AUSTIN, Texas — After examining ways to improve equity across Austin ISD schools, a new report claims the district is failing its minority students.
The report comes from the research organization WestEd, which also presented district leaders with ways Austin ISD can equitably help its students.
What did the report find?
Some key findings include students of color feeling mistreated and unsupported, students with disabilities not having enough access to mental health services, and Black students being disciplined at disproportionate rates,
The report found Black students were constantly disciplined at a disproportionate rate between 2018 and 2022. While Hispanic students also received high disciplinary referrals, data showed Black students had more than double the discipline referrals than their representation in the district.
Those numbers peaked in 2021 when Black students represented only 6.6% of the district but received 17.5% of the district’s discipline referrals. Those referrals included behaviors among Black and Hispanic students were subjected to greater scrutiny than similar behaviors from white students.
The report also stated Special Education students experience disproportionate disciplinary referrals. More than 30% of Black students in the district who were given discipline referrals had a special education identification.
Recommendations made to Austin ISD
Included in the report were ways the district can increase equity, like implementing race-conscious interventions and programs.
In 2019, Austin ISD released an African American Achievement Plan and a 2021 Equity Plan. Both had minimal references in ensuing plans and procedural documents that underwent review. The report says many of the issues identified by the district in those plans still exist today, suggesting those documents were hardly used.
WestEd recommends Austin ISD continue monitoring disproportionality and ensuring staff undergo behavior management training.
Since some teachers felt they couldn’t connect to students, there were recommendations for Austin ISD to provide “culturally responsive” training tactics for administrators and teachers. Trainings should include meaningful connections to Austin’s history and context, to make sure students feel valued and respected.
The training could help teachers and staff recognize their unconscious biases while respecting their diverse backgrounds, leading to better connections and fairer treatment of all students.
You can view the full 342-page report here.