Testing School-to-Prison Pipeline Hypothesis Using Virginia High Schools Data in the 2013–2014 Academic Year

• In Event: Moscone Center West Roundtable Session 12
  In Roundtable Session: Discipline and the School-to-Prison Pipeline

Abstract

Path analysis and the follow-up multiple regression analysis were conducted to examine the School to Prison Pipeline (STPP) hypothesis formulated at ecological level using data from all
high schools in Virginia in 2013-14 academic year. The STPP is a hypothesis that claims: “overuse of exclusionary discipline at school may increase the likelihood that a student will not graduate from school and/or will become involved in the court system”. The STPP is mainly a model at individual level, but in the present study, we extend this theory to the school building level. The analyses supported our hypothesis that frequent use of exclusionary discipline will lead to higher rate of conviction and lower graduation rate.

Authors

• Yasuo Miyazaki, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

• Kazuki Hori, Benesse Educational Research and Development Institute

• Gerard Lawson, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

• Laura E. Welfare, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University