CPS Program Helps Dramatically Cut Out-Of-School Suspension
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Reducing out-of-school suspensions as been the goal of Chicago Public Schools for the past couple of years, and administrators say they have a program in place that is solving the problem.
Twice a week, fifth graders at McCormick Elementary School in Little Village gather in a circle to express their feelings.
It's called a peace circle, one of several ways teachers implement a program known as SEL--social and emotional development--among students.
As trust builds, students become peer leaders, greeting visitors at the entrance of helping students in the hallway.
"A peer leader is someone who helps other students," says fourth-grader Bryan Jaramillo.
"It's about teamwork and respect for others," says fifth-grader Jennifer Ruiz.
The goal is for kids to learn how to grow as social and emotional beings.
So far, SEL has helped CPS reduce out of school suspensions from 61,000 in 2014 to 26,000 this year.
McCormick Elementary is one of 30 schools being awarded for being an exemplary SEL school, out of 400 schools trained to implement these strategies since 2013.
