Middle School Expulsion Heightens the Risk of Delinquency

"When a child is unruly or disruptive at school, failing classes, or repeatedly absent without explanation (truant), suspension or expulsion is often the disciplinary response. It is easy to understand that the central considerations for schools are the overall learning environment and the entire population of students, faculty, and staff. Schools that are overburdened or under-resourced, or that have inflexible policies, may move immediately to an exclusionary response with no inquiry into the underlying causes of the undesirable behavior."

"Negative perceptions by others can further erode a child's commitment to school. At the continuation schools they may be sent to, their classmates are other expelled children. Ejection can eat into a child's sense of self, increasing the likelihood of their connecting to other kids who feel similarly devalued and alienated. Once-promising students can lose interest when learning is interrupted."

Exclusionary discipline such as suspension and expulsion is a common response to disruptive behavior, failing grades, and truancy. Problematic behavior often signals underlying struggles at home or school rather than isolated misconduct. Removing students from school can multiply problems by interrupting learning, eroding self-esteem, and increasing alienation as expelled students cluster together. Suspension and expulsion are unequally applied, with Black and Hispanic students facing higher rates than White peers. Schools lacking resources or flexible policies are more likely to eject struggling students instead of providing supportive interventions and tailored assistance.

Read at Psychology Today