![\"\"](\"http:\/\/oceanbeachbulletin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/KQED_square.jpg\")
\nDecember 26, 2012
\nBy Ana Tintocalis<\/p>\n
\nDecember 26, 2012
\nBy Ana Tintocalis<\/p>\n
Oakland’s public schools are heading into the New Year with an ambitious plan to curb a skyrocketing student suspension rate.<\/p>\n
The vast majority of Oakland’s suspended kids are African-American, even though they make up just a third of the school population.<\/p>\n
Federal civil rights officials investigated the suspension rate. And that led the school district to adopt a plan requiring all teachers to use so-called “Restorative Justice” practices in the classroom.<\/p>\n
That approach keeps kids in school, encouraging them to examine their attitudes and the impact of their behavior.<\/p>\n
But faculty members like Benjie Achtenburg, who teaches eighth grade at Melrose Leadership Academy, says the district is not providing enough resources and training.<\/p>\n
“Being a public school teacher in Oakland,” Achtenburg says, “you are already overwhelmed by everything you have to do, no matter how many years you\u2019ve taught in this district.”<\/p>\n
Superintendent Tony Smith says teacher buy-in is one of the district’s big hurdles.<\/p>\n
OUSD has five years to reverse the troubling discipline trend or face sanctions.<\/p>\n
View article.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" December 26, 2012 By Ana Tintocalis Oakland’s public schools are heading into the New Year with an ambitious plan to curb a skyrocketing student suspension rate. The vast majority of Oakland’s suspended kids are African-American, even though they make up just a third of the school population. Federal civil rights officials investigated the suspension rate. … Continue reading KQED: Oakland Schools' New Effort to Fight Soaring Suspension Rates<\/span>