Recess Roundtable: How The Excellence Project Disrupts the School-to-Prison Pipeline
For over 30 years, Dr. Courtney Robinson has researched the school-to-prison pipeline and racial socialization of children. But research alone doesn’t change lives – action does. That’s why Dr. Robinson founded The Excellence Project, an Austin-based organization working to replace punitive school culture with restorative practices that empower young scholars to thrive.
We connected with the Excellence Project to learn how they’re breaking the pipeline and cultivating what they call “native genius” in youth across Central Texas.
Your founder, Dr. Courtney Robinson, has dedicated over 30 years to researching the school-to-prison pipeline and racial socialization of children. What specifically inspired the Excellence Project? What moment made it so obvious Austin needed this work?
The Excellence Project was born out of the realization that academic research alone doesn’t change lives – action does. Our foundation was inspired by the need to bridge the gap between “knowing” the system is broken and “doing” something to fix it.
How does the Excellence Project work to “break the pipeline”?
We use a holistic approach, where we don’t just focus on the child; we focus on the schools, the justice system, and the community simultaneously.
Some of our key tools to disrupt the pipeline include intervention (supporting those already in the system) and advocacy (changing the policies that created the pipeline in the first place). Our goal is to replace punitive culture with a restorative one, ensuring that a child’s race or zip code doesn’t determine their likelihood of incarceration.
Why are punitive discipline measures so dangerous for young scholars?
Punitive measures like suspension and expulsion don’t just remove a child from a classroom; they remove their agency and sense of belonging. My research shows that when children are taught only to follow directions through fear of punishment, they aren’t being taught to be leaders – they are being taught to be followers. Punitive discipline labels a child as “bad” at a developmental stage where they should be allowed to make mistakes, reflect, and grow. This labels them for life and significantly decreases their chances of graduating or pursuing higher education.
What does “Prevention” vs. “Intervention” look like in your programs?
Prevention is about cultivating “native genius.” It looks like our Awesome Activist Leadership Camp and the Spark Change Project, where we empower young girls of color to lead. It’s about giving youth the agency to design projects and make decisions before they ever encounter the justice system.
Intervention is meeting the youth where they are if they’ve already been pushed out. Our Excellence Resource Center acts as a “one-stop shop” for youth ages 13-24 who are involved in the courts. We provide individualized service plans, helping them navigate legal hurdles and mental health needs so they can transition back into a healthy educational path.
Tell us about the Healing in the Village Family Festival.
This is one of our favorite ways to build community. We believe that “the village” must be healthy for the child to thrive. The festival is a space where families can access resources in a joyful, non-judgmental environment. It’s about restorative justice in practice – celebrating Black and Brown culture, providing health resources, and reminding our families that they are supported and seen.
How can the community get involved and support the mission?
Breaking a pipeline that was decades in the making requires everyone. You can support the Excellence and Advancement Foundation by:
- Donating: Contributions keep our camps and resource center affordable for the families who need them most. You can even sponsor a camper through our current campaign and support a young activist’s participation in our leadership programs.
- Advocacy: Use your voice at school board meetings to push for restorative discipline policies and the removal of police from routine school discipline.
- Visit us: Check out ExcellenceProject.org to see our upcoming events and program sign-ups.
The Excellence Project proves that when we invest in prevention and give young people the tools to lead, we don’t just disrupt the school-to-prison pipeline – we create a generation of changemakers. Learn more about their work and find ways to get involved at ExcellenceProject.org.
