Eightfold Path

Step 1: The Problem- The discipline gap in schools.

Step 2: Evidence
days of instruction lost-

more Evidence of the gap by gender

Black students accounted for 15 percent of all students in 2016, yet they accounted for 31 percent of school-related arrests and referrals to law enforcement.

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• “Discipline is like sailing on flowing water. If you can do the right moves at the right time you can advance, otherwise you will get slower and fail"

Step 3: Construct the alternatives

• 1. alternative education placement with additional focuses on SEL/behavior management
• 2. additional campus social worker or counselor allotment
• 3. district-wide initiatives to implement restorative practices

Step 4: Select the criteria

• sustainability
• equitability
• COST

Step 5: Project the outcomes

OPTION 1: alternative placements

• cost-yes
• sustainability-yes
• equitability-no

OPTION 2: staffing allocations

• equitability-yes
• cost-no
• sustainability-no

OPTION 3: restorative practice initiative

• cost-yes
• equitability-yes
• sustainability-yes

Step 6: Confront the trade-offs

• option 1- it is easy and confirms/supports traditional belief systems
• option 2- Meet individual needs and create jobs
• option 3- facilitates relational improvement and disrupts biases

Step 7: stop, focus, narrow, deepen, and decide

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