Education Commons^™

Crossing The Suspension Bridge: Navigating The Road From School Suspension To College Success – How Some Students Have Overcome The Negative Implications Of School Suspension To Bridge The Road To College, Chris J. Kirkman, Heather Mcnees, Jaimie Stickl, Justin H. Banner, Kimberly K. Hewitt

Journal of Organizational & Educational Leadership

Out-of-school suspensions for middle and high school students can have negative, long-lasting consequences. Researchers have documented that suspensions have a negative impact on academic development, increase likelihood of dropping out of school, and are associated with a stronger likelihood that students will be involved in the legal system. However, there are students who overcome these negative statistics and matriculate to post-secondary education successfully. This study examines the lived experiences and personal attributes in students’ lives that enabled them to overcome a history of suspension to enter and succeed in higher education. Using Bronfenbrenner’s ecological model, the study’s researchers interviewed individuals …