District principals, discipline committee point to early‑year supports, restorative practices as suspensions fall but kindergarten suspensions remain a concern

District 202 elementary principals and the discipline committee presented midyear discipline data at a Feb. 19 Curriculum/Correctional & Technology committee meeting and described steps to reduce classroom disruptions while responding to an ongoing spike in very young students’ suspensions.

Committee members and several elementary principals said they have focused on behavioral interventions, restorative practices, and targeted academic supports. The committee reported an overall reduction in formal referrals across middle and high schools: middle school referrals fell from about 11% of students to 8.5% and high school referrals from 12% to 5.7% compared with the prior year. Discipline committee members said referrals for Black or African American students have decreased as a share of total referrals, but they raised continuing concern about suspension rates for kindergarten students.

Mina Griffith, who introduced the discipline presentation, said kindergarten suspensions were a major committee concern and that data…