This study investigates the impact of statewide Restorative Justice (RJ) reforms on school suspensions and bullying outcomes in Michigan and Texas, amidst a broader movement away from zero-tolerance policies. Since the Gun-Free Schools Act of 1994, zero-tolerance approaches have led to increased suspensions, particularly affecting marginalized…

The current policy terrain is primed for schools to absorb new discipline strategies and address bias-based beliefs. Over the past 10 years, numerous policy changes regarding discipline have emerged at the federal and state levels. I argue these policy shifts, primarily at the state level, are using two of four value levers (quality, efficiency,…

In this brief, recent actions related to school discipline, discipline disparities in schools, the school-to-prison pipeline, and the added costs of suspending students in the U.S. are explored. The recommendations offered focus on how school leaders and policy makers can address disparities and how school cultures can be changed to reduce the…

Discipline in the nation's schools has become a pressing problem. The widespread use of punitive disciplinary methods, including probation, suspension, and expulsion, can estrange students from schools, negatively "label" affected students, and burden communities with unsupervised youths. Rehabilitative forms of discipline for students…

This policy statement from the Michigan Department of Education interprets federal provisions and the laws of the state as they may pertain to children receiving special education services. It describes disciplinary procedures for students already receiving special education services, students not yet eligible for special education, students…