Classroom behavior problems persist across American schools, with a majority of teachers reporting that student conduct has worsened over the past year, according to an Education Week survey released this month.

The survey of more than 60 educators found that 64 percent of teachers said classroom behavior has gotten worse in the past year. Teachers identified smaller class sizes as their top solution to the problem, though they also pointed to parental involvement as a critical factor in addressing student conduct.

What the Left Is Saying

Progressive educators and some parent advocates say addressing student behavior requires a collaborative approach that moves away from punitive discipline. Nancy Duchesneau, research senior manager and lead for social, emotional and academic development at EdTrust, said everyone needs instruction on supporting youth development and student behavior.

"I think everyone needs instruction on how to support youth development and how to support student behavior. And so, it needs to be a co-creation, a partnership effort … the issue is not necessarily that educators know best or that parents know best. It's really just that we need to be making sure that collectively, we are using evidence based practices to support student discipline," Duchesneau said.

Some education professionals argue that suspensions and expulsions have proven ineffective. Justin Wax, principal of Denham Springs Junior High in Louisiana, said his school has cut suspensions and expulsions in half over the past three years by offering alternatives such as tutoring during detention and programs like a vaping education course.

Keri Rodrigues, president of the National Parents Union, defended parental involvement in disciplinary matters. "It's not possible for a parent to interfere with something happening with their own child," Rodrigues said. "We don't give up custody of our children when we send them to school, so the idea that we shouldn't be a part or allowed to have any kind of say … just comes across in a pretty aggressive and offensive way. Again, these are our children."

What the Right Is Saying

Conservative educators and policy experts emphasize the importance of traditional discipline and parental accountability. Daniel Buck, a research fellow for the American Institute for Economic Research and former teacher and school administrator, said parents who support school discipline tend to have children who do not misbehave.

"I think the majority of parents are still very supportive of discipline in schools. I had a lot of conversations with parents at the beginning of the year who said, 'If my kid does anything, even I don't care how small it is, let me know. I'll back you up on it' … But because of that attitude, those are also the kids that generally aren't misbehaving in schools," Buck said.

Buck added that it can be more difficult to work with parents who do not believe in formal punitive punishment, parents who think their kid "can do no wrong" and those who are "not actually going to reinforce the school's norm" at home.

Around 50 percent of teachers surveyed said tougher consequences for students, such as suspensions or expulsions, were needed. More than 55 percent said parents should receive instructions on teaching children how to behave in the classroom, and a majority favored restricting screentime in schools.

Nicole Peterson, principal of Brentwood Middle School in Colorado, said educators must set clear expectations and teach classroom rules. "But if we aren't clear and consistent, then that's when we run into issues of being undermined," she added.

What the Numbers Show

The Education Week survey found that 64 percent of teachers reported worsened classroom behavior over the past year, representing a significant challenge for educators nationwide.

More than 55 percent of teachers said parents should receive formal instruction on teaching children appropriate classroom behavior. A majority of educators supported restricting screentime in schools as one intervention.

Approximately 50 percent of teachers surveyed said stronger disciplinary consequences, including suspensions and expulsions, were necessary to address persistent misbehavior.

The survey also found that teachers' top solution for improving classroom behavior was smaller class sizes, which would require significant investment in additional educators and school resources.

The Bottom Line

The tension between teachers and parents over student discipline has been exacerbated by rising behavioral problems since the pandemic. While educators and parents agree that student conduct must improve, they differ on the methods.

Teachers are calling for a multi-pronged approach that includes smaller class sizes, clearer expectations, and greater parental reinforcement of school rules at home. Parents, particularly those represented by organizations like the National Parents Union, want to remain involved in disciplinary decisions and resist what they see as exclusion from the process.

The debate reflects a broader national conversation about school discipline policies, with some advocating for restorative practices while others push for more traditional accountability measures. What most educators and parents agree on is that consistency between home and school expectations is essential to improving student behavior.