School Discipline (H 5383, S 0299A)

Even as consensus grows nationwide that out-of-school suspensions carry a lifetime of ill effects and should only be used for the most serious offenses, Rhode Island’s students are routinely suspended from school for small infractions that pose no risk of physical harm or serious distraction to their peers. The ACLU has demonstrated for the past several years that the tremendous overuse of suspensions in Rhode Island’s schools leaves minority students disproportionately affected, particularly for the less-serious “subjective” offenses, in June, the ACLU released a report demonstrating the serious over-suspension of children with disabilities. In March and April, the ACLU testified before the House Health, Education and Welfare and Senate Education committees in support of legislation requiring that suspensions be served in-school, unless the student poses a physical risk or serious distraction to other students, and requiring school districts to examine their discipline data annually and come up with plans to mitigate any disproportionate suspension rates that may exist. In June both the House and Senate passed versions of the legislation, but the bills failed to be approved by the other chamber in time and the bills died.