Suspensions — based on disruptive and inappropriate student behavior —  were climbing in the Manteca Unified School District in 2014.

That is when the district launched its Coordination of Services Teams (COST) initiative.

Its core objective is to provide immediate support to referred students who face challenges that were getting in their way of achieving success in the classroom.

The goal was to have a concerted effort to address issues that range from behavioral problems and a lack of necessities to social-emotional needs and chronic absenteeism.

Doing so at the earliest possible time by identifying students at risk, was expected to improve not just classroom performance but also behavioral issues that often lead to suspensions.

The suspension rate grew to 9.5 percent by 2016 as the COST program was still getting established.

But then the student suspension rate started falling.

It was down to 4.6 percent by 2022.

The rate increased slightly to 4.9 percent in 2023.

The suspension rate has since returned to going downward for the district’s 25,000 students.

There were 3,451 overall suspensions in the 2013-2014 school year. That compares to 2,016 suspensions in the 2022-2023 school year.

The drop represents just over a 40 percent decrease in suspensions as district enrollment grew by more than 1,500 students over the same time period.

At the same time, expulsion rates have decreased dramatically this school year.

They were at 21 through Jan. 31.

Expulsions numbered 64 at the same point in the 2022-2023 school year.

 “As we look ahead, we acknowledge there is more work to be done to meet the needs of today’s student,” student services team stated in a report to the school board.

“We aim to cultivate a system of proactive interventions, personalized strategies, and community engagement that creates an environment where every student feels valued, supported, and empowered to thrive academically and socially,”

Those involved in the COST effort stress keeping students in the classroom “is a necessity to improve overall student outcomes” is why Manteca Unified was dedicated more resources than ever before to prevent suspensions and expulsions.   

In the current school year, there have been over 5,621 COST student interventions.   

To support the COST process, each high school has an Intervention Teacher to address attendance and behavior issues, helping bridge the connection between students, their families, and the school.

A future goal for Intervention Teachers is to support educators to build preventions and interventions in the classroom.

Additionally, Outreach Assistants, who are stationed at select elementary and high schools throughout the district, also help fill identified gaps between parents/guardians and their child’s school to remove access barriers and increase student success.  

Positive behavior teams, comprised of both classified and certificated staff, collaboratively analyze school data to make informed decisions that prioritize student well-being.  

The positive behavior program places great emphasis on cultivating a positive school culture, with values such as responsibility, respectfulness, and safety at the forefront.

As of June 2023, 99% of district schools were in the process of integrating a positive behavior program, whether currently in training or full-scale implementation.

Eight MUSD schools received state recognition for their “outstanding behavior programs” during the 2022-2023 year, including August Knodt, Lathrop Elementary, Lathrop High, Manteca High, Mossdale, Sequoia, Shasta, and Weston Ranch High.  

The district’s commitment to student support and well-being extends to its dedicated team of school psychologists assigned to schools throughout the district.

The professionals have expertise in learning, mental health, and behavior, providing guidance and strategies to general education teachers and school teams at all tiers when existing strategies are not meeting the needs of the student.

In collaboration with third-party agencies, MUSD offers additional counseling services to ensure comprehensive social-emotional support through a partnership with Valley Community Counseling of San Joaquin County (VCC).   

Through the COST process, students are referred to Behavior Support teams if there are behaviors in the classroom that are a barrier to learning. 

 These teams work with teachers, students, and support staff to devise individualized plans to support students and build their skills in the classroom setting.  

To promote positive student behavior, the District partners with Victor Wraparound Services to provide various support which build upon existing structures.

Part of this partnership includes training for staff regarding wraparound principles, extra support, and individualized support for students and families, including social services. 

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com