Using Anti-Racist School Counseling Practices and Multi-Tiered Systems of Supports as Alternatives to Punitive Disciplinary Practices for Black Males

Abstract

Black male students are suspended and expelled from school at three times the number of White students, even though they are a smaller population. This conceptual article reviews how school counselors can support Black male students through an anti-racist lens, using culturally responsive multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS) interventions in relation to behavioral issues to reverse punishment trends. We report on several appropriate, evidence-based Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 interventions that school counselors have been successful using with Black males. This article stresses the importance of using culturally responsive interventions with Black male students.

Keywords

Black males school counselors multi-tiered system of supports culturally appropriate interventions anti-racist school counseling

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