On Oct 12th, at the VA Psychological Association Fall Convention, I have the pleasure of presenting with VASP's president, Dr. Larry Sutton, on Zero Tolerance.  

 

As we all know, Zero Tolerance started out to make discipline fair and consistent in response to serious offenses (such as grugs, weapons and violent acts).  Over time, it's morphed into policies that give out harsh punishments to students who display all kinds of violations - from those that are serious, to those that are inappropriate.  

 

School psychologists can play a part in making sure that schools understand the effects of Zero Tolerance on our student population, particularly the negative impact on students with disabilities.  Check out our suggested reading on the topic:

 

NASP's A Framework for Safe and Successful Schools - This booklet is endorsed by over 100 organizations and provides a framework for improving school safety and increasing access to mental health supports for children and youth.  

 

NASP Fact Sheet: Zero Tolerance and Alternative Strategies - This is a 2-page fact sheet for educators and policy makers that discusses Zero Tolerance, how prevelent it is in the schools, problems, and alternatives to Zero Tolerance Policies. 

 

APA Article: Are Zero Tolerance Piolicies Effective in the Schools?  - This is a journal article from the American Psychologist that addresses Zero Tolerance, gives evidentiary review, as well as recommendations.

 

Report: Ad Hoc Committee on Student's Rights and Responsibilities - Fairfax County Public Schools - New document on student's rights and responsibilities, with no mention of zero tolerance, and instead used a tiered model of interventions. 

 

Article - Alternatives to Zero Tolerance: Gives a background, as well as scientifically based alternatives to Zero Tolerance. 

 

Fox Video: Are Schools Taking Zero Tolerance Policies Tooo Far?  - Discusses Zero Tolerance policies, as well as a specific case where a boy was suspended for eating his breakfast pastry into the shape of a gun.