How Second Step® Programs Help Schools Save Money—And Keep Kids in Class

Suspensions are a common disciplinary tool in US schools, but they come at a high cost. They disrupt learning, disproportionately affect vulnerable students, and drain school resources. Fortunately, Second Step® programs offer an evidence-based way to reduce both in-school and out-of-school suspensions and improve outcomes for students and schools alike, all while saving schools money.

Second Step® programs work—when done right

A recent study found that schools implementing the Second Step® Middle School program with high fidelity saw 33–36% fewer suspensions compared to schools that didn’t use the program with fidelity. That’s a big deal. In a typical middle school, where around 7 out of every 100 students might be suspended, Second Step programming could help reduce that number down to 5 students.

Suspensions are a problem

Out-of-school suspensions aren’t just a temporary removal from class. They have lasting consequences:

• Lost learning time: In 2015–16, US students lost 11 million instructional days due to out-of-school suspensions.
• Disproportionate impact: Black students, foster youth, and homeless students face much higher suspension rates.
• Academic setbacks: Suspensions are linked to lower achievement, higher dropout rates, and even increased involvement with the criminal justice system.
• Post-pandemic spike: Out-of-school suspension incidents jumped from 6.8 million in fall 2019 to 11.5 million in fall 2023, a 67% increase.

In-school suspensions are consequential as well, with staffing needed to supervise in-school suspension rooms and additional administrative time taken for processing and managing discipline. There are also similar opportunity costs to out-of-school suspensions in terms of lost academic learning time and lost positive future societal outcomes.

The financial toll of suspensions

Suspensions cost schools money in multiple ways:

• Remedial instruction: Catching students up can cost $1,000–$2,000 per student.
• Staffing: Counselors, social workers, and school resource officers (SROs) can cost tens of thousands of dollars annually.
• Alternative placements: These programs can run $10,000–$20,000 per student per year.
• Lost funding: In states that use average daily attendance (ADA) for school funding, suspensions mean less money.

Nationally, a conservative estimate puts the cost at $200 per out-of-school suspension incident and $125 per in-school suspension incident.

Second Step® ROI: A smart investment

Let’s break it down.

Out-of-school suspensions (OSS):

• Average middle school size: 582 students
• Baseline OSS rate: 7.4% → ~43 students suspended
• With Second Step Middle School: 33% reduction → ~29 students suspended
• Savings: 14 fewer suspensions × $200 = $2,800 saved

In-school suspensions (ISS):

• Average middle school size: 582 students
• Baseline ISS rate: 7% → ~41 students suspended
• With Second Step Middle School: 36% reduction → ~26 students suspended
• Savings: 15 fewer suspensions × $125 = $1,875 saved

Combined impact:

• Total savings from reduced OSS and ISS incidents: $4,675
• Cost of Second Step implementation: Roughly $5.50 per student, based on average size of middle schools
• Second Step ROI: For every $1 spent, schools save $1.46

Bottom line

The Second Step Middle School program doesn’t just help students stay in school. It helps schools save money. When implemented with care and consistency, it’s a cost-effective way to reduce exclusionary discipline and improve outcomes for everyone.

Connect with one of the experts on our Education Partnerships Team to discuss how Second Step programs can benefit your unique school community.