We investigate the beginning of the school discipline pipeline using a reform in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools that limited the use of out-of-school suspension for students in grades K-2. We find that the reform reduced the likelihood of out-of-school suspension by 1.4 percentage points (56%) and had precise null effects on test scores and…

Purpose: This article examines the relationship between educational and residential segregation in three school districts with differing approaches to student assignment. Racial and income segregation within school districts is often only examined at the school level, even as school patterns are often related to residential and attendance zone…

The COVID-19 pandemic shed light on the prevailing inequality in the US, as traditionally marginalized groups were disproportionately affected by the disease. This paper seeks to understand how K-12 principals across a southern state in the United States, made decisions in light of these considerations. Specifically, we examined the major…

Bullying is a significant school problem. Policies have been developed to reduce bullying, yet little is known about their implementation, which must occur for these policies to have an effect. This study examines associations between the overall implementation of a state anti-bullying policy and implementation of specific components outlined in…

In this article, authors offer a CRT [Critical Race Theory]-driven analysis of in-depth interview data from two African American principals charged with turning around poverty-impacted, largely African-American populated schools. Both served as social justice-oriented leaders who countered traditional administrative approaches and disrupted…

Many school districts have recently revised, or tried to revise, their policies for assigning students to schools, because the legal and political status of racial and other kinds of diversity is uncertain, and the districts are facing fiscal austerity. This article presents case studies of politics and student assignment policy in three large…

Paraeducators perform multiple roles in U.S. classrooms, including among others preparing classroom activities, working with students individually and in small groups, supporting individualized programming for students with disabilities, managing classroom behavior, and engaging with parents and communities. Yet, little research provides insights…

Purpose: This article examines factors that affect school board policy making about student diversity within two southern urban-suburban school districts experiencing changing demographics: Jefferson County Public Schools and the Wake County Public School System. Both districts have a history of voluntary integration efforts, and research shows…

In 2008, the California State Board of Education voted to require all students to enroll in algebra by 8th grade. This policy initiative, yet to be actually implemented, represents the culmination of a decades-long movement toward offering algebra instruction before the traditional high school years. Nationally, the proportion of 8th grade…

The North Carolina Department of Public Education has developed an equal employment/affirmative action policy in accordance with Federal civil rights laws, and directives from the State Board of Education. Rather than merely ensuring anti-biased hiring practices, the policy provides for the recruitment, employment and promotion of qualified…

In 1985, North Carolina established a program known as the Lateral Entry Policy (LEP), which allows schools to hire non-certified individuals to teach in classrooms. This study was conducted in order to learn more about the individuals, the school systems, and the training process involved in LEP certification. A group of 758 teachers with a…