A tale of two policies: the case of school discipline in an Ontario school board
Author
Faculty Advisor
Date
2017
Keywords
School discipline, Safe Schools Act, progressive discipline, tight coupling, loose coupling, education policy
Abstract (summary)
This study examines how staff working for one Ontario school board perceive two distinct approaches to school discipline policy: the Safe Schools Act (Bill 81) and Progressive Discipline and School Safety (Bill 212). The more centrally controlled and rigid Safe Schools Act was criticized by interviewees and cited for human rights violations. However, the inherent flexibility and vagueness of the Progressive Discipline policy that replaced it was seen to lead to inconsistent policy implementation and unequal outcomes for students. This paper considers the broader implications of policies that are “tightly coupled” or “loosely coupled” in terms of teachers’ professional discretion, accountability, and student outcomes.
Publication Information
Milne, Emily and Janice Aurini. 2017. “The Tale of Two Policies: The Case of School Discipline in an Ontario School Board.” Canadian Journal of Educational Administration and Policy 183:30-43. Retrieved August 14, 2017 (https://journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/cjeap/article/view/16334/30760).
DOI
Notes
Item Type
Article
Language
English
Rights
Attribution (CC BY)
