Achievement Medal

• "The acquisition of Sylvan Learning is the sixth strategic acquisition Unleashed Brands is making into the youth enrichment market, further expanding our reach into the education segment.
• The addition of Sylvan Learning aligns perfectly with Unleashed Brands' goal to provide top-notch opportunities to help kids learn, play and grow from birth until they leave the home and go to college or the working world," said Michael Browning, Founder and CEO of Unleashed Brands.
• "Unleashed Brands' mission and goals for growth align perfectly with what we're looking to achieve for Sylvan Learning and, based on its past success in growing complementary portfolio brands, I'm confident we'll be able to do the same, reaching even more students and allowing them to achieve their goals for a brighter future," said John McAuliffe, CEO of Sylvan Learning.
• Unleashed Brands will function as the parent company of Sylvan Learning, as it does for its other brands including Class 101, XP League, Premier Martial Arts, Snapology, The Little Gym and Urban Air Adventure Park.

• Yet the disproportionate application of school discipline for Black and Indigenous students remains a significant concern.
• We found there is very little research on the relationship between childhood adversities and school discipline.
• Additional research — particularly from Canada — would provide schools with the knowledge necessary for evidence-based, trauma-informed and culturally attuned approaches to school discipline.

Lack of attention to adversity, trauma

• Trauma is the negative impact that can happen when exposed to adversity, while adversity is a potentially traumatizing event or the absence of healthy stimulus.
• While trauma and adversity are related, adversity does not always lead to trauma.

Disproportion in school discipline

• Research shows that school discipline is disproportionately applied to students who are Black, Indigenous, male, have identified special education needs or live in lower-resourced areas.
• Considerable research about the disproportionate use of discipline affecting Black communities exists from the United States, with less attention to Indigenous communities.
• Researchers in other regions have documented how racism against Indigenous and Black students affects students’ school engagement or attendance.

Discipline affects opportunities

• Time away from school through out-of-school discipline is a barrier to academic success.
• This affects opportunities for post-secondary education and ultimately who has access to power, money and resources.

Research on adversity or trauma and discipline

• In our article “Exposure to Adversity and Trauma Among Students Who Experience School Discipline: A Scoping Review” we detail how we searched for and analyzed articles about school discipline and trauma or adversity.
• This research showed experiences of adversity or trauma play a significant and potentially contributing role in school discipline, including suspension and expulsion.

Canadian research matters

• Context matters when studying school discipline.
• This followed the province’s 2006 legislation that students remain in school to age 18.
• In Ontario, the rate of suspension decreased from 4.32 per cent of students in 2007/08 to 2.23 per cent in 2022.

‘Safe and Caring Schools’

• Zero-Tolerance policies are still active across many U.S. school districts.
• Ontario students on long-term suspension or expulsion are now offered programs run through “Safe and Caring Schools” in every school board.
• These supports enable connection with students and a different approach with students who appear to be coping with trauma.

Expulsions still disproportionate

• To understand this disproportion and to develop effective policy and practice it is critical for educators in Canada to have more contextual knowledge.
• Educators who have not experienced or been educated about adversity may not account for or recognize students who are coping with adversity.

Acknowledging adversity

• This is noteworthy given research identifying the disproportionate application of school discipline among non-white students, and the school-to-prison pipeline.
• Read more:
  Ontario can close students’ access and opportunity gaps with community-led projects

  When researchers don’t identify expanded forms of adversity like racism and poverty, they are less likely to be recognized.

The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

• With the theme "Black is STEM," this year's gala recognizes Black History in the making.
• Hosted by Emmy-award winning news anchor Latoyia Edwards , the gala promises an evening of inspiration and recognition.
• The 6th Annual Inspire STEM Gala will take place from 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm on February 24th.
• Join NBC10's Latoyia Edwards, NSBE Boston, and keynote speaker Janeen Uzzell for a night of Black STEM excellence.

• The university is also committed to community engagement through public-facing programs, clinics, and services and is a leader in health disparities research.
• He is a board-certified internal medicine specialist whose clinical work has always revolved around caring for the underserved.
• Since the 2021-22 academic year, ServiconCares has sponsored five $15,000 CDU scholarships annually.
• "ServiconCares just made its first contribution to Fly Compton, but we plan on continuing to do so as we build our relationship with the team.