African-American students


Texas Legislators Grapple with Fixing the School-to-Prison Pipeline

Senate committees in Texas heard testimony in a day-long hearing on high rates, discriminatory trends of school discipline in the state.


Louisiana Judge Questions Whether Vouchers Impacting Desegregation Orders

The state superintendent of education must respond to allegations from a rural district that it cannot afford to comply with a new state voucher law and desegregation orders.


Studies Continue to Show Disparate Discipline

Several new studies provide additional evidence that schools use harsh discipline policies with specific groups of students, especially African-American males and students with disabilities, at much higher rates than other student groups.
Date: September 26, 2012
Related Categories: Rural Policy Matters
Related Tags: African-American students, Discipline, Graduation Rate/Dropout


DOJ Investigation Finds Mississippi County Court, Police Department and Youth Services Operating School-to-Prison Pipeline

The U.S. Department of Justice has accused agencies in Lauderdale County and Meridian City, Mississippi of violating the constitutional rights of children by arresting and incarcerating them, without due process, often for minor school infractions.
Date: August 28, 2012
Related Categories: In Local News, Rural Policy Matters
Related Tags: African-American students, Disabilities, Discipline


Children's Defense Fund National Conference: July 22-25, 2012

Make plans now for the 2012 Children's Defense Fund National Conference, set for July 22–25 in  Cincinnati, Ohio.


New Civil Rights Data Released

New federal data reveal significant racial disparities in school discipline and provides tools for advocacy.
Date: March 30, 2012
Related Categories: Rural Policy Matters
Related Tags: African-American students, Discipline, Teacher Issues


Desegregation/Funding Decision in Arkansas

A U.S. Circuit Court has reversed a lower court ruling ending state payments to support desegregation efforts in three Arkansas school system.


School Discipline Update: Colorado Task Force Recommends End to Zero Tolerance; New Study Details Disparity in Discipline Rates Across Country

Colorado is looking to end zero tolerance policies and institute age-appropriate school disciplinary practices that help students learn positive behavior.
Date: October 27, 2011
Related Categories: In Local News, Rural Policy Matters
Related Tags: African-American students, Discipline


Early Childhood Education in Rural Communities

Early Childhood Education in Rural CommunitiesThe Rural Trust's Doris Terry Williams and UNCF's Tammy L. Mann edited this monograph on the current status of early childhood education in rural communities.


Every Child in Every Neighborhood

“Every Child in Every Neighborhood” is a video from the Oakland Unified School District that outlines their efforts to transform that school system into a full-service community school district.


Reducing Exclusionary Discipline in Schools

A number of states and districts are beginning to reconsider zero tolerance policies and reliance on removing students from school for discipline violations.
Date: June 25, 2011
Related Categories: Rural Policy Matters
Related Tags: African-American students, Disabilities, Discipline, Income Related Issues


Zero Tolerance and the School-to-Prison Pipeline

Efforts to end zero-tolerance discipline problems continue to make headway.


Alabama Funding Discrimination Lawsuit Moves Forward

A lawsuit in Alabama claims that several provisions of the state’s constitution, particularly those related to limitations on rural property taxes, are rooted in historic efforts to deny educational opportunity to African Americans. 


Alabama Schools Facing Lawsuit over Use of Pepper Spray

Students sue school over use of pepper spray by law enforcement officers.
Date: February 24, 2011
Related Categories: In Local News, Rural Policy Matters
Related Tags: African-American students, Discipline


Gang Activity Policies Addressed by Courts

Many schools have used alleged gang activity as a reason for suspending or expelling students. But in many cases schools are not clear on what constitutes gang activity. Recently court decisions have found that schools must clarify their gang activity policies.
Date: February 24, 2011
Related Categories: In Local News, Rural Policy Matters
Related Tags: African-American students, Community Organizing, Discipline