Education

Students raise concerns about racial disparities in discipline

Jan 19, 2016

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.

To read more, click here.

About the Author

Eric Stirgus joined The Atlanta Journal-Constitution in 2001. He is the newsroom's education editor. Born and raised in Brooklyn, N.Y., Eric is active in the Atlanta Association of Black Journalists and the Education Writers Association and enjoys mentoring aspiring journalists.

More Stories