FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
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    STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
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    John L. Winn
    Commissioner of Education
    F. PHILIP HANDY,
    Chairman
    T. WILLARD FAIR,
    Vice Chairman
    Members
    DONNA G. CALLAWAY
    JULIA L. JOHNSON
    Contact Person:
    ROBERTO MARTÍNEZ
    Name:
    Traci Phillips
    PHOEBE RAULERSON
    Phone:
    (850) 245-0424
    Suncom:
    205-0424
    Email:
    traci.phillips@fldoe.org
    MEMORANDUM
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    K12:
    2005-27
    LINDA K. TAYLOR
    To:
    District School Superintendents
    From:
    Jim Warford, Chancellor
    Date:
    March 7, 2005
    Subject:
    2004 Report for the Study of Alternatives to Suspension
    The Department of Education, Bureau of Family and Community Outreach (OFCO) has
    contracted with Evaluation Systems Design, Inc., to conduct a study of the procedures and
    programs school districts have implemented that are alternatives to suspending students from
    school. This project is funded through Title IV and began in February 2004.
    The purposes of this study are to:
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    Identify existing practices regarding alternatives to suspension currently being used in
    school district within the state;
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    Identify outcome-based effective practices;
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    Identify essential components of outcome-based effective practices; and
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    Catalogue and describe an array of programs that can be used by districts as effective
    outcome-based alternatives to suspension.
    Attached is a copy of the Executive Summary of the study. The full report is available under the
    publications section of the website for Evaluation Systems Design, Inc., http://www.esdi.cc/:
    JIM WARFORD
    K-12 CHANCELLOR
    325 W. GAINES STREET • SUITE 514 • TALLAHASSEE, FL 32399-0400 • (850) 245-0509 • www.fldoe.org

    cc
    District School Superintendents
    March 7, 2005
    Page Two
    In the second phase of the study for the remainder of this school year and in conjunction with the
    project advisory committee, Evaluation Systems Design, Inc., will be conducting site visits to an
    additional 10 school districts. The site visits will be conducted in April of 2005. We encourage
    your district to participate if selected. The visits will be one day with two consultants
    interviewing district staff for approximately two hours and then visiting up to four selected
    sites/schools with the best programs or strategies in place, each for approximately two hours.
    Two additional surveys will also be conducted: a web-based survey of all 67 districts to obtain
    additional input into the study and recommendations for improving the alternative programs, and
    a web-based survey of all schools in the state to obtain more detailed information on current
    practices in alternatives to out-of-school suspension. Districts and schools will be notified via e-
    mail of the surveys and the link to the website. Please extend to Evaluation Systems Design,
    Inc., your assistance in gathering these insightful data.
    I hope you will join the Department in our efforts to learn more about effective alternatives to
    suspension in the state of Florida.
    Directors of Student Services
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    Dropout Prevention Contacts
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    Exceptional Student Education Coordinators
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