09.03.2014 | Chalkbeat | School discipline has been under scrutiny for years, with advocates repeatedly sounding the alarm about high suspension rates among black and Hispanic students and students with disabilities. A coalition of advocates led by retired Chief Judge of New York Judith Kaye made additional recommendations in 2013, and the discipline code—which outlines the city’s school discipline policies and students’ rights—has already changed over the last few years to emphasize alternatives to suspension….Nick Sheehan, who works on the School Justice Project at Advocates for Children, said advocates are still anticipating big-picture changes. “Our understanding, from what they’ve said publicly, is that they’re looking to make a bigger announcement and hopefully including a leadership team to look at school discipline and safety writ large,” he said, referencing the major recommendation of the 2013 report. Still, he said, “We’re disappointed they haven’t moved a little quicker on this.” Read article