Discipline Review Discipline Review Committee: Final Committee: Final ReportReport

Discipline Review Discipline Review Committee: Final Committee: Final ReportReport

Dewitt Walker -- ChairpersonDewitt Walker -- ChairpersonDr. Samuel Taylor -- FacilitatorDr. Samuel Taylor -- Facilitator

August 2004August 2004

2

Committee Charge Unitary Status Agreement

Committee appointed in fall 2003 to . . . Review policies and practices for fairness and equity Analyze data by race, socioeconomic status, school, school

level and other appropriate categories Include district data on in- and out-of-school suspensions,

duplicated and unduplicated counts Present recommendations to Board within 90 days of end of

2003-04 school year Fulton County to . . .

Make report available on web site and in school offices Modify policies and practices as it deems appropriate

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National Research Findings: Suspensions

Rising suspension rates 1990 – almost 2 million students (4.8%) suspended 1998 – 3 million+ students (6.8%) suspended

Black students 2-3 times more likely to be suspended than white students

Black students more likely to be referred to office for minor offenses

Hispanic student suspension rates vary from proportionate to three times their proportion

4

National Research Findings: What Works Respond to inequities

Communicate the belief that all students can succeed and ensure that each student has the chance to do so

Foster social skills and self-control strategies Increase the diversity of the teaching staff and administration Train staff in cross-cultural communications and teaching strategies

Implement effective and positive discipline practices Ensure the safety and dignity of all students and staff Create an environment conducive to learning Change the environment to improve student behavior

Implement proactive behavioral strategies Early intervention and violence prevention In-school suspension focused on the curriculum Adult mentors and teacher support teams

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National Research Findings: What Doesn’t Work Vague or unenforceable rules Unfair or inconsistent (real or perceived) rule

enforcement Focus on punishment without related support Out-of-school suspensions and expulsions for

anything other than the most serious infractions Ignored misconduct Poor understanding and cooperation between

teachers and administrators

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Data Summary: NationalNational Projections for Enrollment and Selected Items by Race/Ethnicity

Students Number of Students Percentage of Students

Enrollment Out of School Suspensions

Total Expulsions Enrollment

Out of School Suspensions

Total Expulsions

Race/Ethnicity

American Indian or Alaskan Native 539,374 41,588 1,664 1.16 1.36 1.71

Asian or Pacific Islander 1,917,432 55,636 1,945 4.14 1.82 2.02

Hispanic 7,467,873 458,773 17,084 16.13 15.02 17.58

Black, Not of Hispanic Origin 7,865,407 1,043,567 28,747 16.99 34.18 29.58

White, Not of Hispanic Origin 28,516,270 1,453,884 47,738 61.58 47.61 49.12

All Races 46,306,356 3,053,448 97,178 100.00 100.00 100.00

Source: Elementary and Secondary Education Survey: 2000, U.S. Department of Education Offi ce of Civil Rights

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Data Summary: Georgia

Georgia Projections for Enrollment and Selected Items by Race/Ethnicity

Students Number of Students Percentage of Students

Enrollment

Out of School

Suspensions Total

Expulsions Enrollment

Out of School

Suspensions Total

Expulsions

Race/Ethnicity

American Indian or Alaskan Native 2,202 60 1 0.16 0.06 0.04

Asian or Pacific Islander 32,241 524 11 2.28 0.50 0.44

Hispanic 67,971 2709 36 4.81 2.60 1.43

Black, Not of Hispanic Origin 548,600 66,983 1,545 38.80 64.27 61.33

White, Not of Hispanic Origin 762,885 33,940 926 53.96 32.57 36.76

All Races 1,413,899 104,216 2,519 100.00 100.00 100.00

Source: Elementary and Secondary Education Survey: 2000, U.S. Department of Education Offi ce of Civil Rights

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Data Summary: Fulton County

Fulton County Enrollment and Selected Items by Race/Ethnicity, 2003-04

Students Number of Students Percentage of Students

Enrollment

Out of School

Suspensions Total

Expulsions Enrollment

Out of School

Suspensions Total

Expulsions

Race/Ethnicity

American Indian or Alaskan Native 50 5 0 0.06 0.08 0.00

Asian or Pacific Islander 4,859 48 0 6.66 0.81 0.00

Hispanic 6,397 383 0 8.77 6.46 0.00

Black, Not of Hispanic Origin 28,251 4,464 1 38.73 75.38 100.00

White, Not of Hispanic Origin 31,191 877 0 42.76 14.81 0.00

Multiracial 2,190 145 0 3.00 2.45 0.00

All Races 72,938 5,922 1 100.00 100.00 100.00

Source: Georgia Department of Education Student Record Data Collection System

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Data Summary: Fulton County

Middle and High School Discipline Percentages by Race/Ethnicity

100

32.8

48.9

25.7

38.9

65.7

4.75.4

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

All White Black Hispanic

Enrollment %

Discipline %

100

33.1

48.1

24.5

38.1

65.2

5.4 9.4

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

All White Black Hispanic

Enrollment %

Discipline %

2000-01 2001-02

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Data Summary: Fulton County

Middle & High School Discipline Percentages by Race/Ethnicity, 2002-03

and 2003-04100

35

46.6

23.3

38.3

65.6

6.1 6.9

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

All White Black Hispanic

Enrollment %

Discipline %

100

35

46.6

23.3

38.3

65.6

6.1 6.9

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

All White Black Hispanic

Enrollment %

Discipline %

2002-03 2003-04

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Data Summary: Fulton County

Middle and High School Enrollment & Discipline Numbers & Percents by

Race/Ethnicity, 2000-04

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

14000

16000

18000

2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04

White Enrollment

White Discipline

Black Enrollment

Black Discipline

Hispanic Enrollment

Hispanic Discipline

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04

Numbers

Percentages

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Data Summary: Fulton County

Discipline Incidents by Grade Level, 2000-04

01000200030004000500060007000

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Grade

2000-01

2001-022002-03

2003-04

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Data Summary: Fulton County

Enrollment & Discipline % by North/South, 2000-04

0102030405060708090

100

N Enr. N Disc. S Enr. S Disc.0

10

2030

405060

708090

100

N Enr. N Disc. S Enr. S Disc.

0

5

10

15

20

25

N Enr. N Disc. S Enr. S Disc.

2000-01

2001-02

2002-03

2003-04

Hispanic

White Black

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Committee Findings: Fulton County Facts

Disproportionate number of black students suspended & expelled, especially north

Higher levels of reported conduct problems in 3rd, 6th and 9th grades

Higher levels of reported conduct problems in south county schools

More students in need of alternative programs than space available

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Committee Findings:Current Programs in FCS Programs provide preventive strategies and respond

to needs of students with behavior problems Stopping the Acts of Violence Through Education (SAVE) Substance Use Prevention and Education Resource

(SUPER) Out-of-School Alternative Suspension (OSASP) McClarin and Independence high schools Second Chance/Crossroads Night school North and South Metro Psychoeducational programs

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Committee Findings: Current Processes in FCS Processes designed to provide consistency and

context for responses to behavior issues Trained school resource officers Tribunal system Responsibility cycle Code of conduct Second Step (conflict management) program in middle

school health classes

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Committee Findings:Changes in State Law House Bill 1190

County attendance committee, with school system representatives, to provide advice/recommendations on student discipline and attendance

Preferable to reassign disruptive students to alternative educational settings than suspend or expel from school

Removed exception from law for K-5 students

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Committee Findings:What Is Needed in FCS Evaluation of alternative programs, including what happens

to students after they leave Resources to meet diverse needs of students who need a

non-traditional setting Alternative programs for elementary students Intervention programs at the elementary level to identify and

support students who may have problems in the future System-provided or arranged student transportation to

alternative programs Teacher training to work with highly challenged students Space and staffing

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Committee Recommendations1) At the system level, implement policies and

practices that mandate . . . Diversification of faculty and staff Ongoing, regular diversity training for all faculty and staff

2) At the system and school level, implement . . . Ongoing proactive behavioral strategies

Early intervention In-school suspension tied to curriculum Adult mentors

Effective, positive discipline practices Create environment conducive to learning Change environment to improve student behavior

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Committee Recommendations3) At the system level, expand alternative programs by …

Separating . . . Students with first offenses and/or minor violations from students

with repeated and/or major offenses Open campus and alternative facilities

Providing . . . Appropriate staff training and services for special education students

with severe behavioral problems Temporary placement or homebound service option for students

slated to go to North/South Metro but not yet admitted Alternative options for elementary students, such as . . .

School within a school One alternative school per area

Permanent placement alternative program for secondary students Transportation for students in alternative programs

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Committee Recommendations4) Provide systemwide, annual training for . . .

Student resource officers Teachers in alternative programs All teachers and administrators

Behaviors Discipline process Classroom management Cross-cultural communications skills and strategies Positive and effective discipline strategies Focus extra attention on more challenging

3rd, 6th and 9th grades

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Committee Recommendations5) Provide resources (facilities, staffing, training,

transportation) to meet students’ preventive, rehabilitative and alternative learning needs Allocate resources based on need, not just

numbers Help stabilize schools with higher levels of risk

factors

6) Implement preventive and rehabilitative programs for elementary students and their families

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In Summary . . . SACS

commended Fulton for “allocating resources that support the teaching/learning process and that target identified needs for student success”

challenged Fulton to “build a systems perspective that removes the perceptions of geographic boundaries”

Fulton County Balanced Scorecard measures include: Test scores and participation rates Attendance and drop-out rates Perception of safety

No Child Left Behind (NCLB) measures include: Test scores and participation Attendance rates

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Next Steps The Discipline Review Committee encourages Fulton

County to help achieve SACS, Balanced Scorecard and No Child Left Behind goals by modifying discipline policies and practices to:

Improve education for all students by identifying and meeting the needs of students with current or potential behavior problems

Establish an action plan and time line to develop and implement programs to meet the needs of students with current or potential behavior problems

Implement the recommendations of the Discipline Review Committee

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In appreciation . . .

The Discipline Review Committee . . . Thanks Fulton County for the opportunity to

participate in this study Encourages Fulton County to study and act upon

its recommendations Welcomes questions and discussion