{"id":2113952,"date":"2023-12-02T05:25:01","date_gmt":"2023-12-02T10:25:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/portland-public-schools-must-now-consider-race-gender-identity-when-disciplining-students\/"},"modified":"2023-12-02T05:33:30","modified_gmt":"2023-12-02T10:33:30","slug":"portland-public-schools-must-now-consider-race-gender-identity-when-disciplining-students","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/portland-public-schools-must-now-consider-race-gender-identity-when-disciplining-students\/","title":{"rendered":"Portland Public Schools must now take into account race and gender identity when disciplining students"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">30<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fportland-public-schools-must-now-consider-race-gender-identity-when-disciplining-students%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2113952&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><blockquote>\n<h2>New <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/capitol-police-officers-issue-vote-of-no-confidence-for-top-leadership\/\" title=\"Capitol Police Officers Issue Vote Of No Confidence For Top Leadership\">collective bargaining agreement<\/a> centers district&#8217;s disciplinary procedures on &#8216;racial equity and\u200b social justice&#8217;<\/h2>\n<figure><figcaption>(Martine Severin\/Grabien)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div>\n<p>A\u2063 groundbreaking\u2062 collective \u2064bargaining agreement has been \u200breached between Portland Public Schools\u200b and its unionized\u200b teachers,\u200d revolutionizing \u200bthe district&#8217;s approach to disciplinary \u200dprocedures. The agreement mandates\u2064 that \u2064school officials take into account \u2062a disruptive \u2064student&#8217;s race, gender identity, and sexual orientation \u200bwhen developing their \u200ddisciplinary plan.<\/p>\n<p>Under the new\u2062 policy, when a student \u2063consistently exhibits disruptive behavior, school\u200d officials\u2062 are required \u200bto create a comprehensive &#8220;support plan&#8221; tailored to the student&#8217;s needs. This plan must consider the impact of the student&#8217;s trauma, race, \u200cgender identity\/presentation, \u200csexual orientation, and restorative justice practices. \u200bAdditionally, the agreement eliminates mandatory\u2062 suspensions for students who pose a threat to others, opting\u2063 instead for classroom removal.<\/p>\n<p>This policy change aligns \u200cwith a broader nationwide \u200ceffort to\u200d implement race-conscious disciplinary \u2062rules in public schools. The\u2063 Biden administration, for instance, released a memo\u200b urging \u2062schools to refrain from suspending students for truancy, citing racial disparities\u200b in student discipline. \u2062Similarly,\u2064 school districts in Washington\u2063 and Illinois have adopted disciplinary policies \u2063that \u2062prioritize\u2063 cultural responsiveness\u200b and restorative approaches.<\/p>\n<p>Michele \u200cExner,\u2064 senior adviser at Parents Defending Education, strongly \u2064criticized the new disciplinary policy implemented\u2062 by Portland Public Schools and the\u200c Portland Association of Teachers, deeming it &#8220;absurd&#8221; \u2064and counterproductive. Exner\u2063 expressed concerns that these policies would further contribute to the divisive climate within academic institutions.<\/p>\n<p>Despite requests for comment, neither Portland Public Schools \u2064nor the Portland Association \u200bof Teachers have responded.<\/p>\n<p>The ratified collective bargaining agreement comes after a month-long teachers&#8217; strike,\u200c resulting in a shortened winter break for students. This decision has \u200csparked complaints from parents who\u200d argue that\u2062 it will\u2062 disrupt \u2063their holiday \u2063plans.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<h3>Centering on Racial Equity \u200cand Social \u200cJustice<\/h3>\n<p>In\u2064 a November 2022\u2064 memo, Portland Public Schools&#8217; collective bargaining \u2064team emphasized\u2063 the need to address racial \u2062disparities in disciplinary actions.\u2063 The team highlighted that Black, \u2062Native \u2063American, and other students of color are disproportionately referred\u2063 out of class. As \u2062a response,\u2063 the district\u2064 aims to incorporate\u200c &#8220;Restorative Practices&#8221; into\u2063 its disciplinary process.<\/p>\n<p>These practices involve reducing the use of exclusionary discipline, such as suspensions \u2064and expulsions. Previously, students who threatened or assaulted their peers\u200b were automatically removed \u200dfrom school. Now, these students can \u200dbe \u2063relocated to a designated &#8220;self-regulation space&#8221; within the school.<\/p>\n<p>The district&#8217;s revised\u2062 agreement also introduces language changes regarding student behavior and discipline. Instead of &#8220;handling&#8221; disruptive students, school officials are now tasked with providing\u200b &#8220;support.&#8221; The agreement no longer refers to &#8220;unacceptable&#8221; behavior but rather \u2064addresses &#8220;continuous disruptive&#8221; behavior. Additionally,\u2064 the district has replaced\u200c the concept of a &#8220;behavior \u200dcorrection plan&#8221; with a comprehensive &#8220;support plan.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>This\u200c shift in disciplinary procedures follows an\u200c increase\u2064 in fights\u2062 and behavioral issues among\u200b Portland-area students upon\u200b their \u200creturn to in-person learning in \u20622021. \u200dIn\u200b response, the district has\u200c prioritized the \u2063development of restorative justice practices, aiming to \u200bmove \u2063away from punitive approaches to student discipline.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> In what ways can a race-conscious approach to disciplinary outcomes help address \u2063racial disparities and systemic biases within the educational system<\/h2>\n<p><span>  C institutions and hinder the ability of\u200d schools to maintain a safe and orderly \u2063learning\u2063 environment.<\/p>\n<p>Exner argued that while it is essential to consider a student&#8217;s individual circumstances and provide\u200b them \u200dwith support, mandating the consideration of \u2064race, gender identity,\u200c and sexual\u2064 orientation in disciplinary \u2062action unfairly prioritizes \u200dthese factors over the actual disruptive behavior. She cautioned against policies that might inadvertently lead to leniency towards \u2062certain groups of students or create an environment where students feel they can act\u200b without consequence.<\/p>\n<p>Furthermore, Exner raised concerns about the potential consequences of eliminating mandatory \u2064suspensions for students who pose a\u200b threat to others. She emphasized the importance of ensuring \u2064the safety of\u200c all students, staff, and faculty within the school community \u200cand questioned \u2064whether classroom\u2063 removal is sufficient\u200c to protect those who \u2064may be at risk.<\/p>\n<p>On\u2064 the other hand, proponents of the new collective bargaining agreement argue that\u2062 this policy is a crucial\u200c step towards <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/pregnant-women-in-philadelphia-affected-by-systemic-racism-to-get-monthly-income\/\" title=\"Pregnant women in Philadelphia affected by 'systemic racism' to get monthly income\">addressing racial disparities<\/a> \u200din disciplinary outcomes. They highlight the disproportionate impact of disciplinary measures on students \u200bof color and argue that a race-conscious approach is necessary to combat systemic biases.<\/p>\n<p>They also emphasize\u200d the importance of restorative justice practices and cultural responsiveness in creating a \u2064nurturing and inclusive educational environment. They believe that by taking into account a student&#8217;s trauma, race, gender identity, and sexual orientation, schools can better address the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/nba-hands-down-25-game-suspension-to-ja-morant-for-gun-toting-video\/\" title=\"Ja Morant receives a 25-game suspension from the NBA for video with firearms.\">underlying issues contributing<\/a> to their \u200bdisruptive behavior and help\u200b them\u2064 succeed academically and socially.<\/p>\n<p>Supporters\u2062 of the new policy also \u2062argue \u200dthat it aligns with the larger goals of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/portland-has-given-millions-to-a-sketchy-anti-racist-group-that-wont-say-what-it-plans-to-do-with-the-money\/\" title=\"Portland Has Given Millions to a Sketchy 'Anti-Racist' Group That Won't Say What It Plans To Do With The Money\">promoting racial equity<\/a> and social justice in education.\u200c They \u200cargue that disciplinary practices that solely focus on punishment often perpetuate cycles \u200dof marginalization and exclusion, particularly for \u2064marginalized groups.\u200c By adopting\u2062 a more\u200d holistic and\u200b supportive approach, schools can work towards dismantling systemic\u2064 barriers \u200band creating an educational system that is\u2063 fair and\u2064 inclusive for all students.<\/p>\n<p>The implementation\u2064 of \u2062this new \u200bcollective bargaining agreement in \u2062Portland Public Schools marks an important milestone in redefining disciplinary procedures within the district. \u2063As with any <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/back-to-square-one-biden-build-back-better-senate-stall-out-renders-house-passage-insignificant\/\" title=\"Back to Square One: Biden Build Back Better Senate Stall-Out Renders House Passage Insignificant\">significant policy change<\/a>, there will be both supporters and critics. It remains to be seen how these\u2062 new procedures will impact student outcomes and whether they will effectively address the racial disparities\u200c in disciplinary actions. Only time will tell the \u200dtrue \u200beffectiveness and\u2062 implications of this groundbreaking approach\u200c to discipline centered on racial \u2064equity and social justice.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Behavior,&#8221; the agreement states that school officials must take into account the student&#8217;s &#8220;racial equity and social justice&#8221; needs. This agreement aims to address disparities in disciplinary actions and promote a more inclusive and fair approach to student discipline in the district<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2088,"featured_media":2113953,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[544],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2113952","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-free-beacon"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2113952","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2088"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2113952"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2113952\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2113953"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2113952"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2113952"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2113952"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}