В школах округа Питт зафиксировано снижение дисциплинарных нарушений на 6,6%

Reported discipline problems decreased last year across Pitt County Schools, the third year in a row that the school district has shown an improvement. Executive Director of Student Services Sara English told the Board of Education last week that in the 2025-26 school year, PCS saw 28,392 disciplinary referrals, a 6.6% decline over the previous year. Referrals have decreased by more than 18% since 2022-23, when they peaked at 34,818. “We are trending in a positive direction, meaning down, in all areas,” English said. “We see a very positive increase in overall school safety climate.” The school district saw a drop in the number of student suspensions as well. Out-of-school suspensions decreased by nearly 7%, to 7,788, for the third consecutive year of a downward trend. In-school suspensions decreased for the second year in a row, dropping from 12,251 to 11,612. “Our out-of-school suspension was reduced at just under 11%, so these are big wins for student services and for the entire county,” English said. “We are working very hard to make sure that we’re reducing the number of assignments of exclusionary discipline across the county.” Discipline data included in the report represents the number of incidents recorded, rather than the number of students. North Carolina requires public schools to submit discipline data to the Department of Public Instruction by June 30. As part of the Safe Schools Act, 16 crimes are required to be reported. The state Board of Education releases annual figures on school crime in February. In 2023-24, Pitt County Schools had the highest rate of alternative learning placements of any school district in North Carolina, with 621 referrals. For 2025-26, the number declined to 367. English told the board that alternative placements give students a place to go when out-of-school suspension is warranted. PCS partners with community groups including Building Hope’s Project Bridges to serve such students during school hours. “They provide academic support, but they also provide like social-emotional support and some support to make a plan for whatever behavior may have caused the referral,” English said. “They are part of the plan for moving forward in a more positive manner.” She said school officials completed a training on alternative suspension discipline measures ahead of the new school year, which began on Monday. English credits initiatives such as Capturing Kids’ Hearts with helping to reduce disciplinary issues in the local school district. Bethel School, Falkland Elementary, Farmville Middle, Lakeforest Elementary and South Central High schools have all been recognized as CKH National Showcase Schools. CKH is a character-based curriculum that focuses on relationship skills, social awareness, self-management and responsible decision-making. “The principals of those schools have seen a huge reduction in the number of exclusionary discipline incidents that have taken place just because the school climate and culture has shifted,” English said. “It’s all about building relationships, making a school safe school climate, having conversation instead of just punitive measures. “The other part of it is we are working very hard to support our school counselors, social workers and the behavior coaches at every school for those students who need some more intensive intervention for behavior,” she said.