Rachel Silberstein is reporting for the Times Union the "Solutions Not Suspensions" coalition is asking the state Education Department to ban suspension in K-12 schools during the COVID-19 crisis. The group, which includes the New York Civil Liberties Union and the Alliance for Quality Education, wrote a letter to Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo and the Board of Regents August 31, urging a statewide moratorium be implemented to "minimize the long-term traumatic impact of the COVID-19 health pandemic on students and school communities." Demands include a moratorium on new suspensions during the 2020-2021 school year, permanent withdrawal of the suspensions that were pending when remote instruction began, expanded availability of counseling, and other behavioral supports and interventions. "Children ... have experienced severe trauma from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Schools were abruptly closed, disrupting students' daily routines. Loved ones passed away and grieving families could not gather to mourn together ... It's time to end the zero-tolerance policies and adopt a compassionate approach to student misconduct and classroom management," said Jasmine Gripper, executive director at the Alliance for Quality Education. Statistics show that school suspensions disproportionately impact black and Hispanic students. The coalition is advocating for a state law prohibiting suspensions longer than 20 days. Existing New York law allows K-12 students to be suspended for up to a year. Read the full story in the Times Union.