Student Discipline and Model Codes
- Model Student and Parent Handbook (MS Delta Catalyst Roundtable)
- Colorado “Smarter Discipline” Statute
- Colorado “Smarter Discipline” Statute Summary
- Policy Brief – Discipline Policies, Successful Schools, and Racial Justice
- Study – Opportunities Suspended
- Executive Summary – Opportunities Suspended
- Dignity in Schools Campaign Model Code on Education and Dignity
- Executive Summary – Dignity in Schools Campaign Model Code on Education and Dignity
Student Discipline and Model Codes Documents
 |
Model Student and Parent Handbook (Ms Delta Catalyst Roundtable) The Model Student Parent Handbook was completed in January 2012 by Southern Echo and members of the MS Delta Catalyst Roundtable after a 9-month process involving more than 17 grassroots organizations and 75 students, parents, activists and local education officials who worked diligently to conceive, draft and vet the numerous preliminary drafts of the Handbook. The Handbook is designed as a “model” or set of analytical tools for students, parents, community people and educators to use for policy reform at the school district level. The Handbook is a “working document” because feedback is anticipated, unfolding events and experience with its content will suggest further additions and modifications to the Handbook going forward. |
 |
Colorado “Smarter Discipline” Statute Colorado’s Smarter Discipline Statute is an important model for potential legislation to keep young people in school learning and prevent them from getting involved in the criminal justice system. Instead of automatic suspensions, expulsions and law enforcement referrals, school administrators will be able to use prevention, intervention, restorative justice, peer mediation, counseling and other discipline approaches to deal with problems and encourage students to be more responsible school and community citizens. School resource officers will receive more training to better address behavior issues with students and administrators. |
 |
Colorado “Smarter Discipline” Statute Summary This summary gives a quick look at the core elements of the “smart discipline” statute considered in Colorado. The statute is an important model for potential legislation to keep young people in school learning and prevent them from getting involved in the criminal justice system. Instead of automatic suspensions, expulsions and law enforcement referrals, school administrators will be able to use prevention, intervention, restorative justice, peer mediation, counseling and other discipline approaches to deal with problems and encourage students to be more responsible school and community citizens. School resource officers will receive more training to better address behavior issues with students and administrators. |
 |
Policy Brief – Discipline Policies, Successful Schools, and Racial Justice This policy brief reviews what researchers have learned about racial disparities in school discipline, including trends over time and how these disparities further break down along lines of gender and disability status. Further, the brief explores the impact that school suspension has on children and their families, including the possibility that frequent out-of-school suspension may have a harmful and racially disparate impact. As part of the disparate impact analysis, the brief examines whether frequent disciplinary exclusion from school is educationally justifiable and whether other discipline policies and practices might better promote a safe and orderly learning environment while generating significantly less racial disparity. |
 |
Study – Opportunities Suspended This is a critical and relevant study as efforts grow across the nation to put an end to the arbitrary and capricious use of student suspensions, expulsions and referrals to the juvenile justice system. This report sets out the hard data on the national, state and local school district levels, disaggregated on the basis of race, disability and to some extent, gender, that demonstrates the counter-productive, disparate impact on students of color and students with disabilities that results from excluding students from the classroom. |
 |
Executive Summary – Opportunities Suspended The summary outlines clear actions that can be taken by parents, students, education advocates, educators, legislators and other policy makers, media and researchers to begin to undo the arbitrary and capricious use of student suspensions, expulsions and referrals to the juvenile justice system. |
 |
Dignity in Schools Campaign Model Code on Education and Dignity This model code presents a set of recommended policies to schools, districts and legislators to help end school pushout and protect the human rights to education, dignity, participation and freedom from discrimination. The Code is the culmination of several years of research and dialogue with students, parents, educators, advocates and researchers who came together to envision a school system that supports all children and young people in reaching their full potential. |
|
Executive Summary – Dignity in Schools Campaign Model Code on Education and Dignity This is an executive summary of the DSC model code. The model code presents a set of recommended policies to schools, districts and legislators to help end school pushout and protect the human rights to education, dignity, participation and freedom from discrimination. The Code is the culmination of several years of research and dialogue with students, parents, educators, advocates and researchers who came together to envision a school system that supports all children and young people in reaching their full potential. |
