Dive Brief:
- The Los Angeles Unified School District is reconsidering some of its reliance on school police for discipline.
- The nation's second largest school district will no longer prosecute students for low-level offenses. Students caught fighting or with alcohol or marijuana will get help from guidance counselors instead of being pushed through the criminal justice system.
- The decision is in line with the district's goal to minimize "zero tolerance" policies and meet the reform expectations explained by the Obama administration in January.
Dive Insight:
Given how big LAUSD is, this is not only a massive change for the schools within the district, but possibly a signal for other small districts to follow suit. Zero-tolerance policies have been on the out for some time, and this was specifically highlighted when a bevy of reports came out showing inconsistency in the punishment of students. Not only are minority students more likely to be suspended and expelled than their white counterparts, but they are more likely to be pushed through the criminal justice system. The idea of eliminating the presence of cops on campuses will not only minimize this reality, but ideally help create more productive solutions for issues within schools.