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Education Matters – Racial disparity in school discipline

Topic: Racial Disparity in School Discipline

Black students are being suspended at rates three to four times higher than other students in school districts across North Carolina. Why is this happening and what can be done to address it?

Guests:

Keith Sutton, Wake County Board of Education

Dr. Keisha Bentley-Edwards, Samuel D. Cook Center on Social Equity, Duke University

Resources

EdLines

Class size mandate fix becomes law
http://www.heraldsun.com/news/local/education/article199108999.html
http://www.dailytarheel.com/article/2018/02/class-size-0221

General Assembly exploring breaking up school districts
http://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/education/article204873359.html
https://www.ednc.org/2018/03/14/issues-equity-efficiency-control-surround-district-division/

Innovative School District contract awarded
http://www.ncpublicschools.org/ncisd/

School safety remains in spotlight
http://www.wral.com/preparing-teachers-to-use-guns-in-schools-not-easy-/17419222/
https://marchforourlives.com/

Interview Segments

Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools Equity Report
http://www.cms.k12.nc.us/cmsdepartments/accountability/Documents/Breaking%20the%20Link%20English.pdf

Guilford County Schools Discipline Data
https://www.gcsnc.com/Page/43601

Wake County Public School System Discipline Data news coverage
http://www.wral.com/report-black-elementary-school-students-being-suspended-from-wake-schools-at-disproportionate-rate/17414407/

Article by Dr. Keisha Bentley-Edwards on discipline disparity
http://psychdiscourse.com/index.php/2013-08-20-02-30-17/version-48-2014/summer-2014-v48-2/230-summer-2014-v48-2/feature-articles/551-black-parents

Brookings Institution on Racial Disparities in School Suspension
https://www.brookings.edu/blog/brown-center-chalkboard/2017/03/24/racial-disparities-in-school-suspensions/

Public School Forum Study Group XVI: Committee on Racial Equity
https://www.ncforum.org/committee-on-racial-equity/

 
Keith Poston

Keith Poston is the president and executive director of the Public School Forum of North Carolina.