What Factors Influence Schools' Decisions to Suspend Students? Findings From an Urban School District

• In Event: 54.057 - Classroom Discipline and Misbehavior: Student Perspectives and School Practices

Abstract

In theory, schools’ codes of conduct define uniform responses to misbehavior and clearly delineate which offenses are suspendable. For instance, fighting is a suspend able offense in many schools. In reality, however, decisions to suspend vary.How do parents’ involvement in youths’ punishment at home play a role in school practitioners’ decision to out of school suspend students? This paper highlights the perspectives of interviewed teachers, assistant principals, deans and principals on the ways in which the actions of parents influence their decisions to suspend or not suspend K-8 students.

Author

• Katrina Morrison, University of Pennsylvania