More Than Numbers: The Harsh Discipline of Black K-12 Girls
It’s no longer a surprising revelation that Black girls are disciplined at disproportionately high rates compared to their peers of other racial backgrounds. However, new data from two women’s advocacy organizations and the federal government has further shed light on this persistent trend. Black girls, who make up just 15% of public school students, are far more likely than white girls to be suspended for behavior issues — and face exclusionary expulsion and corporal punishment as early as preschool.
A 2024 report from the National Black Women’s Justice Institute found that Black K-12 girls represented more than three times their enrollment share in transfers and corporal punishment and more than double their share in expulsions. This data has been bolstered by a new report from the Government Accountability Office, which found that in the 2017-2018 school year, Black girls accounted for nearly half of all exclusionary discipline cases — including 45% of out-of-school suspensions, 37% of in-school suspensions, and 43% of expulsions.
This disparity also echoes the findings from the National Women’s Law Journal and Ed Trust, which reported that in the 2015-2016 school year, Black girls were five times more likely than their white peers to be suspended. In addition, the report also found that as early as preschool, Black girls made up 20% of the female enrollment but accounted for 53% of out-of-school suspensions.
The GAO identified that the disproportionate discipline of Black girls is due to a range of factors, including poverty levels, disabilities, and the presence of school resource officers. However, racial bias — particularly via adultification and colorism — plays the most significant role.
“Teachers and school staff often perceive Black girls as older and more mature than they are, which means they are seen as more ‘responsible’ for their actions and are punished more severely than their peers,” says Dr. Sydney McKinney, executive director of the National Black Women’s Justice Institute. “This bias manifests in labeling typical teenage behavior as ‘disrespect’ or ‘disruption,’ and Black girls often bear the brunt of these stereotypes.”
The discipline crisis among Black K-12 girls spans every state in the U.S. McKinney pointed to the long-standing trends in exclusionary discipline data from the 2024 NBWJI report. “Our data from 2011 to 2018 shows consistent overrepresentation of Black girls in nearly every category of discipline—whether it’s suspensions, expulsions, or referrals to law enforcement,” she says. “This consistency over time is perhaps the most alarming aspect. It’s clear that little progress has been made despite awareness of the issue.”
The Long-Term Educational Impact
The long-term effects of exclusionary discipline are profound, including academic disengagement, lower self-esteem, and higher dropout rates. In the GAO report, school counselors and psychologists emphasized the damaging effects these biases have on Black girls’ academic performance and emotional well-being, noting that they “often feel unsafe or unsupported in school environments” — emotions that can have lasting consequences on their self-esteem and educational outcomes.
A Call for Reform
The GAO report’s findings have reignited calls for policy reform, urging schools to move away from exclusionary discipline and adopt more culturally responsive practices that address the root causes of behavior rather than simply punishing students. Fiddiman and Dr. McKinney emphasize the need for data-driven solutions and trauma-informed policies to create a positive school climate for Black girls.
“While Fiddiman and Dr. McKinney noted that some school districts acknowledge the problem, they often fail to take substantial action or lack financial and structural resources to implement necessary policy and practice changes.
FAQs
* Q: Why are Black girls disciplined at disproportionately high rates?
A: The GAO report found that racial bias, particularly adultification and colorism, play the most significant role in the disproportionate discipline of Black girls.
* Q: What are the long-term effects of exclusionary discipline on Black girls?
A: The long-term effects of exclusionary discipline are profound, including academic disengagement, lower self-esteem, and higher dropout rates.
* Q: What can be done to address the issue of Black girl discipline?
A: The GAO report’s findings have reignited calls for policy reform, urging schools to move away from exclusionary discipline and adopt more culturally responsive practices that address the root causes of behavior rather than simply punishing students.
