Discipline Reform, School Culture, and Student Achievement

Speaker: Professor Ashley C. Craig
Affiliation: University of Michigan
Location: Room 629, School of Economics Boardroom, Level 6, Colin Clark Building (#39) or, 
Via Zoom link: https://uqz.zoom.us/j/83265075806

Abstract 

Does relaxing strict school discipline improve student achievement, or lead to classroom disorder? We study a 2012 reform in New York City public middle schools that eliminated suspensions for non-violent, disorderly behavior, replacing them with less disruptive interventions. Using a difference-in-differences framework, we exploit the sharp timing of the reform and natural variation in its impact to measure the effect of reducing suspensions on student achievement. Math scores of students in more-affected schools rose by 0.05 standard deviations relative to other schools over the three years after the policy change. Reading scores rose by 0.03 standard deviations. Only a small portion of these aggregate benefits can be explained by the direct impact of eliminating suspensions on students who would have been suspended under the old policy. Instead, test score gains are associated with improvements in school culture, as measured by school sathe quality of student-teacher relationships and perceptions of safety at school. We find no evidence of trade-offs between students, with students benefiting even if they were unlikely to be suspended themselves.

About the presenters meeting

Prof Craig is willing to have 1-to-1 meeting on the seminar day. If you would like to meet with him, please contact: Dr Andrea La Nauze.