MPS stands by plan to reduce racial disparities in discipline despite letter to Betsy DeVos

The Milwaukee Public School (MPS) has decided to remain committed to reducing the racial disparity in suspension and expulsion regardless of Betsy DeVos, U.S. Education Secretary’s advice to do so.

The district characterized a misleading letter sent by the conservative group which suggested that the Obama administration had pressurized the MPS to reduce the disparity and had blamed the federally funded behavioral intervention program for the decline in academic performance.

The letter sent to DeVos was signed by WILL and 11 conservative group which urged her to rescind the departments. The letter said, “MPS is committed to making sure our discipline policies and practices are fair to all students and that these efforts contribute to a positive school environment.”

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights opened the investigation into the MPS disciplinary policy in 2014. The investigation found that MPS and other district schools had suspended black students at a higher rate compared to white students.

According to research, suspensions and expulsion rates have contributed to the gap in achievement gap between black and white students at MPS. Through MPS has reduced the overall suspension in the last decade, the racial disparity still persists.