SFUSD: ALTERNATIVE TO SUSPENSION DRAFT

Stand Up & Rise Up: Saturday School Academy 6 th through 12th grades

STAND UP AND RISE UP: SATURDAY SCHOOL ACADEMY Traditional punitive measures are best set aside if there are alternative means to address the problem situation (Monk 2010).

QUESTIONS POSED TO HIGH SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS  Brainstorm a creative name for the Saturday School.

 How do you envision using the Saturday School Academy?

 What do you consider as constructive activities for students attending the Saturday Academy as an alternative to suspension from school?

CREATIVE NAMES PROPOSED

 Opportunity School  Community School  Reaffirmation School  Breakfast Club  Alternative Saturday Academy  Changing Academy  Horizons

THEMES THAT EMERGED FROM QUESTIONS POSED TO HS PRINCIPALS & ASSIST PRINCIPALS ON ALTERNATIVES TO SUSPENSION           RESTORATIVE PRACTICE APPROACH RTI – SERVICES ORIENTED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES COMMUNITY SERVICE COMPONENTS PARENT INVOLVEMENT ACADEMIC/CURRICULUM APPROACH REFLECTIVE COMPONENT/RESTORE HARM DONE REDIRECTION TO IMPROVE BEHAVIOR/ACADEMICS COULD ADDRESS SUSPENSIONS UNRELATED TO 5-MANDORTOY SUSPENSIONS CAPACITY

DESIGN OF THE SATURDAY ACADEMY

The following is proposed:

 Opening day: February 15 th , 2014  Instructional Hours: 9:00am - 12:00pm  Restorative Practices: A central premise of Restorative Practice is that people are happier, more cooperative, productive, more likely to make positive changes in their behavior and improve academic learning when those in positions of authority do things with them, rather than to them or for them (Monk 2010).

DESIGN OF THE SATURDAY ACADEMY

 Curriculum is designed for two to three days of suspensions  A needs assessment will be conducted for each student – parent involvement is desired  Behavioral/Socio-emotional needs/Nutrition  Choices in programs offered  Academic needs (review of assignments from school-site)

REFERENCES

 Monk, G. (2010). Building a restorative practice curriculum in the middle and high schools in the U.S. San Diego State University.