Ticketed At School
Channel: ProPublica
Date: 23/09/2022

In a recent investigation by ProPublica and the Chicago Tribune, we found that many Illinois public schools have been working with police to ticket students for misbehavior at school, resulting in municipal fines as high as $750. This reporting prompted Illinois schools Superintendent Carmen Ayala to immediately call for a halt in student ticketing, saying schools had “abdicated their responsibility for student discipline to local law enforcement.” 
 
Our reporters also found that Black students were disproportionately more likely to receive tickets at school than their white peers. A first-of-its-kind database lets you see if reporters identified ticketing in your district and — when that information is available — provides a racial breakdown of the tickets.  

In this virtual event, hear from students and parents who have been affected by tickets and fines, as well as officials and advocates who will explain the implications for young people and their families. ProPublica and Tribune reporters also discuss the surprising things they learned in reporting about this little-known school punishment and what they hope to investigate in the future. 

Our speakers include:

• Jodi S. Cohen, ProPublica
• Jennifer Smith Richards, Chicago Tribune
• Jeff Aranowski, Illinois State Board of Education
• Jackie Ross, Loyola University Chicago School of Law
• Tony Sanders, Superintendent, School District U-46
• David Eterno, Administrative Law Judge & Hearing Officer
• Affected family members from Sauk Village, Naperville and McHenry Illinois

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