U.S. Commission on Civil Rights to Hold Briefing on School Discipline and Disparate Impact

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The United States Commission on Civil Rights announces that it will hold a briefing on the Department of Education's initiative to investigate school districts for disparities in discipline rates among racial and ethnic groups under Title VI, a statute that bans disparate treatment.  The Department has announced that it intends to initiate compliance reviews based on a disparate impact analysis in an effort to find districts that have such disparities.

The Commission's briefing will ask teachers and administrators of large, racially diverse public school districts to discuss their schools' discipline policies, and whether they suspect racial bias in administering discipline.  In addition, the Commission will ask how they have responded to the Department of Education's new policy, and whether they have changed their discipline practices in response to the new initiative and/or weakened disciplinary standards for all students. The Commission is also seeking data from school districts showing the extent of the disparities and the effect the schools' policies have had on reducing such disparities.

The briefing will start at 9:30 am ET at Commission headquarters, 624 9th St. NW, 5th floor conference room, Washington, DC 20425.  The briefing is open to the public without advance reservation.

Persons with a disability requiring special services, such as an interpreter for the hearing impaired, should contact Pamela Dunston immediately at 202-376-8105.  TDD: (202) 376-8116.

The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights is an independent, bipartisan agency charged with monitoring federal civil rights enforcement.  Commission meetings are open to the general public.  The Commission's website is http://www.usccr.gov.

CONTACT:  Lenore Ostrowsky, Acting Chief, Public Affairs Unit,  (202) 376-8591

SOURCE U.S. Commission on Civil Rights