Misty
Banned
Regarding ZERO Tolerance
In trying to understand Zero Tolerance and how it applies in the Walton County School system I learned that part of ZERO tolerance is mandated by the Florida Board of Education and state statues and part of it is "District Choice".
Actual ZERO Tolerance policy mandated by the Florida Board of Education requires that students found to have committed one of the following offenses to be expelled, with or without continuing educational services, from the student's regular school for a period of not less than 1 full year, and to be referred to the criminal justice or juvenile justice system.
In short what this means is that these are only 2 offenses dictated by the FBOE and state statue where ZERO tolerance policies actually exist in Walton County. School districts are encouraged to use alternatives to expulsion or referral to law enforcement agencies unless the use of such alternatives will pose a threat to school safety.
Zero-tolerance policies do not require the reporting of petty acts of misconduct and misdemeanors to a law enforcement agency, including, but not limited to, disorderly conduct, disrupting a school function, simple assault or battery, affray, theft of less than $300, trespassing, and vandalism of less than $1,000.
Each district school board shall adopt rules providing that any student found to have committed any offense in State Statues 784.081(1), (2), or (3) shall be expelled or placed in an alternative school setting or other program, as appropriate. Upon being charged with the offense, the student shall be removed from the classroom immediately and placed in an alternative school setting pending disposition.
In trying to understand Zero Tolerance and how it applies in the Walton County School system I learned that part of ZERO tolerance is mandated by the Florida Board of Education and state statues and part of it is "District Choice".
Actual ZERO Tolerance policy mandated by the Florida Board of Education requires that students found to have committed one of the following offenses to be expelled, with or without continuing educational services, from the student's regular school for a period of not less than 1 full year, and to be referred to the criminal justice or juvenile justice system.
- (a) Bringing a firearm or weapon to school, to any school function, or onto any school-sponsored transportation or possessing a firearm at school.
- (b) Making a threat or false report, as defined by State Statue 790.162 and 790.163, respectively, involving school or school personnel's property, school transportation, or a school-sponsored activity.
In short what this means is that these are only 2 offenses dictated by the FBOE and state statue where ZERO tolerance policies actually exist in Walton County. School districts are encouraged to use alternatives to expulsion or referral to law enforcement agencies unless the use of such alternatives will pose a threat to school safety.
Zero-tolerance policies do not require the reporting of petty acts of misconduct and misdemeanors to a law enforcement agency, including, but not limited to, disorderly conduct, disrupting a school function, simple assault or battery, affray, theft of less than $300, trespassing, and vandalism of less than $1,000.
Each district school board shall adopt rules providing that any student found to have committed any offense in State Statues 784.081(1), (2), or (3) shall be expelled or placed in an alternative school setting or other program, as appropriate. Upon being charged with the offense, the student shall be removed from the classroom immediately and placed in an alternative school setting pending disposition.