Student Discipline and STEM Achievement

While the school-to-prison pipeline and the STEM pipeline are often viewed as separate phenomena, new research from SPI—in partnership with the Center for Safe and Healthy Schools at Johns Hopkins University—demonstrates that these phenomena are closely linked. Through analyses of nationally representative high school data, we demonstrate that suspensions, high-suspension schools, and surveillance measures (e.g. security cameras) decrease STEM attainment and reduce college-going rates—especially for students of color.   

By investigating the real-world implications of disciplinary policies and practices, we identify policies and practice for teachers, schools, and educational institutions to bridge the racial achievement gap in STEM. This growing body of research indicates that in order to fill the STEM pipeline, we must first drain the school-to-prison pipeline.