DPS presents Priority 2 update: SEL fidelity measures, attendance gains and lingering suspension disparities

Durham Public Schools staff presented an update on Strategic Plan Priority 2 (Provide a safe and healthy school environment that supports the whole child) at the Feb. 6 work session, reporting progress on social-emotional learning (SEL), cultural frameworks and attendance while flagging persistent disparities in suspension rates.

Staff said the district has spent the past year developing measures of fidelity for cultural frameworks (restorative practices) and for SEL curriculum; the district set an 88% baseline this year for schools that have measures of fidelity in place and plans to reach higher benchmarks by 2028 through coaching, professional learning and tiered supports. Dr. Laverne Maddox Perry, senior executive director of student support services, described the restorative-practices checklist and an SEL implementation rubric that schools are using to assess and plan coaching needs.

On disciplinary outcomes, staff noted a change in metrics approved in September 2024 to track suspension rates for students with disabilities. Melissa Watson and colleagues reported that Hispanic suspension rates remained below the district’s 5% target but had increased slightly; Black students had not yet met the goal for reduced short-term suspensions. The district emphasized that the metric in the strategic plan measures short-term suspensions (not long-term or in-school suspension) and said more in-depth, verified discipline data will be available after a planned data-cleaning process later in the cycle.

Attendance work showed mixed results: the district met a benchmark for a 95% attendance target in some measures (benchmark reported as 89.2 and marked as met), and the district has a tiered attendance-support partnership with the Elna B. Spaulding Conflict Resolution Center that has served more than 100 students. Staff reported the Panorama SEL survey participation has fallen since the parent 'opt in' change in late 2023; participation was 65.7% districtwide for K–12 on the Panorama SEL survey and 86.8% for grades 4–12 (where opt-in is not required). A separate student perception survey (grades 5, 7 and 11) that does not require parental opt-in produced higher participation and was being used to supplement the lower Panorama response rates.

Staff stressed that Priority 2 goals are linked—improving fidelity for SEL and cultural frameworks is expected to contribute to better attendance, fewer suspensions and a stronger sense of belonging. Schools are being encouraged to schedule SEL time (15 minutes per day in elementary; 45 minutes per week in secondary) and principals will receive more directive language about expectations and professional development scheduling.

Board members asked for more disaggregated discipline data (including students with disabilities and intersectional groups such as Black males with disabilities), for clearer reporting on how fidelity checklists are used (walkthrough counts, interviews with students/staff) and for a June presentation with verified discipline trends over time. Staff agreed to provide more granular data and additional detail on fidelity implementation metrics at a later meeting.