School Pros and Cons of Zero Tolerance Policies in Schools By Amy Morin, LCSW facebook twitter instagram Amy Morin, LCSW, is the Editor-in-Chief of Verywell Mind. She's also a psychotherapist, international bestselling author and host of the Mentally Strong People podcast. Learn about our editorial process Amy Morin, LCSW Fact checked by Fact checked by Andrea Rice on July 14, 2020 facebook twitter linkedin Andrea Rice is an award-winning journalist and a freelance writer, editor, and fact checker specializing in health and wellness. Learn about our editorial process Andrea Rice Updated on July 14, 2020 Print PhotoAlto/Jerome Gorin / Getty Images In 1994, federal legislation required states to expel any student who brought a firearm to school for one year. If schools didn't comply, they'd lose all federal funding. Following that law, many schools adopted zero-tolerance policies for students who brought any type of weapon to school. Many of them also developed zero-tolerance policies for possession of drugs and alcohol as well as incidents of bullying. Although the idea stemmed from school officials wanting to keep kids safe, many educators question their effectiveness. In fact, over the years, zero-tolerance policies have become quite controversial. Pro May be required by law Aim to keep kids safer Reduces favoritism Prepares children for the real world Con Can lack common sense as may apply to harmless items Don't improve school safety Students banned from school face risks at home without supervision Expose children to legal charges for minor offenses Support for Zero Tolerance Policies Supporters of zero-tolerance say strict policies are necessary to keep the learning environment safe for students. Proponents report it doesn’t matter why a particular rule was broken. There should be no exceptions under any circumstances and kids should receive serious consequences for violating the policies. Supporters also say zero-tolerance policies best prepare children for the real world. After all, the police officer usually doesn’t care if you were speeding because you were late for work, you still broke the law. Similarly, your boss may not care what excuse you have for being late. You might not get paid for the time you missed, regardless of whether you had a flat tire or you got stuck in traffic. Proponents also say zero tolerance reduces favoritism because there isn’t room for subjectivity. Just because a student is smart or has parents who are involved with the school, there won’t be any room for leniency when the rules are broken. Zero Tolerance Policy Criticisms Critics of zero-tolerance policies express concerns that such policies lack common sense. For example, there is often little agreement about what constitutes a weapon. A rubber band or nail clippers may be enough to get students suspended. Similarly, a student in possession of ibuprofen may be expelled for drug possession. Critics cite a variety of outrageous examples of zero-tolerance policies gone wrong. The biggest issue most critics have about zero-tolerance policies is that they don’t work. In 2008, the American Psychological Association published a report that concluded, “Zero tolerance has not been shown to improve school climate or school safety.” The task force that conducted the study expressed concern that zero tolerance policies were unnecessarily preventing children from getting a public education and causing many children to face legal charges for relatively minor offenses. In 2013, the American Academy of Pediatrics released a detailed report criticizing zero tolerance policies. The report expressed concern that such policies are harmful to students because students who receive suspensions and expulsions are 10 times more likely to drop out of high school. Students who are sent home may not have an adult to supervise their activities and they may become more likely to engage in illegal activity. Alternatives There are many alternatives to zero-tolerance policies that can help keep kids in school while also teaching them valuable life lessons. Of course, violence prevention is one of the best ways to keep everyone in a school system safe. Restorative justice programs and community service may be better interventions for first-time offenders. Determining consequences on a case-by-case basis can prevent overly harsh consequences. Out-of-school suspensions and expulsions could then be reserved for repeat offenders who pose a real risk to school systems. Dealing With a Zero Tolerance Policy If your child’s school has a zero-tolerance policy, educate yourself about the rules. Understand what the policy covers and makes certain your child understands the policy. Take a proactive approach to prevent your child from breaking the policy by having aspirin in a pocket or a squirt gun in a backpack. And stay involved with your child's school so you can understand the reasons behind their rules and the best ways to keep your child safe. Back to School in a Pandemic: What Families Can Expect This Fall Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Get diet and wellness tips to help your kids stay healthy and happy. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Family uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. U.S. Department of Education. Subpart 3 - Gun Possession. Updated September 15, 2004. American Psychological Association Zero Tolerance Task Force. Are zero tolerance policies effective in the schools? An evidentiary review and recommendations. Am Psychol. 2008;63(9):852-862. doi:10.1037/0003-066X.63.9.852 American Psychological Association. APA Zero Tolerance Task Force Report. 2008. Council on School Health. Out-of-School Suspension and Expulsion. Pediatrics. 2013,131(3):e1000-e1007. doi:10.1542/peds.2012-3932 Kennedy JLD, Tuliao AP, Flower KN, Tibbs JJ, Mcchargue DE. Long-Term Effectiveness of a Brief Restorative Justice Intervention. Int J Offender Ther Comp Criminol. 2019;63(1):3-17. doi:10.1177/0306624X18779202