Research has shown that American schools are one of the safest places for children (Sugai & Horner, 2008). But in the past 20 years, school violence has been widely broadcasted, raising concerns for parents, teachers and administrators alike. The purpose of all school discipline policies is to reduce instances of student misbehavior, including bullying, fighting, vandalism, truancy, and drug use. Public concerns have called for a tightening of these policies so that students are truly safe and more successful in school. With heightened concerns, the use of zero tolerance policies has been on the rise (Peterson & Skiba, 2000). These policies include discipline actions such as suspension and expulsions. School security measures have also been increased including metal detectors, video surveillance, and locker searches. Studies have shown that even though these actions were made to deter negative student behavior and make students feel safer, they are doing the opposite. Strict punishment based policies have been found to actually increase the intensity and frequency of student …show more content…
It requires a change in school organization, data collection, and even a way of thinking for some. Supporting students social and emotional needs through clear expectations, consistent actions, and positive reinforcement can help them not only develop into better human beings but can also help them academically. SWPBI can also help secondary schools run more effectively as they create a better school climate, administration spends less time on discipline, and staff develops more effective ways to review and share school data. Although secondary schools have more challenges when it comes to implementing SWPBI, with the increases pressure to increase school safety, reduce bullying, and reduce dropout rates, it is recommended that a form of positive behavior intervention be enacted in every