Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/272533 
Year of Publication: 
2023
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 15906
Publisher: 
Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
Does relaxing strict school discipline improve student achievement, or lead to classroom disorder? We study a 2012 reform in New York City public middle schools that eliminated suspensions for non-violent, disorderly behavior. Math scores of students in more-affected schools rose by 0.05 standard deviations over three years relative to other schools. Reading scores rose by 0.03 standard deviations. Only a small portion of these aggregate benefits can be explained by the direct impact of eliminating suspensions on students who would have been suspended under the old policy. Instead, test score gains are associated with improvements in school culture, as measured by the quality of student-teacher relationships and perceptions of safety at school. We find no evidence of trade-offs between students, with students benefiting even if they were unlikely to be suspended themselves.
Subjects: 
education
school suspension
school discipline
school safety
human capital
JEL: 
H75
I2
J24
J45
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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