Disproportionality in Discipline Referrals for Disruptive Behavior in Grades 3 Through 8: Associations with Race, Gender, and Academic Achievement

dc.contributor.authorDowning, Angilee Millsen
dc.contributor.committeechairMullen, Carol Annen
dc.contributor.committeememberBoyles, Emily Tolleyen
dc.contributor.committeememberCash, Carol S.en
dc.contributor.committeememberBrinkmann, Jodie Lynnen
dc.contributor.departmentCounselor Educationen
dc.date.accessioned2022-06-02T08:00:41Zen
dc.date.available2022-06-02T08:00:41Zen
dc.date.issued2022-06-01en
dc.description.abstractDisproportionality in public school exclusionary discipline data has been documented throughout the United States, including the Commonwealth of Virginia. The literature reviewed indicates that Black male students are disproportionately excluded from school and that subjective office discipline referrals are a factor. Within subjective referrals, disruptive behaviors are the primary reasons for the referral of Black male students. The literature has investigated implicit bias as a possible cause and found that Black males were viewed as more aggressive and academically lower achieving than other subgroups. This study sought to investigate disproportionality in referrals for disruptive behavior and the possible relationships among race, gender, and academic achievement for students issued the referrals. Three years of enrollment, discipline, and academic achievement data for students in grades 3 through 8 were obtained from three Title I schools, two elementary schools and a middle school, in a high-poverty school division. A correlational, nonexperimental design was used to address two questions, was there evidence of disproportionality by race/ethnicity and/or gender in office discipline referrals for disruptive behavior? Was there a relationship among race, gender, and academic achievement for students issued those referrals? Two phases of data collection and analysis were involved, with descriptive statistics used for each phase. Results were analyzed and there were four findings: there was evidence of disproportionality by race/ethnicity, there was evidence of disproportionality by gender, there was not consistent evidence of disproportionality by race/ethnicity and gender, and there were no statistically significant relationships among race, gender, and academic achievement for students issued a referral. These findings could help researchers and educators identify and understand disproportionality in referrals for disruptive behaviors and address disproportionality in exclusionary disciplinary practices.en
dc.description.abstractgeneralDisproportionality in public school exclusionary discipline data has been documented throughout the United States, including the Commonwealth of Virginia. The literature reviewed indicates that Black male students are disproportionately excluded from school and that subjective office discipline referrals are a factor. Within subjective referrals, disruptive behaviors are the primary reasons for the referral of Black male students. The literature has investigated implicit bias as a possible cause and found that Black males were viewed as more aggressive and academically lower achieving than other subgroups. This study investigated disproportionality in office discipline referrals for disruptive behavior and the relationships among the variables of race, gender, and academic achievement. A correlational, nonexperimental design was used to address two questions, was there evidence of disproportionality by race/ethnicity and/or gender in office discipline referrals for disruptive behavior? Was there a relationship among race/ethnicity, gender, and academic achievement for students issued those referrals? Three years of enrollment, discipline, and academic achievement data for students in grades 3 through 8 were obtained from three Title I schools, two elementary schools and a middle school, in a high-poverty school division. Results were analyzed and there were four findings: there was evidence of disproportionality by race/ethnicity, there was evidence of disproportionality by gender, there was not consistent evidence of disproportionality by race/ethnicity and gender, and there were no statistically significant relationships among race, gender, and academic achievement for students issued a referral.en
dc.description.degreeDoctor of Educationen
dc.format.mediumETDen
dc.identifier.othervt_gsexam:34534en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/110398en
dc.language.isoenen
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subjectDisproportionalityen
dc.subjectExclusionary Disciplinary Practicesen
dc.subjectBlacken
dc.subjectMale Studenten
dc.subjectAcademic Achievementen
dc.subjectOffice Discipline Referralen
dc.subjectDisruptive Behavioren
dc.titleDisproportionality in Discipline Referrals for Disruptive Behavior in Grades 3 Through 8: Associations with Race, Gender, and Academic Achievementen
dc.typeDissertationen
thesis.degree.disciplineEducational Leadership and Policy Studiesen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.leveldoctoralen
thesis.degree.nameDoctor of Educationen

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