Indicator 4 - Suspension/Expulsion

Definition

Indicator 4A. Percent of local educational agencies (LEA) that have a significant discrepancy, as defined by the State, in the rate of suspensions and expulsions of greater than 10 days in a school year for children with IEPs; and

Indicator 4B. Percent of LEAs that have: (a) a significant discrepancy, as defined by the State, by race or ethnicity, in the rate of suspensions and expulsions of greater than 10 days in a school year for children with IEPs; and (b) policies, procedures or practices that contribute to the significant discrepancy, as defined by the State, and do not comply with requirements relating to the development and implementation of IEPs, the use of positive behavioral interventions and supports, and procedural safeguards.

(20 U.S.C. 1416(a)(3)(A); 1412(a)(22))

Measurement through the 2023-2024 SY

Indicator 4A. 

• Percent = [(# of LEAs that meet the State-established n and/or cell size (if applicable) that have a significant discrepancy, as defined by the State, in the rates of suspensions and expulsions for more than 10 days during the school year of children with IEPs) divided by the (# of LEAs in the State that meet the State-established n and/or cell size (if applicable))] times 100.
• Colorado identifies an AU as having a “significant discrepancy” if an AU’s out-of-school greater-than-10-day suspension/expulsion rate is more than 4 times of the State's out-of-school greater-than-10-day suspension/expulsion rate for 3 consecutive school years.

Indicator 4B.

• Percent = [(# of LEAs that meet the State-established n and/or cell size (if applicable) for one or more racial/ethnic groups that have: (a) a significant discrepancy, as defined by the State, by race or ethnicity, in the rates of suspensions and expulsions of more than 10 days during the school year of children with IEPs; and (b) policies, procedures or practices that contribute to the significant discrepancy, as defined by the State, and do not comply with requirements relating to the development and implementation of IEPs, the use of positive behavioral interventions and supports, and procedural safeguards) divided by the (# of LEAs in the State that meet the State-established n and/or cell size (if applicable) for one or more racial/ethnic groups)] times 100.
• Colorado identifies an AU as having a “significant discrepancy” if 1) 5 or more students of a particular racial category received greater-than-10-day out-of-school suspension/expulsion, and that race’s suspension/expulsion rate was more than 4 times of the state’s rate for 3 consecutive school years; 2) the policies, practices, and procedures contributed to the significant discrepancy. The seven federal racial categories (i.e., White, Hispanic, Black, Native Americans, Pacific Islanders, Asians, and Two or more Races) are examined.

How is Colorado doing on this indicator?

School Year	4A. % of AUs with a significant discrepancy	4B. % of AUs with a significant discrepancy by race/ethnicity
SY 2022-2023	0.00%	0.00%
SY 2021-2022	0.00%	0.00%
SY 2020-2021	0.00%	0.00%
SY 2019-2020	0.00%	0.00%

 

Further special education discipline data can be on our Special Education Data Page

Targets for the Current SPP/APR Cycle

Improvement Strategies

CDE hosts an annual Affective Needs Conference as part of Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Trainings. 

CDE offers AU’s the opportunity to request a consult with a Data Analyst to review existing data resources or to generate additional data requests to conduct root cause analysis.

CDE offers AUs the opportunity to apply for various grants that can be used to support programs to decrease suspensions and expulsions.

• Expelled and At-Risk Student Services (EARRS) Grant
• Bully Prevention Grant
• Colorado Student Re-engagement Grant
• State Personnel Development Grant - Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS)

CDE provides AUs with an online MTSS academy and various resources about Positive Behavioral Intervention Supports.

CDE offers technical assistance and training to AU staff in the areas of:

• Social-Emotional Learning
• Restorative Practices
• Developing a consequence matrix that advocates for individualized student discipline needs
• Manifestation Determination process
• Alternatives to Suspension and Expulsion

CDE offers an instructor-facilitated 8-week online Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA) course.

CDE is in the process of developing a self-guided, self-paced FBA Moodle course.  2021-2022

CDE plans to develop an instructor-facilitated advanced 8-week online FBA class. 2022-2023

Additional Resources

• Equity Requirements in IDEA: A comparison of Indicators 4, 9, 10, and Significant Disproportionality
• Please note that Indicator 4 is different from the significant disproportionality requirements (20 U.S.C. 1418(d) and 34 CFR §§ 300.646-647) (External Link)
• Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) (Link)

For more information, contact: