Baltimore Recognizes Problems with Zero Tolerance
The Baltimore Sun reports on a new initiative designed to improve safety in the public schools of Baltimore. As noted in the article, Maryland’s five most dangerous schools are in Baltimore.
The good news is that the city isn’t simply jumping on the zero tolerance bandwagon:
At the same time, advocates from groups including the Open Society Institute have been pushing for in-school suspension programs and other suspension alternatives. They say that allowing violent or misbehaving students to be on the streets during school days only perpetuates crime, drug use and other social ills.
System officials - who included $700,000 for in-school suspension plans in middle schools in next year’s budget - said they want to get away from a zero-tolerance policy mandating automatic suspension or expulsion for fighting in school.
Recognition that zero tolerance policies push the problems out onto the street is an important one. Would that more local governments would think through their policies so carefully.