Zero Tolerance Policies In Schools

In recent years government leaders have begun to address the expanded use of zero tolerance policies in schools. In 2012, the State of Michigan Department of Education (MDOE) published a resolution to address school discipline and issues impacting student outcomes. This resolution reinforced what research has already shown in regards to the negative impacts on students who are suspended or expelled and strongly urges schools in Michigan to “adopt discipline policies without mandated suspensions or expulsions for issues that do not involve weapons” (MDOE, 2012). Since the GFSA was imposed in 1994 Michigan schools have adopted additional legislation that mandates suspension for offences unrelated to firearms which officials admit “goes beyond the intent of the law” and has resulted in Michigan’s current expulsion and suspension rates being “unacceptably high” (MDOE, 2012). In the same resolution Michigan officials state, “researchers have found no evidence that zero tolerance policies make schools safer or improve student behavior” but do not provide policy to prevent the overuse of suspension for infraction unrelated to firearms (MDOE, 2012). This leads to the question, if policy can force the adoption of zero …show more content…
Parents, community members and social workers need to work together to encourage school boards to change these policies and work together to implement policies that encourage positive relationships between families and schools. In addition, policy makers need reevaluate zero tolerance policies and work to reissue more effective policies and instruct schools on how the mandates should be implemented ensuring that use of zero tolerance policy to address only weapon and drug offences where intent is present and not common adolescent