Degree

Honors Baccalaureate

Department

Educational Curriculum and Instruction

Document Type

Thesis

Abstract

This honors thesis analyzes how school discipline polices, teacher perspectives, and academic factors contribute to the school-to-prison pipeline (STPP) in three Southern Louisiana parishes. Informed by General Strain Theory and Social Control Theory, the study explores how punitive environments, weak teacher-student relationships, and unmet academic or emotional needs increase the probability that students, particularly marginalized groups, are pushed out of instructional space and toward exclusionary systems such as detention centers. This project is based on a mixed-methods design using a comprehensive literature review with a teacher questionnaire distributed across Pre-K-12 schools in Lafayette, Vermilion, and St. Martin Parishes. Quantitative findings revealed high reliance on suspensions and other exclusionary measures, especially in middle and high schools, along with limited access for social-emotional learning instruction and support for staff. Qualitative responses highlighted teacher concerns about rising misbehavior, the ineffectiveness of repeated suspensions, and the influence of low expectations and literacy struggles on students’ engagement and discipline outcomes. Together, the findings align with national research showing that punitive practices do not resolve the core issue of behavior and often intensify disengagement. The study proposes a PBIS-aligned intervention emphasizing prevention, relationship-building, SEL integration, and tiered supports to reduce exclusionary discipline and promote equitable outcomes. The implications emphasize the need for policy reform, expanded support services, and ongoing professional development in trauma-informed, culturally responsive practices. Overall, the study maintains the claim that dismantling the STPP requires intentional, systemic shifts toward supportive, academically responsive, and relationship-centered school environments.

Date

Spring 2026

First Committee Chair

Heather Stone

First Committee Member

Tori Flint

Second Committee Member

Natalie Keefer

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