Zero tolerance policies form a pipeline from schools to prison that disproportionately impacts African-Americans, according to a new analysis by the University of South Florida. The disparity remains even after controlling for socioeconomic status.
Zero tolerance policies grew out of the Gun-Free School Act. The policy was originally intended to address issues of school violence, but, as the report points out, administrators began applying it to nonviolent infractions, like class disruptions.
This is of concern because it treats nonviolent behavior the same as more serious offenses like gun possession, the report concludes. It adds that the policy strips schools of discretion in handling matters, making suspension or expulsion the norm.
There were roughly 3.3 million suspensions and 106,000 expulsions in the 2004 school year, according to the study. Many of these matters could have been dealt with via counseling, it notes.
For instance, a five-year-old African-American girl in St. Petersburg was arrested and forcibly removed from elementary school for having a temper tantrum in class.
African-American students bore the blunt of expulsions. From 2002 to 2007, expulsions increased 33 percent, compared with a two percent decrease for Caucasian students.
The policy severely affects African-Americans for two reasons. First, most teachers are white females, clouded with a stereotypical view that African-Americans are on a path that will inevitably result in incarceration. Second, it creates hyper-vigilant teachers, who are forced to alter their position from an educator to one of quasi-probation officer.
The analysis says the demographics of the teachers are not to blame, but that the policy misdirects their attention. It also says greater efforts need to be made to diversify the teaching pool and implement cultural awareness programs.
The report points out a correlation exists between school suspension, expulsion, dropping out of school and entry into juvenile/correctional system. In fact, some states, like Washington, use fourth grade reading scores and graduation rates to assess the number of prison cells needed.
The report goes on to say African-American males that drop out of high school have a 60 percent risk of imprisonment. It does not contrast other ethnicity groups, but notes referrals to the juvenile justice system of African-Americans was 2.5 time higher than Caucasians.
Closing the pipeline remains a common goal. To do this, all parties must work to increase graduation rates and reduce incarceration.
Florida amended its policy to clarify that “zero-tolerance policies are not intended to be rigorously applied to petty acts of misconduct and misdemeanors, including, but not limited to, minor fights or disturbances.”
The report says Florida’s policy must ensure that zero-tolerance policies are applied equally to all students, regardless of economic status, race, or disability.
The rate of school-based arrests in Florida for the 2010 to 2011 school year is down by 11 percent, says the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice. Furthermore, the number of youths being placed in juvenile detention centers is down by 10 percent.
