END ZERO TOLERANCE

Why End Zero Tolerance?

Originally, “zero tolerance” described a school policy that “assigns explicit, predetermined punishments to specific violations of school rules, regardless of the situation or context of the behavior.” While reforms have been implemented in many communities to restrict or eliminate policies labeled “zero tolerance,” the culture spawned by the original policies remains very much alive. We use the term “zero tolerance” to refer to the array of policies and practices which facilitate the removal of students from school under a broad range of circumstances, not principally or solely in response to weapons violations or the most serious safety risks. 

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About this Site

This site contains presentations, sample materials, media stories, and links to articles, videos, podcasts, policy statements, and research reports about school discipline, policing, and climate issues. If you want to research the issues, learn about successful campaigns, prepare testimony, prepare a media story, or work to improve school communities, this site is a great place to start. We look for the most helpful and informative resources, not everything produced on the subject.

 

Site Features

• Site Map – gateway page to everything on the site

• School-to-Prison Pipeline 101 – links to resources that provide a basic overview of the issues covered by the site. A great starting point

• FAQ – Q&A about school discipline and policing

• Using Data – a how-to guide on obtaining and using data

• Federal Resources – data summaries, reports, and policy statements from the federal government

• Key Issues – resources about race, gender, disability, immigration, LGBTQAI+, corporal punishment, seclusion and restraint, and the punishment of young children

• Student Safety – resources about school policing, the hardening of schools, the national debate about school safety, and the impact of various school security measures on students

• For Educators – resources on best practices, how to implement reforms, and advice from professional associations

• Legislation –  state laws addressing the school-to-prison pipeline

• Blog – original short articles and opinion pieces about campaigns, new resources, and recent developments

• For Advocates – examples of reforms and other resources for advocates

• Our Work –  overview of the ACLU of Pennsylvania's advocacy on school-to-prison pipeline issues