Zero Tolerance: One Size for All

Abstract

Zero-tolerance policies have proliferated throughout American school districts in the past ten years. This case is focused on a special needs student who unintentionally violates the district’s zero-tolerance policy for weapons at school. Designed to proffer students an opportunity to discuss the development of policy, legal and instructional implications of zero-tolerance as well as workable solutions to a complicated problem, the case study has several other dimensions including the IDEA, instructional best practice, ethics and school public relations.