The DOI matches its Crossref record; 43 of the 44 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Estimating the Effect of State Zero Tolerance Laws on Exclusionary Discipline, Racial Discipline Gaps, and Student Behavior
Abstract
Zero tolerance discipline policies have come under criticism as contributors to racial discipline gaps; however, few studies have explicitly examined such policies. This study utilizes data from two nationally representative data sources to examine the effect of state zero tolerance laws on suspension rates and principal perceptions of problem behaviors. Utilizing state and year fixed effects models, this study finds that state zero tolerance laws are predictive of a 0.5 percentage point increase in district suspension rates and no consistent decreases in principals’ perceptions of problem behaviors. Furthermore, the results indicate that the laws are predictive of larger increases in suspension rates for Blacks than Whites, potentially contributing to the Black–White suspension gap. Implications for policy and practice are discussed.
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“As such, exclusionary disciplinary policies have come under harsh criticism and are increasingly being reviewed and de-emphasized in many districts”
Citations
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Metadata
- Authors
- Curran, F. C.
- Affiliations
- University of Maryland, Baltimore County (US)
- Corresponding author
- Curran, F. Chris
- ORCID
- Curran, F. Chris
- Venue
- Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis
- Published
- 2016-07-07
- Volume
- 38
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 647-668
- ISSN
- 0162-3737 (ISSN-L)
- 1935-1062
- OpenAlex
- W2418407068
- Semantic Scholar
- ffd33ae7a232608b8d6bf4d354fad5197cd6e289
- Cited by
- 140
- References
- 44
- Citations by year
- 2026: 11 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 18 · 2020: 17 · 2019: 20 · 2018: 16 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 1
- FWCI
- 65.11
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Education › Education Discipline and Inequality
- Social Sciences › Law › Legal Issues in Education
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Critical Race Theory in Education
- Keywords
- zero tolerance laws, student discipline, school suspension, student behavior, school discipline policy, state education policy
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