Addressing Disparity in Discipline

Megan German
Longwood University
PEDU 620 PBL
NELP Standards:1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 6.4
 Problems to be Addressed
Disparity in discipline incidents
Effects on students
New methods of discipline to reduce disparity
 Research
Types of infractions (Alliance, 2013)
Objective ex. Smoking, vandalism, skipping class
Subjective disrespect, disruption, etc.
Discipline
More severe for minority students
Suspension
Expulsion
Law enforcement
Effects on students
Increased dropout rate
Decreased engagement
 Legal Ramifications/Precedent
Title VI
Owatonna Public School District (2009)
Resolution agreed on about disparity in discipline and harassment of Somali-Americans
Lee & United States v. Macon County Board of Education (Calhoun County)
(2015)
Confirmed desegregation of school and ordered further steps to ensure that policies and
discipline were not discriminatory and reduce number of suspensions and expulsions
Hereford & United States v. Huntsville Board of Education (2015)
Approval for building to replace and add on to current schools with certain stipulations,
one of which was resolving racial discrimination in student discipline (U.S. Department
of Justice, 2017).
Barnhardt & U.S. v. Meridian Municipal School District (2013)
Case began in 1965 as a result of discipline policy
Harsh/disproportionate punishments for African Americans
Decree in 2013 limit removal from class, educate teachers, guidelines for
law enforcement involvement
 Data-Elementary Schools
Pacific Multi-racial Population Infractions
Islander 7%
0% Asian
2%
Hispanic
5% Black
4%
Multi-racial
Pacific Islander 28%
0% Asian
0%
White
65%
White Hispanic
82% 0% Black
7%

Multi-racial
Population
Asian 1% Infractions
Hispanic Multi-racial Asian Pacific Islander
1% 0% 0%
6% 4%
Hispanic
Black 2%
6%
Black
21%

White White
83% 76%
 Data-Elementary Schools
Pacific
Pacific
Multi-racial Population Islander Infractions
5% 0%
Islander
0% Asian Asian
Hispanic 4% Hispanic
0% Multi-
5% Black 7% racial
5% 11%
Black
8%

White
White
74%
81%

Multi-
Population Infractions racial
Pacific Islander Multi-racial Asian 4%
Pacific Islander
0% Asian 9% 4%
0%
3%
Hispanic
9%
Hispanic
16%

Black
White Black White
18%
61% 17% 59%
 Data-Middle School

Pacific Islander
Population Infractions
Multi-
racial
0% Multi-racial 3%
Pacific Islander
Asian 6%
Asian 0%
3%
Hispanic 0%
6%
Hispanic
Black 11%
6%
Black
14%

White White
79% 72%
 Data- High Schools
Pacific
Islander Population Pacific Multi- Infractions
Asian 0% Multi-racial Islander racial
2% 5% Asian 0% 5%
Hispanic 1% Hispanic
6%
4%
Black
6%
Black
14%

White White
81% 76%

Multi-racial
Pacific
Multi-
racial Population 7% Infractions
American
Islander 7% Indian Pacific Islander
0% 0% 0%
Asian Asian
2% 1%
Hispanic
Hispanic 8%
6%

Black
19% White
Black 54%
White 30%
66%
 Solutions
Alternative discipline (Skiba & Losen, 2015)
Relationship building
Teacher-student interaction
Restorative practices
Social-Emotional Learning
Teach students to recognize and properly handle emotions
Student groups to discuss infractions and appropriate
consequences
Structural Interventions (PBIS) *
Focus on positive behaviors
Teach and model expected behavior
Reinforce by praising positive more than focusing on negative
behaviors
 PBIS
Base level: prevention
Middle level: addressing minor
infractions small groups
Top level: major infraction
interventions or repeated
infractions after middle level
interventions

Choose core values

Create clear expectations for
behavior
Teach the behavior, model the
behavior, acknowledge/reward
students who demonstrate the
behavior
PBIS brochure.pub
 References
Alliance for Excellent Education (2013, September). Climate change: Implementing school
discipline practices that create a positive school climate. Retrieved from
https://vtss-ric.org/Classrooms_not_Courtrooms_2016/Climate_Change_-
_Implementing_School_Discipline_Practices_That_Create_a_Positive_School_Climate.
Pdf
Green, A., Nese, R., McIntosh, K., Nishioka, V., Eliason, B., & Delabra, A. (2015). Key elements of
policies to address discipline disproportionality: A guide for district and school teams.
Retrieved from https://www.pbis.org/Common/Cms/files/pbisresources/
PBIS%20Disproportionality%20Policy%20Guidebook%202016-7-24.pdf
PBIS.org (2017). What is PBIS? Retrieved from https://www.pbis.org/school
Skiba, R. & Losen, D. (2015). From reaction to prevention: Turning the page on school discipline.
Retrieved from http://www.aft.org/ae/winter2015-2016/skiba_losen
United States Department of Justice. 2017, April 17. Case Summaries. Retrieved from
https://www.justice.gov/crt/case-summaries