L.A. Unified suspension rates fall
Patrick Bryant, 14, an eighth-grader at Gompers Middle School in South Los Angeles, dances inside a drum circle during a school carnival celebrating “peace week,” a program to improve behavior and reduce discipline problems. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)
Keylyn Perryman, center, and Gisselle Quezada, right, perform with shakers at the Gompers Middle School “peace week” carnival. The school has reported a decline in the number of student suspensions and incidents of misbehavior. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)
After administrators questioned the high rate of suspensions at Gompers, Principal Traci Gholar asked for more resources, including a conflict resolution specialist, a restorative justice coordinator, more campus aides, performing arts events and other activities. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)
The extra help seems to have made a difference at Gompers. According to school data, incidents involving student misbehavior declined from 1,035 in the last school year to 663 as of May of this year. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)
Gompers Principal Traci Gholar lets students duct tape her to a board as part of the “peace week” carnival. Following a trend around L.A. Unified, Gompers has reduced its suspension rates in favor of alternative disciplinary actions. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)