Is Zero Tolerance an Effective Response?
Recent national events, such as the two year expulsion of eight students for fighting in Decatur, Illinois, have thrust zero tolerance school discipline policies into the national spotlight. Zero tolerance has gained wide popularity among politicians and many administrators for its promise of a no-nonsense solution to a difficult problem. Yet the application of zero tolerance policies have created controversy at the state and national level.18 Some districts supporting a zero tolerance approach have reported initial increases in weapons confiscated. Yet at the same time, strict application of zero tolerance has led to numerous cases of suspension or expulsion for everything from paper clips to organic cough drops, Midol, or homework completion. The zero tolerance approach has also led to increases in the use of school suspension and expulsion; unfortunately, there is no evidence that suspension and expulsion are effective in changing student behavior or improving school safety. Despite
