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The Urban Review

, Volume 49, Issue 2, pp 239–262 | Cite as

School Discipline Disparity: Converging Efforts for Better Student Outcomes

  • Nathern S. Okilwa
  • Catherine Robert
Article
First Online:

Abstract

School policies and practices have historically lent themselves to disproportionate suspension and expulsion rates based on students’ race, gender, and disability. The disparity between racial minorities, particularly Black males, and their White peers has generated concern from various stakeholders. Using Kingdon’s (Agendas, alternatives, and public policies. Addison-Westley Educational Publishers, New York, 2003) window of opportunity framework, the purpose of this conceptual article is to spotlight the potential convergence of efforts hence creating an opportunity for school discipline reform to gain momentum. Kingdon’s three critical streams for problem solving, i.e., the problem, political, and policy, are each examined in the context of the pervasive school discipline disproportionality.

Keywords

School discipline Disparity Zero tolerance policy Policy window African Americans Black males School leaders Social justice 
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Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, College of Education and Human DevelopmentUniversity of Texas at San AntonioSan AntonioUSA

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