Is Your Child’s School Preparing Them for Success… or Prison?

The youngest client I ever had who had the police called on him was a 5-year-old kindergartener. The youngest client I ever had who was handcuffed was a 7-year-old second grader.

Both were just little kids, babies practically. Both were autistic students just having a bad day. All the time, I hear people trying to justify SROs (they don’t work, follow the data) and other punitive measures.

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But please explain to me how any 5-year-old or 7-year-old who can be dangerous enough that they need to be handcuffed?

You’ve heard the term “school-to-prison pipeline,” right? It sounds like a bad horror movie, but for too many kids, it’s a harsh reality. Let’s break down what it really is, why it happens, and what we (yes, YOU too!) need to do to change it.

What Is the School-to-Prison Pipeline?

The school-to-prison pipeline is a disturbing trend where certain disciplinary policies and practices in schools increase the likelihood that students—especially marginalized students—will end up in the criminal justice system.

Instead of receiving support, guidance, or even just a reasonable consequence for misbehavior, many kids are met with punishments that mimic criminal penalties: arrests, suspensions, expulsions, and even confinement. Essentially, they get booted out of the classroom and onto a fast track to jail.

Who’s Affected the Most?

Kids who are already facing the greatest challenges are the ones most affected by the school-to-prison pipeline. Think about it: children of color, kids with disabilities, those from low-income families, and LGBTQ+ youth.

Black students are 3.5 times more likely to be suspended or expelled compared to their white peers, and students with disabilities are twice as likely to receive an out-of-school suspension. Not exactly the kind of statistics we want to be winning at, right?

But it’s not just about who gets punished more. It’s also about how they’re punished. For example, kids with behavioral or emotional challenges might get locked in a “seclusion room”—a tiny, empty closet-like space that looks suspiciously like a prison cell. And what’s the lesson there? That when you misbehave, you get locked away, just like in jail.

School to Prison Pipeline Statistics

Here are 10 shocking statistics about the school-to-prison pipeline that highlight its impact on students, particularly those who are Black, disabled, or otherwise marginalized:

1. 70,000 Students Arrested at School: Each year, approximately 70,000 students are arrested in schools across the United States, often for minor infractions like disruptive behavior or truancy.
2. Black Students Are 3.5 Times More Likely to Be Suspended: Black students are 3.5 times more likely to be suspended or expelled than their white peers, even for similar behaviors, making them more vulnerable to the pipeline.
3. Disabled Students Make Up 25% of Arrests: Although students with disabilities make up just 13% of the total school population, they represent 25% of those arrested or referred to law enforcement while at school.
4. Students with Disabilities Are Twice as Likely to Be Suspended: Students with disabilities are twice as likely to receive out-of-school suspensions compared to their peers without disabilities.
5. 10 Million Days of Instruction Lost Annually: U.S. students lose around 10 million days of instruction every year due to suspensions, significantly impacting their academic progress.
6. High Suspension Rates Linked to Dropout Rates: Students suspended or expelled for a discretionary violation are nearly three times more likely to be in contact with the juvenile justice system the following year.
7. High Suspension Schools Have Lower Graduation Rates: Schools with high suspension rates (over 20%) have graduation rates up to 20 percentage points lower than schools with lower suspension rates.
8. Over 14 Million Students Attend Schools with Police, But No Counselors: More than 14 million students are in schools with a law enforcement officer but no counselor, psychologist, or social worker to provide mental health support.
9. Black Students Represent 15% of Enrollment but 31% of Arrests: While Black students make up 15% of the student population, they account for 31% of school-related arrests.
10. Black and Brown Students Are 2.5 Times More Likely to Be Arrested: Youth of color are 2.5 times more likely to be referred to law enforcement or experience a school-related arrest compared to their white counterparts.

These statistics reveal the deep racial and disability biases ingrained in many school disciplinary practices, highlighting the urgent need for reform.

How Are Schools Contributing?

American public education is unknowingly (or knowingly) participating in this pipeline. Here’s how:

1. Zero Tolerance Policies: These policies sound like a good idea at first—no weapons, drugs, or violence in schools. But in reality, they often mean that even minor infractions (like talking back or skipping class) can lead to suspension or expulsion. No questions asked, no context considered. One misstep, and you’re out.
2. School Resource Officers (SROs): What was supposed to make schools safer has, in some cases, made them more like mini-jails. SROs often step in to handle disciplinary issues that teachers used to manage themselves. And they sometimes do this by arresting students for behavior that really doesn’t warrant a trip to the police station.
3. Seclusion and Restraint: When a child has a meltdown, instead of being given the support they need, they might be restrained or put into seclusion rooms. This isn’t just emotionally damaging—it can also be physically dangerous. And let’s be real, if you’re locking kids up in a tiny room, you’re teaching them that confinement is a standard response to behavior. Sound familiar?
4. Over-Referral to Juvenile Justice: Instead of dealing with behavioral issues within the school, some districts have made it a policy to refer students to law enforcement for minor infractions. Skipping class, disruptive behavior, or even throwing a tantrum can land a child in front of a judge rather than in a counselor’s office.

More Ways Schools Prepare Kids for Prison

Here are some additional practices that make schools look and feel more like prisons, conditioning kids to expect punishment rather than support:

• Constant Surveillance: Many schools have surveillance cameras, metal detectors, and even drug-sniffing dogs. These measures create a prison-like atmosphere where students feel constantly watched and scrutinized. It sends a clear message: we expect you to break the rules, and we’re ready to catch you when you do.
• Frequent Lockdowns and Drills: Emergency drills are important, but when they happen too frequently, especially in response to minor events, they can instill a sense of fear and anxiety in students. They begin to view their school as a place of danger rather than learning, much like prisoners who are regularly subjected to cell searches and lockdowns.
• Strip Searches and Pat-Downs: In some extreme cases, students are subjected to pat-downs or strip searches for suspected infractions. This practice is not only traumatizing but also conditions students to accept a lack of privacy and bodily autonomy—something they might experience in a prison setting.
• Behavior Tracking Systems: Some schools use computerized behavior tracking systems where every minor infraction is documented. These systems are often used to justify suspensions or expulsions without considering the root causes of the behavior. It’s like a criminal record for kids—once it’s there, it follows them around.
• Confinement for Minor Infractions: Some schools use confinement rooms, which are basically closets where children are placed when they are considered out of control. While some schools call these “calm down rooms,” they often resemble solitary confinement. Kids who experience this begin to associate misbehavior with being locked away, just like in a prison.

Long-Term Repercussions

The consequences are pretty stark. Kids who are expelled or suspended are more likely to drop out of school altogether. Once they’re out, they’re far more likely to get into trouble with the law. Dropping out doubles the likelihood of being arrested later in life.

And let’s not even get started on the economic costs to society—think of the lost potential, the increased need for social services, and the costs of incarceration. It’s a nightmare for the kids, the parents, and the community as a whole.

What Needs to Change?

It’s clear the system is broken. So, what do we do? Here are a few starting points:

1. Eliminate Zero Tolerance Policies: We need to stop criminalizing typical childhood behaviors. Implement restorative justice practices instead, where kids learn from their mistakes without being kicked out of school.
2. Better Training for Teachers and Staff: Educators need more support and training in managing challenging behaviors—especially when it comes to kids with disabilities. Instead of escalating situations, they should be taught de-escalation techniques and how to provide trauma-informed care.
3. More Counselors, Fewer Cops: Let’s face it: schools need more social workers, counselors, and psychologists—not more police. Students dealing with trauma or behavioral challenges need mental health support, not handcuffs.
4. Ban Seclusion and Limit Restraint: No more tiny confinement rooms or harmful restraints. Every kid deserves to feel safe and supported at school, no matter how they express their emotions.
5. Increase Access to Special Education Services: This might seem obvious, but it’s worth saying: properly funded and staffed special education programs are a game-changer. They provide the tailored support that students with disabilities need, helping them succeed academically and socially.
6. Engage Parents and Communities: Schools must create meaningful partnerships with parents, especially those of marginalized children. When parents are informed, involved, and empowered, they can advocate more effectively for their children.

Let’s Do Better

Our kids deserve better. The school-to-prison pipeline is not just a “them” problem—it’s an “us” problem. It affects all of us because it affects the future of our society.

It’s time to get loud, ask questions, demand changes, and work together to ensure that every child has the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive without the threat of being pushed into the criminal justice system.

Got thoughts or experiences on this topic? Ask on our Message Board. Let’s keep this conversation going—because if we don’t, who will?