FLORIDA. 23%. 39%. TENNESSEE. 23%. 58%. SOUTH CAROLINA. 36%. 60%. NORTH ... must hold schools accountable and partner wi
Disproportionately Disciplined BLACK STUDENT SUSPENSION RATES IN THE AMERICAN SOUTH BASED ON A REPORT BY EDWARD J. SMITH AND SHAUN R. HARPER
WEST VIRGINIA
5% 11%
55% of all Black suspensions from U.S. public schools occurred in 13 Southern states.
VIRGINIA
24% 51%
KENTUCKY
11% 26% TENNESSEE ARKANSAS
DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT BY STATE
21% 50%
MISSISSIPPI
ALABAMA
GEORGIA
50% 74%
34% 64%
37% 67%
LOUISIANA
TEXAS
NORTH CAROLINA
23% 58%
45% 67%
13% 31%
26% 51%
SOUTH CAROLINA
36% 60%
FLORIDA
23% 39%
● ●
In 84 school districts across the South, 100% of students suspended were Black.
Blacks as % of Students Enrolled Blacks as % of Students Suspended
Some recommendations... ■ Black families, religious congregations, and others concerned about racial justice must hold schools accountable and partner with educators to identify alternatives to policies and practices that sustain the school-toprison pipeline.
■ Zero tolerance discipline policies do not make schools safer. School leaders need to eliminate them, offer more professional development for educators on managing student behaviors, and lead district-wide conversations about racial equity.
■ Teaching more about implicit bias and other racist forces that lead to disproportionality in school discipline must occur in schools of education, as well as other sites where teachers are prepared and educational leaders are certified.
More recommendations are offered in the report.
Read the full report, including suspension rates for every school district in the South, at gse.upenn.edu/equity/SouthernStates
