Children’s advocacy group calls for culture shift to combat ‘school-to-prison pipeline’

by Noelle E. C. Evans

The Children’s Agenda is calling for an end to school suspensions for elementary students up to third grade.

The organization released findings this week from a poll of Monroe County parents who have students in grade school.

It shows that 84% of parents polled support eliminating suspensions in Pre-K through 3rd grade.

“I think the schools play an important role in that school-to-prison pipeline,” said Larry Marx, CEO of the Children’s Agenda. “We have to demonstrate in our practices and school culture nonviolent means of handling behavioral disruptions – and that has to go to eliminating exclusionary discipline, particularly for the littlest kids.”

Transitioning to restorative practices for minor infractions could prevent interrupting learning for students with behavioral issues, who would otherwise be kept out of the classroom, Marx said.

Read more…