Little Rock School District v. Pulaski County Special School District

          ORDER

          D.P. Marshall Jr., United States District Judge

         The Court is attaching Ms. Powell's third summary report, which covers discipline-related matters at JNPSD. No. 5502 at 2-3. The Court appreciates her work.

         So Ordered.

         UPDATE OF THE STATUS OF THE JACKSONVILLE/NORTH PULASKI SCHOOL DISTRICT'S IMPLEMENTATION OF PLAN 2000-DISCIPLINE

         On July 18, 2019, Chief U.S. District Judge D. Price Marshall, Jr., directed the Court Expert to issue written status reports on the remaining areas of the Jacksonville/North Pulaski School Districts' (JNPSD) desegregation plan (Plan 2000) that remain under Court supervision (Doc 5502). This report is number three of eight.

         DISCIPLINE (Plan 2000-Section F)

         Plan 2000 does not mention the JNPSD, because it did not exist when the plan was written. The Jacksonville/North Pulaski School District was granted independent status in 2016. All of the schools in the JNPSD were originally a part of the Pulaski County Special School District. As a condition for being granted independent status, the JNPSD had to accept being bound by the same provisions of Plan 2000, as those of the PCSSD, that are still under Court supervision.

         For the purpose of clarity, with all JNPSD status reports, when citing plan provisions, I substitute JNPSD, where the plan says PCSSD. In addition, some job titles mentioned in the provisions have changed or have been eliminated since Plan 2000 was developed. Paragraphs 3, 4, and 5 under the Discipline section of Plan 2000 were time limited and are not reported in this document.

         Note: In this desegregation case, for reporting purposes, there are only two racial categories: black and white. There is no "Other" racial category; all non-black individuals are counted as white.

         PLAN PROVISION

         The JNPSD will continue to gather data which allows a full assessment of its success in achieving its objective of eliminating racial disparities in the imposition of school discipline. As a foundation for this effort, disciplinary records shall be kept on each student concerning the nature of any discipline imposed (suspension, Saturday school, expulsion, etc.); the teacher and staff member involved; and the school, race, and sex of the student. (F.l pg.3)

         FINDINGS

         All of the data reflected in this report were provided by the office of the Assistant Superintendent for Desegregation.

         2016-2017

         In 2016, the JNPSD was just beginning its first year as an independent school district. As a result, some reporting processes were still in the developmental stage. The discipline data reported for 2016-2017 are not the totals for a complete school year, instead, they represent all of the data the district was able to provide.

         Note: The JNPSD has one high school and one middle school. In 2016-2017 and 2017-2018, there were six elementary schools: Arnold Drive, Bayou Meto, Dupree, Pinewood, Taylor, and Tolleson.

         SUSPENSIONS

         • At the elementary level, 135 black males, 71 white males, 46 black females and 12 white females were suspended.

         • Dupree suspended the greatest number of black students: 46 black males, and 20 black females. Pinewood was second, suspending 44 black males and 8 black females.

         • At the middle school, a total of 125 black males and 49 white males were suspended. A total of 103 black females and 22 white females were also suspended.

         • At the high school, 119 black males and 34 white males were suspended. Black females received 78 suspensions and 16 white females were suspended.

         • Districtwide rates were: black males 47%, white males 19%, black females 28% and white females 6%.

         IN-SCHOOL SUSPENSIONS

         • At the elementary level, 107 black males, 47 white males, 38 black females ad 11 white females were assigned to in-school suspension.

         • Pinewood assigned the greatest number of black students to in-school suspensions: 52 black males and 9 black females, followed by Dupree assigning 32 black males and 17 black females to in-school suspension.

         • At the middle school, 129 black males, 41 white males, 84 black females and 21 white females received in-school suspension.

         • The high school reported 154 black males, 40 white males, 90 black females and 28 white females who were assigned to in-school suspension.

         • Districtwide, the in-school suspension rates totaled: black males 49%, white males 16%, black females 27% and white females 8%.

         BUS SUSPENSIONS

         • At the elementary level, 56 black males, 32 white males, 30 black females and 11 white ...