On September 19, 2024, NPR reported that, according to a study conducted by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), Black girls face more discipline and more severe punishments in public schools than girls from other racial backgrounds. The report, shared exclusively with NPR, took nearly a year-and-a-half to complete.
The findings offer a first of its kind snapshot of the disciplinary disparities that Black girls face in public schools across the U.S. — often for similar behaviors.
Over the course of the 85-page report, the GAO found that in K-12 public schools, Black girls had the highest rates of so-called “exclusionary discipline,” such as suspensions and expulsions. According to the report, Black girls accounted for 45% of out-of-school suspensions, 37% of in-school suspensions and 43% of expulsions for actions like “defiance, disrespect, and disruption.” Nationally, Black girls received such exclusionary discipline at rates 3 to 5.2 times those of white girls. The study also found that when they had a disability, discipline rates for Black girls grew even larger.
The GAO report is the first to examine underlying infraction data among discipline disparities and identify what contributes to them. It found that school poverty levels, the percentage of girls facing disabilities, the number of new teachers and the presence of a school resource officer were among the factors tied to increased discipline for girls.
The Restraint Information System Collection (RISC) is open for data entry for the first quarter (restraints occurring between July 1 – October 19, 2024, of the 2024-25 school year).
Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) are required to report RISC data quarterly during the 2024-25 school year. This includes reporting zero restraints during a quarter when restraints did not occur. Additionally, LEAs still are required to comply with 22 Pa. Code § 14.133(f) or 22 Pa. Code § 711.46(f) Positive Behavior Support related to training of personnel in specific procedures, methods, and techniques. However, 22 Pa. Code § 14.133(f) and 22 Pa. Code § 711.46(f) Positive Behavior Support do not require LEAs to acquire specific certification in the use of restraints and leaves this up to the LEAs and their specific training model. The training of personnel should provide varied intervention and strategies needed to address problem behaviors. The types of intervention chosen for a specific student or eligible young child shall be the least intrusive necessary. The use of restraints is considered a measure of last resort, only to be used after other less restrictive measures, including de-escalation techniques.
The Bureau of Special Education (BSE) continues to require LEAs to report the restraints that occurred in each quarter. This reporting process permits LEAs to report restraints in a timely manner which, in turn, allows LEAs to monitor patterns of episodic behaviors and address them accordingly.
The quarterly windows of reporting for the 2024-25 school year are as follows:
Quarter
Begin Date
End Date
Last Day to Report
Zero Window Opens
Zero Window Closes
1
07/01/2024
09/30/2024
10/18/2024
10/01/2024
10/18/2024
2
10/01/2024
12/31/2024
01/15/2025
01/01/2025
01/15/2025
3
01/01/2025
03/31/2025
04/14/2025
04/01/2025
04/14/2025
4
04/01/2025
06/30/2025
07/14/202
07/01/2025
07/14/2025
The RISC reporting design provides an “End Date” for LEAs to comply with their end of quarterly reporting. In addition, there is a two-week window date labeled “Last Day to Report” to allow LEAs to gather and report on those students that attend an out-of-district facility where they were placed in a restraint during that quarter. This two-week period is also a designated time for LEAs that had no restraints during the quarter to report zero in RISC. BSE will continue to send out reminder PDE Bulletins about this quarterly reporting requirement.
BSE will monitor the restraint information reported by LEAs. RISC requires each LEA to report the event that occurred prior to the incident, the incident, the unsafe behavior, and the de-escalation techniques used. The LEA must notify the parent(s)/guardian(s) of the use of a restraint and schedule an Individualized Education
Program (IEP) meeting within 10 school days of the use of the restraint in the educational program, unless the parent(s)/guardian(s), after written notice, agree(s) in writing to waive the IEP meeting. Restraints occurring during Extended School Year sessions should be reported within three weeks of the start of the school year.
In reviewing restraints submitted in RISC of school-age students with IEPs, the Special Education Advisers of BSE will continue to focus on LEA monitoring responsibilities, as well as:
Training of staff in de-escalation techniques;
Excessive time of restraint;
Excessive use of parent/guardian waivers;
Mechanical restraints;
Injuries;
Number of restraints;
10-day window (school days) to convene an IEP meeting after a restraint occurs;
Handcuffing of students, students tased, or students charged with a safe schools offense; and
Excessive law enforcement involved in restraints with staff not involved.
A RISC reporting webinar is posted on theRISC website. The RISC reporting webinar link is located below the login box of the Leader Services RISC sign-in page. This webinar explains the reporting and investigation process and how to use the RISC program. The webinar also shares how to update your LEA’s contact information. All parties involved with RISC are highly encouraged to view this webinar to learn how to report restraints, how to use the system, and to understand the regulatory responsibility of LEAs.
Additionally, BSE has recently updated the RISC Program Guidelines which are available for review on the RISC website.
Questions regarding RISC should be directed to the RISC Resource Account – [email protected].
The Pennsylvania Department of Health is alerting parents and caregivers about the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s recall of Stanley Jr. Kids Wheelbarrow and 7-piece Garden Sets because the paint on the hoe and rake contains lead levels that exceed the federal content ban.
Approximately 459,200 garden sets were sold in the U.S. from February 2024 through June 2024. They were sold exclusively at Costco stores nationwide and online at Costco.com for approximately $35.
This recall involves the long hoe and rake in the Stanley Jr. Kids Wheelbarrow and 7-piece Garden Set, model number 1662178. The wheelbarrow has a white label on the bottom labeled “Red Toolbox” and a manufacturing date of December 2023. The recalled hoe and rake have a yellow-painted long wooden handle with the words “Stanley Jr.” painted in black. The hoe and rake are black-painted metal.
Consumers should immediately stop using the hoe and rake in the garden set. Visit Red Toolbox’s recall website for information on obtaining a free replacement hoe and rake. Consumers must fill out a form and upload photos of disposing of these items, as well as the white label on the bottom of the wheelbarrow showing the December 2023 manufacturing date. Costco is attempting to contact all known purchasers directly.
According to CDC recommendations, all young children should be tested for lead exposure at least once, and when elevated levels are detected, the tests should be repeated. Early identification of elevated lead levels can prevent the most serious effects so that all children can reach their full potential.
The Department maintains a toll-free lead information hotline (1-800-440-LEAD) to provide information about lead poisoning prevention, testing, follow-up, and local resources.
Parents and caregivers of children who may have used the recalled garden set should contact their child’s health care provider about getting a blood lead test.
The Department of Health has shared a health alert notice to further communicate this recall among state and local public health agencies, health care providers, hospitals, and emergency management officials.
On September 16, 2024, Department of Human Services (DHS) Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh joined leaders from multiple state agencies, the Governor’s Advisory Commissions on LGBTQ Affairs and African American Affairs, and suicide prevention advocacy groups, to recognize September as Suicide Prevention Month. Although behavioral health and suicide prevention are important to address year-round, this month provides a dedicated time to offer resources, information, and support to those who have been affected by suicide and honor survivors and lives lost to suicide.
To access the DHS press release, including resources, click here.
All school districts, intermediate units, career and technical centers, and brick-and-mortar charter schools will receive funding to provide free period products to students.
Governor Josh Shapiro’s2024-25 budget includes $3 million to provide period products in schools to help close a gap in women’s health care. The funding enables schools to provide access to period products at no cost to students and complements the efforts undertaken by the Shapiro Administration to improve health equity.
Applications and reimbursement requests will not be required. All school districts, intermediate units, career and technical centers, and brick-and-mortar charter schools will receive funding. Funding is proportional to the total number of students enrolled in a school and based on a rate of $1.75 per student. Schools may use the funding for period product purchases made between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025.
Funding allocations for the 2024-25 Feminine Hygiene Product Grant Program’s non-competitive, non-solicitation grants can be found on the Pennsylvania Department of Health website. Schools have the option to opt out of receiving grant funding. Any remaining funds following the first round of grant funding will be dispersed in a second round. Schools should consider privacy, responsiveness, access, and education when developing and implementing strategies to make period products available to their students. Additional guidance and suggestions are available in the Menstrual Equity for Pennsylvania Students – Guidance for School Entities.