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Orange County Schools reports declines in out-of-school suspensions, outlines mental-health and attendance steps
Summary
District staff told the board that out-of-school suspensions are down about 10% overall, while some subgroup disparities remain. Presenters outlined expanded school-based mental-health services, Panorama survey results, attendance initiatives and next steps to strengthen restorative and family engagement supports.
District staff presented the June update on Strategic Plan Priority 4 — 'Empowering Culture' — at the Orange County Board of Education meeting on June 12, highlighting data on discipline, attendance and family engagement and outlining next steps.
The presentation summarized Panorama survey findings showing strong favorable responses for supportive relationships in grades 4–5 and gains in positive feelings and social awareness among secondary students. The district reported data-driven progress: a 10% reduction in out-of-school suspensions overall compared with the prior year, although presenters cautioned that racial disparities remain and some subgroups (including an increase in out-of-school suspensions for female students and small-subgroup increases for Asian students) will be monitored closely.
Staff described strategies behind the reductions, including expanded restorative-practices training, the RISE program expansion in secondary schools, targeted social-emotional (SEAL) lessons, and partnerships with community providers such as Boomerang. The presentation also covered attendance work (average daily attendance versus chronic absenteeism measures), noting that most schools remain below the district goal of 95% ADA and that chronic absenteeism remains a priority for targeted interventions.
On mental health, presenters reported 260 school-based mental-health referrals as of May 22, 2026, with approximately 193 students actively receiving services across a mix of in-person and virtual providers (examples cited include Daybreak Health, Gaggle Therapy and on-campus staff from Pont/Puma). The district also expanded Teen Mental Health First Aid for ninth graders and increased parent training opportunities.
Board members asked about early intervention for chronically absent students, summer continuation of services, and the impact of community events (and in one comment, immigration-related attacks were named specifically) on attendance. Staff said schools monitor returning students and build MTSS (multi-tiered system of supports) outreach plans, and that some students continue mental-health services over the summer where clinically appropriate.
What’s next: Staff will continue school-level data reviews, expand RISE to all secondary schools, pilot targeted SEAL lessons based on Panorama results, and coordinate family-engagement initiatives tied to quarterly themes.
