Zerotolerance policies require school officials to give students a specific, consistent, and harsh punishment, usually suspension or expulsion, when certain rules are broken. Alternatives to zero tolerance policies affecting students. The following are the findings of the zero tolerance task force. Although many schools have adopted zero tolerance policies in order to stem increases in violence, misbehavior or drug use, more and more. Alternatives to zero tolerance policy more and more school districts now avoid zero tolerance policies as it restricts those in authority to an action, regardless of conditions.
Ken seeley, president, the national center for school engagement. Alternatives to zero tolerance policies systemic changes in a schools or districts approach to discipline and behavioral intervention can significantly impact school climate and student learning. In 1994, the federal government passed the gunfree schools act, which requires schools to expel any student who brings a gun to campus. Educators and psychologists offer viable alternatives to schools zerotolerance weapons policies m. The trump administrations current policies in the area of socalled zero tolerance are far from clear. Zerotolerance policies may not be rigorously applied to petty acts of misconduct. Alternatives to zero tolerance policies affecting students of. In the united states, the schooltoprison pipeline spp, also known as the schooltoprison link or the schoolhousetojailhouse track, is the disproportionate tendency of minors and young adults from disadvantaged backgrounds to become incarcerated, because of increasingly harsh school and municipal policies. Around the same time, the broken windows theory of law enforcement became popular. Thoughtless and indiscriminate application of such policies has. Along with addressing the assumptions of zerotolerance policies, the previously mentioned task force also researched how these policies impact students of color. Zero tolerance policies in schools have had many negative impacts on students of color, including the school to prison pipeline where students of color are. The focus on zero tolerance disciplinary policies is a result of the release earlier this year of a report that found that not only do california schools have the highest rates of suspensions and expulsions in the country, but also that harsh disciplinary measures are disproportionally doled out to minority students. Despite public concerns about youth crime, particularly in schools, research has shown that policies based on incapacitation theory have failed utterly to affect crime rates.
Zero tolerance policies assume that removing students who engage in disruptive behavior will deter others from disruption ewing, 2000 and create an improved climate for those students who remain public agenda, 2004. One, zero tolerance policies are implemented and carried out in many different ways, making comparisons across schools difficult. Eighteen months after state education leaders urged reforms to zero tolerance discipline. Examining school discipline policies and connections to. The punishment applies regardless of the circumstances, the reasons for the behavior such as selfdefense, or the students history of disciplinary problems. Alternatives to zero tolerance continued background summary research shows that the war on drugs campaign and harsh zero tolerance policies have been unsuccessful in deterring student substance use and abuse.
Growing evidence points to the effectiveness of methods of discipline that use positive supports and build on a sense of community, allowing victims of student misbehavior to be heard and giving the. The brief also describes alternatives to zero tolerance policies that have been shown to keep students in schools and. In theory, zero tolerance policies should decrease violence and drug use in schools. Many experts have credited factors such as school disturbance laws, zero tolerance. Mar 21, 2011 although many schools have adopted zero tolerance policies in order to stem increases in violence, misbehavior or drug use, more and more questions are being raised about the wisdom and effectiveness of such policies time, zero tolerance, zero sense. In november, floridas broward county school district reached an agreement with law enforcement to create an alternative to zerotolerance policies and. Dhs secretary nielsen claims dhs is merely enforcing the law to secure the border when her department separates children from parents. In 1994, the gun free schools act introduced a national policy of zero tolerance for weapons in schools through a mandatory calendar year expulsion for. What are the alternatives to zerotolerance discipline policies. In response to highly publicized violent incidents in schools, such as the columbine high school massacre, school disciplinary policies have become increasingly severe. Dec 12, 2012 zero tolerance policies, as practiced in school districts around the country, are now widely ridiculed and condemned.
Schooltoprison pipeline can be dismantled using alternative. Causes, consequences, and alternatives by andrew j. Jan 18, 2018 zerotolerance policies require school officials to give students a specific, consistent, and harsh punishment, usually suspension or expulsion, when certain rules are broken. Three levels of intervention are offered as alternatives to the. Sep 07, 2017 ultimately, the school to prison pipeline is the consequence of zero tolerance policies that originally mandated schools to penalize students for bringing weapons and drugs onto school grounds. Zero tolerance policy rescinded and alternatives implemented. In january, the obama administration released new guidelines encouraging schools to. Jan 23, 2020 effective school engagement for high risk youth. Zerotolerance policies and the school to prison pipeline. Whats worse, despite the intentions of zero tolerance policies, research has been unable to prove that they increase the safety level at schools. Lessons from west oakland restorative justice is an alternative to retributive zero tolerance policies that mandate suspension or expulsion of students from school for a wide variety of misbehaviors including possession of alcohol or. Although zero tolerance policies were originally aimed to improve school safety, there is little evidence to suggest that schools are safer due to these policies skiba, 2014. Pros and cons of zero tolerance policies in schools.
In bullying incidences, research shows that zero tolerance policies dont work. Sep 03, 2000 educators and psychologists offer viable alternatives to schools zero tolerance weapons policies m. Zero tolerance policies developed in the 1990s, in response to school shootings and general fears about crime. Yes, there are smart, effective and humane alternatives to. Recent research has, however, begun to fill this gap. Many studies have also shown that zerotolerance policies disproportionately affect minority students and play a major role in the school to prison pipeline. Yes, there are smart, effective and humane alternatives to zero tolerance and family separation. Mar 06, 2014 alternatives to zero tolerance school policies. What are the alternatives to zerotolerance discipline. Of course, violence prevention is one of the best ways to keep everyone in a school system safe. About 90 percent of schools reported having zero tolerance policies for firearms and other weapons. Some schools have adopted nonpunitive approaches that target social, behavioral, and cognitive skillbuilding.
Schools implementing effective strategies have reported reductions in office discipline referrals by 2060%. Overview in response to highly publicized violent incidents in schools, such as the columbine high school massacre, school disciplinary policies have become increasingly severe. Alternatives to zero tolerance policies affecting students of color. Zero tolerance school reforms hit resistance in michigan. This framework, which comes in the form of a manual for administrators and educators, offers an alternative for keeping students and teachers safe while avoiding excessive punishment for students who. Lessons from west oakland restorative justice is an alternative to retributive zerotolerance policies that mandate suspension or expulsion of students from school for a wide. Research also shows that zero tolerance policies and the practice of exclusionary discipline in schools in the absence of consideration and application of alternatives to exclusionary discipline are ineffective in creating safe and healthy learning environments for students, teachers, and staff. Less punitive alternatives to zero tolerance policies and practices. Juvenile law center also works to ensure that students who are barred from school under zero tolerance and other exclusionary discipline policies receive a quality education while they are in a juvenile justice placement and. In fact, while youth crime rates have fallen significantly over the last 30 years, they have continued to plummet despite recent trends towards communitybased alternatives e. Explore positive and restorative approaches to student misbehavior. Zero tolerance and alternative discipline strategies nasp. The following four alternative approaches to zerotolerance. How alternative discipline is replacing zerotolerance in schools.
Aug 12, 2015 events like the shootings at colorados columbine high school were among the major forces behind widespread adoption of zero tolerance policies. The good news is there are numerous alternatives to zerotolerance policies that work. Outofschool suspension and expulsion american academy of. Criminal prosecution and detention of migrants continue to be key administration tools in a policy of deterrence, and until recently, family separation has been a common and abhorrent practice. School zerotolerance policies and their role in increasing the number of students suspended or expelled have become a highprofile point of discussion within the. Make no mistake about a school zero tolerance policy.
Zeroing in on zero tolerance school discipline laws bill. Pdf alternative to zerotolerance policies and outofschool. Educators can devise alternatives to unsuccessful zero tolerance laws. Teachers cannot teach, and students cannot learn, in a climate marked by chaos and disruption. Jan 14, 20 despite public concerns about youth crime, particularly in schools, research has shown that policies based on incapacitation theory have failed utterly to affect crime rates. Dave rice, principal at roseville middle school in macomb county, was skeptical of alternatives to zero tolerance discipline policies. Exclusionary school discipline esd policies, also known as zero tolerance policies, enforce disciplinary measures like suspension, expulsion, or law enforcement referral to address particular student behaviors. This framework, which comes in the form of a manual for administrators and educators, offers an alternative for keeping students and teachers safe while. This penalty has grown to include nonviolent offenses that do not pose an immediate threat or harm.
Alternative to zerotolerance policies and outofschool. And, two, the sensitive nature of school discipline practices and incidents makes it hard to secure the necessary cooperation from schools and districts to perform experimental research. Many districts opt to implement preventive and intervention strategies to address varying student needs. Zero tolerance policy rescinded and alternatives implemented to address technical violations at a glance in 2003, the department of corrections established a zero tolerance policy that required its probation officers to report to the court every offender in community supervision who violated conditions of supervision. Zero tolerance and alternative discipline strategies by russell skiba, phd, indiana university, bloomington schools have a responsibility to use researchbased, effective means to maintain a safe and orderly learning environment. Introduction stories on the overapplication of zero tolerance school policies for student behaviors that have.
Zero tolerance policies are not as effective as thought. Rationale, consequences, and alternatives article in teachers college record 1055. Schoolbased restorative justice as an alternative to zero. Juliana rosa research and evaluation specialist, expelled. Alternatives to zerotolerance policies for school discipline. The dilemma of zero tolerance educational leadership. Zero tolerance policies ignore the concept of intent even though this is a central theme in american concepts and systems of justice. Zero tolerance refers to school discipline policies and practices that mandate predetermined consequences, typically severe, punitive and exclusionary e. Since the mid1990s, juvenile law center has been working to advance responsible alternatives to zerotolerance policies. Many of these policies have one component in common. There are many alternatives to zerotolerance policies that can help keep kids in school while also teaching them valuable life lessons.
Jul 31, 2018 the trump administrations current policies in the area of socalled zero tolerance are far from clear. Alternatives to zerotolerance policies for school discipline child. In opposition to zero tolerance policies, curtis 2014, examined positive approaches to behavior within schools, programs for diverting students away from the juvenile justice system, communitybased alternatives to detention, and ways of focusing judicial discretion on rehabilitation. Zero tolerance policy was defined as a school or district policy that mandates predetermined consequences or punishments for specific offences. In fact, in the face of public outrage and legal obstacles to the zero tolerance policy, the trump administration is already implementing one alternative of sorts the use of ankle monitoring bracelets to track immigrant parents encountered after entry and who have with them children under five. Zero tolerance and alternative discipline strategies.
Although zerotolerance policies were created to foster safe school environments for student engagement and performance, the. Eightyseven and 88 percent had policies of zero tolerance for alcohol and drugs, respectively. Thus the report concludes with recommendations for both reforming zero tolerance policies and for implementing alternatives in practice, policy, and research. The following four alternative approaches to zerotolerance discipline have been validated by researchers at the federal what works clearinghouse, indiana universitys the equity project, or other similarly respected organizations. Are zero tolerance policies effective in the schools. Hes now a big supporter of his schools restorative justice approach, which he said has cut expulsions and gained buyin from teachers and parents. In january, the obama administration released new guidelines encouraging schools to move away from zero tolerance policies. Rather than cling to ineffectual strategies, many schools around the country are embracing proven also known as evidencebased models that help all students including those with ebd achieve success in school. Although many schools have adopted zero tolerance policies in order to stem increases in violence, misbehavior or drug use, more and more questions are being raised about the wisdom and effectiveness of such policies time, zero tolerance, zero sense. Alternatives to zero tolerance policies pdf, 228 kb, 12 pgs. Alternatives to zero tolerance discipline pass in california. A threat assessment team may use alternatives to expulsion or referral to law enforcement agencies to address disruptive behavior through restitution, civil citation, teen court, neighborhood restorative justice, or similar programs.
Zero tolerance policies in schools have had many negative impacts on students of color, including the school to prison pipeline where students of color are being funneled from schools into the criminal justice system. Evidencebased, nonpunitive alternatives to zero tolerance christopher boccanfuso, ph. The zero tolerance task force of the american psychological association determined that schools with higher rates of suspension tend to have lower academic quality, pay less attention to school climate social, cultural, academic, ethical, and receive lower ratings on school governance measures. Jan 07, 2014 since the mid1990s, juvenile law center has been working to advance responsible alternatives to zero tolerance policies. There are many alternatives to zero tolerance policies that can help keep kids in school while also teaching them valuable life lessons. Coulson director, cato institute center for educational freedom testimony to be delivered december 12th, 2012 chairman durbin, members of the committee, thank you for inviting me to speak with you today. Zero tolerance policies may exacerbate the normal challenges of adolescence and possibly punish a teenager more severely than warranted. New study reveals six benefits of school restorative justice. A year ago, kyle thompson was a softspoken, 115 pound, footballplaying freshman whose tugofwar with a teacher over the hit list, a note about kids. Several broad research studies reveal that harsh zerotolerance discipline policies do not make schools safer but instead put children at risk for dropping out of school and future involvement with the juvenilejustice system.
These policies have been implemented at the school, district, and state levels with the goal of ensuring the safety of students and staff. This comment then examines alternatives, including joint efforts between key stakeholders, legislative reforms, and restorative justice practices. Eric ed521829 multiple responses, promising results. Zero tolerance policies, as practiced in school districts around the country, are now widely ridiculed and condemned. Alternatives to zero tolerance school policies mpr news. Fortunately, as described in this brief, promising alternatives to zero tolerance can safely keep young people where they belong. Information about alternative approaches to discipline, such as restorative justice. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore alternative school administrator, teacher, and student perceptions of the factors that surround zerotolerance discipline policies and practices, and to identify discipline alternatives that do not remove or exclude students from the school setting. The disadvantages of zero tolerance laws that mandate. Minority kids impacted by zerotolerance laws cnnpolitics.
1521 299 1519 998 1007 1352 35 1106 412 1013 422 1071 1453 255 1369 842 639 985 219 1010 1438 1154 1294 593 1463 405 1365 659 982 963 344 866 1051 799 1010 401 286 877 1275 868 1415 1081 462 347 1187 369