April 17th, 2024-COLUMBUS, Ohio-Children’s Defense Fund-Ohio’s report, “The 2024 State of School Discipline in Ohio,” highlights the concerning rise in exclusionary discipline, such as out-of-school suspensions and expulsions, during the 2022-2023 school year. This punitive approach disproportionately affects Black, economically disadvantaged, and disabled students, exacerbating the community-to-prison pipeline.
Factors such as systemic disinvestment in communities, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, contribute to this issue. The report advocates for solutions including culturally responsive training, increased support staff, and investments in community and student support services to address these inequities and provide all students with equitable learning opportunities.
