As our Legislators wrap up the 2016 year, one piece of legislation that they passed could dramatically impact how discipline is handled. Currently, certain offenses by a student result in their immediate expulsion from school. Under Michigan Law (MCL 380.1311), school districts are required to permanently expel a student who possesses a dangerous weapon, commits arson, or criminal sexual conduct. Recent legislation that is on its way to Governor Snyder eliminates the “zero tolerance” approach to certain offenses and gives more disciplinary leeway to administrators. Offenses, such as assault or bringing a dangerous weapon to school, are no longer automatic suspension and/or expulsion. Instead, school administrators are now able to take into account certain factors about each case prior to disciplinary action. These factors may include previous disciplinary history, age, and seriousness of the violation. It also allows schools to use mediation strategies, such as a meeting between students, in place of or addition to suspension and expulsion. Also of note, bringing a gun to school is still an automatic expulsion.
I applaud this step taken by the Michigan Legislature to eliminate zero tolerance practices in certain cases. Not every incident in school should be treated the same, which is what zero tolerance does. Yes, cases like criminal sexual conduct and bringing a gun to school still need to be treated with zero tolerance. According to the state, there were 1,319 expulsions from Michigan schools during the 2015-2016 school year (McVicar, 2016). The new law allows school administrators to look at the circumstances of each case to base their decisions on, rather than having their hands tied by the law. This new law is in the best interest of students and allows those administrators who know the students best to decide which approach is best for each situation. Hopefully, this will result in more effective disciplinary practices that can focus on replacing the negative behavior with more positive ones instead of focusing only on the punitive component of the behavior. Not every situation is the same and this new law allows schools to help students instead of potentially ruin their academic future.
McVicar, B. (2016). Bills to reduce school suspensions, expulsions head to Gov. Snyder's desk. Retrieved December 14, 2016, from http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2016/12/bills_to_reduce_school_suspens.html
I applaud this step taken by the Michigan Legislature to eliminate zero tolerance practices in certain cases. Not every incident in school should be treated the same, which is what zero tolerance does. Yes, cases like criminal sexual conduct and bringing a gun to school still need to be treated with zero tolerance. According to the state, there were 1,319 expulsions from Michigan schools during the 2015-2016 school year (McVicar, 2016). The new law allows school administrators to look at the circumstances of each case to base their decisions on, rather than having their hands tied by the law. This new law is in the best interest of students and allows those administrators who know the students best to decide which approach is best for each situation. Hopefully, this will result in more effective disciplinary practices that can focus on replacing the negative behavior with more positive ones instead of focusing only on the punitive component of the behavior. Not every situation is the same and this new law allows schools to help students instead of potentially ruin their academic future.
McVicar, B. (2016). Bills to reduce school suspensions, expulsions head to Gov. Snyder's desk. Retrieved December 14, 2016, from http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2016/12/bills_to_reduce_school_suspens.html