All students deserve an excellent education. Students with mental health needs, like all students, can and should be expected to excel academically – but cannot benefit from instruction in a school without a climate that is safe and conducive to learning. Nor can they excel if they are suspended, expelled or arrested, or drop out of school.
Over the past few decades, schools have increasingly adopted “zero tolerance” policies, which mandate swift, harsh, “one size fits all” penalties —including mandatory suspension and expulsion— for violations of school rules. While zero tolerance policies were initially developed to address serious issues like illegal drug use and bringing guns to school, in practice they have often been used for infractions of all school rules, leading to severe punishment for misbehavior. However, research indicates that increased use of these policies in public school systems has not created safer learning environments.
Zero tolerance policies disproportionately affect students with behavioral, emotional and mental health needs. These students have greater rates of suspension and expulsion than other students. Separation from the classroom often creates or accelerates negative mental health outcomes for “high needs” kids. Being punished for their behaviors shames and alienates these students, who are then less likely to succeed in school.
An effective alternative to zero tolerance is school-wide positive behavior support (PBS). PBS is an approach to promoting a learning-friendly school climate that significantly reduces discipline problems. PBS addresses the social and emotional needs of all students. Clear behavioral expectations are set for all; students at risk of developing more significant behavioral issues are provided services through group interventions, and students with the most significant needs are provided individualized supports. Evidence shows that schools that implement PBS have better student attendance, fewer disruptive behaviors, fewer disciplinary actions and improved academic achievement.
See the full document on alternatives to zero tolerance