Arrests in Schools: Evidence, Outcomes, and Best Practices

This year, for the first time, the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights has mandated that all school districts with enrollments of greater than 3,000 students provide data about the number of school arrests and referrals. The availability of these data for virtually every school district in Maryland provides an unparalleled opportunity to evaluate the role of school police, the juvenile courts, and the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services in enforcing school discipline and the consequences for students, schools and families.

As a part of OSI-Baltimore’s efforts to support safe, supportive public schools for all city children, it has planned a forum series to examine various models of collaboration between law enforcement officials and public schools and their effect on school safety and student outcomes. 

Two juvenile court judges, listed below, from Georgia and Alabama, will join us to discuss their innovative approaches to school safety issues. Also featured is a staff attorney from the Advancement Project, a nationally-recognized civil rights advocacy organization with a long history of addressing school discipline and safety issues, who will discuss the Office of Civil Rights data collection effort, school discipline policies and student outcomes.

Juvenile Courts and School Safety: The Collaborative in Clayton County, Georgia

June 15, 2010 at 10 a.m.
With Steven C. Teske, Judge, Juvenile Court of Clayton County, GA
Cosponsored by the Annie E. Casey Foundation

In 2004, Judge Steven C. Teske brought together the juvenile justice system, law enforcement, the local school system, and social services groups to develop an agreement. His intention was to reduce inappropriate school referrals to juvenile court and the disproportionate involvement of students of color have in the juvenile justice system  As a result, “misdemeanor delinquent acts,” such as fighting, disrupting the public school, and disorderly conduct, now seldom result in the filing of a complaint. Today, youth receive warnings after a first offense and referral to mediation or school conflict training programs after a second offense.

Diversion through Collaboration: Reducing School Referrals to Court in Birmingham, Alabama

July 13, 2010 at 10 a.m.
With Judge Brian Huff, Presiding Judge, Jefferson Family Court, AL

Family Court Judge Huff repeatedly observed local schools feeding students into the court system and, in collaboration with community stakeholders, developed a set of graduated consequences for offenses that did not automatically result in arrest and referral to court.  Under the protocol, minor and first offenses result in referrals to services, parental notification and other consequences. The protocol also added frequent and detailed reporting requirements so that data could be easily and readily analyzed to determine the protocol’s effectiveness and the impact on school safety and student outcomes.

School Arrests and Student Outcomes: Using National Data to Improve School Safety

September 29, 2010 at 10 a.m. 
With Jim Freeman, Staff Attorney, Advancement Project

Jim Freeman, director of the Ending the Schoolhouse to Jailhouse Track project, works with grassroots organizations and school districts across the country on a variety of education reform efforts. Freeman has researched and co-authored a number of reports on issues of educational justice, and provided technical assistance to the Baltimore City Public Schools as it revised its student code of conduct in 2008. Freeman will provide a national perspective on school discipline and arrests.