Discipline discrimination exists in Chico Unified School District

It has already been documented that school districts across the United States are disciplining a disproportionate number of children in specific racial groups. Chico Unified School District is not excluded from this practice.

Mike Allen, Chico High School associate principal.
Photo by Chico High School/Chico Unified School District

"That's something we're very aware of and that we look at," said Mike Allen, associate principal of Chico High School. "We want to make sure that we're applying discipline fairly."

David McKay, principal of Academy for Change, Center for Alternative Learning, Oakdale Secondary and Fair View High School, said that the percentage of African American and Native American students expelled in CUSD is higher than the percentage of African American and Native American children actually attending the district's schools.

And the data from the California Department of Education Data Reporting Office aligns with this statement (see pie charts below).

In the 2011-2012 school year, Native American children made up 2 percent and African American children made up 3 percent of the students enrolled in the District. However, Native American students are 4 percent of students suspended and 8 percent of students expelled, while African American students are 10 percent of students suspended and 12 percent of students expelled.

This is in comparison to White students, who make up 64 percent of the students enrolled in the District, but only 60 percent of students suspended and 50 percent of students expelled.

The CRDC report published by the U.S. Department of Education reports similar findings related to its sample.

Given the data, it's apparent that districts across the nation, CUSD included, will have to take steps to understand how these practices are arising in order to combat them and make school discipline fair and unbiased.

Enrollment

Suspensions

Expulsions