The number of students suspended from New York City public schools in 2012-13 dropped by 23 percent compared with the previous year. NBC New York reports that according to the city's Department of Education says, 53,465 suspensions were issued in 2012-13; 69,643 suspensions were issued in 2011-12. Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott says the drop in suspensions is partly because of school staff addressing incidents before they escalate.