Nick Freitas, a member of the Virginia House of Delegates, said that weakening school discipline and reporting policies leads to increased danger in public schools.
“Whenever you hear a politician talk incessantly about the “school to prison pipeline” what you need to realize is you probably have a representative that is fighting to stop discipline, reporting and parental notification,” said Nicholas Freitas, House Representative. “They are part of the reason so many of your public schools have turned into dangerous places. I don’t care what their motivation or intentions are, that is the practical effect.”
In Virginia, recent debates over school discipline have centered on efforts to reduce exclusionary practices like suspensions, which critics argue contribute to the “school-to-prison pipeline.” According to the Virginia Board for People with Disabilities, Black students and those with disabilities face disproportionately high rates of disciplinary actions. In 2025, lawmakers introduced a pilot program in eight schools to test restorative justice approaches, aiming to replace punitive policies with community-based conflict resolution.
Virginia public schools report disciplinary incidents annually, and recent data shows a rise in disruptive behavior in several districts. According to the Virginia Department of Education, Henrico County reported a 24% increase in negative student conduct during the 2021–2022 school year compared to five years earlier. These trends have fueled concerns about whether current discipline policies are effectively maintaining school safety.
National research indicates that reducing exclusionary discipline practices like suspensions does not necessarily lead to decreased school safety. According to the Learning Policy Institute, punitive measures often fail to improve behavior and may worsen outcomes for students. Instead, schools that implement evidence-based behavioral supports and restorative practices report better climate and safety outcomes.
Freitas, a Republican representing Virginia’s 62nd District since 2016, is known for supporting school choice and limited government in education. According to Ballotpedia, he has backed charter school expansion and legislation promoting parental control in education. His legislative priorities emphasize individual liberty and conservative education reforms.
