Portland will consider race, gender to ‘support’ disruptive students

“…Portland (OR) schools will design “support plans” for disruptive students that consider trauma, race, gender identity/presentation and sexual orientation, reports Alec Schemmel.

The “new disciplinary policy also eliminates mandatory suspensions for students who threaten or harm others.” Those students may be removed from the classroom, but not from the school.

To settle a month-long teachers’ strike, the district agreed to center school disciplinary procedures on “racial equity and social justice” and use “restorative” practices to maintain discipline.

“Portland-area students experienced an uptick in fights and behavioral problems after returning to the classroom for the 2021 school year,” reports Schemmel. The district responded by shifting from “punitive” responses to “restorative justice practices,” said Char Hutson, a district official…”