Michael G. Sheppard describes how we can end the school to prison pipeline. Keep up with Michael G. Sheppard by following him on Twitter—@mike_g_sheppard

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MICHAEL G. SHEPPARD
HOW WE CAN END THE
SCHOOL TO PRISON
PIPELINE
BY MICHAEL G. SHEPPARD / ON JANUARY 8, 2019
Across the nation, there is an increase in police presence and the
overuse of suspensions and expulsions. In some schools, it only takes
a dress code violation to suspend a student. Overly strict school
policies have made schools seem more like a prison than a place of
learning. Because of this, the phrase “school-to-prison pipeline” came
into formation.
To keep kids out of the criminal justice system and in the classroom,
there are a number of actions that educators and administrators can
take.
Police should be used as a last resort.

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In the instance of an issue, school-based police officers are often
called upon. While intervention is sometimes needed, it usually isn’t
necessary. In the case of Joshua Kehm, intervention from a school-
based officer caused more harm than good. While restraining a 12-
year-old middle schooler, Kehm slammed the student to the floor
while she was having a confrontation with another student.
The confrontation did not present a risk but it was handled as if the
student was acting recklessly. Rather than arresting students as a
first response, authority figures need to sit down with their students
and have a conversation. Treating students with respect will result in
a more proactive result.
Emphasize standard tests less.
High or low standardized test scores can make or break a school’s
funding. However, having a student’s primary focus on
standardized tests has been linked to the school-to-prison pipeline.
Focusing heavily on standardized test scores can cause students to
become disengaged with their education.
Nowadays, teachers receive more pressure to prep their students for
exams and less on how they can help their students develop as a
student. The real focus of education needs to be on how educators
can develop the skills and wellbeing of their students, with high
school test scores serving as a positive side effect and not a primary
goal.
College and career prep needs to be more prominent in
schools.
Life after high school can be unnerving especially without proper
preparation. Unprepared students are often correlated with a higher
rate of college drop out rate and job retentions rates.
One study conducted by the Education Trust revealed that only half
of high school graduates complete some type of college or career

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prep course. Students that don’t have good support systems and
don’t have prep classes are less likely to pursue higher education or
work towards a specific career. Students often have a goal or dream
in mind but need guidance on how to achieve it. These classes can
help them gain that skill and stay out of the criminal justice system.
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