Support for LAist comes from
Become a sponsor
Made of L.A.
Donate
Stay Connected

LAist is part of Southern California Public Radio, a member-supported public media network. For the latest national news from NPR and our live radio broadcast, visit LAist.com/radio

Keep up with our local independent news

The Top 5 newsletter catches you up with LA’s top 5 stories in just 3 minutes.
Donate

Share This

This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.

This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.

News

Black Students Face High Levels of Suspension at LAUSD, John Deasy Offers Meek Explanation

By  Jessica P. Ogilvie
Published Mar 5, 2012 11:00 PM
school_bus.jpg
Photo by IAmNatums via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr
Our June member drive is live: protect this resource!
Right now, we need your help during our short June member drive to keep the local news you read here every day going. This has been a challenging year, but with your help, we can get one step closer to closing our budget gap. Today, put a dollar value on the trustworthy reporting you rely on all year long. We can't hold those in power accountable and uplift voices from the community without your partnership.

The LA Times reported today that compared to proportions from other school districts across the country, black students at LAUSD are suspended far more often.

Reporter Howard Blume notes that in the 2009-2010 school year -- the most recent year for which statistics are available -- 9% of LAUSD students were black, but they accounted for 26% of overall suspensions. By comparison, 40% of New York City students are black, and they account for 46% of suspensions. In San Diego, 11% of enrollment and 24% of suspensions.

One expert that Blume interviewed said that these statistics are due to the fact that black students face harsher punishment, but activist Marqueece Harris-Dawson, president of the nonprofit Community Coalition, called the numbers evidence of racial profiling.

Superintendent John Deasy -- is anyone else almost starting to feel bad for this guy? -- said that the numbers were changing this year.

Most Read
Best of LAist