The Center for the Study of Scholastic Discipline

About:

Following the publication of an important article in Science News (How schools can reduce excessive discipline of Black students), the founders became interested in creating solutions to the issue. With many years experience in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion work, as well as being part of founding one of the first LGBTQIA+ municipal commissions in America, the tools from other disciplines came to mind.

The Municipal Equality Index (MEI) of the Human Rights Campaign is an instrument that has proven effective in encouraging municipalities to create and improve policies relating to equity in many areas affecting non-gender conforming populations. For example, we have seen municipalities work closely with police departments to create policies for safe intake and housing of non-gender conforming individuals. In general, municipalities that undertake self-evaluations (scored by HRC) embark on multi-year improvements in policies resulting in more equitable communities.

The MEI is a measurement device. Large problems (like equity) can rarely be addressed until there are relevant measures. It occured to the CSSD founders that such a measurement tool could be both appropriate and effective with regard to disparities in scholastic discipline.

Many professionals in education and universities were consulted to request feedback on whether they knew of such an instrument, or, if not, whether they thought such an effort would be worthwhile. No one expressed knowledge of any similar instrument, all expressed that they thought such an instrument would be useful and possibly effective, and several volunteered to assist with creation and monitoring.

Thus the Center for the Study of Scholastic Discipline was created.