Texas school discipline study links severe punishments to lower graduation rates, higher rates of crime later

Tina Dove
National Director, OTL Campaign

Today’s release of a school discipline study from the Council of State Governments echoes serious concerns of ours at the OTL Campaign – especially in light of evidence that suspensions and expulsions have been shown to be linked to lower graduation rates, higher rates of later criminal activity and that minority students are more likely than whites to face the most severe punishments.

The study reviewed discipline records for nearly 1 million children in Texas and is representative of a national problem – school systems relying too heavily on zero-tolerance policies that ineffectively deal with student behavior.

The following news articles are among those that take a closer look at the report and its findings:

New York Times

School Discipline Study Raises Fresh Questions
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/19/education/19discipline.html?scp=1&sq=texas%20discipline&st=cse

Houston Chronicle

Texas school discipline under the microscope
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/editorial/outlook/7658859.html

Austin American Statesman

Report questions effectiveness of school discipline
http://www.statesman.com/news/texas-politics/report-questions-effectiveness-of-school-discipline-1621964.html

Washington Post

Study finds majority of middle, high school students suspended or expelled at some point
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/study-finds-majority-of-middle-high-school-students-suspended-or-expelled-at-some-point/2011/07/19/gIQAHYWFNI_story.html

Study exposes some myths about school discipline
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/study-exposes-some-some-myths-about-school-discipline/2011/07/18/gIQAV0sZMI_story.html

NPR
Texas Schools Study: Most Kids Have Been Suspended
http://www.npr.org/2011/07/19/138495061/report-details-texas-school-disciplinary-policies

Ed Week

Half of Texas' Students Have Been Suspended, Study Finds
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2011/07/19/37discipline.h30.html