ACHIEVING RACIAL EQUITY IN SCHOOL DISCIPLINARY POLICIES AND PRACTICES

Why Do Racial Disparities in School Discipline Exist?

Jesse Senechal (Director of MERC), Ashlee Lester (PhD Student, Educational Psychology) and Rachel Levy (PhD Student, Educational Leadership, Policy, and Justice)- VCU School of Education

This presentation will feature research related to the MERC Achieving Racial Equity in School Disciplinary Policies and Practices Study. It will explore issues of racial disproportionality in school discipline both locally and nationally, discuss various interventions designed to ameliorate disproportionality, and provide recommendations that inform policymaking and practice in the Richmond region. Participants will be invited to share their own perspectives on what we can do to make our disciplinary policies and practices more equitable.

Teacher Beliefs: Restorative Practices and PBIS 

Marcie Terry (PhD Student, Education) - Virginia State University

This presentation will explore qualitative research findings related to the implementation of discipline strategies and school-wide initiatives, the common themes concerning teacher buy-in to alternative discipline approaches, and their influence on the success of the strategies and teacher beliefs about discipline strategies. Results presented from the study illuminate the perceived success of Restorative Practices and Positive Behavioral Intervention Strategies (PBIS) when being implemented concurrently.