Examining Racial Disparities in School Referrals

• In Event: Biosocial Criminology: Juvenile Delinquency and Families

Abstract

For nearly forty years, research on school discipline has consistently found that black students are punished significantly more than white students. This disparity has raised a concern that a “school-to-prison pipeline” may exist wherein black children are discriminated against, whether intentionally or unintentionally. As a result, blacks may be placed at a greater risk of school and subsequent later life failure, including involvement with the criminal justice system. However, recent research controlling for the prior problem behavior of the student has been able to eliminate or attenuate this disparity. Building upon this work, we investigate a longitudinal sample of underprivileged children and evaluate the effect of race on different types of academic and behavioral referrals received during kindergarten and elementary school. Upon controlling for variables such as self-control and IQ we find that the significant effect of race can be eliminated.

Authors

• Mark Alden Morgan, University of Cincinnati

• John Paul Wright, University of Cincinnati