Investigating Profiles of School-Level Demographic Change in Relation to Racial Disproportionality in Discipline

• In Event: 45.092 - MTCC Roundtable Session 17
  In Roundtable Session: 45.092-2 - Critical Race Analysis, Racial Disproportionality, and Racial Violence in Schools

Abstract

Racial disproportionality in discipline is a challenge faced by schools nationwide. Evidence has suggested that the demographic makeup of schools is associated with the disproportionate discipline of students of color (Edwards, 2016; Langberg & Ciolfi, 2016). To further investigate this association, we use latent profile analysis of school level demographic data over seven years to examine how the demographic makeup of schools are shifting and whether there is a relationship between these shifts and the disproportionate discipline outcomes of Black students. Results suggest that schools experiencing more racial and economic change seem to report more disproportionality for Black students than more stable schools. Identifying rapidly diversifying schools allows district leaders to target the supports they provide to address racial disproportionality.

Authors

• Ashlee Morgan Lester, Virginia Commonwealth University

• Morgan DeBusk-Lane, Virginia Commonwealth University

• Genevieve Siegel-Hawley