CIVIL RIGHTS GROUPS PROPOSE ZERO TOLERANCE GUIDELINES AND MODEL DISCIPLINE CODE
July 30, 2009
Sabrina Williams 202/728-9557 or 305/904-3960
(Miami, Florida, July 30, 2009) - Today, Advancement Project, a national civil rights organization working on school discipline reform in Florida, and the Florida State Conference NAACP released an action kit and model school discipline policy that will help school districts across the state revise their discipline policies as required by Florida’s new zero tolerance law.
“This new law has great potential to reduce the devastating impact harsh school discipline has had on students, families, and communities throughout Florida, but it must be implemented fully for that potential to be realized,” said Jim Freeman, Ending the Schoolhouse to Jailhouse Project Director, Advancement Project. “Our action kit provides comprehensive recommendations, a model discipline policy, and other materials that can help schools and communities comply with the new law.”
In May 2009, the Florida legislature voted unanimously to change its overly punitive school discipline law. The new law (SB 1540) makes six important changes that represent a significant step toward making school discipline in Florida schools more just and effective:
- Substantially Fewer Expulsions and Referrals to Law Enforcement
- More Use of Alternatives to Zero Tolerance
- Disciplinary Practices that Treat All Students Equally
- Individualized Consideration of Circumstances
- Right to Appeal Disciplinary Actions
- Review of Corporal Punishment Policies
- Advancement Project and the Florida State Conference NAACP’s action kit provides recommendations on implementing each change in the law.
For example, according to the new law every school district is required to draw the line between “petty acts” and acts that “pose a serious threat to school safety.” We recommend that every Florida school district limit the list of infractions that “pose a serious threat to school safety” to capital felonies; life felonies; first degree felonies; second or third degree felonies involving a firearm, weapon, or use of fire or explosives; bringing a firearm or other deadly weapon to school, any school function, or on school-sponsored transportation; possessing a firearm at school; making a false report or threat related to explosives or weapons of mass destruction and involving school or school personnel’s property, school transportation, or a school-sponsored activity; aggravated battery against another person; and selling illegal drugs or controlled substances. We recommend that districts define all other infractions as “petty acts,” and prohibit arrests and referrals to law enforcement for those acts.
Florida’s new law recognizes that it is in the public’s interest to keep students in school. It encourages schools to use alternatives to expulsion and referral to law enforcement. This approach is well-supported by research, which has shown that zero tolerance policies do not make schools safer and are not an effective means for changing student behavior. The Action Kit outlines many prevention and intervention strategies that have been proven highly effective in addressing school-based misconduct, promoting a positive school climate, and making schools safe. These alternatives to out-of-school suspensions, expulsions, referrals to alternative schools, referrals to law enforcement, school-based arrests, and corporal punishment range from the most simple classroom teaching techniques to comprehensive school-wide and community-based programs.
“The main objective of this revision process by districts should be to ensure that all schools have school disciplinary policies and practices that treat students fairly, promote academic achievement, and create safe learning environments,” said Adora Obi Nweze, President, Florida State Conference NAACP.
Beginning in 2005, Advancement Project and the Florida NAACP began working with school administrators and other stakeholders throughout the state to discuss the need for school discipline reform. In 2008, the two organizations met with Governor Charlie Crist along with the heads of the Florida Department of Education and Department of Juvenile Justice to encourage the state to take a more active role in reducing the use of punitive school discipline.
“The Florida legislature has recognized that schools have become over-reliant on the police and rigid ‘zero tolerance’ policies for handling school discipline matters,” concluded Freeman. “Expelling students or referring them to law enforcement for minor, school-based offenses is not an effective way to create safer, more productive learning environments.”
To download the action kit and model discipline policy visit: www.advancementproject.org
Filed under Schoolhouse to Jailhouse, Florida
