Above and Beyond the Rhetoric of the Racial Discipline Gap: Principals' Reasonings of Disciplinary Actions

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session 10
  In Roundtable Session: Educational Leaders Engaging in Decision-Making and Sensemaking of Policy and Practice

Abstract

This study enhances our understanding of the implementations of the school discipline policies in high schools and the implications of racial politics that underlie these practices before COVID-19. I use case-study methods in a predominantly Latina/o diversifying urban school district in Texas to understand the range of discipline practices reported by high school leaders with in-depth discussions of racial politics of the discipline practices. This research identified commonly used and racialized disciplinary practices. Implementing alternative disciplinary programs or acknowledging the existence of systemic racism are not panaceas to address racial disparities on school disciplinary practices. Raising awareness of racial biases that is embedded in everyday disciplinary practices is a critical action to address unequal disciplinary actions to students of color.

Author

• Wei-Ling Sun, The University of Texas - El Paso