Suspensions more common for minority, disabled students

By Joanna Lin from California Watch

Racial minorities and students with disabilities are suspended at substantially higher rates than their white and non-disabled peers, according to an analysis of discipline data from nearly 500 California school districts. Researchers said the disparities are a civil rights issue and cause for alarm.

While 7.1 percent of all California students were suspended from school at least once during the 2009-10 school year, the rate was as high as 18 percent among blacks, 11 percent among American Indians and 13.4 percent for students with disabilities. The rate was 7 percent among Latinos and 3 percent among Asians and Pacific Islanders.

Released yesterday by the Center for Civil Rights Remedies at UCLA's Civil Rights Project, the analysis is based on data school districts reported to the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights. The reporting districts serve about 90 percent of all students in California.

Read more HERE.

Mt. Diablo schools must address high rates of minority students in special education programs, or suspended or expelled

By Theresa Harrington from the Contra Costa Times

CONCORD -- The Mt. Diablo school district must change policies, practices and procedures that have led to a disproportionate number of ethnic minority students being identified for special education, suspended or expelled, officials said.

Last May, the California Department of Education instructed the district to remove barriers that prevent each student from receiving an equitable education, after identifying Mt. Diablo as one of 85 districts statewide that was "disproportionate" in relation to special education and discipline referrals. Since then, 45 districts have taken corrective actions that have reversed these trends.

Mt. Diablo, on the other hand, has not significantly improved, according to a report presented by consultant Mary Bacon. The district is looking to the West Contra Costa and San Lorenzo districts, which have approved "equity plans," to get ideas for remedying its problems, she said.

In 2009-10, Hispanics represented 34.3 percent of students but 43 percent of suspensions in the Mt. Diablo district. Similarly, blacks made up 4.9 percent of students, but 15 percent of suspensions.

"Race and ethnicity are powerful predictors of school performance and referrals to special education and to discipline," Bacon said.

Statewide, black students are 48 percent more likely to be assigned to special education than all students, she said.

Read complete article here.