In-school suspension (ISS) at Kennedy High School has increased following the implementation of a new attendance policy. Under the rule, students may be assigned to ISS for issues such as unexcused absences, not attending Saturday school or repeated tardiness.
ISS removes students from their regular classes for two hours, during which they complete assigned work in a supervised setting. Students report concerns that this results in missed instruction and difficulty keeping up with coursework.
“The rule does not make any sense,” Freshman Janaya Rhodes Said. “Why are they making me miss class time just because I was absent?”
Students find it confusing, especially if they have never experienced it. Students believe it is illogical to miss regular class time as a consequence.
“I don’t understand how In-School Suspension exists,” sophomore Asha Basu said. “If the original issue is missing class, what is the point of a punishment that causes students to miss even more instructional time?”
Another concern raised by students is the policy does not always take into account the reasons behind tardiness or absences.
“It really sucks that I got In-School Suspension just for being sick without a doctor’s note,” sophomore Sikha Khadka said. “It makes me irritated because I shouldn’t have to prove that I was sick.”
Syndy Richey Kennedy facilitator added that since the policy was introduced, fewer students have skipped detentions, and more are completing assigned consequences as scheduled. According to administrators, this indicates increased compliance with school discipline procedures.
School administrators state the policy was designed to improve accountability. Michael LeMieux, Kennedy’s other facilitator, explained that the possibility of ISS encourages students to take attendance and punctuality seriously. He notes it serves as a consequence to reinforce school expectations.
“I have seen a lot of students going to detentions and Saturday school due to the regulations of In-School Suspension, it looks like it’s working and students seem to hold themselves accountable” LeMieux Said.