Racial Discrimination Case Against Upper Dublin Schools Settled

UPPER DUBLIN, PA — A complaint filed against the Upper Dublin School District alleging racial discrimination in their policies has been settled, parties involved announced this week.

Among the results of the settlement are an overhaul of the tracking system which places students on certain lower level education paths early in their school careers, as well as improved, more just disciplinary practices, according to the Concerned African American Parents (CAAP), the nonprofit that filed the complaint on behalf of local parents. Staff must also under go training to address "implicit bias."

Specifically, the complaint alleged that Upper Dublin used "overly harsh," discriminatory practices that led to higher out-of-school suspension rates for black students. It also alleged that black students are disproportionately placed in lower-level classes and not given fair access to honors-level tracks.

Concerns were first raised by the CAAP in Nov. 2015, and an investigation was opened into some of the allegations by the U.S. Department of Education in Dec. 2016. District officials have met with CAAP representatives and a mediator for the past several months to reach a settlement.

State Sen. Vincent Hughes (D-Montgomery), whose district includes Upper Dublin, called the agreement a "step in the right direction."

"Too often we’ve seen these types of discriminatory educational practices exhibited," Hughes said in a statement. "And with this agreement, the Upper Dublin School District is helping to establish a future where all students, regardless of race, have an equal opportunity to thrive and receive fair treatment."

The new system calls for the district to phase in a new system over the next four school years that will ultimately eliminate middle school students being placed in tracks, except in 8th grade math. In high school, the number of tracks will be dropped to two: academic, and honors. Advanced Placement (AP) courses will now be open to all students, regardless of if they've completed an AP or honors class before.

Low level, or "track three" classes will be eliminated.

The agreement also stipulates that parents have access to data that shows the level of participation of African-Americans in higher level courses.

Ben Geffen, a Public Interest Law Center Attorney who represented CAAP in the complaint, said he hopes the agreement can serve as a broader example.

"Districts across the country can look to what Upper Dublin and CAAP have done as a model for policies that promote racial equity and allow all students to reach their full potential," he said in a statement.

When the initial CAAP complaint was filed in 2015, nearly 45 percent of school suspensions at Upper Dublin were issued to students of color, who only made up 7.3 percent of the student body.

"We are pleased to bring this matter to a close and to move forward in the best interest of all students," Upper Dublin Superintendent Steve Yanni said in an emailed statement to Patch. "We are committed to equitable practices that will ensure the success of our students - all of our students."

The district also changed their Excellence and Equity Committee to the Equity and Empowerment Steering Committee, which will review the district's policies and procedures for best practices.

The school board voted to approve the significant changes at meeting this week.