Discipline Beyond Suspensions: Racial/Ethnic Disparities Across the Spectrum of Disciplinary Actions

Youngsun Lee (), Jing Liu () and Emily Penner ()
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Youngsun Lee: University of Maryland
Jing Liu: University of Maryland
Emily Penner: University of California, Irvine

No 18806, IZA Discussion Papers from IZA Network @ LISER

Abstract: Little research examines whether the alternatives to suspension reduce racial/ethnic discipline disparities. Using unusually rich administrative data from a large district in the South, we investigate how schools use a range of disciplinary actions and the racial/ethnic gaps in their use. School leaders may respond to discipline incidents with a variety of guidance-based and punitive actions, but most commonly apply a single punitive action. Moreover, non-exclusionary alternatives are applied unequally; among students involved in the same fight, White students are more likely to lose privileges as their harshest consequence, while Black students are more likely to receive suspensions or be reported to a school resource officer. Our results highlight that alternatives to suspensions can themselves be sources of racial/ethnic inequality.

Keywords: school discipline; office discipline referrals; racial/ethnic differences; differential processing (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I2 J7 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026-07
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