Male, African-American/Black, Hispanic/Latinx, students with disabilities or economically disadvantaged students in Naperville School District 203 were more likely to be suspended, district data showed.
District 203 officials this week discussed student behavior and student discipline data as they begin taking a systemic approach to reducing the number of students receiving suspension, especially among some student demographics being disproportionately punished.
Officials presented the school board with several data points on student discipline from 2017-2021, including the finding that between 20% and 25% of suspensions in that time span were handed to African-American/Black students. Assistant Superintendent for Assessment and Accountability Patrick Nolten said the African-American/Black student population makes up about 5% of the district’s overall enrollment.
“We have a lot of work to do,” added Rakeda Leaks, the district’s Executive Director of Diversity and Inclusion, “but we remain steadfast in our commitment to eliminate discipline predictability by sex, economic status, disability, English language acquisition, and race/ethnicity.”
According to the presentation given to the District 203 school board, 769 in-school suspensions were given to African-American/Black students from 2017-2021; about 7% of all African-American/Black students received an in-school suspension.
There were 166 out-of-school suspensions given to African-American/Black students in that time span; about 4% of all African-American/Black students received an out-of-school suspension.
Economically disadvantaged students reported the highest number of in-school suspensions from 2017-2021, with 1,762 reported. About 4% of all economically disadvantaged students received an in-school suspension.
White students received out-of-school suspensions from 2017-2021 than any demographic with 342 reported; less than 1% of all white students had received out-of-school suspensions in that time span.
School board member Charles Cush said he thanked district officials with the second update on student discipline this school year, but the district’s discipline numbers had him concerned.
“It’s really a problem when you look at some of the stats,” Cush said.
Officials said they will continue efforts to reduce the number of suspensions districtwide. According to the presentation, failure to serve detention, being tardy or truant were the main reasons high school students were served in-school suspensions. Fighting, possession/use of drugs, and e-cigarette/vape pens were the main reasons high schoolers were given out-of-school suspensions.
According to the district, fights and aggressive behavior were the main reasons junior high students served in-school or out-of-school suspensions.
Chala Holland, assistant superintendent for administrative services, said officials are working on a comprehensive action and accountability plan intended to better address the matter at hand, but when such a plan will be unveiled was unknown.
Holland said they must partner with students and staff and discuss why students are doing things like being chronically tardy or truant for class that warrant action.
“Behavior is directly aligned to how students are supported, how they feel, and how they ultimately engage inside and outside of the classroom,” Holland said.
Board member Kristine Gericke said she hopes alternatives are found that limit a student from missing class time.
“It doesn’t seem to make sense if kids are not in school or tardy, and when you’re here, we’re going to exclude you. My brain is not going to get that one,” she said.
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