Hundreds of Maryland youngsters are being arrested for disruptive faculty habits underneath what advocates name an antiquated and discriminatory state legislation.
For the fourth 12 months in a row, Delegate Sheila Ruth is sponsoring a invoice to take away the college disruption charge from Maryland’s criminal code. This push comes as state lawmakers grapple with reforming the juvenile justice system, amid widespread concern about youth crime — regardless of knowledge proving that it’s reducing in Maryland.
“These are conditions the place a pupil is perhaps performing up slightly bit, like youngsters typically do, they lose their mood and yell, or they refuse to alter seats,” Ruth mentioned. “There are inner processes for dealing with that. But as a substitute, what’s occurring is children are being arrested.”
Black youngsters are 5.5 instances extra prone to be charged with disruptive faculty habits. Students with disabilities are charged 3.3 instances extra usually than their nondisabled friends — many instances for behaviors recognized by faculty officers of their individualized training plans (IEPs).
Read extra at WYPR.
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