STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — There were more suspensions issued in New York City public schools during the first half of the 2023-2024 school year compared to the same time the year prior, according to new data released by the Department of Education (DOE).
Public schools suspended students 10,674 times from July through December 2023 — marking a 0.64% rise in total suspensions when compared to the same time period last year. That includes nearly 8,440 principal suspensions, which decreased by 0.8%, as well as more than 2,233 superintendent suspensions, which increased by 5.5%, compared to the same time the year prior, according to the data.
The DOE also analyzed pre-pandemic numbers, finding that total suspensions were down 14.4% compared to the same time period in the 2018-2019 school year. Principal suspensions decreased by 8.9% and superintendent suspensions decreased by 30.4%.
According to the DOE, suspensions have decreased 14.4% over the last six years when looking at mid-year results from 2018 to 2023.
“Education and safety is at the core of all we do, and our young people are expected to follow our Citywide Behavioral Expectations to Support Student Learning (including the Discipline Code) and other citywide and school-specific rules and policies, to ensure safe environments for students and staff,” said Jenna Lyle, a spokesperson for the DOE, in a statement. “We’re proud that this Administration continues to invest in restorative justice in our schools, bringing the total program funding to $17.6 million, and allowing us to continue this vital work next year.”
Mid-year suspension data doesn’t include breakdowns by race or other demographic categories, or breakdowns by school or school district. The city will release its annual report for the full 2023-2024 school year at the end of the year.
According to the DOE’s Discipline Code, which was last updated in 2019, principal suspensions occur when the principal has the authority to suspend a student…
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