Alternatives to zero tolerance that better serve our youth

Several schools in Humboldt County have implemented a "zero tolerance" policy for many offenses committed by students while at school. Schools have discretion in administering disciplinary action for offenses such as possession or use of alcohol or other drugs, or in determining what qualifies as a concealed weapon. Additionally, there is freedom of choice in determining what exactly constitutes "willful defiance." Although discretion exists in determining disciplinary action, often suspension or expulsion is used as the primary action in deciding the discipline. Indeed, many students are failing in their education due to overuse of zero tolerance policies by schools. Many factors contribute to this including, but not necessarily limited to, bias aimed specifically at students because of their race, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, foster care, teen pregnancy, and teen parents. Much of the time the bias goes unnoticed by school officials and can even be initiated by officials due to long-standing inequities in social and economic standing. This project explored whether any schools in Humboldt County were using disciplinary programs other than immediate suspension and expulsion for drugs and alcohol at school and perceptions on whether those programs are effective in reducing recidivism. This project evaluated three alternative programs that are being utilized in Humboldt County to zero tolerance policy in order to show that alternatives to suspension and expulsion are reducing recidivism. It was discovered that applying alternative disciplinary actions in specific circumstances would be beneficial to students as well as help to maintain a safe and supportive school environment.