The “school-to-prison pipeline” is a term used to describe what happens when students are pushed out of school through suspensions, alternative school placements, expulsions, and contact with school police and courts. Often, students are pushed out of class for minor behaviors that could be handled by teachers or administrators in the classroom. School removals can increase the likelihood of grade retention, dropout, and contact with the justice system.
Keep Students in Class
All students deserve the opportunity to stay in their classrooms, learning with their peers. We must end the harmful practice of excluding young people through unnecessary suspensions, alternative school placements, and expulsions.
Students and educators should feel safe in their classrooms. Police and courts should not be used to address discipline issues that can be handled by school officials, and officers should only be called to respond to emergencies that threaten school safety.
The best place for teachers and students to practice positive behaviors is in a supportive school environment. Schools must utilize research-based behavior models to foster safe and supportive school climates.
Students, parents, educators, and policymakers are all concerned with finding the best ways to keep schools safe. While we implement methods to protect our school communities from incidents of targeted violence, we must ensure that individual students have their needs met and are not harmed by unnecessary and harsh discipline and justice system involvement, which can funnel young people into the school-to-prison pipeline. School safety depends on fostering positive school climates, building strong relationships, and giving every member of the campus community what they need to thrive.
Check out the resources on our page, Keeping Schools Safe, to learn more about research- and evidence-based methods to ensure school safety; the dangers of relying on exclusionary discipline, law enforcement, and courts to address student needs; and how Texas Appleseed is working to urge policymakers to adopt strategies that keep all Texas children happy, healthy, and safe.
