Suspended in Plain Sight: Homelessness and Exclusionary Discipline in Indiana Middle Schools

• In Event: Differences in Educational Outcomes by Homeless Type

Abstract

This study uses a state-representative dataset of middle school students to examine the disciplinary experiences of homeless students in schools more generally and under different homeless typologies. Preliminary analyses suggest that homeless students are disproportionately disciplined relative to similar, housed peer and have a higher likelihood of experiencing more severe disciplinary sentences during the school year. Findings further suggest that variability exists between types of homeless students with those who are unsheltered facing the most severe predicted disciplinary outcomes while those who reside in hotels or motels saw no effect. Study implications suggest that revising disciplinary policies and targeted support for students under different homeless types are necessary steps in educational equity for homeless school-aged youth.

Author

• Kenya Iman Lee, University of Notre Dame