3: The School-to-Graveyard Pipeline: How Schools Create Vulnerability to Violence Through Mental Health Neglect, Anti-Blackness, and Discipline

The single case study examines the death of a 12-year-old Black male student, focusing on the intersections of a failed Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSSs), unmet mental health needs, and exclusionary discipline practices. Using an anti-blackness lens, this study introduces the Generative Vulnerability of Violence Created By The School System model, which highlights how systemic neglect and racial biases create a profound vulnerability for Black boys. The model reveals that inadequate mental health interventions and punitive measures escalate risk rather than protect, underscoring structural inequities in education. Findings emphasize the need for trauma informed, culturally responsive MTSS frameworks to disrupt the systemic factors that heightened vulnerability. Implications for policy and practice are explored highlighting the role of schools and perpetuating or reducing harm.