During the recent meeting of the Kentucky Department of Education’s (KDE) Commissioner’s Student Advisory Council, members delved into discussions on school safety reports and youth mental health, addressing critical issues affecting students across the state.
Blake Konny, a consultant from KDE’s Office of Continuous Improvement and Support, presented data from the previous school year, revealing that out of 634,424 enrolled public school students, approximately 92,700 were involved in one or more behavioral events. The data covered various violations, including assault, violence, weapons, tobacco, alcohol, drugs, bullying, and harassment, leading to disciplinary actions such as expulsion, in-school removal, in-district removal, out-of-school suspension, or corporal punishment.
The breakdown of data by sex, race, ethnicity, grade level, socioeconomic status, and location highlighted that a majority of behavioral events occurred inside the classroom. Notably, an increase in incidents was observed in hallways and restrooms. Konny also pointed out a surge in reported events related to vaping products, with nicotine vapor and THC electronic vapor devices cited significantly.
Male students were reported to account for twice as many in-school removals and out-of-school suspensions compared to female students. Furthermore, the data revealed a correlation between behavioral referrals and the socioeconomic status of students, with those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds responsible for a disproportionate percentage of behavior referrals.
The council discussed strategies to address these challenges, emphasizing the importance of influencing positive change, particularly for students facing socioeconomic disadvantages. Students acknowledged the impact teachers can have on influencing behavior and called for continued efforts to motivate and support students, regardless of their current circumstances.
The meeting also addressed youth mental health, with Damien Sweeney, Director of the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Team in KDE’s Office of Teaching and Learning, emphasizing the significance of belonging and inclusion. Sweeney shared data indicating that a percentage of elementary, middle, and high school students disagreed or strongly disagreed with the statement, “I feel like I am a part of my school.” Council members discussed initiatives in their schools that fostered inclusion, such as school counselors’ involvement and cultural events that celebrate diverse heritages.
The insights from the meeting contribute to ongoing efforts to enhance school safety and support the mental health and well-being of Kentucky’s youth.
