top of page

Deciding On Discipline

Advanced Analytics in the Education Arena

 

We reviewed and compiled information from hundreds of student incident reports and daily suspension lists.  We also administered a school safety survey.  This data revealed important patterns in student behavior and teacher responses.  It also had important implications about student needs.  Administrators attended a thought leadership session and the resulting insights became the basis for a comprehensive school-wide behavior support plan. View the report here.

 

The behavior support plan suggested research-based alternatives to suspension and calculated interventions for students and teachers.  Students with an excessively high number of referrals participated in student leadership training and later helped draft a set of school rules.  Teachers with high volumes of referrals received classroom management training before crafting the escalation criteria adopted by the school.  Over the next two months, teachers received on-going training, coaching, and modeling.  

When our consultant returned to perform observations and follow-up surveys, gains were reported in every area.  The number of referrals was reduced by almost forty percent and the number of suspensions had decreased by sixty-two percent.  This was -at least partially- the result of a restorative justice court presided over by students, some of whom were originally among the frequent behavior problems.  These findings support the idea that a successful discipline policy begins with positive behavior support to encourage students to follow rules and be responsible for their own behavior.  We implemented a system of rewards and character reeducation.  The outcomes are astounding because students become better members of the global community as they learn to be good members of the school community.  
 
bottom of page