Bush wants to cut Albany dropout rate - WALB.com, Albany News, Weather, Sports

Bush wants to cut Albany dropout rate

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Reverend James Bush Reverend James Bush

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ALBANY, GA (WALB) -

A Dougherty County School Board member says the suspension rate within the school system is too high, and he wants to see it decline.

Reverend James Bush says the systems suspension rate among high schools is one of the highest in the state and alternatives must be found.

Bush calls the numbers of suspensions at Dougherty County's four public high schools "Very alarming."

"To learn that several of our high schools were among the highest in the state in terms of suspension..."

Bush said the data came from an Atlanta think-tank group that recently presented its findings to a non-school organization. This comes after a recent study from the American Academy of Pediatrics showed students suspended from school are 10 times more likely to drop out.

But Bush does not support abolishing it entirely. "Let me be unequivocally clear, there are some student that you have to suspend. But the high number given to us at this meeting is very alarming."

Bush says the board should look at this issue just as it has drop out and graduation rates.

"There have been mechanisms put in place for that. And speaking with the interim superintendent, I feel that he will put something in place to help remedy the suspension rates as well."

One thing it would ensure is that kids would be in school, and not on the streets.

 

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