breaking schools’ rules: a statewide study of how student discipline relates to students’...
TRANSCRIPT
Breaking Schools’ Rules: A Statewide Study of How Student Discipline Relates to
Students’ Success and Juvenile Justice Involvement
Michael ThompsonDirector
May 23, 2011
Washington, DC
Council of State Governments Justice Center 2
• National non-profit, non-partisan membership association of state government officials
• Represents all three branches of state government
• Provides practical, nonpartisan advice informed by the best available evidence
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• How many children are suspended, expelled, or removed from school for other disciplinary reasons, and to what extent are these decisions mandated by state law?
• Do the disciplinary decisions disproportionately impact students of a particular race and gender?
• Are children with particular disabilities more prone to school disciplinary action?
• How does removal from the classroom help predict academic success and the likelihood of staying in school on grade level?
• How do school disciplinary decisions affect a student’s likelihood of juvenile justice involvement?
• How does the use of disciplinary actions vary among schools?
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Why Study in Texas?
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Bipartisan support from key officials
Excellent information systems in TEA and access to data protocols with ERCs
Partnership for quantitative research
Data in PEIMS and AEIS capturing the size and diversity of the state to provide an excellent case study
Size/Demographics One in 10 students in US educated in TX; student body is nearly two-thirds non-white
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Study Groups and Tracking
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Overview of the Study
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Tracking close to 930,000 students for seven years
Conducting multivariate analysis that allows for controlling of many factors
Matching data across systems to determine involvement in juvenile justice system
Tracking all students in seventh grade statewide in Texas instead of using small samples
The role of local law enforcement in schools Issues related to truancy
The use of Class C misdemeanor ticketing to address school related offenses
Development of specific policy recommendations for Texas
What the study is not covering:
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Issue Areas
• Exposure to school discipline system
• Impact on students of color
• Impact on students with disabilities
• Relationship between discipline and academic performance
• Relationship between discipline and juvenile justice involvement
• Variation among individual schools
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Questions from State and Local Officials
• How is (and how should) discipline data be collected/tracked in my jurisdiction?
• What promising policies, programs, and practices are being employed across the country?
• What strategies do professionals on the front lines of the education and juvenile justice systems, as well as policymakers and advocates, agree would improve outcomes for students who misbehave in school?
• What policies, programs, and practices does the research demonstrate effectively improve school environments and reduce use of suspension and expulsion?
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Federal Leadership
• Focus attention on the issue
• Commission research
• Highlight innovations
• Define the common ground
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Thank You
CONTACT
Michael Thompson
Director
The presentation was developed by members of the Council of State Governments Justice Center staff. Because presentations are not subject to the same rigorous review process as other printed materials, the statements made reflect the views of the authors, and should not be considered the official position of the Justice Center, the members of the Council of State Governments, or the funding agency supporting the work.