Referrals to Law Enforcement and School-Related Arrests in U.S. Public Schools During the 2020-21 School Year - 2020-21 Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC)

Q: What qualifies as a referral to law enforcement in this report?

A student is reported to law enforcement for an incident on school grounds, during school-related events, or while taking school transportation, regardless of whether official action is taken. Citations, tickets, court referrals, and school-related arrests are considered referrals.

Q: How is a school-related arrest defined?

It is an arrest of a student occurring on school grounds, during off-campus school activities (in-person or virtual), while taking school transportation, or due to a referral by a school official. All such school-related arrests are treated as referrals to law enforcement.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Riley West

The document summarizes 2020-21 Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) findings on student referrals to law enforcement and school-related arrests in U.S. public schools. It defines “referral to law enforcement” and “school-related arrest,” then reports that 14% of referrals led to arrest during the school year. Data highlight overrepresentation for students with disabilities and show differences by sex and by race/ethnicity, with explanatory notes and methodology considerations, including rounding rules and coverage of disability categories.

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CategoryResearch & Report

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About the Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC)

Definitions: Referrals to Law Enforcement and School-Related Arrests

Student Referrals and Arrest Outcomes (2020-21)

Overall Enrollment and Arrest Rate

Disparities by Disability Status

Disparities by Race/Ethnicity

Notes and Data Methodology

Definitions and Coverage (Section 504 vs. IDEA)

Data Source, Rounding, and Exclusions

NOVEMBER 2023 Referrals to Law Enforcement and School-Related Arrests in U.S. Public Schools During the 2020-21 School Year 2020-21 Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights About the Civil Rights Data Collection The Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) is a mandatory survey of all public schools and school districts in the 50 states, Washington, D.C., and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. It gathers information about student access to educational programs, activities, sta , and school climate factors from public schools serving students in preschool through 12th grade. For more information about the CRDC or to download the full 2020-21 CRDC public-use data ﬁle, please visit [https://civilrightsdata.ed.gov](https://civilrightsdata.ed.gov). Since the 2009-10 CRDC, schools and school districts have reported the number of students who were referred to law enforcement and arrested at the nation's public schools. REFERRAL TO LAW ENFORCEMENT Is an action by which a student is reported to any law enforcement agency or o cial, including a school police unit, for an incident that occurs on school grounds, during school-related events, or while taking school transportation, regardless of whether o cial action is taken. Citations, tickets, court referrals, and school-related arrests are considered referrals to law enforcement. SCHOOL-RELATED ARREST Is an arrest of a student for any activity conducted on school grounds, during o􀀞-campus school activities (in-person or virtual), while taking school transportation, or due to a referral by any school o cial. All school-related arrests are considered referrals to law enforcement. Student Referrals to Law Enforcement and School-Related Arrests 9illio. Overall Student Enrollment 61,900 Referrals to Law Enforcement 8,900 School-Related Arrests During the 2020-21 school year, 14% of referrals to law enforcement resulted in a school-related arrest. FIGURE 1 Referrals to Law Enforcement and School-Related Arrests by Disability1 Students with disabilities attending public school were overrepresented in referrals to law enforcement and school-related arrests. Students without disabilities Students with disabilities served under Section 504 only Students with disabilities served under IDEA NOTE: Percent distributions may not add up to 100 percent due to rounding. Boys represented 51% of total K-12 student enrollment, and accounted for 68% referrals to law enforcement and 68% of school-related arrests. Girls represented 49% of total K-12 student enrollment, and accounted for 32% of referrals to law enforcement and 32% of school-related arrests. FIGURE 2 Referrals to Law Enforcement and School-Related Arrests by Race/Ethnicity2 American Indian or Alaska Native students, Black students, White students, and students of two or more races were overrepresented in referrals to law enforcement and school-related arrests in public schools. 100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% 19% 23% 4% 5% 5% <1% <1% 2% 1% 5% <1% 2% 1% 28% 15% 18% 22% | 46% | 55% | 47% | | --- | --- | --- | Overall Enrollment Referrals to Law Enforcement School-Related Arrests White Black or African American Hispanic or Latino of any race Asian American Indian or Alaska Native Native Hawaiian or Other Paciﬁc Islander Two or more races NOTE: Percent distributions may not add up to 100 percent due to rounding. 1. Under Section 504, a person has a disability if they: (1) have a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity; (2) have a record of such an impairment; or (3) are regarded as having such an impairment. 29 U.S.C. § 705(9)(B),(20)(B); 34 C.F.R. § 104.3(j). Students with disabilities who are eligible for special education and related services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), 20 U.S.C. § 1401(3)(A) and 34 C.F.R

FAQs

What qualifies as a referral to law enforcement in this report?

A student is reported to law enforcement for an incident on school grounds, during school-related events, or while taking school transportation, regardless of whether official action is taken. Citations, tickets, court referrals, and school-related arrests are considered referrals.

How is a school-related arrest defined?

It is an arrest of a student occurring on school grounds, during off-campus school activities (in-person or virtual), while taking school transportation, or due to a referral by a school official. All such school-related arrests are treated as referrals to law enforcement.

What does the report say about the relationship between referrals and arrests in 2020-21?

During the 2020-21 school year, 14% of referrals to law enforcement resulted in a school-related arrest.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Riley West