On last week’s Z107.7 Up Close Show, host Gary Daigneault spoke to Amy Woods, Chris Claire, and David Daniels from the Morongo Unified School District. Amy Woods discussed the regulation, and how our local school district is adjusting to the change.
Amy Woods: “It’s Senate Bill 274, and it’s the ‘Keep Students in School Law.’ That particular law prohibits a suspension or expulsion of students kindergarten through 12th grade.
So what does that mean in simple English? Those are the violations that stem from disruption or defiance. So it used to be that on the first offense – regardless of the grade – you could suspend (the student)
And if you had enough of those incidents on your discipline matrix then you could be recommended for an expulsion because of the willful defiance or excessive disruption of the school day. That is no longer the case. The state of California has found that there is an over-identification and suspension of students of color and special education students.”
So a teacher can still suspend from the class, but as far as an overall suspension from school.. that is up to administration now. It is a huge change.
Every single one of our schools were honored at the most recent Positive Behavior Intervention System (PBIS) awards in San Bernardino County. Every single Morongo Unified School was honored with a platinum, silver or gold status award in the county. So it’s quite an achievement.
It is rewarding positive behavior, but there are so many other things that go into that, incentivizing students to behave well, to come to school regularly. Attendance is an issue. We can’t do anything with them if they’re not with us.”
You can hear the full conversation below:
