Giving Compass' Take:

• Mayor Bill de Blasio announced discipline reforms that include limiting lengthy suspensions, a practice that could potentially increase student graduation rates.

• Advocates are very happy with these reforms, but what more should be done for NYC schools and curbing discipline measures? How can donors get involved? 

• Read about these interesting findings on school discipline reform.

Facing mounting pressure from students and activists, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced a suite of reforms Thursday to limit lengthy suspensions, curtail student arrests, and train educators across the city in alternatives to strict disciplinary measures.

The reforms are among the mayor’s most aggressive efforts yet to address stark racial disparities that often ensnare students of color in the criminal justice system or at suspension centers to serve lengthy punishments.

Starting next school year, officials plan to limit most suspensions to 20 days ― down from a possible 180 days, with some exceptions for serious violence or weapons violations. Last school year, thousands of students ― the vast majority of them black and Hispanic ― were suspended for over 20 days, which research suggests can lead to passing fewer classes, increasing their risk of dropping out, and lowering the odds of graduating.

Changes to the discipline code, which will be open to public input at a series of hearings over the summer, will be paired with additional training. All middle and high schools will be expected to receive instruction in “restorative” approaches to student discipline over three years, a constellation of practices that favor peer mediation and conflict resolution over ejecting students from their regular schools or classes. Those trainings will come as the city adds over 200 social workers to city schools; about 85 of them are part of the effort to address students’ needs before they escalate into misbehavior or crisis, officials said.

Read the full article about discipline refrom in NYC schools by Alex Zimmerman at Chalkbeat.