R 345
2001-H 6578
Enacted 6/27/2001


H  O  U  S  E     R  E  S  O  L  U  T  I  O  N

DIRECTING THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION TO LOOK AT THE RACIAL ASPECTS OF SCHOOL DISCIPLINE AND DEVISE A PLAN OF ACTION TO ELIMINATE RACIAL BIAS IN ALL RHODE ISLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Introduced By:  Representatives Abdullah-Odiase, Shavers, Munschy, Cicilline and Vieira Date Introduced:   June 28, 2001

WHEREAS, The Department of Education has made a commitment to "all kids, all schools"; and

WHEREAS, Drop outs and suspensions are unacceptably high and are disproportionately elevated among minority students, particularly black students. "Without improvements among these children, we will fail to more forward as a state." These essential facts were reported to the General Assembly by the Commissioner of Education in his 2001 State of Education Address; and

WHEREAS, A student of color is twice as likely to get suspended, in a Rhode Island school, as is a white student. Research advises that there is a strong correlation between school suspensions and failure to complete high school; and

WHEREAS, If we here gathered know our educational system is flawed and inconsistent and there exists an urgent problem, and we know that many of our most at need and at risk children are being disproportionately disadvantaged, then we cannot stand by and fail these children. We must take action to correct these inequities immediately; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations does hereby direct the Commissioner of Education to investigate the inequities in the relationship between school discipline and race in Rhode Island public schools; and be it further

RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives directs the Commissioner of Education to report back to the General Assembly, no later than September 30, 2001, with a plan of action that will eliminate racial bias in all Rhode Island public schools; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he is hereby authorized and directed to transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the Commissioner of Education for Rhode Island, the Board of Regents, the Rhode Island Legislative Black and Minority Caucus, the Rhode Island Congressional Delegation, the United States Secretary and Under Secretary of Education, The Honorable Edward M. Kennedy, the Congressional Black Caucus, the President of the National Urban League, the President of the National NAACP, the Reverend Jessie Jackson, the Rainbow Coalition and Operation Push and Reverend Al Sharpton.

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