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Short Term Suspension Alternative

The Wyandotte County Short Term Suspension (STS) Program is the result of a professional service agreement between the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Unified School District 500. The program serves youth and families within the 29th judicial district at the middle school level within three of the county's four school districts — Kansas City, Kansas, Turner, and Bonner Springs. Any student who is facing a short-term suspension ranging from 1-10 days out-of-school is eligible to participate in the program.

Participating students are placed in an STS classroom and receive 10 full days of pro-social skill development utilizing the research based Second Step curriculum. Each school also develops an academic component to ensure students' academic progress. Within the Kansas City, Kansas Public School system, the Alternative School Program (ASP) is used to ensure students do not fall behind academically while participating in STS. Also, upon referral to the program, parents and students are required to attend and successfully complete a one-night parent/student orientation.

The primary emphasis for the STS program is to reduce the number of out-of-school suspensions and improve student behavior as evidenced through a reduced recidivism rate of students being suspended. The STS program actively involves the school, student, and family to combat the issues of misbehavior. The program focuses on a structured suspension period, with a total emphasis on pro-social skill development — not only avoiding, but eliminating the perception of the in-school or short-term suspension program becoming a dumping ground or holding tank for students. Properly implemented, the STS program is not punitive. Instead, it provides students with needed pro-social skills enabling them to make more appropriate behavior choices.

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