AISD Trustees: End Suspensions for PK-2nd Grade Students

meditation vs suspension .. .what a novel concept! http://www.upworthy.com/this-school-replaced-detention-with-meditation-the-results-are-stunning

Autism in FEMALES is HIGHLY misdiagnosed and misunderstood and is certainly at the core of many behavior problems. I have only recently been diagnosed at 31 years old. Abuse and trauma and neglect are often the source of behavior problems - you will not resolve anything by further abusing, punishing, and neglecting a child's needs by keeping them out of school. You all need to further educate yourselves on what child abuse and neglect literally ARE and what the long-lasting effects are so that you can better recognize it because now that I have realized it in my own life, I see it everywhere. It is pervasive, it is corrosive, and it is all due to willful ignorance. Shame on you if you do not act on behalf of those who cannot advocate for themselves.

Set students up for success and equip teachers with the training and support they need.

Sending young children to suspension is not a sound policy. Please spend our tax dollars training and supporting teachers with strategies to effectively manage students who are misbehaving and provide out-of-class support to children and families in need - to get kids back in class where they can learn.

I find this absolutely shocking . . . In my own city, proof of the school-to-prison pipeline

Dear Trustees, Thank you for your work on behalf of Austin students. Please end this unjust and racist practice.

This would do so much to put a crimp in the school-to-prison pipeline.

Pre-K through 2nd grade students should not be suspended. We especially should end this based on the disproportionality of brown and black students represented in the numbers.

Obviously the teachers need more training

Statistics show these disciplinary actions do nothing to help the undesired behaviors but instead promote worse behaviors and significantly increase the child's probability of joining the school to prison pipeline. In- and out-of-school suspensions and DAEP placements for such impressionable, young minds must cease while positive behavior intervention techniques must be implemented. Progress must also be monitoring on student and district level.

AISD Trustees: you did the right thing by protecting recess, now do the right thing by eliminating suspensions for Pre-K- 2nd grade. The evidence shows it is best practice- there is no debate b/c there is no other evidence .... except the dropout rate that begins not long thereafter.

Suspensions are really counter-productive if we intend to teach students anything, including the proper way to participate as members of a democratic society. No educator has ever told me that suspensions and expulsions were truly productive ways to increase the academic prowess of students. No, the opposite is true and we continue to carry out these practices in ways that disproportionately punish African American children. What message are we intending to send?

Children are in school to learn and that includes how to learn while in school- not at home. Children do not want to do wrong or disapoint. They need guidance, support and love to help them manage their feelings so they can do well In school. Stop suspending young students.

AISD needs to stop suspensions of young children and be accountable for racially unjust outcomes.

Stop all suspensions & listen to teachers, who can suggest solutions for student learning needs. AISD is masterful at running off the best teachers, while overpaying the worst administrators.

If I'm 4-5 years old and you send me home for doing something "wrong". Don't you think I will do it again?

AISD should look into the Restorative Discipline/ Restorative Justice Model. Some wonderful things are happening in other cities in this great state. Exclusion should not be an option. Let's get creative Austin.

I agree on ending the suspensions.

This should never have even existed as a practice to begin with. Please ban PK-2 Grade Students.

I fully support Texas Appleseed in this matter. Resources should be focused on helping teachers and providing services to students rather than punishing them.