Stopping the School-to-Prison Pipeline

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More than 25% of students in the Philadelphia School District received out-of-school suspensions during the 2011-12 school year.

Zero-tolerance policies, aggressive policing in schools, and other extreme school discipline practices lead to high rates of suspensions, expulsions, and arrests of students.

As a result, large numbers of youth are pushed out of school and into the juvenile and criminal justice systems. These policies and practices also fuel systemic inequalities and disparate educational outcomes based on race, gender, perceived sexual orientation, disability status, and other categories. ELC has long been a national leader in the fight against exclusionary discipline practices. To review some of the resources that ELC has produced in the subject area, click here.

Fact Sheet

Educational Rights of Students in the Juvenile Justice System

Children involved in the juvenile justice systems have the right to a free public education, like all public school students....Read More

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Analysis

Report: Exclusionary Discipline Harms Students of Color, Students with Disabilities, and LGBTQ Students

A new report recommending strategies for policy makers to dismantle the school-to-prison pipeline and address disparities in school discipline was...Read More

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Current Law & Policy

Public Comments on OCDEL Draft Policy Guidance to Reduce Suspensions and Expulsions in Early Childhood Programs in Pa.

In October 2015, the Education Law Center submitted comments to the Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL)...Read More

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