The Role of Federal, State and Local Policymakers in Advancing School Discipline Reform

NASBE Annual ConferenceThe Ritz-Carlton Pentagon City, Arlington, VASunday, July 28, 2013

NASBE Annual ConferenceThe Ritz-Carlton Pentagon City, Arlington, VASunday, July 28, 2013

Advancing School Discipline Policy: From Research to Policy

David Osher, Ph.D.American Institutes for Research

Takeaways

• School and classroom climate can affect conditions for learning and through that attendance and learning

• Discipline practices can either enhance or harm conditions of learning.

• We know enough about what to do and what to avoid in discipline policies and practices to improve conditions for learning

Thought Experiment: Is the Problem the Fish, The Water, or Both?

School Climate

• Product of:• Intentional and unintentional behaviors of all members of the

school community – individually and collectively• Immediate and historical

• E.g., impact of school history and rituals

• Explicit and implicit• Norms• What is taken for granted

• Affects and is affected by how people behave

Conditions for Learning

• Aspects of climate that are closest to attendance, learning, achievement, graduation

• Emotional and Physical Safety• E.g. Chicago and Virginia research

• Connection, Respect, and Support • NELS Data

• Engagement & Challenge• Peer and Adult Social and Emotional Competence

Affect of Discipline on Climate & Conditions for Learning

• Safety• Fear: "They don’t shout at me here”• Alienation: perception of profiling and favoritism• Students feel less safe in schools with high numbers of

suspension• Connection• Exclusionary vs. inclusionary discipline• Relationship based discipline

Affect of Discipline on Climate & Conditions for Learning

• Challenge & Engagement• A focus on external discipline breaks the “vector” of learning• Reduced instructional time and opportunities to learn

• > Falling further behind in class• -> More problems

• Reduced Motivation• Peer & Adult Social & Emotional Competency• Modeling of power and lack of emotional control• Focus on compliance (when observed) vs. Self-Discipline

What We Can Do

• Collect climate data and use for planning and monitoring• E.g., Cleveland• See: National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments

• High behavioral and academic expectations• High levels of support for students and teachers to meet

these expectations• Employ a three-tiered approach that aligns academic and

social and emotional support

Work at Three Levels

Provide Individualized Intensive SupportsProvide coordinated, intensive, sustained, culturally competent,

individualized, child- and family- driven and focused services and supports that

address needs while building assets.

Intervene Early & Provide Focused Youth Development Activities

Implement strategies and provide supports that address

risk factors and build protective factors for students at risk for severe academic or behavioral

difficulties.

Build a Schoolwide FoundationUniversal prevention and youth development

approaches, caring school climate, positive and proactive approach to discipline, personalized instruction, cultural

competence, and strong family involvement.

What To Do: Focus on Prevention

What We Can Do

• Universal• Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)

• E.g., IL and KA SEL Standards• Effects on Social Competence, Behavior, & Achievement

• Positive Behavioral Supports and Interventions (PBIS)• E.g., Maryland and L.A.• E.g., Garfield High School

• Community Building Activities such as Class Meetings• Professional Development for Adults

What We Can Do

• Early Intervention• Effective use of Warning Signs• Functional Behavioral Assessment• Planning Centers• Restorative Circles• Student Support Teams

• Intensive Intervention• Effective mental health services• Special Education • Wraparound Supports• Restorative Justice

What Does Not Work

What Does Not Work

• Reaction rather than Prevention• Lectures• Punishment• E.g., Research on:

• Vandalism• Scared Straight• Boot Camps

Resources

• Interagency Working Group on Youth--Findyouthinfo.gov• National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments -

safesupportiveschools.ed.gov• The National Evaluation and Technical Assistance Center for

the Education of Children and Youth Who Are Neglected, Delinquent, or At Risk ( NDTAC ) - http://www.neglected-delinquent.org

• National Clearing House on Safe and Supportive School Discipline (coming soon)

Snapshot of Maryland Education

Local School Systems 24 Schools 1452 Teachers 59,330

Students 859,638 White 41.8%

African American 35.1% Hispanic 12.9% Asian 6.0% Special Education12.0%FARMs 44.0%Ltd. English Proficient 7.0%

Preparing World-Class Students

Maryland State Board of Education

Links to Key Documents/Work in Progress

•Maryland Board Documents on Student Discipline and Long Term Suspensionswww.marylandpublicschools.org/MSDE/stateboard/Student+Discipline+and+Long+Term+Suspensions

•School Discipline and Academic Success: Related Parts of Maryland’s Education Reformwww.marylandpublicschools.org/NR/rdonlyres/42ED8EDA-AF34-4058-B275-03189163882D/32853/SchoolDisciplineandAcademicSuccessReportFinalJuly2.pdf

•School Discipline Regulations Workgroupwww.marylandpublicschools.org/MSDE/divisions/studentschoolsvcs/student_services_alt/sdrw

•Best Practices Workgroupwww.marylandpublicschools.org/MSDE/divisions/studentschoolsvcs/student_services_alt/sdw/?WBCMODE=PresentationUnpublished

•Code of Conduct Workgroupwww.marylandpublicschools.org/MSDE/divisions/studentschoolsvcs/student_services_alt/student_discipline

Anne Arundel County Public Schools

Anne Arundel County Public Schools

Federal Guidelines and State Policy

State and Local Policy

• How can State Boards of Education address assist in the Supportive School Discipline Initiative which addresses the “school to prison pipeline” and the disciplinary policies and practices that can push students out of school and into the criminal justice system?

State and Local Policy

• Know your State data • Identify the school districts in your state that show significant

disparities in the data and provide support to identified districts

• Know the role of State Education Attorneys regarding compliance issues

State and Local Policy

Know your State data – available at http://OCRdata.ed.gov – Data from the Office of Civil Rights

Look at data from your own DepartmentLook at data from other state agencies

The Department of Public Safety The Department of Corrections The Board of Parole The Department of Public Health

Example: The Iowa Division of Criminal and Juvenile Justice Planning offers statistics on juveniles in relation to criminal activities.

Better information = better policies

State and Local Policy

• Identify the school districts in your state that show significant disparities in the data.

• Use district specific data to guide your support.• Suspensions, expulsions, corporal punishment, arrests and

disciplinary alternative schools• Information on school climate, such as truancy, stability, and

attendance rates, and parent/student/teacher surveys• Disaggregated by race, gender, special education and

socioeconomic status, and English proficiency

State and Local Policy

Review disciplinary policies (Use of Code of Conduct vs. Disciplinary)

Provide model good discipline practices to foster safe and productive learning environments in every classroom.

Offer federal best practices (Oakland Unified SD & Meridian)Provide positive behavioral interventions and supportsCommunicate with the districts and facilitate the

implementation of these practices. When it comes to facilitation – Look at cultural competence

and achievement gap issues. Provide proper training to staffProvide support and research on the relationship of school

discipline and academic achievement – research shows punitive discipline harms academic achievement.

State and Local Policy

Know the role of state education attorneys and how they can be instrumental in helping state boards support districts to ensure they meet federal guidelines as it pertains to school discipline.

Responsible for responding to OCR regarding a complaint of non-compliance for failure of the State to monitor a local districts actions

The State oversees compliance with federal laws and regulations

Can help implement a plan of action for compliance for the districts.

State boards may have different oversight abilities – check with your State Education Attorney regarding your authority.

State and Local Policy

Nicole M. Proesch, Legal Counsel, Office of the Director,Iowa Department of EducationPhone: (515) 281-8661Email: Nicole.Proesch@Iowa.gov

Questions?