Restorative Interventions and School Discipline Sanctions in a Large Urban School District. (December 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Anyon, Yolanda; Gregory, Anne; Stone, Susan; Farrar, Jordan; Jenson, Jeffrey M.; McQueen, Jeanette; Downing, Barbara; Greer, Eldridge; Simmons, John
• Is Part Of: American educational research journal. Volume 53:Number 6(2016:Dec.)
• Page Start: 1663
• Page End: 1697
• Publication Date: 2016-12
• Subjects: office discipline referral -- restorative intervention -- restorative justice -- school discipline -- suspension; Education -- United States -- Periodicals; Education -- Research -- United States -- Periodicals; 370.97305
• DOI: 10.3102/0002831216675719
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0002-8312

Abstract

A large urban district ( N = 90, 546 students, n = 180 schools) implemented restorative interventions as a response to school discipline incidents. Findings from multilevel modeling of student discipline records ( n = 9, 921) revealed that youth from groups that tend to be overrepresented in suspensions and expulsions (e.g., Black, Latino, and Native American youth; boys; and students in special education) had similar, if not greater, rates of participation in restorative interventions than their peers. First-semester participants in restorative interventions had lower odds of receiving office discipline referrals (OR .21, p < .001) and suspensions (OR .07, p < .001) in the second semester. However, the suspension gap between Black and White students persisted. Implications for reform in school discipline practices are noted.