Out of School Suspensions

Topic: How to Reduce Minority Male Out of School Suspensions

 Minority Male Out of School Suspensions

Problem:

Minority male students are 3 times more likely to be Suspended than any other high school student group.

National Average for Male Out of School Suspension: 16%
White American: 36%
African-American: 34%
Asian American: 1%
Hispanic American: 23%
Native American: 1%

Causes:

Poor School attendants (School lateness, Class cuts)

Poor Academic Skills (Reading and Math Levels)

Family Issues (Out of School Behavior)

How the 100% Graduation Rate Program Address the Problem:

  1. We met with the student and their parent to sign a 4-year agreement to graduate on time.
  2. We held 12 after-school training sessions on Economics and the US Legal System for 9th graders.
  3. We met school officials if any student was suspended.
  4. We talked with student’s parents if students, developed a school lateness and absenteeism problem of 3 days or more.
  5. We met with each student to discuss their academic needs starting at the beginning of the 10th grade.
  6. We held 18 after-school training sessions on Academic Preparation, Social Skills and Job Readiness for 10th graders.
  7. We help place students in summer job programs or help find them summer jobs from 9th grade to 11th grade.
  8. We met with student’s summer job employers and gave them our contact information.
  9. We conduct in-school training sessions for our junior and senior classes to the completion of high school.

100% Graduation Rate Program Results:

Camden, New Jersey – **Program Participants Group B (105) compared to Program Sample Group A (105)

The Male Program participants had a 26% lower Out of School Suspension rate. Compared to the City’s sample group of males – 29% (30 out of 105) to 52% (55 out of 105).

**Selection Process:
Each year, the City’s two largest high schools – Camden High and Woodrow Wilson – Guidance Departments selected 15 incoming high school freshmen for the program. These students were classified as at-risk, based on having grades below C in Math and/or Reading, or had a poor student behavior problem.

The students were then randomly assigned to a Program Group- A (Non-treatment) or Group B (Program Treatment) – based on their seating during the program’s orientation.

Our Recommendations:

State Education Departments should encourage School Districts to reduce out of school suspensions by:

  • developing 3 and 5-day in-school suspension programs, which address anger management, problem-solving, and conflict resolution.
  • working with Community Service organizations to provide before or after school individual and family counseling.
  • assessing school’s practices and policies as it relates to non-violent offenses by students.