Burlington schools see fewer racial disparities in student suspensions: A turning point in Vermont’s equity efforts

The Burlington School District in Vermont has reached what officials are calling a major milestone in its decades-long effort to reduce racial bias in school discipline. According to data released last week, students of colour, who make up about 42% of Burlington’s pre-kindergarten to grade 12 population, accounted for only 33% of suspensions in the last academic year. That marks a significant decline from 2012-2022, when they represented half of all suspensions despite comprising just 38% of enrolment. The total number of suspensions across the 3,200-student district also fell from 248 two years ago to 207 last year, reflecting a 17% overall decrease, the Associated Press (AP) reports. In a state that remains among the whitest in the United States, Burlington’s progress stands