ERIC Number: ED664316
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2024-Nov
Pages: 60
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Exploring the Move Away from 'Zero-Tolerance' Policies: Evidence from Restorative Justice Practices in Texas and Michigan Schools. EdWorkingPaper No. 24-1090
Harneet Kaur
Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University
This study examines the impact of statewide Restorative Justice (RJ) policy reforms in Michigan and Texas on student disciplinary outcomes and behavior, in light of increasing concerns over the negative effects of zero-tolerance policies. As schools move away from exclusionary discipline practices, this research focuses on three primary questions: (1) Are these policies effectively implemented statewide? (2) Do they contribute to a reduction in problematic behaviors, such as bullying? (3) Does the distinction in policy implementation--Michigan's prescriptive approach versus Texas's permissive framework--affect outcomes? Utilizing school district-level data and a penalized synthetic control estimator for multiple treated districts, the analysis reveals that Texas has an overall reduction in out-of-school suspensions and bullying incidents, while Michigan shows an increase. However, taking these as a main takeaway would be misleading, as at a fine-grained level, more than half of the Michigan school districts show a reduction in bullying incidents. The results are further discussed, revealing patterns of racial composition in the districts with respect to their success in implementation of reforms. The findings highlight the critical role of implementation fidelity and the importance of local context in assessing the success of RJ initiatives while also filling a critical gap in understanding the multifaceted consequences of RJ practices.
Descriptors: Educational Policy, Zero Tolerance Policy, Restorative Practices, Discipline, Student Behavior, State Policy, Policy Formation, Bullying, Behavior Problems, Differences, Institutional Characteristics, Elementary Secondary Education
Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University. Brown University Box 1985, Providence, RI 02912. Tel: 401-863-7990; Fax: 401-863-1290; e-mail: annenberg@brown.edu; Web site: https://annenberg.brown.edu/
Publication Type: Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Secondary Education
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Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University
Identifiers - Location: Michigan; Texas
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A