Matthew Haney, commissioner of the San Francisco Unified School District Board of Education, and 
Neva Walker, executive director of Coleman Advocates for Children and Youth in San Francisco, wrote this op-ed for sfgate.com (San Francisco Chronicle). Here's an excerpt:
When students misbehave, there is usually something deeper at work - disengagement, alienation or trauma. If a student has his head down in class because he didn't eat that morning, can't see the chalkboard, or slept in a van the night before, then suspending him is likely to make things worse.
The good news is that there are proven alternatives: Restorative practices help students accept responsibility, repair harm and contribute as a positive member of the school community. Positive behavioral supports and trauma-sensitive practices give teachers the tools to set clear behavioral expectations and address the needs of their most challenging students. These interventions don't just reduce suspensions; they also lead to more supportive, caring school environments.
Last year, our district had nearly 2,000 suspensions; about 50 percent of these suspensions were of black students, despite their being 10 percent of the district's student population. As a result, black high school students receive on average 19 fewer instructional days annually than their peers.
Few San Francisco schools have fully implemented restorative practices, and educators often lack clarity and support around tiered evidence-based interventions for our most challenging students. While SFUSD has embraced alternatives, our policies and practices still need to be extended, aligned and deepened.
For that reason, we recently introduced the "Safe and Supportive Schools" resolution, authored by Commissioner Haney and backed by a broad community coalition.
http://www.sfgate.com/opinion/openforum/article/San-Francisco-schools-need-solutions-not-5092754.php
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