Charter School Board Releases 2011-2012 School Discipline Data

Contact: Audrey Williams  202-328-274
[email protected]

Washington, D.C. — The DC Public Charter School Board (PCSB) today released discipline data for the 53 charter schools in operation during the 2011-2012 school year.

Across the charter sector, the average number of students suspended for 10 or more days was 1% of the overall charter school population, or 332 students. That equates to 0.4% of instructional days lost due to these suspensions, according to school data. 

The charter school expulsion rate for the 2011-2012 school year was three quarters of one percent (0.75%), representing 239 students out of the total charter school enrollment of 31,557.

Charter Sector Average for SY 2011-2012 Suspensions & Expulsions

Each charter school sets its own discipline policy and those policies vary from school to school. Students may be expelled for violence with or without physical injury, possession of weapons, drugs or alcohol, or other reasons as established in each school’s discipline policy. 

In its oversight role, PCSB is responsible for monitoring and ensuring that each charter school has created and is implementing discipline policies that comply with applicable laws.  Schools are also held accountable for communicating those discipline policies to students and parents. 

“Many schools are re-examining their discipline policies in light of the most current research about the negative effects of long-term school exclusions and the effectiveness of alternative approaches,” said Scott Pearson, PCSB Executive Director. “We look forward to supporting schools in this effort.  Part of what makes charter schools successful is their autonomy, and the sector is adamantly opposed to one-size-fits-all discipline policies for schools.  However we all agree that we should aim to have as many students as possible in school, learning, every day.”

PCSB is required to annually release discipline information to the public, according to DC Code § 38-201, so families and the community can better understand school performance and allow them to make informed choices.  For school-by-school discipline data, please click here.

The PCSB has also updated discipline data for 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 school years that was released in February.  Please click here for the updated data.

About the PCSB: The DC Public Charter School Board (PCSB) is setting a national model for creating quality public school options through its rigorous review of new charter applications and effective oversight of charter school performance that is leading the transformation of public education in Washington, DC. PCSB currently oversees 57 public charter schools on more than 100 campuses serving nearly 32,000 students living in every ward of the city. Learn more at www.dcpcsb.org.