The School-To-Prison Pipeline is a disturbing national trend where children are funneled out of public schools and into the juvenile and criminal justice systems. Many of these children have learning disabilities or histories of poverty, abuse, of neglect, and would benefit from additional educational and counseling services, instead, they are isolated, punished, and pushed out.
Black students are 2.6 times as likely to be suspended as white student. For example, in 2000, black students represented 17% of the nation's student population. There is no evidence connecting the disparity to poverty or assumptions that youth color are prone to disruptive and violent behavior. Black students are suspended and expelled 3 times more than white students. Students suspended or expelled for a discretionary violation are nearly 3 times more likely to be in contact with the juvenile justice system the following year.
-Increase the use of positive behavior interventions and supports.
-Compile annual reports on the total number of disciplinary actions that push students out of the classroom based on gender, race and ability.
-Create agreements with police departments and court systems to limit arrests at school and the use of restraints, such as mace and handcuffs.
-Provide simple explanations of infractions and prescribed
responses in the student code of conduct to ensure fairness.
-Create appropriate limits on the use of law enforcement in public schools.
Suspending /expelling children from school is not a punishment but the beginning of the pipeline leading to imprisonment