The new NASBE initiative will focus on strengthening state boards’ capacity to investigate the next generation of discipline policies that limit the use of suspension, expulsion, and criminalization of students and instead emphasize supportive climate-building practices and more positive disciplinary measures. The need for discipline reform has recently been highlighted by the Supportive School Discipline Initiative, a joint project of the U.S. Departments of Justice and Education; the Council of State Governments 2011 Breaking School Rules report, which found, among other facts, that 60 percent of middle and high school students were suspended or expelled at least once; and the U.S. Department of Education 2012 Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) report that discovered minority and special education students face tougher disciplinary consequences than their peers.

“Before a student is suspended or expelled, we as educators must ask ourselves, ‘Who pays the cost when students are banned from school?’” said NASBE Executive Director Jim Kohlmoos. “More recently, examination of the school-to-prison pipeline has highlighted the necessity of creating a supportive, positive climate for schools and communities in order to encourage students to make positive life choices. Further, zero-tolerance policies and out-of-school suspensions disproportionately affect minority students. NASBE’s national presence and experience place it in a position to aid policymakers as they examine existing policies and create new guidelines that help all students.”

In the two-year period, NASBE will create momentum for reform among both board members and other policymakers who work with state boards through analyzing research, producing resources to increase knowledge and raise awareness, and by identifying effective policy alternatives. Additionally, NASBE will award competitive grants to six states (three in each year of the project) to convene statewide task forces and conduct workshops on school discipline policy reform.

Follow this link for more about the project and its plans.

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The National Association of State Boards of Education represents America’s state and territorial boards of education. NASBE exists to strengthen state boards as the preeminent educational policymaking bodies for citizens and students. For more, visit www.nasbe.org.

Arlington, VA — With the rise in reported food allergies among students in the last 15 years, it is crucial that policymakers understand how to best prepare school personnel to deal with related health emergencies. To help with those efforts, the National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE) is launching a new initiative, in collaboration with Mylan Specialty, designed to help state boards of education as they develop student health policies regarding anaphylaxis and epinephrine auto injector access and use.

The importance of this work is highlighted by the recent tragic deaths of students who came into contact with an allergen but were unable to access an epinephrine auto injector because they did not have a prescription on file at the school. All too often, state and local laws and policies do not provide for this contingency. In life-threatening situations, this puts school nurses in an untenable situation—giving an injection and risking their nurse’s license (when, in fact, there is a nurse on staff), or anxiously hoping the paramedics will arrive in time. Even when medics do arrive, there is no guarantee they will have an epinephrine auto injector with them.

As part of its initiative, NASBE will publish an Anaphylaxis and Epinephrine Auto Injector Discussion Guide to provide a comprehensive treatment of the issue and set the stage for policy development. The guide will also aid boards and administrators at every level a tool to assist the creation of action plans and answer the questions critical to policy development.

“From bee stings to various foods, these allergens can trigger life-threatening reactions among students and it is incumbent on us as policy leaders and educators to take actions that protect these children,” said NASBE Executive Director Jim Kohlmoos. “It is essential that state and school policies ensure access to epinephrine auto injectors and training of school personnel to respond in a timely manner to students with life-threatening allergic reactions. As a leader in state-level student health policy, NASBE is uniquely positioned to provide evidence-based data to state boards as they do this important work.”

The discussion guide and related materials will be available free on NASBE’s website.  At the guide’s completion in the second quarter of 2013, NASBE will host an open webinar to guide potential users on how to best utilize the discussion guide, to have questions answered by experts in the subject, and to share best practices.

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The National Association of State Boards of Education represents America’s state and territorial boards of education. NASBE exists to strengthen state boards as the preeminent educational policymaking bodies for citizens and students. For more, visit www.nasbe.org.