Judge's program promotes keeping students in school

The Wayne County Keeping Kids in School mission will join Dearborn Heights' School Board meeting to acknowledge the forward thinking of Principal John Tafelski of Crestwood High School and his efforts to keep his students in the classroom.

The costs of school suspensions are excessive and some school districts are evaluating their policies regarding suspensions, expulsions, and truancy. Wayne County can no longer afford to suspend students for truancy or minor infractions because the students are needed in school, not out of school. Up to 44 percent of juvenile crime occurs during the school day, according to a court press release.

Tafelski implemented changes in the disciplinary code to build a community that encourage student attendance and engagement. The support of teachers and staff at Crestwood High School only has lowered the offenses that warrant suspension by 50 percent. Most schools have implemented zero tolerance policies and have upwards of 40 suspendable offenses, according to the press release. Crestwood is publicly releasing measureable results with its changed approach. Tafelski has adopted policies that include alternatives to school suspensions and have resulted in improved academic performance.

Children suspended from school and expelled for minor offenses are almost three times as likely to become entangled with the justice system the following year. The average cost of a high school dropout is more than $200,000 in social services and costs associated with court involvement and reduced earning capacity, according to the court's statement

Mandatory suspension and expulsion laws contribute to pushing students out of school and into the criminal justice system, and they discriminate against students of color, who receive disproportionately high rates of suspensions and expulsions, according to Executive Court Administrator Zenell Brown. Requiring school boards to report to law enforcement would increase students' contact with the criminal justice system, which increases their likelihood for being involved in the juvenile justice system and the adult prison system.

Judge Frank S. Szymanski believes that children are "our greatest assets." He applauds the answers to discipline issues that don't involve suspensions. Restorative practices in which students and staff address issues in a spirit of mutual respect have been successful in repairing harm and improving relationships and empowering students by teaching them to address issues face to face.

Published: Wed, Feb 24, 2016

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