Understanding School Discipline in California: Perceptions and Practice

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As concerns grow about the effects of discipline policies on schools and students, and especially their disproportionate impact on African American and Latino students, attempts to reform these policies have also gained momentum.

To better understand how discipline policies are being implemented in California schools, EdSource conducted a survey of 315 of the state's largest school districts. Collectively these districts enroll two-thirds of California's students. This new EdSource report describes the findings from that survey and presents the perspectives of the district administrators in charge of student discipline policies for their schools.

Key findings include:

• School officials express a need for support to more effectively manage discipline issues, including additional school counselors and community resources.
• More than 80% said the state's budget crisis has affected their ability to deal with student behavior and discipline.
• School districts are trying a range of alternative approaches to suspension and expulsions.
• Two-thirds of officials express concern about the differential impact of discipline policies on students from different racial and ethnic backgrounds.

The survey found that an overwhelming 81 percent of administrators ranked student discipline and behavior management as a concern when compared to other issues facing districts, although just 22 percent said it was a major concern. They worry about the disproportionate number of expulsions and suspensions of Latino and African American students, about not having discretion when it comes to the state's zero tolerance policies, and about the financial burden of student discipline on the schools in staff time, legal fees, and security measures.

"They are keenly aware of the challenges they face and are actively searching for solutions and support," said Louis Freedberg, executive director of EdSource.

Posted by Jim Zellmer at September 11, 2012 2:18 AM
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