Report: Black students expelled more often than whites

Associated Press:

An analysis of state records found that minority students in Illinois were about twice as likely as white students to be expelled from public schools, prompting concern from one lawmaker about racial disparity in school discipline.

In the Chicago suburbs, Black students were nine times more likely than whites to be expelled and nearly five times more likely to be suspended, according to the analysis by the (Arlington Heights) Daily Herald.

Statewide, Black students were three times more likely to be expelled or suspended and Hispanic students were 1.3 times more likely, the records show.

The newspaper reviewed Illinois State Board of Education records for the 2002-2003 school year, the most recent year for which data was available.

"It almost appears that there's a window being opened and some people either wittingly or unwittingly are pushing African-American males out of schools and into prisons," said state Rep. Monique Davis, (D-27th).

State Board of Education spokeswoman Becky Watts said Monday that while the board does not want to second guess decisions made by school administrators, the issue will be addressed.

"These statistics show a troubling gap in discipline outcomes for students, and as school leaders we need to continue to look at this," Watts said.

During the school year the newspaper analyzed, white students made up about 51 percent of the state's public school population and 39 percent of the expulsions, while Black students accounted for 21 percent of the students but 46 percent of expulsions. Hispanic students were 17 percent of the school population and 14 of the expulsions, the newspaper reported.

Suburban school administrators said race does not affect the decisions they make when disciplining students.

"We try to deal with every discipline situation on a case-by-case basis," said Jim Muir, assistant superintendent of Schaumburg Township Elementary District 54.

Statewide, 2,530 students were expelled in 2003. The year before, 2,543 students were expelled.

Expulsions of minority students caught the public's attention in 1999 when the Rev. Jesse Jackson took up the cause of six Black students who were expelled, and another who withdrew, from Decatur School District following a bleacher-clearing fist fight at a high school football game.

The most likely explanation is that the actions of the black students warranted expulsion which is why their rate is so much higher than other groups including Hispanics.