To punish kids, schools often suspend them from classes - and it might actually harm their GPA.
A recent study has shown that when kids are suspended from school or sent to the office for disciplinary reasons, it leads to a significant drop in their GPA.
This effect is especially pronounced among Black and Latinx kids.
How it was tested
The study looked at the school records of 16,850 students in grades 6 through 10 in a large urban school district in California.
The findings revealed that Black students who faced "exclusionary school discipline" (like being removed from a classroom or suspended) in the 2014-2015 school year experienced an average drop of 1.44 points in their GPA over the next 3 years.
Latinx students saw a drop of 1.39 points, and American Indian/Alaskan Native students saw a drop of 1.33 points over the same period if they faced suspension or removal from class.
The study also found that, on average, all kids who experienced an exclusionary discipline event in the 2014 school year saw their GPA drop by 0.88 points, even after adjusting for factors like race, ethnicity, maternal education, gender, age, and whether the student had an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) for disabilities.
Why it's important
The study suggests that exclusionary school discipline events should be considered adverse childhood experiences as they increase the risk of chronic illnesses and mental health problems for affected students.
Ultimately, the research emphasizes the importance of addressing racial disparities in school discipline to promote health equity and improve educational outcomes for all students.
