ORCID
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6887-6290
Year
2022
Season
Fall
Paper Type
Doctoral Dissertation
College
College of Education and Human Services
Degree Name
Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership (EdD)
Department
Leadership, School Counseling & Sport Management
NACO controlled Corporate Body
University of North Florida. Department of Leadership, School Counseling & Sports Management
First Advisor
Dr. Kim Cheek
Second Advisor
Dr. Daniel Dinsmore
Third Advisor
Dr. Dilek Kayaalp
Fourth Advisor
Dr. Curtis Phills
Department Chair
Dr. Amanda Pascale
College Dean
Dr. Jennifer Kane
Abstract
Data on school discipline inequities have shown disproportionate numbers of Black students suspended and expelled compared to their non-Black counterparts. Despite the implementation of evidence-based solutions such as positive behavior supports and intervention, educator professional development, and restorative practices aimed at closing the racial discipline gap, little to no change has occurred. Critical Race Theory is used as a lens for viewing racial hierarchies as a socially constructed tool to oppress people of color. This oppression can be seen in various aspects of society and in education, especially in school discipline. It is fueled by biases, both implicit and explicit. This study aims to bring light to the impact of educator bias on the lack of positive change upon implementation of evidence-based strategies aimed to minimize school discipline inequities.
The data for this quantitative study was collected through surveys designed to measure explicit and implicit bias of K-12 public school educators in a large urban school district in the Southeastern U.S. Regression analysis was used to determine if there is a relationship between high levels of educator bias and high levels of racial discipline disproportionalities. The discrepancies between total enrollment of Black students and discipline (i.e., multiple out-of-school suspension rates) of Black students was not found to correlate to individual factors such as educator race, gender, and total years employed at their current school. Post hoc analysis showed that the discrepancy could not be predicted by school-level factors such as surrounding neighborhood income levels. Findings could be limited by lower-than-expected participation rates but can be built upon with future research aimed at gathering data from a greater number of educators per school.
Suggested Citation
Ramos, Melissa Ann, "Are High Levels of Educator Bias Associated with the Disproportionate Discipline of Black Students?" (2022). UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations. 1149.
https://digitalcommons.unf.edu/etd/1149
Included in
African American Studies Commons, Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education Commons, Civil Rights and Discrimination Commons, Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research Commons, Educational Leadership Commons, Education Law Commons, Elementary and Middle and Secondary Education Administration Commons, Elementary Education Commons, Elementary Education and Teaching Commons, Gender Equity in Education Commons, Human Rights Law Commons, Junior High, Intermediate, Middle School Education and Teaching Commons, Juvenile Law Commons, Law and Gender Commons, Law and Race Commons, Legal Ethics and Professional Responsibility Commons, Other Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Commons, Pre-Elementary, Early Childhood, Kindergarten Teacher Education Commons, Prison Education and Reentry Commons, Secondary Education and Teaching Commons, Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education Commons