Alternative Disciplinary Placements in Texas

The purpose of this study was to conduct archival research, obtained from data maintained by the State of Texas in the Academic Excellence Indicator System (AEIS), of all Texas public school districts for the 2011-2012 academic year, excluding private, charter or magnet schools. The variables utilized in the study were percentages of discretionary disciplinary placements, special education enrollments, economically disadvantaged, at-risk, limited English proficient, African American, Hispanic, and white students. The study provided descriptive analysis, examined relationships of all variables to the percentages of disciplinary placements and identified underlying factors and associations. The research conducted included factor analysis. The findings indicated that students of African American heritage and receiving special education services are more likely to receive disciplinary alternative educational placement than their peers of Hispanic or white heritage.