Birmingham’s ‘Common Ground’ Program Proves a Success
Birmingham’s unique conflict resolution program, called Common Ground, has seen a significant decrease in school absences, fights, and suspensions. Led by the City of Birmingham and the Municipal Court, the program has been recognised for its tremendous strides in reforming the schooling environment in the area, leading to fewer disciplinary actions and a dramatic decrease in absences.
Common Ground Program Impacts
In an interview, Program creator and Municipal Judge, Andra Sparks, highlighted the program’s success as a great achievement. Sparks revealed that this year alone saw the participation of around 535 students. “Fights have decreased by 87% among the students who have participated in the program. Disciplinary actions have reduced by around 77%,” Sparks stated with pride. The selected students, identified by school administrators as struggling with conflict and school attendance, have shown significant improvement under the program’s auspices.
Judge Sparks revealed the numbers, noting “We have had a significant decrease in suspensions – by 86%, and absences have plummeted by 75%.” He added that these metrics, although straightforward, are all indicating a positive trend. The essential factor contributing to these promising outcomes, according to Sparks, is the nurturing presence of the program – making a significant impact on the students’ morale and behaviour.
Expansion and Appeal for Coaches
Born out of a small pilot, the Common Ground program has expanded to encompass high school students, both boys and girls, and most recently primary school kids. The only constraint for further growth, as Judge Sparks points out, is a lack of certified coaches. Expressing an urgent need for more mentors, Sparks said, “We are a couple hundred certified coaches throughout the school. We need that many more to go in so the doors are open.” He appealed to the public for assistance, mentioning the upcoming summer certification training for new coaches.
To contribute as a coach or for more information about the Common Ground program, the public can contact the Birmingham municipal court directly. With the encouraging results of Birmingham’s conflict resolution program to date, the hope is that more cities national-wide will implement similar programs, creating safer, more constructive educational environments for students across the country.
