The latest CityLab Infographic, entitled WPS Discipline Data Update --2024, was released in January 2024. CityLab researchers have been following discipline statistics in WPS since 2013 when Worcester was identified as one of the nation's highest suspension schools for Latino students. At the time, CityLab researchers found a disconcerting disparity in the frequency at which Latino students were disciplined relative to their share of WPS enrollment and a corollary disparity among White students who were disciplined far below their percentage of the student body.
The Latino student disparity has decreased over time, but this is due less to a decrease in the rate at which Latino students are disciplined -- it was 53.8% in AY 2013 and 56.7% in AY 2023 -- than it has to do with Latinos comprising more of the school population. In other words, as the Latino population grows, it is catching up to that group's historically high percentage of disciplinary actions. Further, the disparity among the White numbers has decreased, too, but for the opposite reason: lower White enrollment numbers are approaching the historically low percentage rates of White students.
While that problem remains, CityLab researchers have found that the overall number of suspensions has decreased markedly since pre-pandemic levels. This was an anticipated outcome by the current administration which recently adopted a more restorative justice-focused disciplinary model. The drop in students disciplined has placed Worcester Public Schools' discipline rate on par with that of Boston's public school district. Also, CityLab researchers found that the number of discipline actions coded under the catch-all category "non-drug, non-violent, non-criminal-related offense" dropped from 2,029 uses in AY 2013 to only 498 in AY 2023.
For the full infographic, click here. You can also see School Committeeperson Susan Mailman referencing the new report at the Worcester School Committee meeting on February 1, 2024 below at the 1:13:27 mark.
Not in This Together: COVID-19 and People of Color by Shiko Gathuo, Ph.D. Shiko Gathuo, Ph.D. Professor and Graduate Program Director of Urban Studies Presidents, prime ministers, royalty, celebrities. These and other rich, powerful and famous people have contracted COVID-19. When the pandemic first took hold, it was easy to throw around phrases like “we are in this together,” “the pandemic does not discriminate,” and “united in the fight.” These warm and comforting sentiments quickly became hollow as it became apparent that, in fact, the pandemic does discriminate and it has negatively affected the poor and people of color disproportionately and in many different ways. People of color are experiencing the health aspect of COVID-19 including infection, testing and treatment differently. The virus has also exacerbated other already existing conditions such as economic deprivation, food insecurity, and the education achievement gap. COVID-19 has also had a significant negative effe...
Students in Dr. Conroy's Worcester: A City & Its People class ( UR 312) took to the city for a second time this semester to do some fieldwork. The first trip was to North Main Street -- this one was to Coes Pond and Webster Square. Here they are on the eastern edge of the pond along the boardwalk. The student field packets contained old maps and images of city buildings and spaces at various historical points. For example, the packets contained plates from the 1896 and 1911 Worcester Real Estate Atlases as well as pictures of the "old" Webster Square Cinema when it was in operation, the "old" Stop'n Shop that's not the Asian Market, the Coes Wrench Factory, and the Roller Skating Arena that is now called Arena Plaza (where a Little Caesars is located). Students located the sites along the way and compared the old images and maps to what remains of them today. Then they were encouraged to speculate about the changes before they dug into source mat...
The Urban Studies faculty is proud to present the department's 2024 Academic Achievement Award winners and newest inductees into Upsilon Sigma, the Urban Studies Honor Society. UNDERGRADUATE AWARDS The Jake Powers Award -- Skylar Adcock Urban Studies student who is an innovative, original thinker, whose time in the department has emboldened them to pursue personal and professional opportunities they may not have previously considered, and to achieve them with determination, grit, and courage. The Maureen Power Service Award -- Lamar Brown-Noguera Presented to students with an impressive track record of service and who can best articulate why service is significant to them and their academic/professional careers, and how it advances the mission of the department. Department Academic Award (Top GPA) -- Elizabeth Stone Given to the highest-ranking senior in Urban Studies who best represents the mission of the Foundation. Standard Bearer for Undergraduate Commencement -- ...
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