Washington's Student Discipline Task Force released new information that suggests a need for reform after reviewing findings from a year-long study into disciplinary tactics in schools throughout the state. 

"Among the more startling findings: More than 10,000 elementary students — some as young as kindergarten — are suspended from Washington classrooms each year, not for bringing in drugs or weapons but for being disobedient, disruptive or disrespectful," according to an article from The Seattle Times.

The task force also found that when students miss school from suspensions, the school is not required to keep said student up-to-date on missed instruction.

Even worse, the task force found that the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction cannot "require that schools educate youths who have been sent out of school."

In other words, in worst case scenarios and particularly in smaller districts, students who missed more than 20 days of schools were sometimes simply crossed off enrollment lists.

All in all,the task force found that "'[e]quitable access to education does not exist for all students, especially students on long term suspensions or expulsions,'" the article said.

But although the force received significant data that confirmed sneaking suspicions about flawed disciplinary measures in the state, much of the desired data was nowhere to be found because it was simply not being collected, including graduation rates for suspended children.

According to the article, these findings have yet to generate remark from legislators, as "the only bill to address the education of disciplined kids died in a Senate committee."

Read the full article here and comment below.

Article by Nicole Gorman, Education World Contributor

4/28/2015