LA School District to End Zero Tolerance Policies

The Los Angeles Unified School District would rather see its kids in detention, rather than jail, according to new school policy that ends the "zero tolerance" policy the district followed before. The LAUSD plans to put an end to its zero tolerance way of discipline in its entire school system, which consists of more than 640,000 kids.

Educating students about life and keeping the lessons in the classroom and not in a court of law is the aim of the new district policies. The district is adding new justice advisers as well as other administrative staff to deal with the new ways they will handle student discipline.

The zero tolerance policy would call in the cops for infractions such as being in possession of tobacco, weed, alcohol, and for having fights.

"Educators and activists say the changes are in place for the current academic year and will prevent students, especially minorities, from becoming mired in the criminal justice system," reported the Associated Press. LAUSD is the second largets school system in the United States.

According to schools Superintendent John Deasy, the district police will not arrest, or issue citations to students if they are accused of  lower-level offenses. However, the students will be referred to school administrators or to their guidance counselors. 

It's tough to say if zero tolerance policies were any good in the first place says the website education-law.lawyers.com. "Today, zero tolerance policies cover much more than guns. And, they may lead to the suspension or  expulsion of students for any number of things, such as carrying aspirin or other over-the-counter medications."

Still the district isn't going easy on serious offenses. LAUSD will keep involving police in serious matters of discipline. "Citations still will be issued to students involved in fights that result in someone requiring emergency medical treatment," reports the LA Times.  Citations might also be issued for fights that involved the police if they are forced to come and break up a major scuffle.