State educators want to know more about why certain kids get trapped in a cycle of discipline at school. They’re hoping new data out Monday will help cut down on suspensions and expulsions.
Statewide, discipline rates have gone down the past few years. But for some groups of students, that’s not the case. State officials won’t get specific, but they’re trying to figure out how principals and teachers think about different groups of rule breakers when they mete out punishment.
Carrie Basas is director at the governor’s Office of the Education Ombuds. She hopes data from the state superintendent’s office will help identify why students, like those of color for example, are likely to be disciplined more often and more severely.
Basas says the new information — from districts around the state — can inform teacher training so they make fair decisions and keep students in the classroom.
