Zero Tolerance Policy Case Study

Issue Statement Given the social problem, we need to modify the zero-tolerance policy or dismantle it altogether. Moving away from the complex, societal issues of the school-to-prison pipeline and zero-tolerance policies is not a simple solution. Solutions must work to first improve academic achievement by increasing the chance that students remain in school and graduate. Next, a solution must also focus on lowering the number of suspensions, expulsions, and referrals to law enforcement (Nance, 2016). Focusing on these solutions can enhance students well-being and life trajectory, reduce racial disparities and decrease the amount of youths in the criminal justice system. Students and parents have the greatest stake in this issue. However, schools, educators, and advocates are also stakeholders. If the solutions require additional resources, then taxpayers also have a stake. Finally, the

The positive effects of replacing zero-tolerance policies with restorative justice practices could possibly help reduce the costs of criminal justice and help to reduce prison populations. This, in turn, helps taxpayers by decreasing the amount of money spent to fund the cost of prisons. A positive effect of trauma-informed care being a requirement in the educational system is that it is likely to improve the overall climate of schools and communities, as well as improve the quality of services delivered. Trauma-informed care being practiced in schools can spillover into homes and families. Although not a primary outcome, relationships within families may also be strengthened. In the long-term, the continuation of trauma-informed care may result in a decreasing percentage of students dealing with trauma. An unintended consequence of restorative justice practices is students not fully understanding the negative effects of their actions and not taking responsibility for