School Suspensions: Evidence Of Ineffectiveness And Harm

Hugo van Dijk

5 min read

Post on May 02, 2025

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H2: The Ineffectiveness of School Suspensions

School suspensions, while seemingly a straightforward solution to disruptive behavior, often fail to address the underlying issues driving misbehavior. Instead of fostering positive change, they frequently exacerbate existing problems.

H3: Increased Behavioral Problems

Suspending a student rarely solves the root causes of their misbehavior. In fact, it often leads to a cycle of escalating problems.

• Increased likelihood of future suspensions: Students who are suspended are significantly more likely to be suspended again. This creates a pattern of repeated exclusion from school.
• Higher dropout rates: Suspension disrupts a student's education and connection to school, increasing the risk of dropping out.
• Involvement in the juvenile justice system: Studies show a strong correlation between school suspension and involvement with the juvenile justice system, highlighting a pipeline from school discipline to incarceration.

Research consistently demonstrates this negative correlation. For instance, a study published in the Journal of Educational Psychology found that students who were suspended were twice as likely to be arrested within a year compared to their peers who were not suspended. This underscores the failure of suspensions to effectively address behavioral issues.

H3: Disruption of Education

The time missed during a suspension translates to significant academic setbacks. This disruption compounds over time, creating a snowball effect on a student's academic trajectory.

• Missed instruction: Students miss crucial lessons and classroom activities, leading to gaps in their learning.
• Falling behind peers: Catching up on missed work can be challenging, leading to increased feelings of frustration and inadequacy.
• Negative impact on grades and overall academic performance: The cumulative effect of missed instruction and increased stress often results in lower grades and diminished academic performance.

This academic disruption is clearly reflected in standardized test scores and GPAs. Data consistently shows that students with a history of suspensions perform significantly worse academically than their peers. The lost educational opportunities caused by suspensions can have long-lasting consequences, impacting college admissions and future career prospects.

H3: Lack of Positive Behavioral Interventions

Often, suspensions lack any positive behavioral intervention or support. They simply remove the student from the school environment without addressing the underlying issues.

• Absence of restorative justice practices: Restorative justice approaches, which focus on repairing harm and fostering understanding, are often absent in schools that rely heavily on suspensions.
• Lack of positive reinforcement strategies: Suspensions primarily focus on punishment rather than positive reinforcement and proactive behavior management.
• Limited access to counseling or support services: Many suspended students lack access to the counseling and support services they may need to address underlying emotional or behavioral challenges.

Schools need to shift towards positive behavior interventions and support (PBIS) models that focus on prevention and proactive strategies to address behavioral issues before they escalate to the point of suspension. Restorative justice practices offer a powerful alternative, providing students with opportunities to take responsibility for their actions and repair any harm caused.

H2: The Harm Caused by School Suspensions

Beyond their ineffectiveness, school suspensions inflict significant harm on students, particularly those from marginalized groups.

H3: Negative Social and Emotional Impact

The experience of suspension can be deeply damaging to a student's social and emotional well-being.

• Increased risk of mental health problems: Isolation, shame, and feelings of failure can contribute to increased anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues.
• Difficulty forming positive relationships: Suspension can damage relationships with peers and teachers, leading to social isolation and increased difficulty forming positive relationships.
• Damage to self-esteem: The experience of being excluded from school can significantly damage a student's self-esteem and sense of belonging.

The psychological impact of suspension is significant and often long-lasting. Research consistently shows that students who are suspended are at increased risk for developing various mental health problems. This highlights the need for more compassionate and supportive disciplinary approaches.

H3: Disproportionate Impact on Marginalized Students

School suspension disproportionately affects students of color and students with disabilities, perpetuating systemic inequalities.

• Racial bias in school discipline: Implicit bias in school discipline leads to disproportionate suspension rates for students of color.
• Lack of culturally responsive disciplinary practices: Disciplinary practices often fail to take into account cultural differences and diverse learning styles.
• Failure to address underlying learning disabilities: Students with learning disabilities may be suspended for behaviors stemming from their disabilities rather than receiving appropriate support.

Statistics reveal stark disparities in suspension rates based on race and disability. Addressing this requires a fundamental shift in school culture, embracing culturally responsive practices and providing adequate support for students with disabilities.

H3: Long-Term Consequences

The impact of school suspensions extends far beyond the immediate consequences. They can have long-lasting negative effects on academic and life outcomes.

• Increased likelihood of incarceration: As mentioned earlier, there's a strong link between school suspension and involvement in the juvenile justice system.
• Lower earning potential: The academic setbacks and decreased educational attainment caused by suspensions can significantly impact future earning potential.
• Reduced opportunities for higher education: Suspension can create barriers to college admission and access to higher education.

These long-term consequences underscore the urgent need for change. The cycle of suspension, leading to further disadvantage and reduced opportunity, must be broken.

3. Conclusion

School suspensions are demonstrably ineffective at addressing misbehavior and inflict significant harm on students, disproportionately impacting marginalized groups. Their long-term consequences are severe, impacting educational attainment, future employment, and overall life success. It's time to rethink school suspensions and embrace effective alternatives. We must move beyond punitive measures and invest in restorative practices, positive behavior interventions, and support services that address the root causes of misbehavior and foster positive student outcomes. Learn more about effective alternatives to school suspensions and advocate for change in your community and schools – let's work together to reduce reliance on school suspensions and create more equitable and supportive learning environments for all students.