Austin ISD trustees reviewed data on disciplinary actions and police interactions at a board information session March 10.

The data highlighted the disproportionate rate of disciplinary action against African American and special education students compared to the rest of the student population. As of February, African American students made up 19% of students who received disciplinary actions—defined as in-school or home school suspensions for full or partial school days, and discretionary removals to the district’s Alternative Learning Center—despite being 6.3% of AISD’s student population. Special education students were involved in 32% of disciplinary action incidents. They represent 13% of AISD students.

The overall number of disciplinary incidents dropped by 47% for African-American students and 39% for special education students since 2018-19, the last pre-COVID-19 year when data was collected. Rates of disparity—the high number of disciplinary incidents faced by African American and special education students despite their relatively small population size—show little change from roughly 19% and 30%, respectively, in 2018-19.

The district is working to decrease these disparities to zero by August 2026. Campuses with disproportionate disciplinary action data will be required to create an action plan to foster equitable outcomes for African American and special education students. AISD's Central Discipline Office will work with the schools to provide individualized support on a campuswide and classroom-specific level.

Superintendent Stephanie Elizalde emphasized the importance of moving away from a zero-tolerance policy toward disorderly conduct to lower rates of disciplinary actions in the district.