Let’s Talk About The School-To-Prison Pipeline

The “school-to-prison pipeline” refers to the policies and practices that push our nation’s youth out of classrooms and into juvenile legal systems. This pipeline reflects the prioritization of incarceration over education (ACLU). It is fueled by zero-tolerance policies, harsh disciplinary practices, the presence of law enforcement in schools, systemic inequalities, and inadequate access to resources.

This harmful cycle heavily impacts historically oppressed communities, funneling students from schools into the criminal legal system. We believe in a community-centered approach offering a pathway towards dismantling this pipeline and fostering environments of support, growth, and opportunity for all.

At CHOOSE 180 we disrupt the school-to-prison pipeline, by providing school-based diversion programming in 10 middle and high schools in the Highline and Seattle school districts so that students at risk of being suspended or expelled may have access to resources and mentorship to stay engaged in school. Our schools should be places of learning and growth, not pathways to incarceration. We believe in restoration over punishment. 

To fully embrace a community-centered approach to dismantling the school-to-prison pipeline we must work together. At CHOOSE 180 we intentionally partner with community leaders, prosecuting attorneys, judges, and school districts, to transform the harms that systems perpetuate into healing opportunities. 

Instead of relying on suspensions, expulsions, or police interventions, schools can implement restorative approaches that encourage dialogue, conflict resolution, and community-building. By investing in counselors, social workers, and mental health professionals, schools can better address the underlying issues that contribute to disruptive behavior.

At CHOOSE 180 we have two full-time mental health therapists on our team who offer three types of counseling services to youth and young adults, one-on-one talk therapy, group therapy, and expressive arts therapy. Our counseling and expressive arts therapy program has had the opportunity to hold group counseling sessions in two high schools in the Highline and Seattle public school districts. Our model is built on trust, relationship-building, respect, accountability, and restorative healing practices. 

“Hurt people hurt people. Healed people heal people.”

Dismantling the school-to-prison pipeline requires a multifaceted and community-centered approach that addresses the root causes of the pipeline, fosters supportive school environments, promotes alternatives to punitive discipline, and prioritizes community involvement. By working together towards this common goal, we can create schools that serve as pathways to possibilities.

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