Politics & Government

Redwood City Bucks School Suspension Trends

The district has seen a decrease in suspensions over the past couple of years and its suspensions mirror the larger ethnic demographics.

A US Department of Education study released Tuesday found that several schools across the nation largely use suspension and expulsion as a disciplinary means and that there was a disparity in the number of suspensions between minorities and White students. The Redwood City School District, in contrast, has seen a decrease in suspensions since the 2008-2009 school year, and demographically equitable suspensions, according to the Director of Student Assessment Jane Yuster.

The Department’s Office for Civil Rights collected data from a national survey of more than 72,000 schools serving 85 percent of the nation’s students

“Collecting this data helps us start crucial conversations at the local school level to ensure disciplinary practices are carried out fairly and equitably,” said State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson in a statement.

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Nationality Student Population 2010-2011 10-11 Suspensions 10-11 Expulsions Hispanic or Latino 71% 73% 73% White 21% 20% 22% Asian 4% 3% 2% African American 2% 2% 2% Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander 1% 2% 1% Two or More Races 1% 0% 0%

For a break down of the number and type of suspension over the past three school years, click .

Suspensions in the district, which vary in sentence, can be served in a variety of ways other than staying at home. The district may have "in school" suspensions, Saturday school, or community service as options.

Find out what's happening in Redwood City-Woodsidewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

School board trustees were concerned that simply sending students home may be the exact “punishment” they want.

Torlakson added that he encourages districts to seek other behavioral interventions rather than always defaulting to suspension or expulsion.

The district uses its student information system to track its suspensions and expulsions and has noted that its rates mirror the ethnic demographics of the at-large population, according to Yuster.

This is in stark contrast to the national data that says Black students are more than three-and-a-half times as likely as white students to be suspended or expelled.

State law requires county and school district superintendents to develop countywide plans for expelled students. They must submit the plans to the State Superintendent of Public Instruction every three years. The plans outline educational alternatives for expelled students, identify gaps in educational services to them, and develop strategies for filling those service gaps.

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