Replace exclusionary discipline with restorative practices and implement data-driven attendance monitoring¶

Strategy · All strategies
Evidence · no claims cited

Description¶

This strategy pairs two recommendations the authors draw from their findings: adopting alternatives to exclusionary discipline and monitoring attendance data. They write that "Restorative justice practices, peer mediation, and positive behavioral intervention programs can serve as constructive responses to student misconduct while keeping students engaged in their academic progress," and that educators should implement data-driven attendance monitoring systems to identify at-risk students early. The strategy rests on the study's findings that suspensions and referrals were negatively associated with growth while attendance strongly predicted it.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• Schools need data-driven attendance monitoring systems to identify at-risk students early, per the authors' recommendation.

Constraints¶

• The article recommends reexamining discipline policies to ensure they are not inadvertently contributing to absenteeism, since exclusionary practices can exacerbate learning gaps.

Target Learners¶

• K-5 elementary students

Target Learning Goals¶

• Math and reading academic growth
• Reducing exclusionary discipline incidents
• Improving school attendance

Related Strategies¶

• Identify and address the root causes of discipline disparities in schools flagged as disproportionate
• Replace exclusionary discipline for low-level offenses with social-emotional skill teaching, educator supports, implicit-bias training, and relationship-centered schools
• Adopt positive, restorative discipline approaches and ban harmful exclusionary practices
• Restorative-justice-aligned discipline policies to reduce exclusionary discipline disparities
• Build safety and belonging by detracking, offering low-barrier extracurriculars, and implementing restorative approaches in place of exclusionary discipline
• Use educative and restorative behavior supports rather than punitive and exclusionary discipline

Examples¶

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Key Sources¶

• Bahar, K., & Auletto, A. (2025). Exploring the Impact of School Discipline and Attendance on Academic Achievement. E4 Center, Northwestern University. https://e4.northwestern.edu/2025/05/05/exploring-the-impact-of-school-discipline-and-attendance-on-academic-achievement/