Carvalho Headed To White House For National School Discipline Discussion
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Superintendent of Schools Alberto Carvalho is headed to the White House for a national policy discussion on school discipline.
Superintendent Carvalho will lead Miami delegation on a national convening and conversation on discipline practices aimed at creating safe and supportive school environments.
"If kids are not in school they can't learn and we have a better way of actually applying consequences without depriving them of their right to an education," Carvalho told CBS4 Tuesday while at Miami International Airport.
Deputy Superintendent Valtena Brown and Chief Academic Officer Marie Izquierdo were also at MIA and will join Carvalho on the trip.
Miami-Dade County Public Schools, the fourth largest district in the country, Carvalho says was invited to partake in the discussion, "Rethink School Discipline," because of the "incredible strides" they've made when it comes to disciplining students.
"We have reduced the number of youth arrests dramatically. In fact, just last week we were named the number one system in the state for decreasing the number of student arrests by creating civil citations programs, alternatives that do not give kids a record, alternatives that do not eject students from schools in terms of outdoor suspensions," Carvalho said.
The group from Miami, along with school leaders, researchers and non-profit leaders from across the U.S., will be meeting with White House officials, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch, among others.
Several topics will be discussed including, alternatives to removals, student support, professional development, student codes of conduct and more.