SB 1147, an “Act to evaluate the impact of school discipline on student achievement,” has cleared both chambers and is on its way to the governor’s office to be signed into law. The bill, by Sen. Linda Chesterfield (D-Little Rock), calls for the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) to prepare and submit a report to the State Board of Education each year that contains the discipline rates for in-school suspension, out-of-school suspension, expulsion, corporal punishment, and referrals to law enforcement authorities for each school district. The report will also note any disparities in disciplinary actions for several subpopulations of students. Perhaps one of the most interesting components of the report is that it will include the achievement status for each school district, which is a school performance measure used by the state.

ADE will track the progress that school districts make from year to year in reducing overall disciplinary rates and rates of disciplinary disparity between student subpopulations. ADE will also assess the relationship of student achievement to reduction in discipline rates and disparity.  Districts that make progress will be identified and studied to learn what strategies are successful.

To help districts, ADE will provide information by reporting discipline-related strategies, alternatives, and resources that are available to school districts; identify resources needed to reduce the use of restraints with students with disabilities; and, survey districts to determine which districts currently are using innovative, research-based discipline strategies such as Positive Behavior Intervention and Support System and Restorative Justice, or others. Finally, information on funding needs related to these resources will be provided by ADE as part of the legislative biennial educational adequacy study.

This is a big win for Arkansas students and schools. It puts us on a path toward less severe disciplinary actions and will hopefully curb disparities in how certain students are treated. To find out more about disparities in disciplinary actions taken in Arkansas schools, read our recent report, “Keeping Kids in Class.” AACF has worked hard this session to see this bill through. We applaud Sen. Chesterfield and others who supported this effort to make sure disciplinary actions taken in Arkansas schools are fair and not overly-punitive.