Schools throughout the United States have adopted zero‐tolerance strategies to address school discipline. These policies have resulted in a significant increase in suspensions and expulsions. The placement of police on campus has exacerbated the problem by adding arrests and referrals to juvenile court as a disciplinary tool. This article discusses the origin of zero tolerance and its negative effects on school safety and graduation rates. This article examines three jurisdictions and their application of a collaborative model using judicial leadership to convene stakeholders resulting in written protocols to reduce school arrests and suspensions and developing alternatives that have produced better outcomes for students, the school, and the community.
Keypoints
Reduce arrest of students for minor offenses
Develop alternatives to suspension, expulsion, and arrests
Create system of care targeting chronically disruptive student for behavior improvement
Improve school safety using a Positive Student Engage Model for Campus Police
Improve school climate
Increase graduation rates
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