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Parliamentary Questions


Question On Notice No. 909 asked in the Legislative Council on 1 September 2022 by Hon Dr Brad Pettitt

Question Directed to the: Minister for Education and Training
Parliament: 41 Session: 1


Question

(1) Does the Department of Education undertake monitoring to identify disproportionate suspensions of students with disabilities?
(2) If yes to (1), how is the monitoring undertaken?
(3) In Western Australian schools over the past 12 months, what percentage of:
(a) the total number of students who were suspended had a disability; and
(b) the total number of suspensions given to students were given to students with disabilities?
(4) Will the Minister commit to reporting school suspension data publicly in line with other states, including the proportion of school suspensions administered to disabled students and other marginalised student groups?

Answered on 11 October 2022

(1)-(4)  The paramount consideration for schools when issuing suspensions is the safety of students and staff. The Department has disaggregated its system-level suspension data to identify the proportion of students suspended who are students with disability. Of the total number of students given a suspension, approximately one-third had a disability. The Department of Education is working with unions and staff in schools to identify ways to improve safety for staff and students.