Auburn elementary addresses racial discipline disparities at recess

When Trina Lutes-Johnson became principal of Lakeland Hills Elementary School in Auburn, she noticed Black boys were disciplined at a disproportionately higher rate than white students during recess, according to reports from seattleweekly.com and auburn-reporter.com.

Data from the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction for the 2024-2025 school year showed about 6.4% of Black students and 6.2% of students of two or more races were disciplined, compared to lower rates for Asian (2.9%), Hispanic (2.1%), and white students, who had the lowest discipline rates.

The school's student population in that year was 31.1% white, 27.3% Hispanic, 18.9% Asian, 12.1% of two or more races, and 9.2% Black.

To understand and address the disparity, Lutes-Johnson utilized the Auburn School District's equity resources, including "equity walks," where district leaders and students observe school environments to assess culturally responsive teaching practices, as detailed by educational equity consultant Gary Howard.

These efforts aimed to identify how disciplinary disparities occurred and implement strategies to reduce them, focusing on improving equity in student treatment during recess and throughout the school.