MSEA discuss “school to prison pipeline”

Educators from all over Maryland took part in workshops at the Maryland State Education Association convention on Thursday. One workshop in particular focused on targeting a growing issue in the state.

“Ending the School to Prison Pipeline: Building a Positive School Climate, Culture, and Community” is focused on providing disciplinary measures that don’t remove students from the classroom.

The goal is to use restorative methods and address the student’s behavioral issues by identifying what’s happening in their life, rather than using the zero tolerance policy and immediately taking them out of class.

Renee King, a special education teacher in Montgomery County says, “We’re looking at the data and we’re seeing lots of students, brown and black students who are being pushed out of school. It starts with being sent out of class, then suspensions. Once the student is suspended it starts the trajectory.”