3rd Annual Summit on School Climate and Culture

A growing concern for educators across the nation relates to the effective education of students with serious emotional, behavioral and mental health disorders. The trauma histories and mental health disorders of these children and youth place them at greater risk for emotional escalation and the display of potentially dangerous behavior. Schools have traditionally relied upon punitive approaches, including restraint and seclusion, to address challenging behavior. These practices have been clearly linked to increased trauma, injury of students and staff, and even death. As a result, schools have come under greater scrutiny for their use of restraint and seclusion as well as other punitive approaches to behavior. This workshop will briefly explore the challenge of effectively programming for students with mental health disorders and explore effective de-escalation interventions. Moreover, the presentation will provide information about how one large urban school district engaged in a successful philosophical transition that resulted in a significant drop in student suspension and expulsion as well as a 73% drop in the use of physical restraint and seclusion. Information will be presented on the barriers encountered and the processes employed to facilitate the change in school culture.