Not on Track to Apply to College: School Punishment and Taking the SAT

• In Event: Empirical Examinations of Punitive Disciplinary Practices and Their Consequences

Abstract

Studies have consistently shown that school punishment has negative consequences on school academic achievement. Students that are suspended and arrested are more likely to have lower math and reading scores and drop out of high school, and are less likely to enroll in a four year-university. It is important to further understand if individuals that experience school punishment or involvement with the criminal justice system are taking the steps to apply to a four-year university. The SAT exam is one of the standardized tests used by many four-year universities during the admission process. Using the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997, we examine if an arrest or suspension impacts a youth's likelihood of taking the SAT exam. The preliminary results suggest youth who are suspended and arrested are less likely to take the SAT.

Author

• Gerardo V. Cuevas, Pennsylvania State University