School Suspensions: Do The Risks Outweigh The Benefits?

5 min read Post on May 03, 2025

School Suspensions: Do The Risks Outweigh The Benefits?

The Negative Impacts of School Suspensions on Student Outcomes

School suspensions, while seemingly a straightforward disciplinary tool, inflict significant harm on students' academic, social-emotional, and overall well-being. The long-term consequences often overshadow any short-term gains in classroom order.

Academic Performance

Suspensions severely disrupt a student's education, creating a ripple effect that negatively impacts academic achievement.

Decreased grades and GPA: Studies consistently show a strong correlation between suspensions and lower grades. The missed classes, disrupted learning, and lack of access to educational resources during suspension lead to significant academic setbacks.
Increased dropout rates: Students who are frequently suspended are at a much higher risk of dropping out of school altogether. The cycle of suspension often leads to disengagement and alienation from the educational system.
Reduced educational attainment: The cumulative effect of academic disruption from repeated suspensions significantly limits future educational opportunities, impacting college admissions and career prospects. This contributes to a widening achievement gap and limits social mobility.

Social and Emotional Well-being

Beyond academics, school suspensions have profound negative effects on students' mental health and social-emotional development.

Increased risk of depression and anxiety: The isolation and stigma associated with suspension can exacerbate existing mental health issues or trigger new ones, leading to increased rates of depression, anxiety, and other emotional disorders.
Damaged relationships with peers and teachers: Suspensions can damage a student's relationships with their peers and teachers, further isolating them and making it harder to reintegrate into the school community. This can hinder social-emotional learning and create a sense of alienation.
Higher risk of delinquency and substance abuse: Suspended students are more likely to engage in delinquent behaviors and substance abuse. The lack of structure and support during suspension often leaves them vulnerable to negative influences.

The School-to-Prison Pipeline

Perhaps the most alarming consequence of school suspensions is their contribution to the school-to-prison pipeline. This disproportionately affects marginalized student populations.

Disproportionate discipline: Minority students and students with disabilities are far more likely to be suspended than their peers, highlighting the presence of implicit bias in disciplinary practices. This perpetuates systemic inequities within the education system.
Racial disparities: Data consistently reveals stark racial disparities in suspension rates, with Black and Hispanic students facing significantly higher suspension rates than white students for similar offenses.
Involvement with the juvenile justice system: Repeated suspensions can lead to involvement with the juvenile justice system, creating a pathway from school directly to prison, especially for students lacking adequate support and resources.

The Perceived Benefits of School Suspensions and Their Limitations

While some argue that suspensions are necessary to maintain order and ensure school safety, a closer examination reveals their limitations.

Maintaining Order and Safety

Proponents of school suspensions often believe they are essential for maintaining order and ensuring a safe school environment by removing disruptive students.

Short-term solution: While suspensions may temporarily remove a disruptive student from the classroom, they fail to address the underlying causes of the misbehavior.
Need for alternative strategies: Effective classroom management and conflict resolution strategies are far more effective in creating a positive and safe learning environment for all students.

Short-Term vs. Long-Term Effects

The short-term benefits of removing a disruptive student are often outweighed by the long-term negative consequences for the student's academic trajectory and well-being.

Failure to address root causes: Suspensions rarely address the root causes of misbehavior, such as learning disabilities, trauma, or lack of support at home.
Lack of support and intervention: Suspended students are often left without support and intervention, exacerbating their issues and making it harder for them to succeed upon their return to school.

Alternative Approaches to School Discipline

Moving beyond punitive measures like school suspensions, alternative approaches offer a more effective and humane path to discipline.

Restorative Justice Practices

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

Conflict resolution circles: These bring together the student, victim, and community members to collaboratively address the harm caused and develop solutions.
Peer mediation: Students are trained to mediate conflicts between their peers, fostering conflict resolution skills and promoting empathy.
Restorative conferences: These formal meetings involve the student, victim, and school staff to discuss the impact of the behavior and create a plan for repair and accountability.

Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS)

PBIS is a proactive framework that focuses on teaching and reinforcing positive behaviors through clear expectations, positive reinforcement, and individualized support.

Proactive teaching of social-emotional skills: PBIS emphasizes teaching students social-emotional skills like self-regulation, conflict resolution, and empathy.
Positive reinforcement: It rewards positive behaviors rather than solely focusing on punishing negative behaviors.
Individualized support: Students who struggle with behavior are provided with individualized support and interventions to address their specific needs.

Increased Access to Mental Health Services

Addressing the underlying mental health needs of students is crucial for preventing behavioral issues and creating a supportive school environment.

School counselors and psychologists: Increased access to school counselors and psychologists provides students with the support they need to cope with emotional challenges and develop healthy coping mechanisms.
Early intervention: Early intervention is key to preventing more serious behavioral problems and supporting students’ academic and social-emotional development.

Conclusion: Rethinking School Suspensions for a Better Future

The evidence overwhelmingly demonstrates that the significant negative consequences of school suspensions far outweigh their limited benefits. To create truly supportive and inclusive school environments, we must shift our focus from punitive measures to preventative and restorative approaches. By embracing alternatives such as restorative justice, PBIS, and increased access to mental health services, we can foster positive behavior, improve student outcomes, and reduce reliance on school suspensions. Let’s work together to advocate for changes in school discipline policies, promoting alternatives to suspensions and building a more equitable and effective education system for all students. We must strive for reducing school suspensions and improving school discipline through positive and supportive strategies.