Kelly Welch
Associate Professor, Villanova University
Key Findings
- Schools with larger percentages of Latino/a students are more likely to utilize punitive punishments.
- Schools with larger percentages of Latino/a students were also less likely to use mild disciplinary practices.
- The percentage of Latino/a students was not a significant factor in determining the types of punitive disciplinary actions (detention, community service, suspension, etc.) available in schools.
Description
In the article, “Latino/a Student Threat and School Disciplinary Policies and Practices,” Welch and her co-authors examine the disciplinary bias in schools against Latino/a students using the minority threat theory. The minority threat theory is the idea that as the number of minorities in a population increases, so does the severity of punishment for crime. The researchers conducted their study by using data from the School Survey on Crime and Safety (SSOCS) and the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics, which included more than 2,500 public schools differing in size, level, and location from across the United States. They used data from the 2007-2008 survey as it allowed them to specifically measure the population of Latino/a students unlike previous surveys. The results found that schools with larger percentages of Latino/a students are more likely to utilize punitive punishments. Schools with larger percentages of Latino/a students were also less likely to use mild disciplinary practices. The percentage of Latino/a students was not a significant factor in determining the types of punitive disciplinary actions (detention, community service, suspension, etc.) available in schools. In conclusion, the authors note that further research needs to be done to understand the nuances that impact harsh disciplinary actions against Latino/a students at school.