Update (as of 8/10/16): Recently, the U.S. Department of Education was alerted to errors in data the state of Florida submitted on behalf of its school districts as part of the 2013-2014 Civil Rights Data Collection. As a result, the data referenced here may not fully represent all students in Florida. ED is working with Florida to address this issue as soon as possible at which point the Department will make updates accordingly.
U.S. Secretary of Education John B. King Jr. will hold a press conference call on Monday, July 18, 2016 at 1 p.m. ET to launch new data analyses, resources and guidance aimed at helping parents, educators and policymakers to rethink discipline in schools.
In June, the U.S. Department of Education unveiled new data compiled from the 2013-14 Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC), which shows gaps still remain too wide in key areas affecting educational equity and opportunity for students. Monday’s release focuses on discipline and the urgent need to prevent harsh and exclusionary practices. The Department will release a new story map online tool with details and data visualizations about out-of-school suspensions. The Department is also releasing a significant guidance document about the need to provide positive behavior supports for students with disabilities as it relates to discipline.
The CDRC provides a comprehensive look at conditions within the nation’s 99,500 public schools. It includes data on all students from elementary, middle, and high school, including students of color, students with disabilities and students with limited English proficiency. The federal government has collected civil rights data about schools since 1968. As with previous Civil Rights Data Collections, the purpose of the 2013-14 report was to obtain vital data related to civil rights laws requiring public schools to provide equal educational opportunity.