LAUSD Ends "Willful Defiance" Suspensions

The Wall Street Journal (5/16, Phillips, Subscription Publication) reports on the controversy surrounding the Los Angeles Unified School District's decision to discontinue suspensions for "willful defiance," noting that opponents of the practice say that it discriminates against minority students and is counterproductive, while supporters of it say that willful defiance is disruptive and can prevent other students from learning. The Journal places this story within the context of the national debate over whether some school discipline policies discriminate against minority or special education students, noting that ED is investigating potential civil rights violations in 20 districts across the country.