DeVos joins debate on racial inequities in school discipline
Source: Associated Press
Maria Danilova, Associated Press
Updated 5:19 pm, Wednesday, April 4, 2018
WASHINGTON (AP) — Education Secretary Betsy DeVos on Wednesday entered a heated national debate on racial disparities in school discipline, meeting with educators as a government watchdog said in a report that African-American students continue to be punished more often than their peers.
The study by the Government Accountability Office found that black children account for about 16 percent of students but 39 percent of students suspended from school. A 2016 federal study showed that black students are more than three times more likely to be suspended from school and nearly twice as likely to be expelled than their white peers.
A 2014 document issued by the Obama administration told schools to determine if penalties like suspension and expulsion were disproportionately affecting black students. If they didn't correct any disparities, they could face federal investigations and possible loss of federal funding.
The document also urged educators to move away from harsh penalties in favor of positive behavior interventions such as counseling.
Read more: https://www.chron.com/news/politics/article/DeVos-reviews-Obama-discipline-rule-with-educators-12805146.php
= new reply since forum marked as read