Report: Minority Students Face Harsher Punishments

Black students are more than three times as likely as their white peers to be suspended or expelled.
By Kimberly Hefling, AP Education Writer
Posted: 03/06/2012 08:43 AM EST
Filed Under Department of Education, National News, education

Department of Education, National News, education

WASHINGTON (AP) — More than 70 percent of students involved in school-related arrests or cases referred to law enforcement were Hispanic or African-American, according to an Education Department report that raises questions about whether students of all races are disciplined evenhandedly in America's schools.

Black students are more than three times as likely as their white peers to be suspended or expelled, according to an early snapshot of the report released to reporters. The findings come from a national collection of civil rights data from 2009-10 of more than 72,000 schools serving 85 percent of the nation.

The Education Department said it would release more details Tuesday.

"The sad fact is that minority students across America face much harsher discipline than non-minorities, even within the same school," Education Secretary Arne Duncan told reporters.

Duncan said some school officials might not have been aware of inconsistencies in how they handle discipline, and he hoped the report would be an eye-opener.

According to the report, 42 percent of the referrals to law enforcement involve black students and 29 percent involved Hispanics, while 35 percent of students involved in school-related arrests were black and 37 percent were Hispanic.

Black students made up 18 percent of the students in the sample, but they were 35 percent of students suspended once and 39 percent of students expelled, the report said.

 

BET National News - Keep up to date with breaking news stories from around the nation, including headlines from the hip hop and entertainment world.

Videos You May Like

(Photo: Micah Walter/Getty Images)

Comments

Trends
Evelyn Lozada •Music News •Beyoncé •Jay-Z •Foxy Brown •Dr. Dre •American Money •Dedrick Muhammad •unemployment •careers •networking •employment •National News •NAACP •Oprah •Michael Jackson •Madonna •Janet Jackson •Larenz Tate •Samuel L. Jackson •Jada Pinkett-Smith •Photos •Too Short •Celeb Photos •student loans •Barack Obama •higher education •Congress •Democrats •Republicans •

African-Americans on Forbes Most Powerful Women List 2013

See where Michelle Obama, Oprah and others rank. 05/23/2013

The 411 on Seasonal Allergies

What you need to know about allergies. 05/22/2013

How You Can Help the Victims in Oklahoma

The Red Cross, Salvation Army and more ways to give. 05/21/2013

Out and About: Jaden Smith Goes to Dinner in London

Plus pics of Rita Ora, Janet Jackson, MJB and more. 05/24/2013

The Rundown: French Montana, Excuse My French

A track-by-track review of the Bronx rapper's debut LP. 05/20/2013

Bump Watch: Celebrity Pregnancy Denials

Bey, Brandy and other stars plagued by baby rumors. 05/21/2013

SEARCH

© 2013 BET Interactive, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Black Entertainment Television LLC. All rights reserved.