Specifics on the MATHS suspensions
The city school system has provided me with more detailed information on the suspension rate at Maryland Academy of Technology and Health Sciences (MATHS), the charter high school whose contract is up for renewal. Its 83 percent suspension rate last year prompted the school board to table its vote on the contract renewal last week.
In 2006-07, the school's first year of existence, its enrollment was 108. It suspended 12 students 24 times.
In 2007-08, the school enrolled 208 students. Eighty-two of them were suspended 173 times. Of the 173 suspensions, one was short-term, 164 were long-term and eight led to expulsions. Ninety-eight suspensions were for "disrespect/insubordination" and three were for attendance problems -- in other words, the nonviolent offenses for which Dr. Alonso has urged schools to find alternative, in-school punishments since his arrival a year and a half ago.
This school year, MATHS' enrollment is up to 352. So far, 62 students have been suspended 99 times. The suspension rate is lower because the enrollment is higher, but the number of incidents is on pace to meet or exceed last year. Again, the vast majority of suspensions are long-term. The number of suspensions for nonviolent offenses is down significantly, but the number of violent incidents is up. The school reports 42 suspensions for attacks, threats or fights so far this year, compared with 45 for all of last year. And it's reported five sex offenses so far this year, compared with two last year.
See below for a breakdown of suspensions by type of offense for last year and the current year so far.
Weapons: two last year, one this year
Dangerous substances: one last year, one this year
Attack/threats/fighting: 45 last year, 42 this year
Disrespect/insubordination: 98 last year, 28 this year
Attendance: 3 last year, none this year
Sex offenses: two last year, five this year
Other: 22 last year, 20 this year
Categories: Baltimore City, School Safety (Or Lack Thereof)
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Comments
I cannot be the only "civilian" who needs clarification here:
I understand that there Charter Schools have no entrance requirements, save grade level status and that entrance is a lottery. (At least, those my grandson is applying to for Kindergarten work on a lottery) Are Charter schools required to keep the arsonists/weapons carriers/fighters/sex offenders? I know we don't want to throw any child away, but quite frankly, I'm wondering why MATHS isn't being applauded for attempting to maintain a civil atmosphere.
Posted by: Eve | February 17, 2009 9:58 AM
And all the people said "Amen".
Posted by: Laura Lee | February 17, 2009 8:41 PM
Where do the students go when MATHS doesn't want them? Back to their zone school. Why shouldn't MATHS and the other charter or transformation schools work with all our students, good or bad? Seems a bit off that they get a pass on those kids who need help and should benifit from a smaller school. Stop trying to ship them all back to zone/neighborhood schools.
Posted by: Stu | February 17, 2009 11:55 PM
So AAA shut down Homeland to prove a point. What about MATHS? Should we be paying this charter to have numbers that would get many city schools principals fired?
Posted by: Set the example | February 17, 2009 11:56 PM
I agree with everything. Here is my $.02. Why dont neighborhood schools have the same ability to suspend students who act out? If every school did this properly, there would not be many students in school to act up. Is it harsh? Yes. But it sets the example! And how can we throw away the others? Funny, I thought the stats were less than 50% of the students were graduating anyway? Why not cut the 50% from the top and allow the others to get the proper education that they DESERVE, without the outside distractions.
Posted by: concerned teacher | February 18, 2009 9:18 PM
"Of the 173 suspensions, one was short-term, 164 were long-term and eight led to expulsions."
Sara, I'm pretty sure your facts are incorrect. Please re-check them with your source. Maybe I'm wrong, but having all but one suspension be long-term or expulsion doesn't even pass the smell test.
This school clearly has major challenges with suspensions regardless, but I am pretty sure those numbers are wrong. At least I hope they are.
Posted by: hamiltonparent | February 19, 2009 8:25 AM
Hamiltonparent: I was surprised when I saw the statistics, too, but the school system insists they're not a mistake. Virtually all of the suspensions at MATHS were long-term. It seems the school goes to long-term suspension by default. Keep in mind that the definition of a long-term suspension changed in Baltimore last school year. It's now anything more than five days, when it used to be anything more than 10.
Posted by: Sara Neufeld | February 19, 2009 3:01 PM
Let's set the record straight. The long term suspensions are decided by North Avenue not the school. As was stated earlier a good many of the schools are just not reporting their disciplinary decisions. They will send them home for one day and have the students return the next day and send them home again. This does not go down as a suspension. It's a numbers game with our children. That is what the system has been reduced too.
Posted by: Parent concerned for truth | February 19, 2009 4:58 PM
Sara:
So there were 164 suspensions of 6 days or more? I still ask you to double-check. North Avenue makes mistakes too.
Posted by: hamiltonparent | February 19, 2009 7:24 PM
There is more going on than just the suspension rates. Teachers are being over worked and disrespected and genearlly not supported. There are a high number of Teachers on PIP's. The building is unsafe with mold, mildew, inconsistant temperatures, roaches. Students are being forced to be in a special classroom because they are bad. The turnover rate of support staff is rediculous and when suggestions are given to administration...they are genearlly ignored. The management of the school could be better and in turn that would solve a lot of problems.
Posted by: teacher | March 17, 2009 10:06 AM