Students raise concerns about racial disparities in discipline

A group of students is scheduled to meet with Georgia school Superintendent Richard Woods later this week to discuss what can be done to reduce racial disparities in school discipline.

Although African-American students make up about 37 percent of Georgia’s public school population, about two-thirds of the students suspended or expelled are black, state statistics show. A report last week found black students in Georgia are more likely to receive corporal punishment by a teacher or faculty member.

Georgia Department of Education officials say they are using several ways to address the disparity and improve classroom behavior among all students.