Providence Journal: PROVIDENCE, R.I. — “Although the total number of suspensions in Rhode Island public schools has declined dramatically, minority students are suspended at disproportionately higher rates than their white peers, according to the Rhode Island Affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union.
Thanks to a new law prohibiting suspensions for attendance issues, the total number of suspensions has plummeted from nearly 22,000 in 2011-2012 to almost 16,000 suspensions during the last school year.
The ACLU says this represents the biggest drop in suspensions since 2004.
But, the study says, racial disparities “remain as bad, if not worse, than ever.”
“The vast majority of Rhode Island’s school districts and charter schools continue to suspend black and Hispanic students at rates disproportionate to their representation in the student body,” the ACLU says.
Stephanie Geller, policy analyst for Rhode Island Kids Count, said the consequences for high rates of suspension have been documented: students who are chronically absent are less likely to graduate
“We’ve been tracking suspensions for a number of years and have pointed out the disproportionate numbers of suspensions between white and minority students,” she said. “It’s nice to see this issue getting a lot of attention.”
According to the ACLU study, nearly 1,400 elementary school students were suspended; 147 were in first grade.
Black students were punished for disorderly conduct and insubordination at a rate nearly 31/2 times their representation in the school population.”
Read the rest here.
