Zero Tolerance Policies in Education: Is it Time to Reconsider?

Authors

  • Chris Sclafani

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14738/assrj.1206.18992

Keywords:

School Administration, Zero Tolerance, Education, Teaching

Abstract

Every school year, there is bound to be some sort of behavioral management challenge for school administrations across the United States. Some schools are standing by a policy of zero tolerance for the commission of certain acts. This is problematic for children because it stresses punishment over corrective measures, and it contributes to a culture of fear within the school community in its entirety. The time has come for school leadership to review and potentially revoke these harsh zero tolerance policies that have been shown to have very little overall positive impact upon the students or those serving them.

References

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DeMitchell, T & Fries, K. (2007). Zero tolerance and the paradox of fairness: Viewpoints from the classroom. Journal of Law & Education, 36(2).

Detch, E., Njie, B., Potts, K., & Walton, J. (2003). Zero tolerance in Tennessee schools: An update. Eric Digest, 1(43).

Kajs, L. (2006). Reforming the discipline process in schools: An alternative approach to zero tolerance. Education Research Quarterly, 29(4).

Kennedy-Moore, E. (2016). The case against zero tolerance in schools. Psychology Today.

McAndrews, T. (2001). Zero-tolerance policies. Eric Digest, 1(146).

Skiba, R. (2014). The failure of zero tolerance. Reclaiming Children and Youth, 22(4).

Teske, S. (2011). A study of zero tolerance policies in schools: A multi-systems integrated approach to improve outcomes for adolescents. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing, 24(1).

Ward, S. (2014). Schools start to rethink zero tolerance policies. ABA Journal, 3(22).

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Published

2025-06-16

How to Cite

Sclafani, C. (2025). Zero Tolerance Policies in Education: Is it Time to Reconsider?. Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal, 12(06), 164–166. https://doi.org/10.14738/assrj.1206.18992