McNair Scholars Research Journal
Abstract
This qualitative study will examine the impact of zero tolerance policies and school discipline practices on the educational experience of African American students, with a concentration on students who reside in urban communities. The objective of this study is to engage the perspectives of African American students about the impact of school discipline on their educational experiences. This study will examine factors that contribute to African American students entering the “school-to-prison pipeline,” and explore the role that suspensions and expulsions play in increasing the likelihood of students entering the juvenile justice system. The data collected in this study will identify the resources students believe should be available in their communities to support their future success. The data from this study will be used to analyze educational experiences and to discover effective intervention practices to attenuate the school-to-prison pipeline.