ATLANTA (May 25, 2010) – In a victory for Georgia school children across the state, Sen. Emanuel Jones’ (D-Decatur) legislation to curb the abuse of zero tolerance discipline policies was signed into law today by Governor Sonny Perdue. Jones introduced Senate Bill 299 after a 14-year-old Morgan County student was arrested for voluntarily turning in a fishing knife to his principal late last year.
“Georgia is leading the nation in tackling the proliferation of zero tolerance policy abuses in schools. Students have been expelled or sent to jail for bringing a key chain, nail clippers, and even a Cub Scout utensil to school. This legislation brings common sense to the all-or-nothing approach that school officials use to discipline kids under zero tolerance policies,” said Jones. “Excessively harsh disciplinary policies create a huge barrier to education; being expelled or sent to an alternative school can cause students to fall behind in coursework or give up on school altogether.”
The bill makes allowances for students who commit infractions without any intent to harm others. The legislation changes Georgia’s juvenile criminal code to make a first offense equal to a delinquent act, rather than a designated felony. Now, when a student commits an infraction, juvenile court judges can take the circumstances into account before automatically prosecuting them, giving the judges more discretion. Without a single no vote, the bill received unanimous passage in both the Senate and House before being sent to the governor for his consideration.
“This is common sense legislation that gives local school systems discretion in disciplining students,” said Governor Perdue. “No child should be kicked out of school for accidentally bringing a fishing knife and upon discovering it, reporting it promptly to school officials.”
A recent study found that zero tolerance discipline policies are ineffective. Published in the education journal Urban Education, the study’s researchers call for reform to existing policies that fail to keep students safe. Zero tolerance policies fail the students it intends to protect by often subjecting them to a life of potential crime. Numerous studies have found a link between students who are expelled and exposed to the juvenile justice system and those who drop out of school altogether. Commonly referred to as the pipeline to prison, expelling well-behaved students for a minor infraction can seriously derail a child’s education, or worse, subject them to a life of crime.
Sen. Emanuel Jones represents the 10th Senate District, which includes portions of DeKalb and Henry counties. He may be reached at 404.656.0502 or via e-mail at emanuel.jones@senate.ga.gov.
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release:
May 25, 2010
For Information Contact:
Raegan Weber, Director
Kallarin Richards, Senior Communications Specialist
kallarin.richards@senate.ga.gov
404.656.0028