Muskegon Public Schools reports higher-than-target special-education discipline ratio under state review

Muskegon Public Schools’ special education director, Jamie Venena, told the board at a March 3 workshop that the district is under review by the Michigan Department of Education for disproportionate suspensions and removals of students with Individualized Education Programs.

Venena said 28 student names were selected for review and that the district’s ratio of disciplinary incidents involving students with IEPs “is at about 5.53%,” exceeding the state guideline of 2.5%. She reported that the district’s corrective-action work from the 2023–24 CAP was closed on Feb. 17, 2026, and that the district received notice of a 2024–25 CAP on Feb. 11, 2026.

The presentation consisted of factual updates rather than board debate; Venena described the review and timeline but did not outline specific policy changes during the workshop. Board members asked for information about next steps and data the state required, and the administration indicated it would provide further details outside the workshop setting.

Why it matters: Disproportionate discipline rates can trigger corrective action from the state and may require changes to district policy and practice. The district’s reported ratio — more than double the stated 2.5% benchmark — signals a potential need for programmatic or procedural changes to align with state expectations.

What’s next: Venena and staff said they will follow up with the board with specifics about the state review, the CAP requirements, and any recommended corrective measures; no formal action was taken at the workshop.