CI: Ending the School to Prison Pipeline

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† Criminal InJustice is a weekly series devoted to taking action against inequities in the U.S. criminal justice system. Nancy A. Heitzeg, Professor of Sociology and Race/Ethnicity, is the Editor of CI. Kay Whitlock, co-author of Queer (In)Justice, is contributing editor of CI. Criminal Injustice is published every Wednesday at 6 pm.

 

Ending the School to Prison Pipeline
by nancy a heitzeg

This week marks the  5th Annual National Week of Action Against School Pushout October 4-11, 2014, brought to you by Dignity in Schools. On-going actions where ever you are can be found here.

CI has written extensively on the school to prison pipeline over the years. Some key selections include:

Given the new Federal Guidelines which call for suspension/expulsion as the last resort. there has recently been movement towards disrupting the pipeline. But continued pressure is required still that became crystal clear again last week. The Coalition for Critical Change ,Twin Cities held a community forum on the stpp with the candidates for Minneapolis School Board. Even given the advertized agenda, it was difficult to fully engage the necessary questions regarding a  focus on school policy ( not anthologizing  families of color), bans on suspensions that go beyond the 2nd grade, removing police from the schools, and promoting transfornative justice models that seek to address systems rather than putting the onus only on youth.

Much gratitude to Dignity in Schools and to all  those who do the work every day.

Highlights form last years’ National Week of Action Against School Pushout below.

Day 1: We Need Solutions Not Suspensions

Day 2: Counselors Not Cops

Day 3: Racial Disparities in School Discipline

Day 4: Pushout Policies Impacting LGBTQ Youth

5: Restorative Justice Day 6: School-Wide Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports

Day 7: Pushout Policies Impacting Immigrant Youth

Day 8: Invest in Education Not Incarceration

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  • KayWhitlock

    Thanks, Nancy, thanks @DignityinSchool, thanks @prisonculture, thanks @project-nia.org, thank you everyone who is working to dismantle every last shard of the school to prison pipeline.

  • thanks again to all who work tirelessly on this issue