Committee examines suspension data and how special-education needs are handled in in‑school and out‑of‑school discipline

Bridgeport School District staff and committee members reviewed disciplinary data through Feb. 28 and discussed how the student code of conduct interacts with obligations to students who have individualized education programs (IEPs).

The committee heard a slide presentation from district staff showing expulsions, out‑of‑school suspensions (OSS) and in‑school suspensions (ISS) by grade, race/ethnicity and special‑education or English‑learner status. Staff said the highest counts were at the high‑school ninth‑grade level and that Hispanic and Black students made up the largest shares of suspensions by number. Staff noted the district is paying attention to transition supports (for example, 8→9 programs) and piloting summer and year‑long components to ease transitions.

Data highlights provided by staff - High school expulsions: 30 total; 11 of those were students with special education services (≈37% of expulsions at the high‑school…