To avoid the potential long-term negative impacts suspensions and expulsions can have on youth, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is advocating that schools implement a multidisciplinary, trauma-informed approach to support students and reduce the use of exclusionary discipline.
In October, the AAP published an updated policy statement on the matter that includes recommendations on creating supportive learning environments.
Suspensions and expulsions are among the harshest consequences students can face for unacceptable behavior and while the practices were traditionally reserved for the most severe circumstances like an individual bringing a weapon to campus, the most common applications today relate to conduct that isn’t violent or criminal, according to the AAP.
“There is little evidence that exclusionary school discipline practices make schools safer or deter future misbehavior,” the statement reads. “American Indian/Alaska Native students, Black students, students whose caregivers have low socioeconomic status, male students, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer or questioning students, and students with disabilities are disproportionately disciplined with suspension and expulsion. In addition, exclusionary school discipline in the preschool period can be harmful to early childhood development.”
Those who experience exclusionary discipline run a higher risk of dropping out of school and encountering the juvenile justice system — both of which are linked to poor physical and mental health outcomes.
The AAP is proposing that education and health care leaders, students and families and those involved in juvenile justice reform come together to examine existing disparities and identify appropriate alternatives to exclusionary discipline.
Three key recommendations include:
- Pediatricians advocating for more access to mental health services and supporting legislation to ensure youth who are suspended or expelled still receive an education
- Screening students for chronic absenteeism and developmental delays that can make school more difficult
- Schools collecting and analyzing data on exclusionary discipline practices to identify areas of improvement
“Collected data could include school demographics and disciplinary incident reports with their outcomes, including office referrals, disparity data, schoolwide academic performance, high school graduation rates, referrals to law enforcement, juvenile justice system involvement and other outcomes,” according to the statement. “Data about ‘informal removals’ may be also needed, i.e., sending students with disabilities home early repeatedly or other practices that shorten their academic day; these disciplinary practices limit instructional time without the formal administrative process of suspensions and expulsions.”
Administering school climate surveys can also be helpful to learn about the experience of local students and adults served and/or employed.
“Given the current disparities in exclusionary school discipline regarding race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, and ability, universal antibias training for staff could be beneficial,” according to the AAP. “Antibias training is most effective when it is tailored to the specific needs of the school and when it generates actionable strategies for school staff based on their roles.”
Read the full list of recommendations for local educational agencies here.
