FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – June 4, 2026
Media Contact: Efrat Dallal Stein
Email: [email protected]
Analysis finds suburban Cook County school districts rank among the highest in Illinois for racial and ethnic disparities in suspensions and expulsions and outlines opportunities to address these practices and strengthen student mental health.
SUBURBAN COOK COUNTY, IL – Cook County Department of Public Health (CCDPH) today released a new report highlighting the connection between exclusionary school discipline, racial inequities, and youth mental health outcomes in suburban Cook County. The report includes recommended evidence-based restorative practices for schools, policy makers and partners to consider in order to reduce harmful disciplinary disparities and improve student well-being.
“Every young person deserves a school environment where they feel safe, respected, and supported,” said Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle. “This report challenges all of us to think differently about discipline and to build systems rooted in accountability, healing, and opportunity. If we are serious about advancing equity and improving behavioral health outcomes, we must invest in approaches that keep students connected to their education and give them the opportunity to thrive.”
The report was developed in response to conversations with restorative justice advocates and community partners who identified an opportunity to deepen understanding of restorative practices and shift school discipline toward more relationship-centered approaches that keep students connected to learning, support, and community.
“Supporting youth mental health requires us to look at the environments where young people learn, grow, and build relationships every day,” said Dr. Erik Mikaitis, CEO, Cook County Health. “This report underscores the importance of learning environments that keep students engaged, supported, and connected so they may succeed both inside and outside the classroom.”
The link between school discipline and mental health:
“School discipline is deeply tied to how students experience school connectedness and their mental health,” said Dr. Kiran Joshi, chief operating officer of Cook County Department of Public Health. “Exclusionary discipline can disconnect students from school, worsen inequities, and negatively impact mental health. Restorative practices offer schools an opportunity to strengthen accountability while building relationships, belonging, and support for all students.”
Research cited in the report found that students who reported being unfairly disciplined were more likely to experience poor mental health, such as persistent sadness or hopelessness and suicidal thoughts and behaviors, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Additional studies show exclusionary discipline practices, including suspensions and expulsions, disproportionately affect students of color and contribute to inequitable academic and behavioral health outcomes.
Many suburban Cook County students are experiencing mental health challenges, with students of color carrying the heaviest burden. According to the Cook County Health Atlas, depressive symptoms were reported by 37.4% of Hispanic/Latino high school students and 35.5% of non-Hispanic Black students, compared with 29.1% of non-Hispanic white students in 2022.
Suspensions and expulsions in suburban Cook County:
CCDPH analysis of Illinois State Board of Education data revealed that suburban Cook County school districts rank among the highest in Illinois for racial and ethnic disparities in suspensions and expulsions.
The report also found that most disciplinary actions in these districts were categorized as occurring for “Other Reasons” rather than violence or dangerous weapons. In fact, 67.6% of suspensions and expulsions fell into this broad category, raising concerns about transparency and consistency in disciplinary reporting.
The report notes that exclusionary discipline practices are closely linked to the “school-to-prison pipeline,” referring to policies and practices that push students out of classrooms and into the criminal legal system. These impacts disproportionately affect students of color, LGBTQIA+ students, and students with disabilities.
Recommendations for strengthening restorative practices:
The report outlines several recommendations to strengthen restorative practices and improve accountability, including:
- Increasing transparency around disciplinary reporting.
- Expanding professional development for school staff and school board members on restorative practices, trauma-informed approaches, and youth mental health.
- Investing in technical assistance and sustainable resources to support implementation.
- Educating students and families about restorative practices and their behavioral health benefits.
- Convening youth, educators, parents, advocates, and restorative justice experts to guide implementation efforts.
- Continuing to monitor and publicly share data on school discipline inequities in suburban Cook County schools.
Exploring policy changes to reduce exclusionary discipline practices and strengthen statewide oversight of implementation efforts.
Restorative practices as an alternative to suspensions and expulsions:
“By helping students stay engaged in school, resolve conflict constructively, and access support early, we can reduce pathways into the criminal legal system and build safer, healthier communities where all young people can succeed,” said Avik Das, executive director, Cook County Justice Advisory Council. “This report affirms our commitment to investing in programs and services that support vulnerable young people, and we look forward to working with CCDPH to begin implementing recommendations.”
Restorative practices highlighted in the report are evidence-based alternatives to punitive discipline approaches. Restorative practices, such as talking circles, restorative conversations, and peer mediation, are tools schools can use to build relationships, strengthen community, address conflict, and repair harm while keeping students engaged in learning. Studies cited in the report show restorative approaches can reduce suspensions and expulsions, improve social-emotional skills and sense of belonging, and decrease depressive symptoms and substance use among students.
A 2023 evaluation of more than 230 Chicago Public Schools high schools found restorative practices were associated with a 35% decline in school arrests and a 15% reduction in out-of-school arrests, while also improving students’ perceptions of school safety, belonging, and peer behavior.
“Schools are managing significant responsibilities and mandates, often without the resources needed to implement them effectively,” said Dr. Joshi. “This report recognizes both the challenges schools face and the opportunity for local and state partners to help schools build systems that support all students equitably.”
The report emphasizes that restorative practices require sustained leadership, structural commitment, and investment to be successful, but can help create safer, more supportive school environments that improve outcomes for all students.
Access the full report here.
An informational session on restorative justice practices for schools and community partners will be held on June 11. Click here for more information .
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