Exploration of Strategies: School to Prison Pipeline Prevention in Schools

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to examine practices and policies that could help to disrupt the “School to Prison Pipeline" which is the process of students being moved out of school settings through policies and disciplinary actions, and sending them into the prison system. There are protective factors that have been identified in the literature that could diminish the likelihood of an individual ending up on this theoretical pipeline. The focus of this study is to explore effective strategies that can be implemented in schools, juvenile facilities, and other settings to help steer students off of this path. Initial research findings indicate that many programs are geared toward preventive actions that parents and guardians could take to help their children stay off this track. Although parents and guardians play a critical role in supporting students, educators should be equally involved in the process They should take on a proactive rather than reactive role in helping to keep students off this pipeline. This paper examines effective strategies in which school personnel, families and community members can work collaboratively to keep students off this theoretical pipeline.

Anna Perham | Education | Faculty Sponsor Karen DeAngelis