Keep Kids in Class:

Zero tolerance policies within Massachusetts school districts have negatively impacted many students, especially at-risk students of color. At the time that this report was written, Massachusetts law provided school administrators broad discretion when it comes to school discipline, leading many school administrators to implement nondiscretionary zero tolerance policies. These practices provided the illusion of fairness in disciplinary practice; however, the students impacted by zero tolerance policies at public schools are most likely to be male, poor, receiving special education services, and are disproportionately Black and Latinx. Students who are excluded from school are more likely to drop out or become involved in the criminal justice system, which ultimately perpetuates an unequal achievement gap, disadvantages at-risk children, and reinforces the school-to-prison pipeline.

In the report, Appleseed argued that school administrators must instead create genuinely fair school discipline procedures by allowing students to represent themselves through hearings and internal appeals, and by acknowledging the intent behind students’ behavior. On a systemic level, Appleseed recommended that school administrators focus on prevention of problematic behavior in the classroom by fostering a supportive school climate. By identifying these alternatives to zero tolerance policies, Massachusetts Appleseed hopes to encourage movement away from harsh practices of school exclusion, and toward supportive learning climates that keep kids in class.