Education Leaders Urge DeVos, Sessions Not to Scrap Racial Bias Guidance

Seventy education leaders are urging Education Secretary Betsy DeVos and Attorney General Jeff Sessions not to remove Obama-era guidance aimed at eliminating racial disparities in school discipline, the Washington Examiner is reporting.

The educators made their request in a letter. They cited studies showing those from several minority groups being either suspended or expelled from schools at a higher rate than other students.

They are urging that a 2014 guidance letter issued by the Department of Education and the Department of Justice remain intact. That letter was designed to help "identify, avoid and remedy discriminatory discipline."

The education representatives say DeVos has said she is open to scrapping the guidance, although no decision has yet been made.

"I think it's clear their intent is to pull the guidance," Brenda Shum, director of the Educational Opportunities Project at the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, was quoted by The Hill.

The website noted the guidance reminds schools receiving federal funds to administer student discipline without discriminating.

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