The Procrustean Bed of Zero Tolerance: Rethinking Disciplinary Alternative Education Programs

• In Event: 69.056 - Roundtable Session 31
  In Roundtable Session: 69.056-6 - Resilience and Power From the Periphery

Abstract

Research shows that students are being assigned to DAEPs (Disciplinary Alternative Education Programs) in record numbers mainly due to zero-tolerance policies and that students of color, special education and the economically disadvantaged are disproportionately placed in DAEP facilities. Drawing upon the data collected in one of the DAEPs in the South West, the purpose of this paper is to problematize zero tolerance policies that work as the Procrustean Bed, which leads to the school-prison pipeline. We argue that DAEPs are at risk as they are far from working to achieve “the promise of equal educational opportunity” to benefit every student; Hence, our research has the potential to transform DAEPs to contribute to providing equal and equitable education for disenfranchised students.

Authors

• Jeong-Hee Kim, Texas Tech University

• Faith Maina, Texas Tech University

• Cheryl Ann Brewer, Texas Tech University