Defining "Zero Tolerance": Law, Policy, and Perception

• In Event: 65.081 - Poster Session 14
  In Poster Session: 65.081-3 - Poster Session: Legal and Judicial Issues for Underserved Populations

Abstract

This study explores the legal underpinnings of zero tolerance laws, the school district policies which implement these laws, and their alignment with popular media portrayals of zero tolerance. I integrate data from state statutes, school board policy documents from a nationally representative sample of school districts, and media articles from a sample of national newspapers. Preliminary results suggest that most laws and policy documents do not explicitly refer to policies as “zero tolerance” and that those that do tend to focus on more serious offenses, a finding that differs from many media portrayals. Additionally, the use of explicit “zero tolerance” policies does not appear to differ by racial makeup of school districts. Implications for research and policy are discussed.

Author

• Chris Curran, University of Maryland - Baltimore County