Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
WORCESTER, Mass. (AP) — The Worcester public school system has received a $400,000 grant to help reduce suspension rates.
The grant from the Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts will help schools implement a program that addresses the underlying trauma such as poverty-related stress that causes some students to act out.
The program will take an educational approach that aims to de-escalate issues in the classroom.
The Telegram & Gazette reports that school staff will take courses to teach them how to identify and respond to instances of trauma-related behavior by students.
Janice Yost, the foundation's president and chief executive, says the school system first asked for help with its suspension problem in 2013.
Since then, a change to the state law governing how schools discipline students has already decreased Worcester's suspension rates.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
