A+ Schools: Building
Environments
that Build Character
A shocking number of children are barred from school every day. This halts learning, jeopardizes safety and puts them at risk of involvement in the juvenile justice system.
How kids are missing out
- Children returning to school from an out-of-district placement are expelled for the original offense that caused the placement. Kids are blocked from getting back on track.
- Children returning to their home district after an absence for non-disciplinary reasons, such as a change in foster homes, face long registration delays.
- Out-of-school suspension disciplines children by barring them from school, usually for relatively minor code offenses. In 2006-2007, Connecticut children missed 252,028 days of school because of suspension or expulsion.
How we can get kids back in school
- Support legislation that forbids the double jeopardy of expelling children following an out-of-district placement.
- Support legislation that streamlines registration and requires admission within two days.
- Fight further delays to suspension reforms. The Connecticut General Assembly passed a law to prohibit most out-of-school suspensions, but implementation was postponed until July 1, 2009.
How can we help educators to help kids
- There are proven, proactive ways to foster citizenship and achievement. Underfunded and overcrowded schools need help to train educators in these research-based solutions. As a state, we must support educators working to build positive school cultures.
What You Can Do
Join the YES campaign and:
- Contact your legislators and local school officials - teachers and principals.
Let them know these issue matters to you. Laws and policies that keep kids out of school hurt us all. - Push for training of school staff to create a positive school culture and replace suspension with more effective consequences.
How You Can Do It
- Contact your legislators about these issues
- Join CTJJA listservs and action groups for information, tips and advice. Contact Jacqueline at 203-579-2727 ext. 312 or jacqueline@ctjja.org.