Fewer LEUSD Kids Being Expelled, Suspended

The number of kids kicked out of school or suspended during the 2010-11 academic year across the Lake Elsinore Unified School District fell slightly as compared to the previous year.

The statistics from the California Department of Education coincide with a news release today from State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson who “applauded efforts by the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights to shed light on the problem of excessive use of suspension and expulsion of students as a disciplinary tool in the nation's schools.”

Torlakson went on to commend California educators for collecting data that "helps us start crucial conversations at the local school level to ensure disciplinary practices are carried out fairly and equitably."

According to the California Department of Education stats, during the 2010-11 school year 98 students were expelled across the LEUSD and 2,202 were suspended, compared with the 2009-10 school year when 105 LEUSD students were expelled and 2,546 were suspended.

Under state law, suspending or expelling students is the responsibility of the local school district. County and school district superintendents are required by state law every three years to develop Countywide Plans for Expelled Students and submit them to Torlakson’s office.

“These plans outline educational alternatives for expelled students, identify gaps in educational services to them, and develop strategies for filling those service gaps,” today’s news release stated.

Here is a look at the LEUSD’s suspension and expulsion numbers released by the state for the 2010-11 school year (click here to view the state's data directly and to see previous school year data):