The Denver Post on Sunday launched the first part in an ongoing series of stories about school discipline, finding that districts statewide significantly increased their use of out-of-school suspensions after the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020.
Statewide, out-of-school suspensions increased 25% between the 2018-19 and 2023-24 academic years as districts struggled with widespread staffing shortages that made it difficult for schools to meet the mental health needs of children post-lockdown, The Post found.
The Post is looking into how school discipline has changed since the pandemic, including the impact on students of color, children with disabilities and adolescents struggling with substance use. The project will also examine schools’ use of unofficial suspensions.