Thousands of preschool kids face suspension

[The Straight Story]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Even preschoolers are getting suspended from U.S. public schools — and they're disproportionately black, a trend that continues up through the later grades.

Data to be released Friday by the Education Department's civil rights arm finds that black children represent about 18 percent of children enrolled in preschool programs in schools, but almost half of the students suspended more than once. Six percent of the nation's districts with preschools reported suspending at least one preschool child.

Advocates have long said that get-tough suspension and arrest policies in schools have contributed to a "school-to-prison" pipeline that snags minority students, but much of the emphasis has been on middle school and high school policies. This data shows the disparities starting in the youngest of children.

Earlier this year, the Obama administration issued guidance encouraging schools to abandon what it described as overly zealous discipline policies that send students to court instead of the principal's office. But, even before the announcement, school districts have been adjusting policies that disproportionately affect minority students.

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/thousands-preschool-kids-face-suspension

[yuiyoshida]

1. "encouraging schools to abandon what it described as overly zealous discipline policies"

"the Obama administration issued guidance encouraging schools to abandon what it described as overly zealous discipline policies"

As if Republican Principals and teachers will listen to him. The Hate runs thick in many of these places..Sadly it will continue.

[DesertRat]

2. It's the first step in the school to prison pipeline

It's becoming a big problem.