New MERC study shows racial gaps in discipline
By WCVE intern Brianna Scott., VPM News
August 2, 2019
A new study released by the Metropolitan Educational Research Consortium (MERC) highlights the racial disparities in school discipline across metropolitan Richmond.
MERC is a research alliance between the VCU School of Education and seven surrounding school divisions. These divisions include Chesterfield, Goochland, Hanover, Henrico, Petersburg, Powhatan and Richmond.
The report found that black students in Richmond-area school divisions were suspended at about four times the rate of white students. In most cases, black students were suspended because of infractions known as “D-codes” such as disrespect or defiance.
Read the entire story on the VPM website.