1 of 23

CCS Guide To Research & Program Evaluation

February 2025

Dr. Amber Hill

Exploring the Teacher Perceptions of the Overrepresentation Disciplinary Actions Against African American Male Elementary School Students

2 of 23

Introduction and Background

  • Teachers report the overrepresentation of disciplinary actions amongst African American male elementary students are high.

  • Despite the implementation of PBIS, the number of behavioral referrals among African American male elementary students remains persistently high.

  • Minimal research has included the perspectives of Teachers perceptions of the disproportionate disciplinary actions amongst African American male elementary students.

3 of 23

Objectives/Goals of Project

The research questions that guided this study are as follows:

  • Research Question 1 (RQ1) What are teacher perceptions of the disproportionate disciplinary actions amongst African American male elementary students located in a regional school system located in a midwestern state in the U.S.? 

  • Research Question 2 (RQ2) What are teachers’ perceptions of training, resources, and supports they need to address the of the disproportionate of disciplinary actions amongst African American male elementary students?

4 of 23

19

20

16

13

6

   Participants/Sample Size

  • Recruitment
  • Sample size -10- 12 Elementary Teachers
  • Participants-  10 Elementary teachers Criteria

          * Certified to teach in the state of                    

             Ohio. 

          * Have completed some type of  

             PBIS training.

          * Have experience implementing

             PBIS.

          * Worked in the school district

             while the PBIS intervention was         

             implemented.

5 of 23

19

20

16

13

6

Findings

A presentation of the evaluation results, organized around the research questions.

6 of 23

Conceptual Frameworks

Ladson-Billings’ (1995) Culturally Relevant Pedagogy Theory

Skinner’s (1938) Operant Conditioning Theory

7 of 23

19

20

16

13

6

  Data Collection

  • A purposeful sampling technique
  • 30-45 minutes semi-structured interviews
  • Recorded Video-conferencing platform, Zoom
  • Researcher created interview questions aligned with RQ1 and RQ2.
  • Transcription with Zoom.
  • NVivo software

8 of 23

19

20

16

13

6

Findings

  • Training and Support Needs

  • Relationship Building

  • Consistency and Structure in Expectations and Consequences

9 of 23

19

20

16

13

6

Theme 1: Training and Support Needs

Need for more in-depth PBIS and cultural responsiveness training

  • Tiered supports based on individual needs

10 of 23

19

20

16

13

6

Findings

A presentation of the evaluation results, organized around the research questions.

11 of 23

19

20

16

13

6

Theme 2:  Relationship Building

  • Identity differences, cultural awareness, and biases impact student perceptions, relationships and discipline.

12 of 23

19

20

16

13

6

Findings

A presentation of the evaluation results, organized around the research questions.

13 of 23

19

20

16

13

6

Theme 3: Consistency and Structure in Expectations and Consequences

  • School-wide systems for accountability
  • Incentives and positive reinforcement
  • Focus on enhancing school climate

14 of 23

19

20

16

13

6

Findings

15 of 23

19

20

16

13

6

Limitations to Study

  • Research Bias
  • Limited to Elementary School Teachers.
  • Small sample size

16 of 23

19

20

16

13

6

Recommendations for Future Research

  • Review of altering discriminatory policies and practices.

  • Inclusion of staff voices and collaboration in trainings, support needs, and policies and practices.

  • Identify if schools are including

culturally relevant curriculum into their   

practices.

17 of 23

19

20

16

13

6

Social Change Implications

  • Better teacher preparation for implementing PBIS.

  • Professional development trainings for Teachers.

  • Systemic changes to institutional barriers.

  • Awareness of privilege and cultural bias.

  • Build sustainable partnerships students.

18 of 23

Conclusion

Alternatives to Suspension

Equitable Practices

Efficient training Opportunities

Transformative Change

19 of 23

19

20

16

13

6

References

  • Barclay, A., Daly, B. P., Phillips, J., Bowes, L., Anderson, J., Lees, J., ... & Merrell, C. (2021). Predicting academic and behavioral variability for elementary school students: Testing a multi-tiered support approach. Journal of Educational Psychology, 114(1), 142–157. https://doi.org/10.1037/edu0000764
  • Bastable, A., Massar, M., & McIntosh, K. (2021). Multi-tiered systems of support in alternative education settings: A qualitative study of core features and barriers to implementation. Behavioral Disorders, 46(4), 210-224. https://doi.org/10.1177/0198742920930608
  • Bastable, A., Massar, M. M., & Murphy, A. L. (2020). Evaluating Tier 1 implementation fidelity and its relation to students’ social and academic outcomes. Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions, 22(2), 95–106. https://doi.org/10.1177/1098300719900604Ladson-Billings, G. (1994). The Dream keepers. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Publishing Co.
  • Baule, S. M. (2020). The impact of positive behavior intervention support (PBIS) on suspensions by race and ethnicity in an urban school district. AASA Journal of Scholarship and Practice, 16(4), 45-56. www.aasa.org/jsp.aspx
  • Darling-Hammond, L., Hyler, M. E., & Gardner, M. (2017). Effective teacher professional development. Palo Alto, CA: Learning Policy Institute.
  • Emdin, C., (2021). Ratchetdemic: reimagining academic success. Boston: Beacon Press.
  • Gagnon, J. C., Barber, B. R., & Soyturk, I. (2020). Policies and practices supporting positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS) implementation in high-poverty Florida middle schools. Exceptionality, 28(3), 176-194. https://doi.org/10.1080/09362835.2020.1727333

20 of 23

19

20

16

13

6

References

Garet, M.S., Heppen, J.B., Walters, K., Parkinson, J., Smith, T.M., Song, M., Garrett, R., Yang, R., and Borman, G.D. (2020). Focusing on Mathematical Knowledge: The  Impact of Content-Intensive Teacher Professional Development. NCEE 2020-0002. National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance

Heidelberg, C., Wills, C., Thyne-Robinson, R., Moore, J., & Kosse, T. (2022). Bias within Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) School Culture Surveys: A Critical Race Analysis. School Psychology Review, 1-16. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/2372966X.2021.2018451

Heidelberg, C. J., Moore, J., Kosse, T., Wills, C., Robinson, R. T., & Dowling, T. D. (2022). An anti-deficit examination of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) and Black male students: A systematic literature review. Behavioral disorders, 47(2), 97-111. https://doi.org/10.1177/01987429211019348

Johnson, A. H., Crawford, A., Moylan, L. A., & Ford, J. E. (2018). Culturally responsive positive behavior interventions and supports. Milbank Memorial Fund. https://www.milbank.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Culturally-Responsive-PBIS-Report.pdfKittleman, A., McIntosh, K., & Hoselton, R. (2019). Adoption of PBIS within school districts. Journal of School Psychology, 76, 159-167. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsp.2019.07.013

Ladson-Billings, G. (1994). The Dream keepers. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Publishing Co.

Ladson-Billings, G. (1995). But That’s Just Good Teaching! The Case for Culturally Relevant Pedagogy. Theory into Practice, 34, 159-165  https://doi.org/10.1080/00405849509543675

Ladson-Billings, G., (2020). "Toward a Theory of Culturally Relevant Pedagogy"  External link opens in new window or tab. (PDF), American Educational Research Journal, Vol. 32, No. 3, accessed January 2020.

21 of 23

19

20

16

13

6

References

Lo, C.O., George, J.A., & Collins, K. (2022). Centering race and culture in schoolwide         positive behavioral interventions and supports. Behavioral Disorders, 47(4), 260-272

Macias, A. (2020). Teacher-led professional development: A proposal for a bottom-up structure approach. International Journal of Teacher Leadership, 11(1), 76-91.

McIntosh, K., Mercer, S. H., Neumann, A. C., & Gooze, R. A. (2021). Effects of Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports on student agency, belonging, and academic self-efficacy: A US-based secondary analysis. School Psychology International, 42(2), 171–186. https://doi.org/10.1177/0143034320977660

Mondesir, B., & Griffin, C. B. (2020). Positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS): Advancing health disparities research through ecological approaches. Health Education & Behavior, 47(4), 535–542. https://doi.org/10.1177/1090198120904989

Myers, C. A., Sadler, T. D., & Moorman, J. D. (2020). Rethinking classroom management in urban schools: Pushing ecology, not control. Bank Street Occasional Papers Series, 2020(45), 68–83. https://educate.bankstreet.edu/occasional-paper-series/vol2020/iss45/7

Santiago-Rosario, M., Haifley, R., Widener, M., & Catrett, J. (2021). A qualitative study evaluating Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) implementation gaps within a multilevel framework in rural schools. Children & Schools, 43(2), 117-126. https://doi.org/10.1093/cs/cdab001

Scaletta, K., & Tejero Hughes, P. (2021). Culturally responsive practices in a tier 2 behavior intervention. Preventing School Failure, 65(1), 60-71. https://doi.org/10.1080/1045988X.2020.1739658

Scherer, C. A. & Ingle, W. K. (2020). PBIS implementation fidelity and student outcomes in an urban school district. Voices of Reform: Educational Research to Inform and Reform, 3(2), 1-22. http://dx.doi.org/10.32623/3.10007

Skinner, B. F. (1948). Superstition' in the pigeon. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 38, 168-172.

22 of 23

19

20

16

13

6

References

Scaletta, K., & Tejero Hughes, P. (2021). Culturally responsive practices in a tier 2 behavior intervention. Preventing School Failure, 65(1), 60-71. https://doi.org/10.1080/1045988X.2020.1739658

Scherer, C. A. & Ingle, W. K. (2020). PBIS implementation fidelity and student outcomes in an urban school district. Voices of Reform: Educational Research to Inform and Reform, 3(2), 1-22. http://dx.doi.org/10.32623/3.10007

Skinner, B. F. (1948). Superstition' in the pigeon. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 38, 168-172.

23 of 23