Abstract
Less punitive alternatives to exclusionary discipline such as restorative justice are gaining in popularity in schools. These approaches take a more positive, relationship-based, problem-solving approach to discipline, focused on improving behavior by building community and belongingness, and eschewing exclusionary discipline for most infractions. However, if we fail to address implicit bias, we can expect the racial discipline gap to remain, regardless of the behavioral interventions put in place. We review a few promising studies that may help us to understand how to alleviate implicit bias in school decision-making.
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This research was supported in part through a US Department of Education grant (R305B160016) which provided funding for the Pathway Fellows.
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Romero, L.S., Scahill, V. & Charles, S.R. Restorative Approaches to Discipline and Implicit Bias: Looking for Ways Forward. Contemp School Psychol 24, 309–317 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40688-020-00314-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40688-020-00314-9