5 things civil rights data says about public schools
New federal civil rights data reveals trends in public education, including a rise in preschool enrollment and a decline in K-12 attendance. The report also highlights disparities in student discipline and a lack of diversity in the teacher workforce, while noting the exclusion of nonbinary student data from the current release.
Why it matters
This data is essential for researchers and policymakers to assess equity and accountability within the American public school system.
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The number of kids in preschool rose in the 2023-24 school year, while those in K-12 public schools declined. The population of students with disabilities grew. Black students were more likely to be suspended than students of other races. And the teacher workforce was far less diverse than the student population.
All of this information comes from the latest Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC): a federal survey that paints one of the most comprehensive pictures of how American students are being treated at school. The federal government has been gathering this kind of information for over 50 years, partly to help the U.S. Education Department hold schools accountable for protecting student civil rights.
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