Experiences of Adversity Among High School Students Who Have Been Suspended or Expelled: Systemic Racism, Inequity, School and Community Violence

This constructivist grounded theory study aimed to explore adverse experiences among students who are disciplinarily excluded in Ontario, Canada. Participants (n = 31) were recruited through suspension and expulsion programs across two school boards in urban and urban emergent areas of Southern Ontario. Fifteen students were interviewed, (male, n = 11; Black, n = 10; identified as having special education needs, n = 9) and 16 multidisciplinary staff. Students had consistently experienced multiple and diverse forms of adversity. Of particular note were expanded forms of adversity which included school and community violence and systemic racism and inequity. Experiences of adversity are rarely explicitly identified among students who have been suspended or expelled, particularly expanded forms. Important experiences are not conventionally acknowledged as adversity, and certain students are not viewed as traumatized by their experiences. The findings indicate a need for trauma-informed and culturally/race aware school and disciplinary approaches, research on adversity within disproportionate disciplinary, and consistent acknowledgment of expanded forms of adversity, particularly among this group of students, in research and practice.