After more than two years of being at the receiving end of pressure from civic groups, as well as having been under close scrutiny and strengthened monitoring by the federal government with regard discriminatory school discipline practices, sweeping changes were finally implemented in the country's second-largest school system. Groups involved in the fight for change included the Community Rights Campaign, Public Counsel, school administrators, police officials, and other concerned citizens.   

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Los Angeles Unified's new approach was immediately embraced by distinguished school board members, school administrators, school police, a leader of a school union, a Juvenile Court judge, and civic activists. The announcement for the change in policy was attended by supporters of the cause on Tuesday at Manual Arts High School. The changes in the disciplinary practices signify a critical step back from the punitive law enforcement methods, which have been proven to not contribute in making campuses safer. In fact, sources reveal that such punishments merely push troubled students to drop out and involve themselves in more dangerous situations.

"This is a major breakthrough that will create some protections for students and move away from the kind of punishment culture we've had for too long," Manuel Criollo, a member of the Community Rights Campaign, said during the announcement of the new policy. In addition, L.A. schools Superintendent John Deasy exclaimed, "We are about graduation, not incarceration".

However, School Police Chief Steven Zipperman clarified that major offenses, which may pose serious and immediate dangers to school safety, will still be turned over to the L.A. school police. Reports reveal that the district's police force comprises 475 police and security officers, which is hailed as the nation's biggest independent school police department.

Hence, the new "graduated response" policy will be applicable to lesser offenses. Zipperman explained that this new rule will eliminate the need for police intervention and bring in the school administrators, who will then determine the best course of action for the erring student. Students caught committing minor offenses such as fighting and petty theft, will no longer be sent to the police for punishment. This policy, therefore, remedies the situation without involving an arrest or a citation. In lieu of the previous practice, the students may be referred to counseling and other programs.

According to the modified regulations, students in possession of tobacco, guilty of trespassing, or those who commit theft of property amounting to less than $50 will be referred to the school administrators. Those who are found to be possession of alcohol or illegal drugs of less than an ounce, as well as those guilty of vandalism and physical confrontations causing damages of less than $400, will be either sent to the administrators or committed to community programs, such as the Youth Source Centers and other institutions.

"Our students are safe right now, and nothing's changed," Zipperman shared. "But we have a teachable moment here to provide opportunities for students to learn from their mistakes," he disclosed.

In the new policy, certain considerations will be noted in the determination of the possible solution. For instance, when the student is less than 12 years old, a first-time offender, or has shown tendencies to be able to avoid reoccurrence of bad behavior upon given a warning, the school administrators may sanction with a "cooling off" period, a conference with the parents, or alternative discipline practices, such as restorative justice.

"We don't need courts to punish kids for being kids," said Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Michael Nash said. "We need adults ... to work with and teach kids to respect themselves, their peers and the other members of their communities," he added. Nash also commended the policy and described this decision as a "turn away from the failed punitive ways". 

TagsLos Angeles, Unified School Police, Graduated Response, Community Rights Campaign, Public Counsel, Manual Arts High School, Manuel Criollo, John Deasy, School Police Chief Steven Zipperman, Youth Source Centers, restorative justice