Burien, WA– Pacific Middle School is being recognized for its innovative work to provide alternatives to suspension that keep students in school and learning.
 
Uniting for Youth named Pacific Academy, Pacific’s in-school suspension (ISS) program, the winner of the 2015 Uniting for Youth Innovations in Alternatives to Suspensions Award. The award was developed to recognize creative partnerships that aim to eliminate discipline practices that rob students of class time, causing them to fall behind.
 
“Pacific Academy stands out based on outcomes, innovations in providing wrap-around and follow-up services, and the strong letters of support,” said Marcus Stubblefield, Uniting for Youth coordinator. “It is programs such as these that will help strengthen the school-to-career pipeline.”
 
In the graduating class of 2014, Highline students with zero out-of-school suspensions had a graduation rate of 71 percent, while students with just one out-of-school suspension had a graduation rate of only 46 percent.
 
One of Highline's strategic goals is to eliminate out-of-school suspensions, except when critical for student and staff safety.
 
"We have made this goal a priority because we know that students have to be in school to be successful in school. In fact, even one out-of-school suspension can have a critical impact on graduation," said Superintendent Susan Enfield. "The consequences we give through ISS programs are designed to help students stay on track with their school work, face their poor choices squarely, and learn from them."
 
Several Highline schools have developed ISS programs. This video shows ISS from a student’s perspective at Pacific. 
 
Pacific was honored with the award by King County Juvenile Court Presiding Judge Wesley Saint Clair during the annual Discipline Changes and Promising Practices conference in Renton.
Cascade Middle School was honored as a runner-up for the award.
 
Uniting for Youth is a multi-agency collaboration that aims to help systems such as schools, mental health, and law enforcement work together to better support children, youth, and their families.