“In a settlement agreement with the U.S. Justice Department, the Wichita district plans to create new policies and eliminate others, including its use of seclusion.” – Hugo Phan, KMUW
July 6, 2024 Story by: Editor
An investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice has revealed that the Wichita school district engaged in discriminatory practices against students based on race and disability.
According to a report released on Tuesday, the department found that Black students were subjected to discipline more frequently and harshly than their white peers. Black girls, in particular, were targeted for offenses such as insubordination.
The report also indicated that the district improperly secluded and restrained students with disabilities.
“Black students inside our nation’s public schools should not have to face discipline or a referral to law enforcement because of their race. And students with disabilities should not have to experience the trauma of seclusion or improper restraint,” stated Kristen Clarke, assistant attorney general of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Schools in our communities should not be a place of fear or mistrust.”
Wichita Superintendent Commits to Improvement
Following a settlement agreement with the Justice Department, the Wichita district has committed to implementing new policies and eliminating certain practices, including the use of seclusion.
“The point for me is that we can and will do better moving forward, right?” said Wichita schools superintendent Kelly Bielefeld during a news conference on Tuesday. “We do have a challenge in front of us that we can improve. We can help solve this and become more equitable as a school district.”
The investigation, which began in 2020 and concluded at the end of the 2023 school year, reviewed thousands of documents and conducted numerous interviews. The Justice Department conducted a site visit in March 2023, touring and interviewing staff at 17 schools, including those with programs for students with disabilities and schools with security officers.
Findings of the Investigation
The department’s investigation concluded that:
- Black students were disciplined more frequently and severely than white students for similar conduct, particularly for subjective offenses like “disruptive conduct” and “insubordination.” This was especially pronounced for Black girls.
- Black students were more likely to receive disciplinary referrals and suspensions and to be referred to law enforcement.
- Black girls faced more disciplinary actions for insubordination and dress code violations.
- The district lacked effective policies and procedures to ensure nondiscrimination.
- The district frequently used restraint and seclusion when addressing the conduct of students with disabilities. Over the course of the investigation, more than 3,000 incidents of restraint or seclusion were reported, with 98% involving a student with a disability.
- Restraint and seclusion were used not for safety threats but to enforce school rules.
Steps for Improvement
As part of the agreement with the Justice Department, the Wichita district has outlined several steps to better serve its students, including:
- Ending the use of seclusion, where a student is placed alone in a room or area.
- Limiting physical restraint to situations where a student’s behavior poses a danger of physical harm.
- Implementing a new student code of conduct in January.
- Standardizing a new dress code for district schools.
- Limiting the involvement of school resource officers in incidents of student misbehavior to situations posing a risk of physical harm or involving a criminal offense.
Creating an Office of Behavior Management Support and Oversight to better assist students with disabilities. Source AoI.
