Term
Summer 2025
Capstone
Capstone Project
Degree Name
MAT
Facilitator(s)
Jennifer Carlson
Content Expert
Letitia Basford
Abstract
Exclusionary discipline practices in the United States continue to funnel vulnerable students into the criminal justice system, reinforcing the school-to-prison pipeline. This capstone explores the methods and punishments students receive by asking: How do zero tolerance policies and exclusionary discipline practices in schools contribute to and play a role in the school-to-prison pipeline, particularly students of color? Through a mix methodology combining literature research, participant interviews, and narrative podcasting, the work examines how restorative frameworks can foster accountability, empathy, and community healing. The podcast weaves personal stories with data to shed light on the cost of zero tolerance discipline. The findings emphasize the relational and emotional perspectives of school discipline, the systemic barriers to reform, and the potential of restorative approaches to disrupt the cycles of exclusion. By bridging academic rigor with storytelling, the project advocates for culturally responsive, student-centered interventions that reshape discipline as an opportunity for restoration rather than punishment.
Project Type
Podcast
Keywords
Community Building, Reflective Practice, Social Justice, Staff Development
Recommended Citation
Cruz Rojas, Lennin, "From Classrooms to Jail Cells: Reimagining Accountability in Public Education" (2025). School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects. 1133.
https://digitalcommons.hamline.edu/hse_cp/1133
dc_type
text
dc_publisher
DigitalCommons@Hamline
dc_format
application/pdf
dc_source
School of Education Student Capstone Projects