In School Suspension Is a Holding Cell for Black Boys Leading to the School to Prison Pipeline

We can't improve the discipline of Black boys in prison like atmospheres. Unfortunately, that's why many Black boys aren't successful in public schools. We are preparing them to serve sentences, not walk across stages for graduation.

ISS preps Black boys who fall into a category of economically deprived, poor, unintelligent and delinquent. The ISS room either serves as a holding cell for Black boys in schools or a time out room. Either way, it doesn't help decrease the achievement gap.

It's true that Black male educators are more likely to be appointed or chosen for a discipline role in school.

As a former school administrator, the work of discipline is not as easy as people presume it to be.

I've had a room full of 12 -17 Black boys in ISS about in one day of ISS. ISS is just a holding cell for Black boys.

Special education accommodations are used as a time out for Black boys in general education classes.  Due to their IEP certain behaviors that are too disruptive in class can warrant ISS.

In school suspension is apart of the school to prison pipeline. It is a truly used as a holding cell for

Black boys whose behavior is considered "unruly".

ISS is the step before Blacks boys behaviors escalate to the level of suspension or explosion. An Opportunity or ISS Room is not creating an atmosphere for Black boys an opportunity to change their behavior.

My advocacy for improving the educational outcomes for Black boys was often times challenged.

Discipline was one of the most difficult things in school leadership for me. It was challenging to get school leadership to truly support restorative justice based discipline programs.
In school suspension rooms are full of Black boys because of poor discipline policies.

Poorly defined discipline policies is a barrier that will continue to increase suspension rates of Black boys in schools. Data shows that Black boys still have the highest suspension rates. I've seen how school manipulate discipline data. ISS is the loop whole.

It's hard to develop policies that are reflective of social justice reform practices when you don't have people who know how to implement them at the decision-making table.

The policies school boards pass impact the high number of Black boys who are being placed in ISS to avoid high out of suspension numbers.

Schools also struggle with developing procedures that align to discipline policies.

Black boys fall in between the cracks because of poor procedures around discipline for Black boys. The lack of family engagement, communication and intervention work to improve educational outcomes for Black boys is a result of poor policies.