Rethinking School Suspensions: Negative Impacts And Better Alternatives

Rajiv Sharma

5 min read

Post on May 02, 2025

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The Negative Impacts of School Suspensions

The widespread use of school suspensions carries significant negative consequences for students, schools, and communities. These impacts extend far beyond the immediate suspension itself, creating a ripple effect with long-lasting ramifications.

Academic Consequences

School suspension directly disrupts a student's education, leading to a cascade of negative academic outcomes.

• Increased Absenteeism: Days spent suspended translate to missed classes, assignments, and crucial learning opportunities. This increased absenteeism significantly contributes to falling grades and can ultimately lead to students dropping out of school entirely. A study by the National Education Association found that suspended students are 20% more likely to drop out than their peers.
• Disruption of Learning: Even upon returning to school, suspended students often face a backlog of missed work and struggle to catch up, further hindering their academic progress. The disruption to their learning routine can negatively impact their understanding of concepts and their overall academic trajectory.
• Negative Impact on Standardized Test Scores: The missed instruction and the emotional distress associated with suspension can significantly impact performance on standardized tests, impacting future college and career opportunities. Studies have shown a correlation between increased suspensions and lower standardized test scores.
• Reduced Future Academic Prospects: The cumulative effect of these negative impacts can significantly reduce a student's future academic prospects, limiting their access to higher education and career advancement.

Social and Emotional Impacts

Beyond the academic realm, school suspensions have profound social and emotional consequences for students.

• Increased Feelings of Isolation and Alienation: Suspension isolates students from their peers and teachers, fostering feelings of resentment, anger, and alienation towards the school environment. This isolation can worsen pre-existing behavioral issues.
• Higher Risk of Involvement in Criminal Activity: Time spent out of school, unsupervised and disconnected from positive influences, increases the risk of involvement in delinquent behavior and criminal activity. Studies have linked suspensions to higher rates of juvenile delinquency.
• Negative Impact on Mental Health and Well-being: The stress, shame, and stigma associated with suspension can have a significant negative impact on students' mental health and well-being. Suspended students are more likely to experience anxiety and depression according to research published in the Journal of School Psychology.
• Increased Behavioral Problems: Ironically, suspension, intended as a behavior correction tool, often exacerbates behavioral problems by removing students from supportive environments and positive role models.

The School-to-Prison Pipeline

School suspensions significantly contribute to the school-to-prison pipeline, a disturbing trend where students are pushed out of the education system and into the juvenile justice system.

• Disproportionate Impact on Marginalized Communities: Students from marginalized communities, particularly African American and Latino students, are disproportionately suspended, creating a cycle of disadvantage that perpetuates systemic inequities. According to the US Department of Education, African American students are suspended at three times the rate of white students.
• Link Between Suspension and Future Incarceration: Research clearly demonstrates a correlation between school suspensions and increased rates of future incarceration. Students who experience frequent suspensions are far more likely to be involved with the criminal justice system later in life.

Exploring Effective Alternatives to School Suspensions

Fortunately, numerous effective alternatives to school suspensions offer more positive and equitable approaches to discipline. These methods focus on addressing the root causes of misbehavior and fostering positive relationships within the school community.

Restorative Justice Practices

Restorative justice focuses on repairing harm and restoring relationships rather than simply punishing offenders.

• Implementation in Schools: Restorative justice practices, such as mediation and conferencing, can be successfully implemented in schools to resolve conflicts between students, teachers, and the broader school community.
• Benefits: These approaches promote empathy, accountability, and problem-solving skills, fostering positive relationships and reducing future disciplinary issues. Restorative circles provide a safe space for open communication and conflict resolution.
• Specific Techniques: Specific restorative justice techniques include peer mediation, restorative conferencing, and victim-offender mediation.

Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS)

PBIS is a proactive framework that focuses on teaching and reinforcing positive behaviors to prevent disciplinary problems before they arise.

• Proactive Approach: PBIS emphasizes creating a positive school climate where students feel supported, respected, and empowered to make positive choices.
• Benefits: By establishing clear expectations, providing consistent positive reinforcement, and teaching social-emotional skills, PBIS significantly reduces disruptive behaviors and improves overall school climate.
• Key Components: Key components of a successful PBIS program include clear behavioral expectations, consistent positive reinforcement, proactive teaching of social skills, and responsive interventions for challenging behaviors.

Social-Emotional Learning (SEL)

SEL focuses on developing students' social and emotional skills, which are crucial for academic success and positive behavior.

• Importance of SEL: By teaching students self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making, SEL equips them with the tools to navigate challenges and make positive choices.
• Benefits: Incorporating SEL into the curriculum and school culture fosters a more supportive and inclusive environment, reducing behavioral issues and improving academic performance.
• Specific SEL Skills: Specific SEL skills include self-regulation, empathy, conflict resolution, and communication skills.

Conclusion

School suspensions, with their demonstrably negative academic, social, and emotional consequences, are not an effective or equitable disciplinary approach. The disproportionate impact on marginalized communities contributes to the troubling school-to-prison pipeline. Fortunately, effective alternatives such as restorative justice, PBIS, and SEL offer promising strategies for creating safer, more supportive, and more equitable school environments. Let's move beyond the reliance on school suspensions and embrace innovative strategies that support student well-being and academic success. Demand better alternatives to school suspensions for our schools and children. Let's work together to reduce school suspensions and build a brighter future for all students.