Examining the Impact of School Suspension on High School Students: Highlighting Student Perspectives and the Significance of Student Voice in the Literature on High School Suspension and Dropout Rates
The existing literature on the topic of high school suspension reveals that heightened suspension rates lead to heightened dropout rates. An extensive body of literature exists with statistical information to back up this finding; however, very little literature provides student voice on the topic. Students currently enrolled in an alternative school in a small city in central North Carolina were surveyed and interviewed about their experience with suspension. The results show that these students do not find suspension to be an effective means of punishment as it caused them academic setbacks and heightened their negativity towards school. Through the responses of these students some possible alternatives to suspension were revealed. This information should be shared with high school educators and administrators to encourage development of policies that have more potential to result in high school graduation for students at risk of failure.Bachelor of Art
