Briefing for Maryland Advisory Committee (MD UCEDD)

September 9, 2018

On Friday, August 24, 2018, the Maryland Advisory Committee for the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights hosted a briefing on disproportionate discipline in Maryland Public Schools. The purpose of the all-day event was to hold a public meeting to examine the discipline, suspension, and expulsion rates for students of color students with disabilities. The Maryland data indicate that disproportionality remains a serious concern in Maryland schools.

The Committee considered what, if any, effective services are in place to address disability-related behaviors, whether disciplinary policies or practices are applied in a discriminatory matters against students of either or both groups, and what strategies are most effective to remedy disproportionate discipline. Invited presenters included school officials, advocates, attorneys, students, parents, community leaders, and other experts. Maureen van Stone, the interim director of the Maryland Center for Developmental Disabilities, offered a perspective on the data during the second panel presentation. Following five panel presentations, there was an opportunity for public comment.

Pictured: Current and former fellows from the Center for Innovation & Leadership at Kennedy Krieger Institute, Maureen van Stone, and Catherine E. Lhamon, the Chair of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.