What’s more, when researchers assessed the situation at the school district level, they found even greater disparities. Across the country, some 37 districts suspended more than 25 percent of their elementary school students with disabilities, including one district where over half of those with special needs were suspended.
The high level of suspensions among students with disabilities raises questions, the report suggests, about whether such children are unlawfully being taken out of class due to behavior issues related to their disabilities.
Beyond disabilities, the analysis also found significant variation in suspension rates based on race.
“Our nation cannot close the achievement gap if our educators ignore the discipline gap,” said Daniel J. Losen, the director of the Center for Civil Rights Remedies and an author of the report. “Educators have an opportunity for serious and successful reform in this area and are legally and morally obligated to take action.”
Click Here to Read Analysis by The Civil Rights Project