U.S. Justice Department officials recently visited Henry County to talk to school district officials, parents and attorneys after some complained the school system’s student disciplinary practices are too harsh and show racial disparities in punishment.

The federal visit comes amid an ongoing U.S. Education Department investigation of the school district for possible racial and disability discrimination.

Henry County school officials dismiss the criticism, citing data that shows disciplinary hearings have declined from 919 during the 2011-12 school year to 606 so far this school year.

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HBCUs nationally will get $438 million, according to the UNCF, previously known as the United Negro College Fund. Georgia has 10 historically Black colleges and universities. (Daniel Varnado for the AJC)

Credit: Daniel Varnado/For the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

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Fulton DA Fani Willis (center) with Nathan J. Wade (right), the special prosecutor she hired to manage the Trump case and had a romantic relationship with, at a news conference announcing charges against President-elect Donald Trump and others in Atlanta, Aug. 14, 2023. Georgia’s Supreme Court on Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025, upheld an appeals court's decision to disqualify Willis from the election interference case against Trump and his allies. (Kenny Holston/New York Times)

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