Erb-Downward highlights discipline disparities in education

February 21, 2022 Michigan Advance

A new U-M publication found that Michigan students who have experienced homelessness are disproportionately suspended or expelled. Jennifer Erb-Downward, senior research associate at Poverty Solutions, described the finding's real-life impact. 

“Reality is we have a lot of kids in the United States who are experiencing housing instability and homelessness and this type of instability really has an educational impact,” Erb-Downward said. “And it has a health impact that [and] has a mental health impact. If we don’t recognize that as a society, we’re not going to be able to provide the support that kids really need to succeed.”