICE CENTER & TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY

PUBLIC POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE, BREAKING SCHOOLS RULES:

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Id.

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COPS GRANTS*ANAVAILABLEATHTTPWWW

COPSUSDOJGOVPDF3TATE2EPORTSMSPDF

&ORAFULLERDISCUSSIONOFSOMEOFTHESECOSTS

see infraTEXTONPP

LEVIN, H., BELFIELD, C., ETAL., THE COSTSAND BENEFITS

OF AN EXCELLENT EDUCATIONFOR AMERICAS CHILDREN

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DOWNLOAD?GALLERY,EEDS?2EPORT?&INAL?*AN

pdf.

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33 Id.AT

34 OPPORTUNITIES SUSPENDED,supra note 5, at 3.

35 Id.

36 Id.AT



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ENDNOTES
http://www.stophitting.com/index.php?page=statesbanninghttp://www.stophitting.com/index.php?page=statesbanninghttp://www.stophitting.com/index.php?page=statesbanninghttp://www.justice.gov/crt/about/spl/documents/meridian_complaint_10-24-12.pdfhttp://www.justice.gov/crt/about/spl/documents/meridian_complaint_10-24-12.pdfhttp://www.justice.gov/crt/about/spl/documents/meridian_complaint_10-24-12.pdfhttp://civilrightsproject.ucla.edu/research/k-12-education/school-discipline/opportunities-suspended-the-devastating-consequences-of-zero-tolerance-and-school-discipline-policies/crp-opportunities-suspended-zero-tolerance-2000.pdfhttp://civilrightsproject.ucla.edu/research/k-12-education/school-discipline/opportunities-suspended-the-devastating-consequences-of-zero-tolerance-and-school-discipline-policies/crp-opportunities-suspended-zero-tolerance-2000.pdfhttp://civilrightsproject.ucla.edu/research/k-12-education/school-discipline/opportunities-suspended-the-devastating-consequences-of-zero-tolerance-and-school-discipline-policies/crp-opportunities-suspended-zero-tolerance-2000.pdfhttp://civilrightsproject.ucla.edu/research/k-12-education/school-discipline/opportunities-suspended-the-devastating-consequences-of-zero-tolerance-and-school-discipline-policies/crp-opportunities-suspended-zero-tolerance-2000.pdfhttp://civilrightsproject.ucla.edu/research/k-12-education/school-discipline/opportunities-suspended-the-devastating-consequences-of-zero-tolerance-and-school-discipline-policies/crp-opportunities-suspended-zero-tolerance-2000.pdfhttp://civilrightsproject.ucla.edu/research/k-12-education/school-discipline/opportunities-suspended-the-devastating-consequences-of-zero-tolerance-and-school-discipline-policies/crp-opportunities-suspended-zero-tolerance-2000.pdfhttp://civilrightsproject.ucla.edu/research/k-12-education/school-discipline/opportunities-suspended-the-devastating-consequences-of-zero-tolerance-and-school-discipline-policies/crp-opportunities-suspended-zero-tolerance-2000.pdfhttp://www.aclu.org/racial-justice/aclu-files-lawsuit-charging-police-and-school-officials-mississippi-racialhttp://www.aclu.org/racial-justice/aclu-files-lawsuit-charging-police-and-school-officials-mississippi-racialhttp://www.aclu.org/racial-justice/aclu-files-lawsuit-charging-police-and-school-officials-mississippi-racialhttp://www.jacksonfreepress.com/news/2012/apr/25/jps-under-fire-for-special-ed-violations/http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/news/2012/apr/25/jps-under-fire-for-special-ed-violations/http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/news/2012/apr/25/jps-under-fire-for-special-ed-violations/http://colorlines.com/archives/2012/11/school_prison_pipeline_meridian.htmlhttp://colorlines.com/archives/2012/11/school_prison_pipeline_meridian.htmlhttp://colorlines.com/archives/2012/11/school_prison_pipeline_meridian.htmlhttp://www.lauderdale.k12.ms.us/?DivisionID=9052&DepartmentID=9521&ToggleSideNavhttp://www.lauderdale.k12.ms.us/?DivisionID=9052&DepartmentID=9521&ToggleSideNavhttp://www.lauderdale.k12.ms.us/?DivisionID=9052&DepartmentID=9521&ToggleSideNavhttp://psd.schooldesk.net/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=lKGgGTFEcC4%3d&tabid=8606&mid=12363http://psd.schooldesk.net/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=lKGgGTFEcC4%3d&tabid=8606&mid=12363http://psd.schooldesk.net/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=lKGgGTFEcC4%3d&tabid=8606&mid=12363http://psd.schooldesk.net/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=lKGgGTFEcC4%3d&tabid=8606&mid=12363http://www.edweek.org/media/diplomascount2011_pressrelease.pdfhttp://www.edweek.org/media/diplomascount2011_pressrelease.pdfhttp://www.edweek.org/media/diplomascount2011_pressrelease.pdfhttp://www.apa.org/pubs/info/reports/zero-tolerance-report.pdfhttp://www.apa.org/pubs/info/reports/zero-tolerance-report.pdfhttp://www.justicecenter.csg.org/files/Breaking_Schools_Rules_Report_Final.pdfhttp://www.justicecenter.csg.org/files/Breaking_Schools_Rules_Report_Final.pdfhttp://www.justicecenter.csg.org/files/Breaking_Schools_Rules_Report_Final.pdfhttp://www.eastjasper.k12.ms.us/assets/forms/Kim-print-ready2-10-16-2012-Handbook-2012-2013-Revised-doc-8-25-2012-FINAL-withOUT.pdfhttp://www.eastjasper.k12.ms.us/assets/forms/Kim-print-ready2-10-16-2012-Handbook-2012-2013-Revised-doc-8-25-2012-FINAL-withOUT.pdfhttp://www.eastjasper.k12.ms.us/assets/forms/Kim-print-ready2-10-16-2012-Handbook-2012-2013-Revised-doc-8-25-2012-FINAL-withOUT.pdfhttp://www.eastjasper.k12.ms.us/assets/forms/Kim-print-ready2-10-16-2012-Handbook-2012-2013-Revised-doc-8-25-2012-FINAL-withOUT.pdfhttp://2012sppconference.blogs.rice.edu/files/2012/02/Haider-Markel-et-al-SPPC-2012.pdfhttp://2012sppconference.blogs.rice.edu/files/2012/02/Haider-Markel-et-al-SPPC-2012.pdfhttp://2012sppconference.blogs.rice.edu/files/2012/02/Haider-Markel-et-al-SPPC-2012.pdfhttp://privateofficernews.wordpress.com/2008/03/30/school-officers-train-for-their-duties-wwwprivateofficercom/http://privateofficernews.wordpress.com/2008/03/30/school-officers-train-for-their-duties-wwwprivateofficercom/http://privateofficernews.wordpress.com/2008/03/30/school-officers-train-for-their-duties-wwwprivateofficercom/http://www.cops.usdoj.gov/pdf/StateReports2010/ms.pdfhttp://www.cops.usdoj.gov/pdf/StateReports2010/ms.pdfhttp://www.cops.usdoj.gov/pdf/StateReports2010/ms.pdfhttp://www.aclu.org/racial-justice/aclu-files-lawsuit-charging-police-and-school-officials-mississippi-racialhttp://www.aclu.org/racial-justice/aclu-files-lawsuit-charging-police-and-school-officials-mississippi-racialhttp://www.aclu.org/racial-justice/aclu-files-lawsuit-charging-police-and-school-officials-mississippi-racialhttp://www.jacksonfreepress.com/news/2012/apr/25/jps-under-fire-for-special-ed-violations/http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/news/2012/apr/25/jps-under-fire-for-special-ed-violations/http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/news/2012/apr/25/jps-under-fire-for-special-ed-violations/http://www.courthousenews.com/2011/02/28/34490.htmhttp://www.courthousenews.com/2011/02/28/34490.htmhttp://www.courthousenews.com/2011/02/28/34490.htmhttp://www.courthousenews.com/2011/02/28/34490.htmhttp://www.jacksonfreepress.com/news/2012/apr/25/jps-under-fire-for-special-ed-violations/http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/news/2012/apr/25/jps-under-fire-for-special-ed-violations/http://www.aclu.org/racial-justice/aclu-files-lawsuit-charging-police-and-school-officials-mississippi-racialhttp://www.aclu.org/racial-justice/aclu-files-lawsuit-charging-police-and-school-officials-mississippi-racialhttp://www.aclu.org/racial-justice/aclu-files-lawsuit-charging-police-and-school-officials-mississippi-racialhttp://www.cops.usdoj.gov/pdf/StateReports2010/ms.pdfhttp://www.cops.usdoj.gov/pdf/StateReports2010/ms.pdfhttp://privateofficernews.wordpress.com/2008/03/30/school-officers-train-for-their-duties-wwwprivateofficercom/http://privateofficernews.wordpress.com/2008/03/30/school-officers-train-for-their-duties-wwwprivateofficercom/http://privateofficernews.wordpress.com/2008/03/30/school-officers-train-for-their-duties-wwwprivateofficercom/http://2012sppconference.blogs.rice.edu/files/2012/02/Haider-Markel-et-al-SPPC-2012.pdfhttp://2012sppconference.blogs.rice.edu/files/2012/02/Haider-Markel-et-al-SPPC-2012.pdfhttp://2012sppconference.blogs.rice.edu/files/2012/02/Haider-Markel-et-al-SPPC-2012.pdfhttp://www.eastjasper.k12.ms.us/assets/forms/Kim-print-ready2-10-16-2012-Handbook-2012-2013-Revised-doc-8-25-2012-FINAL-withOUT.pdfhttp://www.eastjasper.k12.ms.us/assets/forms/Kim-print-ready2-10-16-2012-Handbook-2012-2013-Revised-doc-8-25-2012-FINAL-withOUT.pdfhttp://www.eastjasper.k12.ms.us/assets/forms/Kim-print-ready2-10-16-2012-Handbook-2012-2013-Revised-doc-8-25-2012-FINAL-withOUT.pdfhttp://www.eastjasper.k12.ms.us/assets/forms/Kim-print-ready2-10-16-2012-Handbook-2012-2013-Revised-doc-8-25-2012-FINAL-withOUT.pdfhttp://www.justicecenter.csg.org/files/Breaking_Schools_Rules_Report_Final.pdfhttp://www.justicecenter.csg.org/files/Breaking_Schools_Rules_Report_Final.pdfhttp://www.justicecenter.csg.org/files/Breaking_Schools_Rules_Report_Final.pdfhttp://www.apa.org/pubs/info/reports/zero-tolerance-report.pdfhttp://www.apa.org/pubs/info/reports/zero-tolerance-report.pdfhttp://www.edweek.org/media/diplomascount2011_pressrelease.pdfhttp://www.edweek.org/media/diplomascount2011_pressrelease.pdfhttp://psd.schooldesk.net/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=lKGgGTFEcC4%3d&tabid=8606&mid=12363http://psd.schooldesk.net/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=lKGgGTFEcC4%3d&tabid=8606&mid=12363http://psd.schooldesk.net/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=lKGgGTFEcC4%3d&tabid=8606&mid=12363http://www.lauderdale.k12.ms.us/?DivisionID=9052&DepartmentID=9521&ToggleSideNavhttp://www.lauderdale.k12.ms.us/?DivisionID=9052&DepartmentID=9521&ToggleSideNavhttp://www.lauderdale.k12.ms.us/?DivisionID=9052&DepartmentID=9521&ToggleSideNavhttp://colorlines.com/archives/2012/11/school_prison_pipeline_meridian.htmlhttp://colorlines.com/archives/2012/11/school_prison_pipeline_meridian.htmlhttp://colorlines.com/archives/2012/11/school_prison_pipeline_meridian.htmlhttp://www.jacksonfreepress.com/news/2012/apr/25/jps-under-fire-for-special-ed-violations/http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/news/2012/apr/25/jps-under-fire-for-special-ed-violations/http://www.aclu.org/racial-justice/aclu-files-lawsuit-charging-police-and-school-officials-mississippi-racialhttp://www.aclu.org/racial-justice/aclu-files-lawsuit-charging-police-and-school-officials-mississippi-racialhttp://www.aclu.org/racial-justice/aclu-files-lawsuit-charging-police-and-school-officials-mississippi-racialhttp://civilrightsproject.ucla.edu/research/k-12-education/school-discipline/opportunities-suspended-the-devastating-consequences-of-zero-tolerance-and-school-discipline-policies/crp-opportunities-suspended-zero-tolerance-2000.pdfhttp://civilrightsproject.ucla.edu/research/k-12-education/school-discipline/opportunities-suspended-the-devastating-consequences-of-zero-tolerance-and-school-discipline-policies/crp-opportunities-suspended-zero-tolerance-2000.pdfhttp://civilrightsproject.ucla.edu/research/k-12-education/school-discipline/opportunities-suspended-the-devastating-consequences-of-zero-tolerance-and-school-discipline-policies/crp-opportunities-suspended-zero-tolerance-2000.pdfhttp://civilrightsproject.ucla.edu/research/k-12-education/school-discipline/opportunities-suspended-the-devastating-consequences-of-zero-tolerance-and-school-discipline-policies/crp-opportunities-suspended-zero-tolerance-2000.pdfhttp://civilrightsproject.ucla.edu/research/k-12-education/school-discipline/opportunities-suspended-the-devastating-consequences-of-zero-tolerance-and-school-discipline-policies/crp-opportunities-suspended-zero-tolerance-2000.pdfhttp://civilrightsproject.ucla.edu/research/k-12-education/school-discipline/opportunities-suspended-the-devastating-consequences-of-zero-tolerance-and-school-discipline-policies/crp-opportunities-suspended-zero-tolerance-2000.pdfhttp://civilrightsproject.ucla.edu/research/k-12-education/school-discipline/opportunities-suspended-the-devastating-consequences-of-zero-tolerance-and-school-discipline-policies/crp-opportunities-suspended-zero-tolerance-2000.pdfhttp://www.justice.gov/crt/about/spl/documents/meridian_complaint_10-24-12.pdfhttp://www.justice.gov/crt/about/spl/documents/meridian_complaint_10-24-12.pdfhttp://www.justice.gov/crt/about/spl/documents/meridian_complaint_10-24-12.pdfhttp://www.stophitting.com/index.php?page=statesbanninghttp://www.stophitting.com/index.php?page=statesbanning



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43 LAUDERDALE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT STUDENT/PARENT

HANDBOOKAVAILABLEAT HTTPWWW

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2ESEARCHONSTUDENTBEHAVIORHASFOUNDNO

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REPORT: Handcuffs on Success: The Extreme School Discipline Crisis in Mississippi Public Schools

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Transcript of REPORT: Handcuffs on Success: The Extreme School Discipline Crisis in Mississippi Public Schools