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 our expert team to discuss how Second Step programs can benefit your unique school community.