The Ties That Bind: An Examination of School-Family Relationships and Middle School Discipline in New York City

Luis A. Rodriguez, Richard O. Welsh

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Inequities in exclusionary discipline result from a complex process involving students, families, and school personnel. However, little research has explored the topic from parent perspectives. This study used parent survey data from New York City to investigate the link between school-family relationships and students experiencing exclusionary discipline. Results indicate that stronger parental trust toward teachers is connected to a reduced probability that a student receives an office discipline referral, while greater trust in principals is associated with a lower chance of suspension. Several aspects of school-family relationships, such as parent-principal trust, parental involvement, and school outreach and communication, heterogeneously predict a lower likelihood of experiencing exclusionary discipline by student race and special education status. These findings demonstrate the interdependent role of families and school staff in child development and highlight the need to cultivate positive school-family relationships as a potential strategy for addressing exclusionary discipline disparities.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)85-99
Number of pages15
JournalEducational Researcher
Volume53
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2024

Keywords

  • middle schools
  • parents and families
  • regression analyses
  • school discipline
  • student behavior/attitude
  • suspension

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Education

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