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State Representative Joe Mullery
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-4262
For more information contact: Tim O'Brien 651-296-8877
E-Update
School to Prison Pipeline
At a recent meeting of our Juvenile Justice Coalition, studies were presented indicating that the way schools deal with students has a strong correlation with whether the students wind up incarcerated. The data also shows that the most cost effective prevention occurs early in life.
There were many interesting facts presented:
While only 13% of all students are "special needs", 58% of students in correctional facilities are "special needs". While 36% of all students are on "free and reduced lunch", 84% of those in correctional facilities were "free and reduced lunch" students. On the other hand, 13% of students are from non-English speaking homes, but only 4% of those in correctional facilities are from such homes.
National studies also show that teens who get into trouble with the law have a severe lack of pre-frontal cortex brain development and control. This is why I have been the leader in the legislature on Youth Development, especially on pre-frontal cortex issues. Acting out is often due to mental trauma.
There is also a strong connection between total expulsion from school and trouble with the law. Even though the Anoka-Hennepin School District has only a small percent of the students in the state, they have one-third of the expulsions. It is interesting to note that 81% of teachers in the Osseo school district are absent more than 10 days a year, while only 34% of teachers in Minneapolis are absent over 10 days. Minneapolis doesn't expel; Osseo does. Some studies show that referral to an off-site location is less effective than dealing with it in school.
Expulsion and isolation are the most ineffective ways to deal with disruptive behavior, and appear to lead toward illegal behavior. Only 5% of suspensions are for weapons or drugs. Children of single parents are 2 to 4 times more likely to be suspended.
An important finding was that disruptions decrease when the teacher is more experienced and well-trained.
If you take white students as the norm in Minnesota, African-American students are 7 times more likely to be suspended, Native Americans 6 times, Hispanic 5 times, and Asians less than whites. Also, suspensions for students of color are most often based on a subjective judgment regarding the behavior, rather than a violation of a rule. 75% are boys, usually for disrespect or disruption. If they aren't able to read they are much more likely to end up in trouble.
The good news is that our Department of Education and some Juvenile Court Judges are studying how to change practices in this state so that we deal more effectively with disruptive students.
News Items
- Reminder: Primary - August 14; Some Voting Locations May Have Changed - (Posted: 2012-07-08 00:00:00)
- Passing of Dr. John Williams - (Posted: 2012-07-09 00:00:00)
- Rep. Mullery: 2012 Legislative Report - (Posted: 2012-07-10 00:00:00)
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