Are Public Schools Safe for Black Children?

By Lynnette Holloway, The Root

On Tuesday the U.S. Department of Education released the Civil Rights Data Collection sample, which found that public school educators unfairly punish minority students.

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The survey of 7,000 school districts and 72,000 schools was conducted during the 2009-2010 school year. It also found that African-American children were less likely to be exposed to high-level curriculums and experienced teachers.

“The data portend a very disturbing picture,” Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Russlynn Ali explained during a conference call on Tuesday. “They tell us that across the country, African Americans, Latinos, students with disabilities and English-language learners continue to receive less than their fair share of our most important resources.”

The Root has more details.

This punishment often goes hand in hand with police presence in schools, which can lead to trauma and arrests, which is why the LA Unified schooldistrict has reduced police presence to improve students’ mental health.

More stories about being Black in America.

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