Disparities in Discipline Pre- and Post-Pandemic

• In Event: Roundtable: Juvenile Justice, Schools, and Family

Abstract

New research examining the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the U.S. K-12 system has suggested that, after a sharp decrease in punitive discipline during the virtual learning period, suspension rates are returning to pre-pandemic levels with the return of in-person learning. This increase in suspension is particularly detrimental to marginalized students, particularly Black students, who are suspended at higher rates compared to their peers. In this paper, we examine post-pandemic patterns of discipline within the School District of Philadelphia. We compare pre- and post-pandemic suspension rates, with particular attention to racial disparities, and offer potential explanations for these patterns.

Authors

• Jillian Reeves, Northeastern University

• Ayiana Newcombe, Howard University