Suspensions and Disparties in Suspensions Hit Four-year Low
Burlington, VT Burlington School District is pleased to announce a major milestone in the pursuit of equity. In 2024–25, Students of the Global Majority made up 42% of BSD’s student population, yet represented only 33% of suspensions. This means that last year, for the first time, BSD eliminated racial disparities in suspensions.
“This is a great achievement that the District has been working toward for decades,” said Tom Flanagan, Superintendent of Schools. “We know there is a direct, negative connection between suspensions and student success in and out of school. Frequent suspensions lead to negative lifelong outcomes, such as the well-documented connection between school suspension and incarceration. Reducing racial bias that leads to increased suspensions for Black students and students of the Global Majority is a goal in many districts across the country, and we are proud to have achieved it in BSD. And we are particularly proud because this comes with an overall reduction in suspensions as well.”
Flanagan noted that the realization of this goal is a result of deliberate and intentional work designed to give staff and leaders the tools needed to ensure they are acting equitably and responsibly in matters of student discipline. The effort directly relates to the District’s Five-year Strategic Plan, which outlined the need to eliminate disparities by race, for students with IEPs, and for students receiving free or reduced lunch in suspension and office discipline referrals.
“We have spent years learning about restorative practices and putting them into action. This is not a result of just suspending less, it is a result of our deep anti-racist commitments and our efforts to ensure belonging and well-being for all of our students, educators, and families. In 2022-23, we created a Restorative Code of Conduct, which memorialized a District-wide approach for sustaining restorative communities. Using this tool, building leaders have worked hard to strengthen school climate and culture in ways that encourage students to feel more sense of belonging and to be more engaged in their school communities.”
In addition to reducing racial disparities, BSD also reduced the total number of suspensions across the district from 248 to 207. Still, Flanagan was quick to note that there is more work to be done.
“Now that we have achieved this goal, it’s imperative that we stay focused on not moving backward and continue to address the disparities that remain for students with IEPs and those who are eligible for free and reduced lunch. I know our team is dedicated to this work, and I look forward to reaching even more milestones in support of our students.”
