Empowering discipline-referred middle-school students to be peer coaches
Empowering Youth With School Discipline Referrals as Peer Coaches
The program will try Peer Coach Training with middle-school students who received discipline referrals to see if helping peers reduces disruptive behavior and improves school engagement.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 150 (estimated) |
| Ages | 10 Years to 15 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of Southern California Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Los Angeles, California) |
| Trial ID | NCT07515742 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This cluster randomized trial will assign ten middle schools (about 150 discipline-referred students) to immediate Peer Coach Training (PCT) or delayed treatment. PCT is a strengths-based program that trains youth to act as change agents by helping peers rather than focusing on deficits. Outcomes including disruptive and prosocial behavior, school engagement, and empowerment will be measured at baseline, post-intervention, and follow-up. The trial targets urban public school districts where exclusionary discipline disproportionately affects Black and Latinx students and aims to reduce discipline disparities.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Middle-school students who have received at least one disciplinary referral between the first day of school and recruitment at participating schools are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Students without disciplinary referrals, students outside the participating grade levels or schools, or those unable to attend group training sessions may not receive benefit from this program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, PCT could reduce suspensions and expulsions while increasing prosocial engagement and students' sense of empowerment.
How similar studies have performed: Other school-based programs have shown promise in reducing disruptive behavior, but the strengths-based peer coach model that leverages help-giving is relatively novel and has limited prior testing.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Youth who have received at least one disciplinary referral between the first day of school and recruitment Exclusion Criteria: * Youth who have not received any disciplinary referrals between the first day of school and recruitment
Where this trial is running
Los Angeles, California
- University of Southern California — Los Angeles, California, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Stanley J Huey, Ph.D.
- Email: hueyjr@usc.edu
- Phone: 213-740-2033
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.