Strategies for Change
School bias and pushout can best be addressed by employing
creative, multifaceted strategies that emphasize collaboration
and leadership by all members of the school communities. Key
strategies include:
Promote a Realistic View of Young People
A public education strategy that listens to the voices of
youth is perhaps the best way to reach all stakeholders and
counteract many of the negative images of youth currently
projected by the media.
Foster Leadership Among Students
Students are integral to transforming how student bodies
relate. The Restorative Justice model is one method of supporting
student interaction.
Support and Train Educators
Teachers, school administrators and other staff within a
school must be provided with professional development opportunities
that address school environment and culture issues. This may
include workshops that give teachers specific tools to identify
and intervene when harassment and/or discrimination occurs,
and programs that focus on effective classroom management
and how to teach acceptable behavior.
Reevaluate Zero Tolerance Policies
A disciplinary system that includes the input of students,
parents and teachers is far less likely to result in students
being unfairly or arbitrarily suspended or expelled.
Legislate for Equity
Legislation is a powerful means of creating baseline protections
for vulnerable populations. In the case of disproportionate
discipline on the basis of race, state law can be passed to
mandate the collection of school district disciplinary data
by race, or to narrow the discretion within school disciplinary
codes that leads to disproportionate discipline.
Keep Abreast of Related Court Rulings and Settlements
Litigation can be an effective way to create change, particularly
when the legal violation is clear and the problem affects
multiple students.
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