In the Case of Suspensions

“Clear Boundaries”: What’s Changing for Students

Education Commissioner Merima Zukan (above) advocates for clear consequences, but also for support in reintegrating students.(Bild: Regina Sturm)

Until now, students suspended from school for several days could largely spend that time away from school. That will come to an end starting with the new school year. In Linz, affected compulsory-education students will now be required to report to a specially designated location. The focus there will not only be on catching up on schoolwork—but also on addressing why the situation escalated in the first place.

Starting this fall, a suspension lasting several days will no longer simply mean staying home for a few days for students in Linz. With the start of the new school year, mandatory support for suspended students will begin. In Linz, affected students will be supervised centrally at the Spallerhof.

“Reintegration Program” for Students
The new regulation takes effect as soon as a suspension lasts at least four days. In such cases, students must participate in a reintegration program. The program is scheduled for eight to 20 hours per week—and it is by no means limited to catching up on missed coursework. At least half of the time is devoted to psychosocial support. Together with school psychologists, other specialists, and teachers, the program also aims to address the underlying causes of the suspension. At the same time, preparations are made for the student’s return to class.

“Learning from Mistakes”
“Young people need clear boundaries and must take responsibility for their behavior. At the same time, we must also give them the chance to learn from their mistakes and find their way back into the school community,” says Merima Zukan, school affairs officer and deputy mayor. For Linz public school students, there will be a central contact point for this purpose at Glimpfingerstraße 8 at the Spallerhof. The rooms are currently being renovated and are scheduled to be ready in time for the start of the school year. Additional itinerant teachers or educators from the respective schools will provide academic support.

152 Suspensions Last Year
The figures show that this new program is certainly needed: Last school year, 152 suspensions were handed down at Linz’s public compulsory schools; the previous year, the number was 175. Middle school students were affected most frequently, with 86 cases. In contrast, the trend at the polytechnic schools is striking: there, the number of suspensions rose from three to 13 within a single year.