The West Virginia Advisory Committee (Committee) to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights (Commission) has been examining the civil rights impact that exclusionary and punitive school disciplinary policies, practices, and procedures may have on students of color, students with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ students in West Virginia public schools (K-12). Over the years, a number of articles, reports, and studies conducted by federal and state governments, researchers, scholars, and non-profit entities have found that school students of color, students with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ students experience disciplinary decisions and exclusions more often and harsher than their counterparts.
Since August 2021, the Committee has held several virtual briefings and heard testimony from national and state experts, as well as impacted individuals. The Committee will conduct a final virtual panel briefing to hear testimony from West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) officials and staff about disciplinary data, policies, practices, procedures, guidance, and training in West Virginia public schools. The Committee will submit a written report to the Commission about what was learned from this review, including findings and recommendations. |