Collaborative Role of Courts in Promoting Outcomes for Students: The Relationship Between Arrests, Graduation Rates, and School Safety

Abstract

Schools throughout the United States have adopted zero‐tolerance strategies to address school discipline. These policies have resulted in a significant increase in suspensions and expulsions. The placement of police on campus has exacerbated the problem by adding arrests and referrals to juvenile court as a disciplinary tool. This article discusses the origin of zero tolerance and its negative effects on school safety and graduation rates. This article examines three jurisdictions and their application of a collaborative model using judicial leadership to convene stakeholders resulting in written protocols to reduce school arrests and suspensions and developing alternatives that have produced better outcomes for students, the school, and the community.Keypoints Reduce arrest of students for minor offenses Develop alternatives to suspension, expulsion, and arrests Create system of care targeting chronically disruptive student for behavior improvement Improve school safety using a Positive Student Engage Model for Campus Police Improve school climate Increase graduation rates