Omaha Public Schools is taking steps to improve how our district prevents and manages student behavior incidents.
“We definitely have work to do throughout our system,” said Student and Community Services executive director Amy Williams at a recent Board of Education meeting.
That work includes reviewing and sharing data. Our district’s 2022-23 behavior report, the most recent available, showed disproportionate suspension and expulsion rates.
“We are particularly concerned that our exclusionary practices are not proportionate across subgroups,” Williams explained. “We see that students who are eligible for educational benefits are three times more likely to experience a suspension. Students with an IEP who receive special education services are twice as likely than other students to receive a suspension.”
The same report found that suspension rates at the middle school level are imbalanced too.
“Nearly a quarter of middle school students experienced a suspension in 2022-23,” said Williams. “For Black middle school students, that number was closer to one-third.”
In most cases, suspensions and expulsions occur when a student poses a threat to the safety of others.
“One of our strategies is to look at how we reduce those behavior events,” Williams said. “Prevention is key in terms of keeping kids at school and engaged.”
Our district follows the Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS-B) framework. It helps children manage behavior and guides staff on responding to misbehavior. MTSS-B teams across our district meet monthly, review student data and consider interventions.
“You can see a steady decline in our referrals since we have implemented those processes,” said Williams. “It sets the foundation and creates an environment for every student in that school.”
School staff work to prevent bad behavior, so students remain focused on learning in the classroom.
“We look at data every week,” said Benson High Principal Melinda Bailey. “If your students are comfortable in the building as a whole and feel good about where they are, they’ll go into the classroom with a different attitude."
Principal MeLitta Wilson and her staff at Minne Lusa Elementary engage families during drop-off and pick-up. It’s how they promote positive interactions at school.
“Whoever has that relationship is the person who speaks to the parents at the end of the day,” said Wilson. “That is an important step in helping a student's behavior.”
Wilson says the daily conversations with families carry over to the classroom, especially when addressing negative behaviors. “I think it has been something that's really supported our culture overall.”
“It takes a village, and that village is building leadership, teachers and staff,” added Williams. “It's also every parent and community member.”
Omaha Public Schools review of 2023-24 student behavior data is underway now. While some areas show improvement, more work is needed to ensure an equitable experience for all.
“We have the need and opportunity to maintain our high expectations throughout the Omaha Public Schools,” said Superintendent Matthew Ray. “We have to do better.”
