A window into racial and socioeconomic status disparities in preschool disciplinary action using developmental methodology

Terri J. Sabol*, Courtenay L. Kessler, Leoandra Onnie Rogers, Amelie Petitclerc, Jamilah Silver, Margaret Briggs-Gowan, Lauren S. Wakschlag

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

19 Scopus citations

Abstract

There are large differences in expulsions and suspensions on the basis of race starting in preschool and divergent explanations for their cause. The current study explores how developmental methodology can shed light on this vexing issue. We leverage two measures: (1) childcare provider complaints about children's behavior and their recommended disciplinary action (measured by parent report); and (2) observed disruptive behavior measured by a laboratory-based standardized observation tool, the Disruptive Behavior Diagnostic Observation Schedule (DB-DOS), among a large, sociodemographically diverse sample of children (n (Formula presented.) 430; mean age (Formula presented.) 4.79 years). We identified three latent class profiles on the basis of race/socioeconomic status (SES) and found disparities in childcare provider complaints based on profile membership. More specifically, children classified in the Black/Hispanic, poor and Black, nonpoor profiles both had significantly higher childcare provider complaints compared with children in the White/Hispanic, nonpoor profile. By contrast, there were no differences in observed disruptive behavior based on race/SES profiles. Finally, childcare provider complaints in preschool were associated with lower cognitive performance in elementary school, above and beyond observed disruptive behavior in preschool and race/SES profiles. Implications for classroom practice and contributions to the national debate on school disciplinary policies are discussed.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)123-136
Number of pages14
JournalAnnals of the New York Academy of Sciences
Volume1508
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2022

Funding

The authors gratefully acknowledge the following scholars for their feedback and support (in alphabetical order): Emma Adam, P. Lindsay Chase-Lansdale, C. Ryne Estabrook, Olivia Healy, Diane Schanzenbach, Teresa Eckrich Sommer, and Sandy Waxman. The funding for the original MAPS study was supported by National Institute of Mental Health Grants R01MH082830 and 2U01MH082830 (PI: Wakschlag) and UO1MH090301 (PI: Briggs-Gowan). Kessler was supported through the U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, Multidisciplinary Program in Education Sciences Grant R305B140042. The opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not represent views of the U.S. Department of Education. [Correction added on December 30, 2021, after first online publication: Acknowledgments section was updated.]

Keywords

  • behavioral observations
  • early childhood education and care
  • preschool
  • race and socioeconomic status disparities
  • school discipline

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
  • General Neuroscience
  • History and Philosophy of Science

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