Kicking students out of school doesn’t necessarily solve their behavior. Therefore, Dunbar Elementary School, a St. Louis public school, has found an alternative approach to disciplining disruptive students. The program – called APEX, which stands for Achievement through Parents and Educational eXcellence – teaches disruptive students that there are consequences for misbehaving. It also teaches teachers how to manage their classrooms, and parents how to manage their child at home. Marvin Echols, Dunbar’s behavioral consultant and APEX founder, said the goal of the program is to give children the autonomy to make good decisions. “Once the child knows that there are no gaps that they can shoot through, they comply,” Echols said. He said the key is to be consistent. He warns parents not to engage in power struggles with the child, but to let them know that the choices they make have consequences. Consequences for inappropriate behavior at school include in-school suspensions, timeouts, after-school and lunch detentions, a phone call home, parental appearances and home visits. The last resort is to put the child out of school, Echols said. He said consequences must be carried out at home too. Taking away video games, TV privileges, playing outdoors and bike riding are good examples of reinforcing the consequences of the child’s choice to misbehave in school. “If a child is not doing what they’re supposed to be doing in school, then they shouldn’t be rewarded at home,” Echols said. “Let the child earn those things that they get, whether it’s expensive clothing, X-Box or TV.” Dunbar Principal Carla Cunigan and teacher Clarice Hall said the program has helped cut behavioral problems and boost academic results. They said they have seen more focused students, better behavior and fewer disciplinary referrals since the program was implemented in 2002. Out-of-school suspensions were down drastically this year from the 177 suspensions they had last year, Cunigan said. “They can’t learn when they’re acting out in class,” she said. “When a kid is behaving and doing what he or she is supposed to do in class, that’s when the academics improve.” Echols said the program has worked so well that even when not in trouble, students visit his office just to tell him how well they are doing. Echols learned his approach to behavioral modification from his father, a retired gym teacher for SLPS. Echols, who has a degree in psychology, has worked as a residential case manager at Annie Malone Children and Family Service Center and a site coordinator for Caring Communities, where he developed the APEX project. He caught the attention of former Dunbar Principal Darlene Bosley, who brought him to the school. His program was originally funded by Kwame Building Group, Vashon Compact and St. Louis RCGA. It is now funded through SLPS’ in-school suspension program. Echols said, “If you teach a child early, while they’re still vulnerable, then you can teach them habits that will make them successful in life