Collaborative Role of Courts in Promoting Outcomes for Students: The Relationship Between Arrests, Graduation Rates, and School Safety

Abstract

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

Stakeholder Perspectives about Developing and Implementing an Online Alternative to Out-of-School Suspension for First Time Substance Use Policy Violators

“…There are numerous negative psychosocial long-term consequences for students who are suspended from school after violating school policy. For example, students who are suspended are less likely to experience school connectedness, academic success and successful passing of their current grade [26][27][28]. Schools with higher suspension rates have lower levels of overall student academic achievement.…”

“…Out-of-school suspension is associated with increased rates of student involvement with the juvenile justice system, often termed "school to prison pipeline" [1,[4][5]12]. Implementing action plans that engage students in an alternative to out-of-school suspension have been shown to positively affect attendance rates, school involvement, and feelings of community engagement [26][27][28]. There is strong evidence indicating that inschool alternatives to out-of-school suspension can improve youth outcomes, such as decreasing the likelihood of marijuana use, improving graduation rates, and improving the safety of communities [20][21][22].…”