A new wave of research shows that in disciplining students, out-of-school suspensions don't help. More often, suspensions push students so far behind academically that dropping out becomes increasingly likely.

Critics of suspensions, and the zero-tolerance policies that fuel them, advocate for restorative practices, which have been making inroads across the country to demonstrated positive effect.

But restorative practices take time, in a way that simple punishment does not. And some students just won't take to restorative justice. So while such practice might make for a good solution in a district with minimal discipline problems, how can it thrive in preternaturally unruly institutions?

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