Report on School

Climate, Student
Behavior, and Discipline
Dr. Mary Boswell-McComas
Dr. Penelope Martin-Knox
Dr. Renard Adams
Dr. Melissa Lembo Whisted
October 24, 2017
 School Climate, Student Behavior
and Discipline

Guiding Regulations and Policies

Current BCPS Data

BCPS Framework for Climate

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BCPS Framework for Climate

Restoration
Restoration
 Guiding Regulations and Policies
COMAR 13A.08.01.11: Requirements for Disciplinary Action
School systems disciplinary programming should:
Implement positive behavior programming.
Keep students connected.
Allow administrator discretion.
Evaluate educational and counseling needs.
Use exclusion as a last resort.

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 Guiding Regulations and Policies
COMAR 13A.08.01.21: MSDEs Approach to Disproportionality
MSDE must develop a method to analyze disproportionalitys impact on:
o Minority students.
o Students with disabilities.

School systems identified as disproportionate in disciplinary practices

must:
o Create a plan to reduce the impact within 1 year.
o Create a plan to eliminate the impact within 3 years.

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 BCPS Policies
Response to MSDE Regulations and Student Demographics
Policy 0100 Policy 5560
Raising achievement for all students and Decreasing length of suspensions
closing achievement gaps among all
students are top priorities of the Board. Including minimal educational services
Allowing administrator discretion
Disparities on the basis of race, special Revising the Student Behavior Handbook
education status, gender, ethnicity, sexual
orientation, gender identity (including
gender expression), English language
learner (ELL) status or socio-economic
status are unacceptable.

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 Current BCPS Data
Stakeholder Survey 2017
Elementary students feel safer than secondary students.

Adults in BCPS had high perceptions of safety.

Students perceive bullying to be a problem.

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 Stakeholder Survey 2017
I feel safe at my school.
100.0%

90.0% 86.4%
80.0%
70.0% 71.6%
70.0%

60.0%

50.0%

40.0%

30.0%

20.0%

10.0%

0.0%
Elementary Middle High

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 Stakeholder Survey 2017
Students respect each other at my school.
100.0%

90.0%

80.0%
76.2%
70.0%

60.0%

50.0%
41.3%
40.0% 35.1%
30.0%

20.0%

10.0%

0.0%
Elementary Middle High

9
 Stakeholder Survey 2017
Most students in my school are accepting of other students.
100.0%

90.0%

80.0% 76.2%
70.0%
60.1%
60.0% 55.1%
50.0%

40.0%

30.0%

20.0%

10.0%

0.0%
Elementary Middle High

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 Stakeholder Survey 2017
Most students in my school try to work out their
disagreements with other students by talking to them.
100.0%

90.0%

80.0%

70.0%
59.9%
60.0%

50.0%
37.2% 39.3%
40.0%

30.0%

20.0%

10.0%

0.0%
Elementary Middle High

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 Stakeholder Survey 2017
Most students in my school stop and think before doing
anything when they get angry.
100.0%

90.0%

80.0%

70.0%

60.0%

50.0% 45.1%
40.0%
31.4%
30.0% 25.5%
20.0%

10.0%

0.0%
Elementary Middle High

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 Stakeholder Survey 2017
I feel welcome at my school.
100.0%

90.0% 85.3%
80.0% 73.8% 74.7%
70.0%

60.0%

50.0%

40.0%

30.0%

20.0%

10.0%

0.0%
Elementary

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 Stakeholder Survey 2017
I feel safe at my school and/or work.
86
70
72

85
63

82
80
86
0 25 50 75 100

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 Stakeholder Survey 2017
Bullying is a problem at this school.
45
51
42

31

40
23
0 25 50 75 100
PERCENT AGREEMENT

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 Current BCPS Data
Disproportionality in BCPS
Demographics of BCPS have changed.

Research states students of color are three times more likely to be

removed.

BCPS suspension data is consistent with national trends and research.

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 Demographic Shift: Race/Ethnicity
American Indian
Hispanic 0.60% 0.40%
Asian Multiracial 4.20%
African American 2.20% Hawaiian/
13.70% Pacific Island
Asian 0.10%
American Indian 6.70%
0.30% Hispanic
7.70% White
42.10%

African American
White 38.80%
83.20%

BCPS ENROLLMENT 1983-1984 BCPS ENROLLMENT 2016-2017

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 Demographic Shift: Poverty
1997-1998 2016-2017
FARMS
27% FARMS
45%

Non-FARMS
55%

Non-FARMS
73%

FARMS Non-FARMS FARMS Non-FARMS

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 BCPS Suspension Data 2016-2017
System total number of incidents: 9,783
Special Schools 15

Centers 226

High 4183

Middle 3953

Elementary 1320

0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000 4500

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 Board Suspensions: Top Five Categories
300

258
250 240 246
225
208
200
176 183
165
153 145
150
124 131
121
100 91
81

50

0
Disruptive Behavior Physical Attack on a Possession of a Controlled Striking a Staff Member Possession/Use of a Real
Student Substance (Intentional/Unintentional) Weapon
2014-2015 2015-2016 2016-2017

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 BCPS Suspension Data 2016-2017
Suspensions Compared with Enrollment
100.0

80.0
66.0 68.0
60.0
40.0 44.5
38.8
40.0
21.3 25.1
20.0 8.9 6.5 11.7
4.6 4.5 3.1 3.7
0.0
Black Hispanic White Multi-Racial FARMS Special ELL
Education
Percent of Enrollment Percent of Suspensions

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 BCPS Suspension Data 2016-2017
Suspension Rate Comparisons
14.0
12.0
11.7
10.0 9.3
8.3
8.0
6.0 5.4
4.0 4.6
3.2 3.7
4.0 2.9
2.0
0.0
Black Hispanic White Multi-Racial FARMS Non-FARMS ELL General Special
Education Education

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 Special Education, FARMS, and Race

FARMS Suspension Rate: 8.3% Special Education Suspension Rate: 11.7%

FARMS Status By Race Special Education Status By Race
100 100
90 90
80 80
70 70
60 52.8 60
50 50 45.9
40 40
38.1
30 23.4 30
20 12.4 20
10 5.1 10
7.3 4.4
0 0
Black Hispanic White Mutli-Racial Black Hispanic White Mutli-Racial

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 Students Sense of Belonging
Belonging Domain Index Score By School Level
100

90

80

70 63.9
60
48.5 49.7
50

40

30

20

10

Elementary Middle High

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BCPS Framework for Climate

Restoration
Restoration
 Prevention
Multi-Tiered System of Supports

Tier I: Universal Prevention

Tier II: Early Intervention

Tier III: Intensive Intervention

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 Prevention
Tier I: Universal Prevention
Schoolwide Community Building

Conscious Discipline

Community Partners

Youth Mental Health First Aid

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 Prevention
Tier II: Early Intervention
Personalized Student Success Planning
o Student Support Team

Best Practices in Classroom Management

Classroom Check-Up

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 Prevention
Tier III: Intensive Intervention
Individualized Educational Planning

Crisis Prevention Institute

Applied Behavioral Analysis

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 Restoration
International Institute of Restorative Practices

Circles
Questions
Conferences

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 Logical Consequences
Student Handbook
Student responsibilities and rights

Prevention and intervention strategies

Parent notifications

Code of student conduct

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 Student Privacy and Due Process

Incidents are investigated.

Each student is entitled to due

process.

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BCPS Framework for Climate

Restoration
Restoration
 Questions
School Climate, Student Behavior, and Discipline

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