A new report from a congressional watchdog reveals that Black girls in public schools face harsher discipline and more severe punishments than girls from other racial backgrounds. The study, which took nearly 18 months to complete, was initiated at the request of Democratic members of Congress, including Massachusetts Rep. Ayanna Pressley and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, along with Connecticut Rep. Rosa DeLauro. The report is set to be released on Thursday.
The report provides a unique look at the disciplinary disparities faced by Black girls in U.S. public schools. It reveals that during the 2017-18 school year, Black girls experienced the highest rates of exclusionary discipline, such as suspensions and expulsions, accounting for nearly half of these punishments despite making up only 15% of the female student population.
The report indicates that Black girls accounted for significant percentages of school discipline: 45% of out-of-school suspensions, 37% of in-school suspensions, and 43% of expulsions, often for behaviors like “defiance, disrespect, and disruption.” They faced exclusionary discipline at rates 3 to 5.2 times higher than white girls, with even greater disparities for those with disabilities. Rep. Ayanna Pressley described the findings as a confirmation of a crisis of criminalization in schools, emphasizing the need for trauma-informed policies and congressional action.
The GAO report is the first to analyze the factors behind discipline disparities among Black girls, identifying contributors such as school poverty levels, the prevalence of disabilities, teacher turnover, and the presence of school resource officers.
Rep. Ayanna Pressley highlighted that biases like racism, colorism, and adultification also play a role in the harsher treatment of Black girls. Pressley and other congressional women plan to present the findings, urging schools and policymakers to reassess exclusionary discipline policies that disproportionately affect Black girls, especially those with intersecting identities like LGBTQ status. The report underscores the harmful impact of these biases on students’ self-esteem and learning.