The Effect of Person-Centered Classroom Management on Lowering Discipline Referral Numbers

• In Event: Moscone Center West Roundtable Session 8
  In Roundtable Session: Discipline, Behavior, and Referrals

Abstract

Classroom behavior continues to be a concern for most schools. Person-centered learning may be one strategy to decrease disruptive behavior. This study focuses on the question of whether including students in the management of their classroom would influence the occurrence of behavior problems. Using year one as a baseline, the next two years included 30 volunteer teachers across key content and electives participating in individuated coaching to create a person-centered classroom. The study showed that after a two-year period, compared to the baseline, 90% of teachers showed a decrease in discipline referrals for two targeted discipline codes (Defiance of Authority and Disruption of Class) and an average 38.4% decrease in total number of referrals of participating teachers.

Authors

• Ashley L Schlafly, University of Houston

• Jerome Freiberg, University of Houston