School Discipline (H 5754, S 0509)

In June, the ACLU released a report documenting the rampant – and racially disparate – use of out-of-school suspensions across Rhode Island.  Statewide, students are routinely suspended from school for small infractions that pose no risk or serious distraction to their peers, even though that makes them far more likely than their peers to drop out of school and to end up in the criminal justice system.  Minority students are far more likely to suffer suspensions, leading to a disproportionate number of minority youth pushed along the “school-to-prison pipeline.”  ACLU-drafted legislation sought to limit the use of suspensions by requiring them to be served in-school unless the student poses a physical risk or serious distraction to other students.  Further, the legislation required school districts to examine their discipline data and come up with plans to mitigate any disproportionate suspension rates that may exist.  The ACLU of RI testified in support of this legislation but it failed to receive a vote.