Report: Racial disparity in discipline continues at Henrico County schools despite reduction in suspensions, expulsions (2024)

A new report on Henrico County Public Schools’ special education programs concludes that the district continues to discipline students with disabilities, particularly African-Americans, at higher rates than their peers.

The report, requested by the county and conducted by a team led by former Virginia Secretary of Education Anne Holton, includes 27 recommendations aimed at addressing inequities and staffing issues, and improving the county’s special education services and relationship with school families.

Most Henrico students with disabilities spend most of their day in general education classrooms, but there are a disproportionate number of African-American students attending a specialty school the report says should be renovated or closed.

African-Americans make up 35 percent of the population in Henrico schools, but they make up about half of students with disabilities.

After the report was presented to the Henrico School Board on Thursday, Roscoe D. Cooper III, the Fairfield District representative and the only African-American on the board, said he can relate to the findings.

“I could not help but look at the report and read the data, and see myself and my sons,” he said. “While we understood these challenges existed, it’s disheartening and disappointing to see the glaring disproportionate disciplinary figures.”

The report notes that county officials reported two years ago that there had been 3,455 fewer out-of-school suspensions than in the 2011-12 school year.

“That’s a good thing, and it benefits children of all colors and circ*mstances,” Holton said in her presentation.

However, despite a drop in the overall number of out-of-school suspensions since then, 75 percent of the 5,702 reported suspensions in the 2016-17 school year were given to African-American students.

“But you didn’t change the ratio on suspensions,” Holton said. “On the bulk of your disciplinary actions, you haven’t cracked that nut yet.”

The findings are in line with a Virginia Department of Education report earlier this year that found black children in Henrico special education classes were six times more likely to be disciplined than other special education students in the 2015-16 school year. The discipline gap was the highest in the Richmond region.

County officials earlier this year agreed to pay approximately $70,000 for the study after constituents became concerned about reports of issues in special education programs and rising legal fees stemming from disputes over the services.

Officials said there are a growing number of complaints about the county’s special education services, leading to mediation or due process hearings that sometimes require legal counsel.

The school system last year paid nearly $1 million for outside legal counsel that assisted with those cases.

While most families with special needs students are satisfied with the county’s services, “many parents, especially those whose children have more complex needs, expressed concerns on some consistent themes,” the report says.

The report notes there is a particularly significant concern about the special education program at Virginia Randolph Education Center, which provides both academic and behavioral services.

The report also says the staff and faculty are “not adequately trained to address the complex needs of students there.”

“It’s not designed for that purpose, and it’s not well-maintained. ... During our brief two-hour visit, I saw things that made me say, ‘I wouldn’t send my child there,’” Holton said.

The report also says there are too many inexperienced special education teachers and part-time aides who do not have enough time to support students.

Those issues are compounded by frustrated school parents who feel they are not aware of their rights and unable to work with teachers and administrators to figure out what’s best for their children.

“I personally empathize with the parents and guardians who feel frustrated and excluded,” Cooper said. “I know firsthand the anxiety, frustration — and even the stigma — that’s associated oftentimes with accessing special education services for a child.”

Among other suggestions, the report recommends the school division develop a plan focused on race and culture to reduce “exclusionary discipline practices,” an update of the school division’s Code of Student Conduct, implicit bias training and improving existing programs and lines of communication with school families.

Other recommendations include upgrading several part-time positions to full-time roles, more professional development programs, and the creation of new special education policies and procedures.

School Board Chair Micky Ogburn, who represents the Three Chopt District, said she sees the report as a “win” rather than a “negative.”

“We have identified strengths we can be very proud of, and then there are things we’re not so proud of. So let’s get busy and do the work,” she said.

School officials said they will convene a working group with faculty and staff that will take input from school families and other stakeholders to develop an action plan based on the report’s recommendations.

Superintendent Amy Cashwell, who started working for Henrico earlier this year, said several improvements were made to the Virginia Randolph center over the summer.

“I remain confident that the staff and administration are committed to meeting student needs within that program during this school year and doing their best moving forward throughout the year as the work group considers what any next steps regarding the program will be,” she said.