A class-action lawsuit against the Compton Unified School District could have a major impact on schools across the country, reports Cory Turner for NPR. Last year, Compton's murder rate was five times higher than the national average; a group of students say they've been traumatized by life in Compton and that schools there have failed to help. The complaint is a terrifying read, Turner says: of kids coping with physical and sexual abuse, addicted parents, homelessness, and a constant fear of violence. Susan Ko of the National Center for Child Traumatic Stress says exposure to violence can profoundly affect the brain's ability to learn, and many traumatized students live in a state of chronic alarm. Innocent interactions like a bump in the hallway or a request from a teacher can prompt raging outbursts. The lawsuit alleges that in Compton, the schools' reaction to traumatized students was usually punishment. The suit argues trauma is a disability, and that schools are required -- by federal law -- to accommodate traumatized students, not expel them. The plaintiffs seek teacher training, mental health support for students, and conflict-mediation before suspension. Compton Unified has asked the judge to dismiss the case. More

Source:  Public Education News Blast

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