The City That Suspends Black Students

Chicago leads nation

By STEVE RHODES

Updated 9:14 AM CST, Fri, Jun 26, 2009

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Though data was not available from all major cities, it appears that Chicago suspends African American students more than any other big-city school district in the nation.

"[D]isproportionate suspensions and expulsions of black boys flies under the radar," Catalyst reports. "Advocates are aghast at the figures and wonder if they may warrant an investigation or a lawsuit."

Catalyst reports that "Nearly one in four black male students in Chicago Public Schools was suspended at least once last year, a rate that is twice as high as the district average.

"This finding is also part of an upward trend that has resulted in a near doubling of the number of suspended students over the past five years, according to a Catalyst Chicago analysis."

(You can listen to Catalyst reporter Sarah Karp talk about her investigation on WBEZ's Eight Forty-Eight here.)

"As Schools CEO in Chicago, [U.S. Education Secretary Arne] Duncan realized the problem of excessive discipline and pushed for alternative strategies, such as peer juries to get students involved in meting out punishments that would keep those who misbehave in school," Catalyst reports. "But the ideas have yet to take root, and suspensions and expulsions have continued to rise."

The story is the first in a series Catalyst is launching called "Reaching Black Boys."

Catalyst says the series "will investigate how black male academic achievement is stunted by disproportionate and often unnecessary disciplinary measures. The series will also explore the complex relationships between African American male students and the teachers, principals and institutions that are charged with educating them."

Steve Rhodes is the proprietor of The Beachwood Reporter, a Chicago-centric news and culture review.