State Releases New Numbers on Suspensions in Alameda Schools

Last week, the California Department of Education released numbers showing that school administrators suspended one out of 20 students during the 2011-12 school year.

The figures also revealed that black students and Hispanic students are more likely to be suspended than white or Asian students. In Alameda City Unified, where black and Hispanic students represent roughly 25 percent of enrollment, they account for the majority of out-of-school suspensions.

Here’s the CDE on the statewide disparity:

African-American students are 6.5 percent of total enrollment, but make up 19 percent of suspensions. White students are 26 percent of total enrollment, but represent 20 percent of suspensions. Hispanic students are 52 percent of total enrollment, and 54 percent of suspensions.

The California Department of Education is working on several initiatives to address these differences in rates by identifying positive alternatives to suspension and expulsion, as well as developing effective strategies to improve attendance as part of an overarching initiative to keep students in school. The Department has partnered with several organizations to work on these initiatives, including The California Endowment, the California Blue Ribbon Commission on Children in Foster Care, the Region IX Equity Assistance Center at WestEd, and Attendance Works.