Peer Coach Training to Empower Middle School Youth with Discipline Referrals and Improve Behavior

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating Peer Coach Training PCT, a strengths-based behavioral intervention designed to help middle-school youth who have been referred for school discipline. The study focuses on empowering these youth to act as positive change agents for their peers. This approach aims to reduce exclusionary discipline disparities affecting Black and Latinx students by emphasizing peer support instead of focusing on existing problems. The trial is a cluster randomized study conducted across ten urban public middle schools in the United States, involving 150 youth. The study compares two groups one receiving immediate PCT and the other receiving delayed PCT after follow-up assessments. PCT consists of six to seven sessions that teach skills development and help-giving practices, delivered by trained research team members. Youth in control schools receive their standard behavioral services until they receive PCT later. Assessments occur at baseline, 3 months, and 8 months after baseline to evaluate the interventions effects. Participants will be assessed on disruptive and prosocial behavior, school engagement, empowerment, and other social-emotional measures through questionnaires, teacher ratings, and school behavior records. The study includes baseline, post-intervention, and follow-up evaluations to monitor changes over time. The total participation spans these assessments with ongoing data collection to measure outcomes related to behavior and social support within the school community.

Empowering Youth With School Discipline Referrals as Peer Coaches