A state senator wants to toss out the idea of expulsions for kids who are in third grade or younger. The lawmaker says this can go a long way to closing the achievement gap for disadvantaged students.Republican Sen. Peggy Lehner is proposing the ban on expulsions and out-of-school suspensions.Lehner says there’s a clear link between suspensions and drop in academic achievement among students who are minorities, disabled or from low-income families.“When suspended a child is robbed of days and often weeks of learning every year.”There were 36,000 suspensions among preschoolers through third graders last school year. Of those suspended, 90% were economically disadvantaged.Lehner’s proposal still allows a school to expel a student based on violent behavior. Copyright 2017 The Statehouse News Bureau. To see more, visit The Statehouse News Bureau.
The Statehouse News Bureau provides educational, comprehensive coverage of legislation, elections, issues and other activities surrounding the Statehouse to Ohio's public radio and television stations.
Lehner Wants To Ban Most Expulsions, Suspensions Of Young Students
