Unionville-Chadds Ford School District Considers Overhauling Suspension Policies

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Image via Jose Moreno, Philadelphia Inquirer.

The Unionville-Chadds Ford School District is considering overhauling its disciplinary policies, which would make it the first school district in Pennsylvania to allow for the rescission of student suspensions, writes Kathy Boccella for the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Unionville High School’s decision to suspend 15 students for underage drinking at a September football game has led to controversy in the 4,000-student school district, which includes parts of Delaware and Chester counties.

The parents of many of the suspended students have argued at school board meetings that the 10-day suspensions were too severe, hampered their children’s ability to learn, and could ruin their chances of getting into a good college. In some cases, parents have hired lawyers to contest the punishments.

Jeff Hellrung, president of the school board, said the suspensions were fairly and properly handed out. However, the controversy has convinced him that “10 days is excessive.”

“There’s not research to support that these suspensions make schools safer or are effective tools to teach students better behavior,” said Deborah Gordon Klehr, executive director of the Philadelphia-based Education Law Center, which has lobbied against school suspensions, especially for younger kids. “There is research that shows the very negative consequences of excluding children from school.”

Read more about the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District in the Philadelphia Inquirer by clicking here.

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