As the implementation of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) of 2015 moves forward, the overuse of exclusionary discipline practices in schools, and the role such practices play in perpetuating the school-to-prison pipeline, deservedly continue to garner national attention. Under these harsh practices, children are suspended and expelled from their schools at increasing rates. The stigma associated with suspensions and expulsions, as well as the sheer number of lost days of instruction, hold severe consequences for high school graduation rates, academic performance, and the real-life outcomes of affected students.
