Zero Tolerance Has Gone Too Far!

Julia has been suspended 3 times this year, twice in one week.  She now fears going to school and has verbalized distrust for some of the school personnel. She struggles to keep her education gap at 2-2 1/2 years behind her peers.  Taking her out of school only exacerbates that gap and puts her at risk for falling farther behind.

Behavior interventions are supposed to be research based. Yet the research overwhelming states that suspensions, expulsions, and incarcerations of students leads to higher drop out rates and does nothing to deter undesired behaviors. Moreover, the rate at which minority students (African American and those with disabilities) receive these infractions is disproportionately higher than their non minority counterparts. CPS has spent millions of dollars policing schools instead of implementing educational curriculum aimed at permanently changing behavior. Safety of children and adults is paramount, weapons, drugs and violence do not belong in schools. But statistics show that the causes for these infractions were not necessarily violent, offensive or compromised safety. My ten old daughter, who has a form of cerebral palsy was told by a school staff member that they would call the police if her behavior did not subside. I believe educators and school personnel must be trained and the children who are receiving these punishments do not need more of the same, they need support for permanent change to occur. School problems need to be fixed at school, not at home and not in jails.