Although white students comprised 76 percent of the total student enrollment, they accounted for 41 percent of student exclusions. Exclusion rates varied among school districts. Over half of all school districts, or 199 districts, reported no student exclusions. There were 91 districts that reported between one and three exclusions for the school year, and 43 districts reported between four and nine exclusions. Twenty-one districts reported ten or more student exclusions, down from 24 districts the prior year.
Safe schools are a top priority.
Providing students with a safe learning environment is essential to furnishing them with an effective education. Suspending and expelling some disruptive students will strengthen the climate for learning for the students in school. Many districts do an outstanding job in providing most or all of the students they exclude with alternative education. That is a very important goal statewide. We appreciate the efforts that school districts are making to provide safe and orderly schools and to provide serious learning opportunities for all students.