2014-2015
- 329 discipline referrals written
- 71.73% of referrals were written for African American/Black students
- 24.64% of the student population is AA/Black
- 22.19% of referrals were written for white students
- 63.77% of the student population is white
What we did...
- Partnered with Building Bridges for all staff training once a month
- Sent 3 staff members to Racial Equity Institute 2 day training
- Sent 2 staff members to WRESA training, "Culturally Relevant Pedigogy & Teachers in Diverse Classrooms"
- Community Nights @ PVA, Lee Walker Heights, & Hillcrest
- Created grade level "kits" with culturally diverse books for teachers to check out and use
- Purchased extra copies of Gail Thompson's "Yes, You Can!" and "The Power of One"
Intentions
What we were after:
- To identify and begin to address the
complex effects of structural racism in our
school and teaching practices.
- For teachers to learn skills to
understanding implicit and cultural differences.
- Relationships between school staff
and families to be strengthened
- Racial gaps in discipline will
begin to decrease
Outcomes
What Worked?
Grant Goals
"Set your goals high,
and don't stop till you get there."
~ Bo jackson
- Got the conversation started!
- Creation of School-wide Discipline Referral Chart & In-Class Referral form
- Sending staff to professional development opportunities through WRESA and REI
- Community nights had a larger student turn out than past events
- Books for teachers for personal growth and classroom libraries
- To decrease the number of discipline referrals and reduce the racial disparity in referrals written during the 2015-2016 school year as compared to the 2014-2015 school year.
- To reduce the total number of referrals by 15% or 280 discipline referrals written. The number of referrals written for African American/Black students will decrease to 140 or fewer, no more than half of the total referrals written.
Outcomes
What were some challenges?
Moving Forward
- Compartmentalized training
- Large group settings
- Ambitious goals
2015-2016 Discipline Referrals
Action Steps:
# of Students: 56
Latino: 4
Multi-racial: 3
Black: 35
White: 13
# of Referrals: 121
Latino: 8
Multi-racial: 9
Black: 85
White: 17
7 students generated 45 referrals
- 42 have received or are receiving some type of support
- 1 transitioned to Eliada
- 5 have Intensive In Home services
- 17 have FPS school based services
- 20 small group or 1:1 sessions w/ school counselor
Top 5 Referred Students
- 3 have some type of Intensive In Home services
- 2 have had some 1:1 support in the classroom
- 4 have had small group and/or 1:1 sessions with school counselor
- Apply for another grant to continue work started
- Increase engagement and relationships with our Black students and families
- Streamline BIP/FBA/Safety Plans (creation, management, and oversight) to track students/teachers receiving/giving discipline referrals
- Provide professional development in the areas of: trauma, poverty, resilience building, history specific to Asheville
- Advocate for more support staff: counselors, social workers, school-based therapists
Racial Equity @ Ira B. Jones