Evaluating School Conduct Policies in Relation to School Violence

In this study, I used purposeful sampling to analyze the school conduct policies of high schools across the United States that experienced a shooting in academic years 2016-2018. Selected schools were ranked with respect to severity of school violence. I then employed a content-analysis methodology to code the intended response of schools to serious conduct offenses as expressed in these schools’ conduct policies. From these data, I will describe the variation in exclusionary discipline policies within this select sample of schools and examine the relationship between level of opportune discretion explicitly stated in a policy and severity of violence within the school. I will also examine individual and school characteristics that contribute to risk or protective factors related to school violence.