Parents’ Perspectives on School Discipline: Results from a National Survey

Parents’ role in school discipline has been the subject of little research. Drawing from a national sample ( n = 439) of parents/caregivers of K–12 students, this study seeks to understand their perspectives on school discipline. Using a mixed-methods analysis, we find parents are generally pleased with their level of involvement in the discipline of their own children but desire more involvement in discipline policy. They express the importance of consistently implementing discipline, yet many acknowledge disparities for students of color. Parents/caregivers show support for practices like suspension, despite research evidence on the harms of exclusionary discipline, but also support alternatives like restorative justice. The study examines subgroup differences and alignment between parental views and those of teachers. The findings bring national evidence to the role of parents in school discipline, a previously understudied stakeholder in the discipline process, and can inform discipline systems, particularly the components of such systems that require parental involvement.