Understanding the Discipline Gap from an Ecological Perspective

This study investigated school exclusion's relationships with student characteristics, mother characteristics, parental involvement, school location, and service provision. The researchers examined data from 4,837 students in seventh to 12th grade extracted from a national data set. Multivariate results showed that student's age, gender, race, or ethnicity; mother's receipt of public assistance and full-time employment; meeting guidance counselor; no parental involvement in individualized educational plan; teacher contacts; and receipt of non-school/state health care services increased the likelihood of school exclusion. However, mother's age and education level, non-English speaking, parental participation in school, and parental satisfaction with school reduced such likelihood. Implications for policies and intervention are discussed.