The Michigan Board of Education is working on overturning the decades-old zero tolerance policy. It’s drafting changes to the Model Code of Student Conduct.
Last year the governor signed legislation to do away with zero tolerance in favor of so-called restorative practices. Now the board of education is working on implementing the legislation into the state’s model code of conduct.
Brian Whiston is the State Superintendent.
“As a local soup I think it’s a good idea because I was forced sometimes, I felt, under the law to expel some students that I felt probably shouldn’t have been expelled.”
Whiston says the revision is a good idea.
“The pendulum is swinging back. I’ve been around long enough when zero tolerance came into effect. It was put into effect because they thought districts took too much local control and so they came up with zero tolerance and now it’s swinging back the other way.”
Nikki Snyder is on the state board of education. She says she wants to make sure parents are involved in the disciplinary processes.
“Well I think anytime there’s conflict it’s best to just get all involved in the same room at the same table and have a solid conversation and I don’t know that that’s happening right now.”
The board expects to vote on the code in August, after public comment.