Search Here

Race continues to be a key factor in determining who receives out-of-school suspension and expulsion, and that racial disparities in school discipline are most likely due more to school characteristics than to the characteristics of behaviors or students, according to a new study.

The study, led by Russ Skiba, explored factors affecting disproportionate rates of suspension and expulsion for African-American students. Type of misbehavior, student characteristics including race and socioeconomic status, and school characteristics, such as the principal's views on school discipline, all predict which students will be suspended or expelled. In particular, the study found race to be a key factor.

"It[Race] continues to be a powerful predictor of the severity of school punishment, independent of poverty status or the type of behavior students engage in," said Skiba, professor at the Indiana University School of Education. "In particular, schools with more African-American students are more likely to use more exclusionary forms of discipline such as suspension or expulsion." 

According to the research, African American students remain 1.5 times more likely than white students to receive an out-of-school suspension.

It was also found that students in schools with higher proportions of black students are almost 6 times more likely to receive an out-of-school suspension.

However, students in schools where a principal supports preventive alternatives to suspension are 30 percent less likely to receive an out-of-school suspension, and more than 50 percent less likely to receive an expulsion.

The lead author said the results are consistent with other recent reports, including a report released last month by the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights that found national data indicate African-American students are far more likely than peers to be suspended.

"It is especially troubling that these results support previous research in showing that schools with higher proportions of African-American students use more punitive procedures, regardless of the socioeconomic level of the schools," he said.

"It's no surprise that schools face tough and complex decisions in trying to keep schools safe and orderly," Skiba said, but he added that the results also have important implications for addressing racial differences in discipline. "If we really wish to make a difference in reducing racial and ethnic disparities in suspension and expulsion, these findings suggest that we would do better reflecting upon school policies and practices than focusing on characteristics of students or their behavior."

The study was presented on Friday at the American Educational Research Association meeting in Vancouver.