One of the most problematic areas in education is how many students are not graduating. It just should not be an issue in this country to have students who drop-out or do not graduate from high school. In the article by Meredith Kolodner, the Hechinger Report, a trauma sensitive approach to school discipline has been adopted by the Metropolitan Business Academy (MBA) and some other schools in Connecticut.
A trauma-sensitive approach to discipline
I think the article is self-explanatory and outlines some key elements of this valuable approach to dealing with students who are struggling to succeed in typical school settings. Here is the link:
http://hechingerreport.org/how-schools-can-lower-suspension-rates-and-raise-graduation-rates/
Like MBA, our schools at Lakeside are saving so many students from the path of failure by offering them new ways to succeed. I am so excited to see that many schools in our country are adopting policies that really help students succeed rather than more punitive measures. It is actually improving graduation rates for a population where the failure rate is so very high.
I do hope we are seeing a trend that will catch the wave of trauma-informed care for our students who need this kind of environment to succeed.
Gerry Vassar, President/CEO, Lakeside Educational Network
