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Many advocacy groups for education have condemned the Federal School Safety Committee's recommendation to revoke the Obama-era directives calling on schools to address race-based disparities in discipline.
Counsel argue that the Panel's final report, chaired by Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, represents a step backward in the effort to reduce racial disparities in academic discipline and to ensure the safety of students.
But DeVos keeps the commission at the center of his concerns. give schools information on best practices rather than more edicts.
"Each of us has an important role to play in ensuring the safety of our students at school," DeVos said in a statement. "Thanks to the work of the commission, it has become even clearer that there is no single policy to make our schools safer. What will work for Montana schools will be different from the one that will work for Manhattan schools. Bearing this in mind, this report offers a wide range of best practices and resources that all state, community and school officials should consider when developing plans and procedures. school safety that will work for their students and teachers. "
are also disappointed that the commission's recommendations ignore the role of firearms in shootings at school. Trump White House launched the commission in the aftermath of the Parkland, Florida shooting, in which 17 students and employees were killed and 17 wounded. Although the report examines firearms data and policies, it does not call for changes to US firearms laws. It sanctions the arming of teachers, if there is support from the local community and adequate training.
"It was clear from the beginning that this artificial commission never intended to find real solutions to reduce armed violence in our country's schools. The Trump-DeVos administration has long been demanding more guns in schools by arming teachers, even refusing to exclude the use of federal funds for education to buy guns for teachers. Giving priority to hardening schools over evidence-based strategies that promote healthy and safe learning environments is only the latest example showing that this administration has brought to light particular interests, such as as the gun lobby, "said Scott Sargrad, executive director of K-12 Education Policy. at the Center for American Progress.
The reprimand of Obama's guidelines is presented as a measure in favor of teachers.
The report states: "Maintaining order in the classroom is essential for the safety of schools. Teachers are best placed to identify and deal with disorderly behavior. However, the directives issued by the previous administration advocated a federal solution that reduced the ability of local authorities to deal with the impact of disciplinary measures on school safety. The guidelines are also based on a dubious reading of the federal law. Guidelines should be canceled and information on resources and best practices for improving school climate and learning outcomes should be developed for schools and school districts. "
The 2014 federal guidelines on discipline and race in schools are based on numerous studies showing that black students earn money – more serious consequences even when they commit exactly the same offense as students. Although all schools observe a wide range of behavioral problems among adolescents, discipline data vary considerably, with some schools using suspensions much more quickly than others, and are more likely to have problems with other behaviors. impose the most severe sentences on students belonging to minorities.
The Obama administration has sought to reduce suspensions, as suspended students are less likely to graduate on time These are also more likely to redouble, give up and get involved in the justice system.
Here is what the American Educational Research Association said about the commission's recommendation to cancel the federal guidelines on discipline:
behavior in schools. Unnecessary suspensions and expulsions, based on incomprehensible and implicit and explicit prejudices, have harmful consequences for students, communities and the country as a whole.
students and schools. AERA journals regularly publish research on the subject. In April 2017, the association held a major public conference on the disparities between school subjects. Science clearly shows that differences in racial discipline exist, can not be explained by student behavior alone, and constitute an obstacle to education and equity.
This body of research is also corroborated by a report published by the Government Accountability Office in March 2018, noting that "black students, boys and students with disabilities were subject to disproportionate discipline (eg, suspensions and expulsions). in K-12 public schools, "based on its analysis of the Department of Civil Education's 2013-2014 national data.
The GAO report also noted: "Research has shown that students who undergo a discipline that discards them from the classroom are more likely to repeat grades, drop out of school, and become involved in school. juvenile justice system. Studies have shown that this may result in a decrease in revenue potential and additional costs to society, such as incarceration and loss of tax revenue. "
AERA and education researchers are firmly committed to making school safety a priority and will continue to study the root causes of violence in schools and ways to create a school climate." Positive, collaborate with school leaders to develop and evaluate interventions, provide school safety resources to educators and policy makers, and speak up when schools across the country are targeted for action. violence
the need to create safe and supportive environments for all students, using evidence- and data-based practices and procedures.The commission's recommendation, which ignores all of the scientific evidence, is deeply disappointing and represents a step backwards.
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