Feds Approve School District Response to Discipline Disparities

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - The Rochester School District is progressing toward meeting the requirements set in an agreement announced two years ago concerning a federal agency’s investigation of racial disparities in the discipline of students in the Rochester Public Schools.

Superintendent Michael Munoz says documentation of the school district’s ongoing work to meet the agreed to benchmarks was submitted to the Office of Civil Rights in August. The agency’s response was received by the school district last week and  Munoz says it was positive. He noted there was only one area where the Office of Civil Rights stated that more work was needed, and the superintendent says it appears it will be easy to fix. The federal agency requested the school district clearly define what kind of emergency would warrant a referral to a law enforcement agency in regards to the actions of the student. Munoz says the definition, which states law enforcement would be called in the event a law has been broken, is already listed in the documentation, but will now be more prominently displayed.

The School Board will receive an update on disciplinary measures faced by students early next year following the end the of the semester, while a final report will be prepared at the end of the school year. If all goes well, Munoz says this school year will be the last the district will need to report its findings to the Office of Civil Rights.

The superintendent broke the news during an appearance Monday morning on the Rochester Today Show with Andy Brownell on KROC-AM

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