Is the disparity in disciplinary school policies contributing to juvenile DMC?: a study of the Baltimore County School system

Abstract

The present research examines whether Baltimore County Public Schools [BCPS] are disproportionately disciplining African American students through both in-school and out-of-school suspensions. This study utilizes data from Maryland State Department of Education Division of Accountability and Assessment for the academic school year 2008-2009, which is considered public record. Units of analyses include 172 schools within the Baltimore County Public School System, consisting of 105 elementary schools; 27 middle schools; 21 high schools and 19 non-traditional schools. The student population as a whole is very diverse in terms of race and ethnicity. Forty percent of BCPS total population is African American and approximately 49% is White. A quantitative research method of analysis was used to determine the relationship between the dependent variable, suspensions; and the independent variables, % of African American students, student gender and student performance. Results of chi-square analyses show that African American students are suspended at a significantly greater rate than their proportion of the student population in nearly all school types.