Differences in Out-of-School Suspension Assignments by the Ethnicity/Race of Texas High School Students

Examined in this study was the assignment of out-of-school suspension to Grade 9 and Grade 10 White, Black, and Hispanic students in Texas for the 2013-2014 school year. Inferential statistical procedures revealed the presence of inequities in the assignment of out-of-school suspension to Black and Hispanic Grade 9 and 10 boys and girls. Grade 9 and Grade 10 Black boys and Black girls were assigned statistically significantly more out-of-school suspensions than Grade 9 and Grade 10 White boys and White girls. Grade 9 and Grade 10 Hispanic boys and Hispanic girls were also assigned statistically significantly higher rates of out-of-school suspension than Grade 9 and Grade 10 White boys and White girls. Implications of the findings are discussed and suggestions for further research are made.

Keywords: out-of-school suspension, Grades 9 and 10, Black, Hispanic, White, boys, girls.