The top ten of what you may ask?  Well, Wisconsin ranks as the 7th highest state in terms of referral of students in school to police and courts – with 10.2 per 1,000 students referred compared to the national average of 5.8 per 1,000 students.  The Center for Public Integrity just analyzed 2011-2012 Education Civil Rights data to point out that Wisconsin has the highest rates of referrals of any state in the Midwest – much higher than our neighbors Minnesota (7.5 per 1,000), Illinois (6.3), and Iowa (5.1).
And, not surprisingly, these rates are quite disparate – with 14 of every 1,000 black youth referred compared to 9.5 white youth — and 24.6 per 1,000 youth with disabilities!!

I suppose one could make the argument that our schools are safe as the result of these practices –

But, any safer than our neighbors? Does it make sense that our rates would be so much higher than demographically similar states in our area?  I don’t think so.

So, we all know that the use of School Resource Officers that was popularized in the last decade has had some unintended consequences in turning behavioral problems into law enforcement referrals. And, just like expulsion and suspension data – there is really no relationship between the rates at which schools refer problems to law enforcement or the courts and actual academic performance.  So, let’s take time to reexamine the use of School Resource Officers, increase the use of restorative and other practices that do not have the side effect of driving youth into the justice system needlessly.

By Jim Moeser