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New report: Blacks suspended, expelled more than white peers Posted Apr 24, 2018 at 1:03 PM Updated Apr 24, 2018 at 1:03 PM WASHINGTON (AP) — Black students are suspended from school, expelled and referred to law enforcement much more frequently than their white peers, according to a federal report released Tuesday. The report released by the Education Department is likely to add to an already tense national debate about what causes such racial disparities. Civil rights groups believe that racial bias is at play and insist that federal protections are necessary. Some experts counter that forcing schools to adopt milder disciplinary practices makes classrooms unsafe. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos is considering scrapping Obama-era rules that were meant to counter those disparities and urge schools to adopt softer discipline approaches. She met with supporters and opponents of that policy this month. The data show that while black boys represented 8 percent of all enrolled students in 2015-16, they accounted for 25 percent of suspensions and 23 percent of expulsions. Black girls made up 8 percent of all students but accounted for 14 percent of suspensions and 10 percent of expulsions. By comparison, white boys represented 25 percent of all students and 24 percent of those who got suspended. White girls represented 24 percent of all students and 8 percent of those suspended. The contrast was even starker with police referrals. Black students made up 15 percent of total student enrollment but represented 31 percent of students who were referred to law enforcement or arrested. White students made up 49 percent of all students but represented 36 percent of students who were referred to the police. "This should cause alarm for all of us," said Catherine Lhamon, chairwoman of the Commission on Civil Rights, who previously served as the top civil rights official at the Education Department under the Obama administration. "Students were and are treated in very different ways. The reality is that those students experience discrimination." The guidance issued during Lhamon's tenure instructed schools to move away from harsh punishments and instead favor positive behavior interventions such as counseling. It also told schools to examine their discipline data and fix racial disparities if there are any. Mike Petrilli, president of the conservative Thomas B. Fordham Institute, has been calling for scrapping the 2014 guidance. He argues that it has made educators reluctant to punish bad behavior and has led to disorder in classrooms. While he agrees that racial bias does play a role, he said that children who are subjected to poverty and trauma are more likely to act out at school. "The numbers are the symptom, not the disease. The disease is about ineffective schools, it's about unequal life circumstances," Petrilli said. "We've got to address the underlying causes of these disparities. Some of them may be racial bias in the way that discipline is doled out, but it's also differences in student behavior that relate to differences in the challenges groups are facing." DeVos hailed the release of the report and urged federal and local education leaders to take note. "Protecting all students' civil rights is at the core of the Department's mission," she said in a statement. Most Popular Medford gun supporters prepare for ballot showdown Apr 21 at 5:04 PM Police: Cat killed during fight between couple Apr 19 at 6:36 PM A long view of home Apr 19 at 6:56 PM Letters to the Editor, April 21 Apr 23 at 7:31 AM Ashland magician Harry Anderson went on to TV success Apr 18 at 5:42 PM Woman charged in $7,000 Victoria's Secret underwear theft Apr 20 at 4:58 PM Man sentenced for raping, assaulting wife Apr 20 at 7:14 AM Medford School District proposes 33 new positions Apr 19 at 7:18 AM Roller Derby benefits kids battling cancer Apr 20 at 5:32 PM Data breach or 'bogeyman'? Apr 23 at 7:32 AM Since You Asked: Abandoned house has been an eyesore for years Apr 18 at 2:01 AM Barry sisters continue rich North Medford softball tradition Apr 21 at 5:31 PM © Copyright 2006-2018 Rosebud Media LLC. All rights reserved. Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com ~ P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501