Student disconnection, caused by mental health factors, disproportionate discipline and a lack of support in school, is playing a role in increasing absenteeism in Ohio, according to a new report from an Ohio think tank.

That absenteeism, and the factors that contribute to it, can create “an entry point into the school-to-prison pipeline,” according to Policy Matters Ohio, which published a new study on the topic this month.

“Mental health factors such as depression, anxiety, and chronic stress reduce children’s desire to attend school,” Policy Matters said. “Trauma and violence exacerbate these problems, increasing the likelihood that a student will become chronically absent, defined in Ohio as missing 10 percent of the school year for any reason, with or without excuse.”

Chronic absenteeism fuels a “negative cycle” that can lead to the juvenile justice system, which disproportionately impacts black students and economically disadvantaged families, the study found.

The analysis of state data found that students “convicted or found guilty by the juvenile justice system” will be just 23.2% of students graduating in 2022.

“Young people who come into contact with the juvenile justice system face challenges that haunt them throughout their lives,” wrote researcher Tanisha Pruitt, Ph.D. “They have greater difficulty accessing education, economic security, health care, and other opportunities to live healthier, happier lives.”

The research finds that these disproportionate numbers of students of color and students from low-income families are fueled by the relationships between attendance, economic security, and school resources.

“These are the unsurprising consequences of excluding communities from broad public investment through segregation, red-lining, and the legacy of chronic inequitable school funding,” Pruitt wrote.

Absenteeism, implications for involvement in the juvenile justice system and lower academic achievement are also fueled by “exclusionary discipline,” including expulsion and suspension. These forms of discipline are “often counterproductive, causing excluded students to fall further behind their peers and be more likely to drop out of school altogether,” the report said.

Using data from the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, Policy Matters found that out-of-school suspensions accounted for more than 53% of the 394,582 exclusionary discipline cases used between 2022 and 2023. In-school suspensions accounted for 29%. Expulsions were used in 1.13% of cases.

The study cited a disciplinary analysis conducted between 2022 and 2023 by the Children’s Defense Fund of Ohio that found “significant racial disparities” in exclusionary disciplinary actions. Black female students were found to be six times more likely than white female students to be suspended or expelled, and Black male students were found to be 4.3 times more likely than their white counterparts in the state.

“Despite increased scrutiny, potential consequences, and policy changes at the state level, exclusionary discipline remains too common and disproportionately distributed,” Pruitt wrote in the report.

Pruitt cited the 2018 Supporting Alternatives for Fair Education Act, a bill that sought to overhaul school discipline by banning expulsions and suspensions, but only for students in kindergarten through third grade. An exception was carved out in the law that allowed such discipline in those grades if the behavior threatened the safety of school staff or students.

But for any student older than third grade, there were more options for discipline, including emergency expulsion and “alternative discipline” at school.

Pruitt praised the law because it requires Positive Behavior Intervention and Support (PBIS), a method she said is part of “restorative justice approaches” that are “more effective than exclusion in supporting student achievement” and could be expanded in Ohio.

“If the PBIS model were expanded and accompanied by funding to hire staff, implement programs, and provide needed health care in schools, it would be a sure step toward securing the futures of more children and closing the school-to-prison pipeline,” Pruitt wrote.

Other recommendations in the report focused on improving parents’ work practices so they could create manageable work schedules and have more contact with their children. It also called for more refundable tax credits to help economically disadvantaged families. It also called for increased funding for staff and student support (including full funding of the Fair School Funding Plan for public schools).

“To meet the needs of (students), schools need funding,” the study said. “Children need more school counselors and nurses, more mental and behavioral health services, and a more holistic approach to education.”