All young people deserve safe, supportive schools where they feel a sense of belonging and can thrive. This report from Rhode Island KIDS COUNT, developed with support from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, offers recommendations to strengthen school climate, promote fair discipline practices and reduce unnecessary student involvement with law enforcement.
The report examines how school discipline can disproportionately affect students of color and students with disabilities. It encourages schools to address the underlying causes of student behavior through developmentally appropriate interventions, mental health supports and restorative practices. For districts that employ school resource officers, it recommends clearly defining the responsibilities of educators and law enforcement so that routine disciplinary matters remain with school staff.
The report includes a model memorandum of understanding for school districts and law enforcement agencies and a graduated response model for addressing student behavior. These tools can help districts establish consistent responses to school incidents, engage students and families, and use data to identify and address disparities in discipline.
Schools can promote safety and belonging by addressing the causes of student behavior, providing appropriate supports and keeping routine discipline with educators. Clear agreements with law enforcement and regular data reviews can help reduce unnecessary referrals and address disparities.
We hope you'll find value in this report. We’d love to get a little information from you, which we'll use to notify you about relevant new resources.
