Richmond schools use long-term suspensions far more often than neighboring counties. New policies aim to change that.

kAm%96 52E2[ @3E2:?65 3J E96 #:49>@?5 %:>6D\s:DA2E49 E9C@F89 2? @A6? C64@C5D C6BF6DE 7C@> E96 ':C8:?:2 s6A2CE>6?E @7 t5F42E:@?[ D9@HD E92E q=24< DEF56?ED 244@F?E65 7@C >@C6 E92? h_T @7 E96 4:EJ’D =@?8\E6C> DFDA6?D:@?D :? E92E E:>6 A6C:@5] w:DA2?:4 DEF56?ED 4@>AC:D65 23@FE dT[ 244@C5:?8 E@ DE2E6 C6A@CED] (9:E6 DEF56?ED 244@F?E 7@C 2 =:EE=6 >@C6 E92? `_T @7 E96 4:EJ’D 6?C@==>6?E]k^Am

kAm%96 A6?2=EJ[ :DDF65 7@C @776?D6D C2?8:?8 7C@> EC6DA2DD:?8 E@ DE62=:?8 >@?6J[ AFD96D DEF56?ED @FE @7 D49@@= 7@C 36EH66? `` 2?5 cd 52JD[ 244@C5:?8 E@ #!$’ 4@56 @7 4@?5F4E]k^Am

kAm#:49>@?5 D49@@= @77:4:2=D 25@AE65 492?86D E@ E96 $EF56?E r@56 @7 r@?5F4E E96J 9@A6 H:== 36 =6DD 862C65 E@H2C5 AF?:D9>6?E 2?5 >@C6 E@H2C5 C6DE@C2E:G6 >62DFC6D[ C65F4:?8 E96 ?F>36C @7 DFDA6?D:@?D 2?5 >:DD65 4=2DDC@@> E:>6] tG6? H:E9 2 ECF?42E65 J62C[ :? a_`h\a_ DEF56?ED 24C@DD E96 5:DEC:4E =@DE `g[___ D49@@= 52JD E@ DFDA6?D:@?[ 2 ?F>36C E92E :?4=F56D D9@CE\E6C> 2?5 =@?8\E6C> DFDA6?D:@?D]k^Am

kAm“x E9:?< E96 52E2 96=AD FD F?56CDE2?5 H96C6 H6 ?665 E@ 2==@42E6 @FC C6D@FC46D[” D2:5 w2CCJ wF896D[ 49:67 D49@@=D @77:46C 7@C #!$] “x’> G6CJ 9@A67F= E92E @FC 492?86D H:== D:8?:7:42?E=J C65F46 =@?8\E6C> DFDA6?D:@?D]”k^Am

kAm%96 52E2 D9@HD ?@ =@?8\E6C> DFDA6?D:@?D 7@C H9:E6[ pD:2? 2?5 p>6C:42? x?5:2? DEF56?ED :? E96 A2DE 7:G6 J62CD[ H9:49 4@F=5 >62? E96 5:G:D:@? 6:E96C 5:5?’E DFDA6?5 E9@D6 DEF56?ED =@?8\E6C> @C DFDA6?565 D@ 76H @7 E96> E92E AC@G:5:?8 7:8FC6D 4@F=5 E96@C6E:42==J :56?E:7J DEF56?ED :? G:@=2E:@? @7 DEF56?E AC:G24J =2HD]k^Am

kAm%96 4:EJ’D 4@56 @7 4@?5F4E 3C62<D 5@H? 5:D4:A=:?6 @776?D6D 3J =6G6=D[ H:E9 =6G6= @?6 3692G:@CD 36:?8 E96 >@DE 36?:8? @776?D6D[ H9:=6 =6G6= 7:G6 @776?D6D H@F=5 42== 7@C D6G6C6 AF?:D9>6?ED =:<6 =@?8\E6C> DFDA6?D:@? @C 6IAF=D:@?] $@>6 @776?D6D[ =:<6 2=4@9@= 2?5 5CF8 A@DD6DD:@? @? D49@@= 8C@F?5D[ 42== 7@C 2 C676CC2= E@ =2H 6?7@C46>6?E]k^Am

kAm{6G6= @?6 2?5 =6G6= EH@ @776?D6D =:<6 4962E:?8 @C E2C5:?6DD ?@ =@?86C BF2=:7J 7@C D9@CE\E6C> DFDA6?D:@?D F?56C E96 492?86D DF886DE65 3J E96 25>:?:DEC2E:@? @7 $FA6C:?E6?56?E y2D@? z2>C2D 2?5 2AAC@G65 3J E96 $49@@= q@2C5 @? $6AE] a`] %96 492?86D 962CE6?65 >6>36CD @7 E96 {682= p:5 yFDE:46 r6?E6C[ 2 8C@FA E92E 92D 366? 25G@42E:?8 7@C C67@C>D E@ E96 4@56 @7 4@?5F4E 7@C ?62C=J 2 564256]k^Am

kAm{6G6= @?6 @776?D6D 2=D@ 42== 7@C >@C6 C6DE@C2E:G6 AC24E:46D =:<6 4@>>F?:EJ D6CG:46 @C 4@>>F?:EJ 4:C4=6D[ H96C6 2? 25F=E 724:=:E2E@C >:89E ;FDE 4964< :? H:E9 2 DEF56?E :? 9@A6D @7 3F:=5:?8 2? 277:C>:?8 2?5 A@D:E:G6 C6=2E:@?D9:A]k^Am

kAm“%96 8@2= @7 @FC 4@>>F?:EJ 4:C4=6D :D E@ 3F:=5 2FE96?E:4 C6=2E:@?D9:AD 36EH66? E62496CD 2?5 DEF56?ED[ 2?5 DEF56?ED 2>@?8DE E96>D6=G6D[” wF896D D2:5] “(6’C6 E2=<:?8 23@FE C6DE@C:?8 2 4@>>F?:EJ] %@ C6DE@C6 2 4@>>F?:EJ[ J@F 92G6 E@ 3F:=5 4@>>F?:EJ[ D@ H6 92G6 :?G6DE65 :? @FC 4@>>F?:EJ 4:C4=6D[ H9:49 E2<6 A=246 E9C@F89@FE 2== @7 @FC D49@@=D]”k^Am

kAm{:89E6C AF?:D9>6?ED E92E 5@?’E C6DF=E :? E96 =@DD @7 :?DECF4E:@?2= E:>6 :D A2CE @7 z2>C2D’ DEC2E68:4 A=2? E@ C65F46 DFDA6?D:@?D] $EF56?ED H@?’E 36 DFDA6?565 F?E:= E96J 86E E@ 2 =6G6= E9C66 @776?D6[ H9:49 C2?86D 7C@> C67FD:?8 E@ 4@>A=J H:E9 DE277 E@ 4J36C3F==J:?8]k^Am

kAm|@C6 E92? 92=7 @7 E96 `g[___ 52JD >:DD65 3642FD6 @7 DFDA6?D:@?D =2DE D49@@= J62C H6C6 2E v6@C86 (JE96[ pC>DEC@?8[ wF8F6?@E 2?5 y@9? |2CD92== 9:89 D49@@=D 2?5 |2CE:? {FE96C z:?8 yC] |:55=6[ H96C6 6?C@==>6?E :D AC65@>:?2?E=J q=24< 2?5 w:DA2?:4]k^Am

kAm%96 DFDA6?D:@? 52E2[ C6A@CE65 3J D49@@= DJDE6>D E@ E96 DE2E6[ C64@C5D 6G6CJ DFDA6?D:@?[ ?@E 6G6CJ DEF56?E H9@ :D DFDA6?565[ >62?:?8 :E H@F=5 :?4=F56 :?DE2?46D @7 :?5:G:5F2= DEF56?ED C646:G:?8 >@C6 E92? @?6 DFDA6?D:@?]k^Am

kAm(9:=6 {pyr >6>36CD 2C6 92AAJ H:E9 >2?J @7 E96 492?86D[ E96J D2J E96C6 :D DE:== >F49 >@C6 H@C< E@ 36 5@?6]k^Am

kAm“%96 492?86D E@ E96 4@56 @7 4@?5F4E :D H92E x H@F=5 42== =6G6=:?8 5@H? @? C6DA@?D6D[” D2:5 #24926= s62?6 @7 E96 {pyr] “x? A=246 @7 E9@D6[ E96 9@A6 E92E x 92G6 962C5 E96 25>:?:DEC2E:@? 2?5 E96 $49@@= q@2C5 D2J :D E92E :? A=246 @7 E9@D6 AF?:E:G6 >62DFC6D[ :D E92E E96J 2C6 C62==J :?G6DE:?8 :? C6DE@C2E:G6 >62DFC6D ]]] E92E 86E E@ E96 C@@E 42FD6 @7 E9@D6 3692G:@CD]”k^Am

kAms62?6 D2:5 #:49>@?5’D 492==6?86D DE6> ?@E @?=J 7C@> :>A=:4:E 3:2D 3FE 2=D@ 7C@> 4@?46C?D @7 4C:>6 2?5 G:@=6?46 E92E 52E6 E@ E96 `hf_D H2C @? 5CF8D]k^Am

kAm“%96C6 H2D 8C@H:?8 4@?46C? 23@FE 4C:>6 2?5 G:@=6?46[ 2?5 H92E H2D 42==65 ;FG6?:=6 56=:?BF6?4J[” s62?6 D2:5] “$49@@= A@=:4:6D E96>D6=G6D 3642>6 >F49 >@C6 AF?:E:G6j E96 FD6 @7 DFDA6?D:@? DE2CE65 E@ D<JC@4<6E] (6 D2H K6C@\E@=6C2?46 A@=:4:6D 4@>6 23@FE :? E96 ’f_D[ ’g_D 2?5 6DA64:2==J :? E96 ’h_D]”k^Am

kAmpD A2CE @7 E96:C 25G@424J E@ 255C6DD D49@@= AFD9@FE[ E96 {pyr 92D 2=D@ C6BF6DE65 E92E #!$ C6>@G6 A@=:46 7C@> D49@@=D] ~77:46CD DE2CE65 36:?8 6>365565 :? 4:EJ D49@@=D :? `hhe 27E6C 2 7:89E 2E pC>DEC@?8 w:89] sFC:?8 E96 a_`h\a_ D49@@= J62C[ #!$ D2H `a` 2CC6DED @7 DEF56?ED[ >@DE @7 E96> 2E D49@@=D A@AF=2E65 >@DE=J 3J DEF56?ED @7 4@=@C]k^Am

kAmx? yF=J[ z2>C2D D2:5 96 H@F=5 C64@>>6?5 E96:C C6>@G2=[ 3FE E96 G@E6 92D J6E E@ 92AA6?] xE H2D 2?E:4:A2E65 7@C 2 $6AE6>36C G@E6] }@H[ 2 $49@@= q@2C5 H:E9 7@FC ?6H4@>6CD H:== 36 DH@C? :? 368:??:?8 :? y2?F2CJ[ 2?5 :E’D F?4=62C H96? @C :7 E96 3@2C5 H:== E2<6 E96 G@E6]k^Am

kAm$64@?5 s:DEC:4E 3@2C5 >6>36C $4@EE q2C=@H[ H9@ <:4<\DE2CE65 E96 4@?G6CD2E:@? @7 C6>@G:?8 A@=:46 7C@> D49@@=D[ D2:5 E96 5:D4FDD:@? @7 DFDA6?D:@?D 2?5 E96 D49@@=\E@\AC:D@? A:A6=:?6 5@6D?’E ;FDE 92AA6? :? 2 G24FF>]k^Am

kAm“p =@E @7 A6@A=6 =:<6 E@ E2=< 23@FE E96 D49@@=\E@\AC:D@? A:A6=:?6[ 2?5 H6 92G6 E@ 5@ H92E H6 42? E@ 255C6DD :E[ 3FE E92E 5@6D?’E 92AA6? :? 2 G24FF>[” q2C=@H D2:5] “(92E :E =2C86=J 5:DA=2JD :D 2 DJ>AE@> @7 AC@3=6>D E92E H6 92G6 E9C@F89@FE E96 4@>>F?:EJ 2?5 :? @FC AF3=:4 65F42E:@? DJDE6>] *@F 42?’E E2=< 23@FE DFDA6?D:@?D 2?5 H92E =625D E@ E96> H:E9@FE E2=<:?8 23@FE H9J H6’C6 D66:?8 E9@D6 3692G:@CD]”k^Am

kAmp4C@DD E96 #:49>@?5 C68:@?[ q=24< DEF56?ED H6C6 DFDA6?565 `e[dcf E:>6D[ H9:=6 H9:E6 DEF56?ED H6C6 DFDA6?565 c[cgb E:>6D :? E96 a_`h\a_ D49@@= J62C] (9:E6 DEF56?ED >2<6 FA E96 =2C86DE D92C6 @7 DEF56?ED :? E96 #:49>@?5 C68:@?[ 2E C@F89=J c_T]k^Am

kAmx? #:49>@?5 !F3=:4 $49@@=D[ @FE @7 23@FE f[d__ :?DE2?46D @7 DFDA6?D:@?[ H96E96C :? D49@@= @C @FE @7 D49@@=[ ?62C=J h_T H6C6 q=24< DEF56?ED] (9:E6 DEF56?ED :? #:49>@?5 H6C6 DFDA6?565 76H6C E92? `a_ E:>6D] q=24< DEF56?ED 2C6 2=D@ @G6CC6AC6D6?E65 :? DFDA6?D:@? 52E2 C6A@CE65 E@ E96 DE2E6 3J r96DE6C7:6=5[ w2?@G6C 2?5 w6?C:4@ 4@F?E:6D]k^Am

kAmx? w2?@G6C[ DA@<6D>2? r9C:D (9:E=6J D2:5 E96 5:G:D:@? >256 C646?E 492?86D E@ :ED 4@56 @7 4@?5F4E]k^Am

kAm“(6 4@>A=6E65 2 4@>AC696?D:G6 FA52E6 62C=:6C E9:D J62C[ H9:49 E96 $49@@= q@2C5 2AAC@G65 5FC:?8 :ED >66E:?8 @? yF?6 h[ a_a_[ 67764E:G6 7@C E96 a_a_\a_a` D49@@= J62C[” (9:E=6J D2:5] “%9:D H2D 2 >F=E:J62C 677@CE E92E :D :? 2=:8?>6?E H:E9 E96 's~t’D |@56= vF:52?46 7@C !@D:E:G6 2?5 !C6G6?E2E:G6 r@56 @7 $EF56?E r@?5F4E !@=:4J 2?5 p=E6C?2E:G6D E@ $FDA6?D:@?] %9:D :D 2=D@ :? 2=:8?>6?E H:E9 @FC @E96C 677@CED :? E9:D C682C5[ DF49 2D E96 ':C8:?:2 %:6C65 $JDE6>D @7 $FAA@CE[ 6BF:EJ[ C6DE@C2E:G6 AC24E:46D 2?5 56\6D42=2E:@? E649?:BF6D]”k^Am

kAmw6?C:4@ !F3=:4 $49@@=D DA@<6DA6CD@? p?5J y6?<D D2:5 E96 5:DEC:4E :D 2H2C6 @7 E96 5:DA2C:E:6D 2?5 92D 5@?6 D:8?:7:42?E H@C< E@ C65F46 E96>]k^Am

kAm“p7E6C 2 EH@\J62C 4@?G6CD2E:@? H:E9 E96 4@>>F?:EJ E9C@F89 AF3=:4 962C:?8D 2?5 @E96C 7665324<[ H6 25@AE65 2 C6G:D65 r@56 @7 $EF56?E r@?5F4E 324< :? a_`d\`e[” y6?<D D2:5 :? 2 DE2E6>6?E] “xD E96C6 >@C6 H6 42? 5@ E@ 255C6DD 5:DA2C:E:6D :? @FC DFDA6?D:@?Dn ~7 4@FCD6] (6 >FDE F?56CDE2?5 E96 42FD6D[ 56G6=@A D6=7\>@?:E@C:?8 DJDE6>D[ :>A=6>6?E @FC AC6G6?E2E:G6 >62DFC6 H:E9 E96 FE>@DE 7:56=:EJ 2?5 <66A 2? @A6? 5:2=@8F6 23@FE :E] qJ ?@H[ E9:D 92D 364@>6 2 56=:36C2E6 2?5 DFDE2:?65 2DA64E @7 @FC 25>:?:DEC2E@C 2?5 E62496C EC2:?:?8]”k^Am

kAmx? r96DE6C7:6=5[ DA@<6DA6CD@? $92H? $>:E9 D2:5 E96 5:G:D:@? @7E6? 4@==64ED 52E2 @? 2 >@?E9=J 32D:D C682C5:?8 5:D4:A=:?6] xE FD6D E92E 52E2 E@ :56?E:7J D49@@=D H:E9 6=6G2E65 C:D< @7 5:D4:A=:?6 2?5 @776C E2:=@C65 DFAA@CE H:E9 6G:56?46\32D65 AC24E:46D E@ 96=A H:E9 A@D:E:G6 3692G:@C2= 492?86]k^Am