Discipline Without Direction: Parent Reports on Homework, Supervision, and Additional Trouble During Student Suspensions

This study examines how students experience out-of-school suspensions using parent-reported data from a national survey of parents whose children were suspended ( n = 117). Most parents reported that their suspended child(ren) did not receive learning materials or opportunities, many lacked adult supervision, and nearly one-third got into additional trouble while suspended. Differences by student subgroups emerged, where students from lower-income households were less likely to receive academic supports, while non-White parents more often reported lack of supervision and further trouble during the suspension. Further, lack of academic supports and supervision strongly predicted additional trouble, highlighting how suspensions may exacerbate disengagement and inequities.