rich 1.0 Action Network https://actionnetwork.org <link href='https://actionnetwork.org/css/style-embed-v3.css' rel='stylesheet' type='text/css' /><script src='https://actionnetwork.org/widgets/v6/petition/solutions-not-suspensions?format=js&source=widget'></script><div id='can-petition-area-solutions-not-suspensions' style='width: 100%'><!-- this div is the target for our HTML insertion --></div> Youth Organizing Institute https://actionnetwork.org/groups/youth-organizing-institute https://actionnetwork.org//images/generic_facebook.jpg THE CRISIS Wake County’s public school students are in a state of emergency. In the 2011-2012 school year there were over 14,000 suspensions. By far, most of the suspensions were for very minor behaviors such as “disrespect” and “noncompliance” This punitive discipline practice disproportionately impacts low-income, youth of color, and LGBTQ youth. National studies show that when students are suspended they are more likely to drop out, fall behind in their classes, and be funneled into juvenile detention centers and even prison. The suspension rates in Wake County public schools are some of the worst in the country: Economically disadvantaged students (i.e., students receiving free or reduced lunch) are 63% of suspensions but only 33% of student population. Black students make up 25% of the student population, but receive 60% of suspensions. Wake County students received 1,222 out-of-school suspensions for poor attendance. Garner High School students received more suspensions than the students of Forsyth and Guilford counties combined (the third and fourth largest school districts in the state). https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/solutions-not-suspensions