The topic of discipline and student behavior has been the subject of national and local conversation as teachers leave the profession, some citing student behavior and lack of discipline as the reason.
And while the Hamilton County school district has announced a new staffing model to offer more behavioral support in the classroom, discipline disparities still remain.
In 2021-22, Hamilton County public schools had the highest alternative school transfer rate in the state, 2.8%, according to the discipline data released this week by the Tennessee Department of Education.
That’s about 383 students, and nearly all of them were Black. The races of other students were suppressed under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act because there were fewer than 10.
Alternative schools are used to educate students who have not been successful in regular schools, often due to behavior, disciplinary and safety concerns. In Hamilton County, there are two alternative schools: Washington Alternative Learning Center and the Dawn School for students with severe disabilities.
Following Hamilton County was Sevier County with an alternative school transfer rate of 2.4% and Montgomery County at 1.9%.
In Sevier, the majority of those students were white and Hispanic. In Montgomery, nearly all were Black, 270 students.
While progress has been made, Black students are still disciplined at a much higher rate in Hamilton County Schools.
Last year 4,823 students had disciplinary action taken against them, and more than half were Black, despite Black children making up only 30% of the district’s entire student body.
“We continue to respond to concerns related to discipline disparities by providing direct supports to principals and school teams,” district spokesman Steve Doremus said in an email. “More, we have worked this year to ensure that all schools have a strong tier one behavior plan that intentionally fosters a positive culture and climate through the integration of classroom management strategies, morning meetings and positive behavior supports.”
Discipline rates have improved over the past six years. The out-of-school suspension rate dropped from 7.8% in 2017-18 to 5.6% in 2021-22. The in-school suspension rate has remained roughly the same, from 5.6% in 2017-18 to 5% in 2021-22.
Yet the discipline rate among students of color is disproportionately higher:
— Asian: 4%
— Black or African American: 19.3%
— Hispanic or Latino: 5.4%
— Native American/Alaskan: 9.6%
— Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 8.5%
— White: 7.2%
Economically disadvantaged students also have a disproportionately higher discipline rate no matter their race: 17.6%.
To decrease disproportionalities in discipline, the school board unanimously passed an educational equity policy in 2021.
Chief Equity Officer Marsha Drake gave board members an update on its progress at a December board meeting.
“Our year one, goal one, was reducing disproportionate suspension and expulsion rates,” Drake said.
To accomplish this, principals have access to more in-depth student data, like suspensions by race and other demographics. However, while infractions are lower, suspension rates remain the same, Drake said.
“Over time, we really strongly believe that as those student infractions decrease, the out-of-school suspensions will decrease as well,” Drake said.
BY SCHOOL
Schools that are predominately Black have higher discipline rates than schools that are mostly white or more diverse. The five schools with the highest discipline rates are:
— Dalewood Middle School: 41.2%
— Brainerd High School: 33.6%
— Brown Middle School: 31%
— Tyner Middle Academy: 30.9%
— Tyner Academy: 29.3%
Ten percent of students disciplined at Brainerd High School are transferred to an alternative school.
Board member Karitsa Jones, D-Chattanooga, said at the December board meeting that while all discipline should be administered fairly, that’s not happening in every school.
For instance, she said, if four boys of different races were caught vaping in a school bathroom, all of them should get the same punishment.
“But in some buildings, that will happen, and in some buildings, that will not happen, and so that’s when it becomes disproportionate,” Jones said. “It’s a leadership problem. But that problem is bigger, it’s deeper than that.”
Compared to the state and similar districts, Hamilton County Schools’ discipline rate falls in the middle. It’s higher than the state average of 9.2% but not quite as high as Davidson County, which comes in at 11.9%.
— State of Tennessee: 9.2%
— Davidson County: 11.9%
— Hamilton County: 10.4%
— Knox County: 7.4%
— Memphis-Shelby County Schools: 11.4%
— Rutherford County: 8.8%
“We have listened to parents and school leaders this year, we have heard their concerns and request for additional resources,” Doremus said. “We believe that as we continue to differentiate supports for our schools all of our students will experience deeper connection and belonging leading to improved outcomes in regards to disparities in discipline.”
Contact Carmen Nesbitt at cnesbitt@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6327.