After a legal threat and a prolonged negotiation, Boston Public Schools officials this month committed to a new regime of student discipline: The district will no longer suspend students in kindergarten, first, and second grades.
WBUR reporting found that more than 600 kindergartners were suspended in Massachusetts in 2014-15.
Under the agreement, the city schools will also block suspensions for third to fifth graders starting next school year except in cases where those students have committed misconduct such as “serious physical harm,” bringing a weapon to school, or repeated bullying.
The district also pledged to train all educational staff on the negative effects suspensions have on student learning and on alternative “non-exclusionary” approaches to discipline.
In a statement, interim superintendent Laura Perille thanked Greater Boston Legal Services (GBLS) for working with the district on the new policies, and promised to follow through on “full implementation of disciplinary protocols” with staff.