“Students, parents challenge zero-tolerance policies”

“Detroit Free Press: DETROIT — Michael Reynolds is willing to go to extremes to shed light on what he says is a big problem: zero-tolerance policies that are driving kids like him out of school for often-minor offenses.

He and dozens of others will march from Detroit to Lansing from Monday to Wednesday to draw attention to their concerns and to urge schools to adopt policies that limit lengthy expulsions and suspensions to the most serious offenses.

“It hurts me because schools are pushing kids out in the streets,” said Michael, 16, co-president of Youth Voice, the group organizing the march. “If we’re in the streets, nothing good can come of it. I think sometimes the schools set us up for failure.”

Michael missed a week of class last year after being suspended for breaking a school rule.

The walk is happening at a time when officials at the state and national level are raising concerns that too many kids are being kicked out of school for non-serious offenses. The State Board of Education is expected to take action next month on a proposed model policy for reducing suspensions and expulsions – one that urges schools to reserve such practices for “only the most serious offenses, and to adopt practices that allow educators to address disciplinary matters as opportunities for learning.”

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