Minneapolis public school officials are making dramatic changes to their discipline practices by requiring the superintendent's office to review all suspensions of students of color.
The change comes amid intensifying scrutiny of the way Minneapolis public schools treat minority students and in the wake of new data showing black students are 10 times more likely to be sent home than white students.
Superintendent Bernadeia Johnson said she wants to "disrupt that in any way that I can."
"The only way I can think of doing that is to take those suspensions back to the individuals and try and probe and ask questions," Johnson said Friday.
The new policy will be implemented as the district approves a settlement with the U.S. Department of Education, which was investigating the district over its inconsistent suspension treatment for black students.
Far too often school officials are suspending students of color for a behavior that doesn't lead to suspensions for white students, Johnson said.
Beginning Monday, every proposed suspension of black, Hispanic or American Indian students that does not involve violent behavior will first be reviewed by Johnson or someone on her leadership team.
The school district is also reducing its police presence at its schools after finding inconsistencies and questions in how schools used police in disciplinary matters.