“Staying Out the Way”

Black girls and women have battled with the experiences of disposability within the education system. On the one hand, statistics demonstrate triumph in terms of educational attainment for Black girls and women at astonishing rates in comparison to their Black male counterparts (Banks, 2009; Muhammad & Dixson, 2008; O'Connor, 2002; Schwartz & Washington, 1999). However, these statistics are typically weaponized to justify the little to no attention given to the lived experiences that Black girls and women encounter during their educational journeys. With closer examination, one would uncover the harsh treatment and difficult occurrences Black girls and women are exposed to while accessing the fundamental right of education. Of these occurrences, the issue of disciplinary sanctioning ¹ in K–12 education is one of great importance to explore.