Documenting the Difference: The Importance of State School Discipline Laws

• In Event: Systems of Control: School Discipline Policies, Incarceration, and Peer Influences

Abstract

Research on the "school-to-prison pipeline" (STPP) indicates the importance of understanding how zero tolerance policies affect the outcomes of students (Losen, 2015). Yet few analyses review state law in conjunction with student outcomes. Those that do (e.g. Annamma, Morrison, & Jackson, 2014) indicate a need to analyze the difference in state school discipline laws. This paper presents the result of an analysis of school discipline laws for all 50 states and the District of Columbia. It captures, categorizes, and documents the top mandates for educators to refer students to law enforcement. In order to improve outcomes for students, zero tolerance must not just be changed in schools but must also be addressed at the state level.

Author

• Andrea F. Kalvesmaki, University of Utah