Graduation Year

2026

Date of Submission

4-2026

Document Type

Campus Only Senior Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Reader 1

Professor Firoozi

Abstract

Research shows that school discipline policies disproportionately affect some students more than others, with Black students being the most affected. This in turn has led to wide racial disparities in school discipline outcomes. This thesis contributes to this literature by examining the role of Title I in narrowing racial suspension gaps. The study uses data from DataQuest, Ed-Data, and the United States Civil Rights Data Collection to compare racial suspension gaps between Title I and non-Title I public high schools in Los Angeles County before and after the Covid-19 pandemic and the death of George Floyd. Specifically, it examines suspension rates for Hispanic and Black students relative to White students during the 2016-2019 and 2021-2024 school years. Using a difference-in-difference design, the study finds that when accounting for school and year differences, Title I schools experienced a more pronounced decline in the Hispanic-White suspension gap than non-Title I schools following the Covid-19 pandemic and the death of George Floyd. When controlling only for year effects, the Black-White suspension gap also decreases more in Title I schools than non-Title I schools over the same period. Overall, the study aims to contribute to policy discussions on reducing racial disparities in school discipline by highlighting the practical implications of the results to promote a more equitable school disciplinary system.

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This thesis is restricted to the Claremont Colleges current faculty, students, and staff.

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