Disciplinary Equity: Individual Resources

Topics: Use Engaging Instruction | Implement a Behavior Framework | Collect, Use Disaggregated Data | Develop Policies with Accountability for Disciplinary Equity | Teach Strategies for Neutralizing Implicit Bias in Discipline Decisions

Use Engaging Instruction

Comprehensive Integrated 3-tiered model of prevention (ci3t)
This robust resource provides user friendly tutorials and free tools located under the professional learning tab. In addition to providing information regarding behavior-specific practices, strategies related to academics are also included. These strategies are not limited to active supervision, instructional choice, instructional feedback, opportunities to respond, precorrection, repeated readings, self-monitoring, and self-regulated strategies development for writing.

Classroom Practices Observation Tool
This tool allows educators to observe and assess effective classroom management structures and routines. Features of the tool include physical arrangement, active supervision, encouragement of appropriate behaviors, providing a continuum of responses to inappropriate behavior, as well as engagement and opportunities to respond. Educators may choose to use this tool as peers in the observation process or seek the support of an administrator to offer feedback and recommendations.

Engaging Instruction to Enhance Equity in Education
This technical brief is based on the 5-point multicomponent approach to reduce disproportionality from the National PBIS Center (www.pbis.org). This brief elaborates on point one, regarding academic instruction, by defining key principles of evidence-based instructional practices. The instructional practices reviewed include using explicit instruction, building, and priming background knowledge, increasing opportunities to respond, and providing performance feedback. Educators may choose to use this tool to enhance their current practice, in an effort to reduce behavioral challenges in the classroom setting.

Implement a Behavior Framework

PDE SEL Best Practices Resources
These pages provide a resource guide of best practices in Social Emotional Learning (SEL) programs, curricula, and supplemental materials. Best practices on choosing SEL programs involve (1) choose a diverse team to provide input to ensure commitment and a broad scope of understanding of the needs, (2) have the team consider key questions including "Is this curriculum worth of more careful review?" and do the program characteristics match individual program needs and assets of the district/school, (3) promote buy-in and implementation fidelity.

Family Engagement in PBIS
This comprehensive guide aligning and integrating family engagement into Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) provides 10 distinct chapters focusing on embedding authentic family engagement into a multi-tiered system of support for behavior. Strategies and concepts are described for the user.

Supporting and Responding to Behavior
This document includes an interactive map of classroom PBIS strategies, a self-assessment, examples of critical practices in elementary and secondary settings, non-examples of critical practices, descriptions of supporting evidence, links to resources, scenarios that illustrate implementation, and other guidelines for implementation.

School Climate and Equity
Schools can create more equitable communities through the following promising strategies: (1) Encourage reflective practice and build cultural awareness in students and adults, (2) Increase understanding of diverse cultures, (3) Keep diverse schools physically and emotionally safe, (4) Make high expectations culturally responsive, (5) Design multiple pathways to meaningful participation, and (6) Demonstrate caring by knowing students' unique emotional needs.

Collect, Use Disaggregated Data

Using Data (and Data Systems) to Address Discipline Disproportionality (SCTG Webinar)
A recorded, 60-minute, introductory-level webinar reviewing the different types of data necessary for identifying equity issues within your school, highlighting important nuances inherent in many data systems, and providing tools and strategies for taking the next step towards more equitable outcomes.

Equity in School Discipline: Enhancing Commitment through Teacher Training
This brief, four-minute video provides an overview of the process for using specific data to enhance commitment to address equity. Dr. Kent McIntosh from the University of Oregon offers relevant information around equitable disciplinary practices.

Develop Policies with Accountability for Disciplinary Equity

Safe and Supportive Learning - Root Causes Guide
This guide is intended to assist school communities in engaging in efforts to create supportive school climates and to address any persistent challenges, including disparities, in the administration of school discipline. It describes how to carry out a descriptive analysis of disparities in school discipline and how to conduct a root cause analysis to systematically address school-based factors that contribute to disparities. These analyses should result in an actionable understanding of the following: (1) Who is being disparately disciplined and what is happening to them, (2) The systemic causes of disparities in school discipline and why they occur, and (3) How to reduce and eliminate disparities in school discipline. Individuals who choose to use this tool have the potential to inform disciplinary policies when determining root cause analysis of disparate outcomes.

Teach Strategies for Neutralizing Implicit Bias in Discipline Decisions

How the Best Bosses Interrupt Bias on Their Teams
This resource provides concrete steps for leaders on how to interrupt bias in the workplace. Educational leaders who are often charged with effecting change in their systems will encounter bias related incidents. The process of interrupting bias allows leaders to consider how to empower their employees to function in brave spaces and develop strong teams, who support upholding those spaces for those who are typically marginalized.

Checking Yourself for Bias in the Classroom
Teaching Tolerance (tolerance.org) offered this resource from a practicing teacher to describe the importance of recognizing and addressing personal biases. In the teacher's classroom, she provides an example of student behavior and her internal dialogue to determine if her bias is responsible for her decisions in whether or not to move to disciplinary action. Educators may use this resource to hear real-world examples of manifested bias in classrooms.

5 Keys to Challenging Implicit Bias
This brief article details ways educators can challenge implicit bias in their roles with colleagues and students. The author, Shane Safir, offers to "challenge implicit biases by identifying your own, teaching colleagues about them, observing gap-closing teachers, stopping "tone policing," and tuning into such biases at your school." Reflective questions are also posed to the reader to consider as they begin the process of understanding how bias shows up in school settings.