This is the first weekend in four weeks that I am in San Francisco.

But 2nd Back-to-School Institute for Parents and Caregivers of African American Students were held today at the Civic Center Secondary School (formerly John Swett Elementary School). And once I was there, I was very glad that I went to this very informative workshop.

Kim-Shree Maufas was the only school board member in attendance. Carlos Garcia and SFUSD’s new assistant superintendent for social justice were both absent. But Rickey Jones, director of Pupil Services did a great (but disheartening) presentation to the 30 parents, teachers and community members in attendance.

Jones showed that a total of 58 students were expelled from SFUSD in 06-07. Twenty-seven of these students (47%) were African American, even though African American only represent 12% of the district’s student population. Twelve of the expelled students identified themselves as Chinese Americans (52% of the district’s students are Asian American with Chinese American students compromising the largest group within that category) and eleven of the expelled students had Spanish surnames (21.3% of SFUSD’s students are Latino).

With suspensions, Jones noted that 3,743 students were expelled at SFUSD schools in 2006-07. Of that total, 1,827 (48%) were African American. The second largest group were Latino students who representated 26% of the students suspended at SFUSD in 2006-07.

The news gotten even bleaker when we looked at the 2006-07 chronic truancy records for SFUSD. Here is the table:

Grade/# of Chronic Truants (Missing 20 days or more of school)
Kindergarten-176 students 45.45% were African American/25% were Latino
First Grade-148 students 57.43% were African American/21.6% were Latino
Second Grade-115 students 57.39% were African American/21.74% were Latino
Third Grade-100 students 62% were African American/19% were Latino
Fourth Grade-105 students 50.48% were African American/25.7% were Latino
Fifth Grade-81 students 51.85% were African American/27.2% were Latino
Sixth Grade-76 students 52.6% were African American/21% were Latino
Seventh Grade-85 students 41.2% were African Americans/23.5% were Latino
Eighth Grade-87 students 28.74% were African Americans/33.3% were Latino
Ninth Grade-507 students 32.54% were African American/38.46% were Latino
Tenth Grade-323 students 34.7% were African American/33.44% were Latino
11th Grade-211 students 25.12% were African American/34% were Latino
12th Grade-139 students 23.7% were African American/27.97% were Latino

The groups were then divided into two workshop sessions-one on “Elementary School Foundations-Discipline, Responsibilities, Expectations and Advocacy” and “Middle and School Foundation-Discipline, Responsibilities, Expectations and Advocay.” As the Vice President of Fundraising at John Muir Elementary School, I went to the Elementary School workshop.

It was led by Jeremiah Jeffries in Room 101 at the former John Swett Elementary School. I realized that I had been in Room 101-when it was Jeremiah’s first grade classroom when John Swett Elementary was opened. He held the workshop in his former classroom. Chappie Grice of NAACP and Dr. David West, a former instructor from San Mateo Community College, were also co-ordinators.

During the workshop, we reviewed the San Francisco Unified School District’s 2007-08 Student and Parent/Guardian Handbook. Jeffries pointed out that on page 98 on the 151-page handbook, the District finally placed its only paragraph on the importance of Family Involvement. So much for encouragement of parents to be involved in their children’s education.

We also reviewed the State Education Code 48900 which shows the offenses that lead to suspension. Jeffries noted that 60-70% of the suspensions were for offenses described as “defiance acts.” This is defined under State Education Code 48900 as “the refusal of a student to follow the direction of a school employee. This includes but not to limited to the following: verbal abuse or gestures, refusal to give legal name, disrespectful language, or failure to accompany the employee to the office.” The second most common offense for suspension at SFUSD is fighting among students, according to Jeffries.

The group then discussed on addressing discipline problems by creating a relationship with your child”s student and principal, using positive affirmation to reward good behavior, becoming an active part of the child’s school and actively listening to the student when he/she discusses his day at school.

It was a great and informative workshop and kudos to all (Kim-Shree Maufas, Jeremiah Jeffries, Carl Barnes, Chappie Grice, David West and others) who put it together.