Sheldon Stovall discusses patterns to lookout for when your teen is failing in school and later becoming felons.  Students who are failing are much more likely to find themselves on the paths to prison than those who are not. Schools have upped out-of-school suspensions by around 10 percent since 2000, and that is more than double what it was in the 1970s, points out the Justice Policy Institute. Students who have been suspended tend to be held back and wind up dropping out of school more often than those who are not suspended.

Are dropouts more likely to go to jail?

High school dropouts also have a much higher probability of ending up in prison or jail. Nearly 80 percent of all prisoners are high school dropouts or recipients of the General Educational Development (GED) credential. (More than half of inmates with a GED earned it while incarcerated.)

Can failing schools be turned around?

Research confirms that there are no documented instances of failing schools turning around without powerful leadership. While teachers have the most direct and obvious impact on student learning, leadership is second only to teaching in influencing outcomes for all students.

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THE COUNSELOR LIVE WITH SHELDON STOVALL