Michigan's zero tolerance policies were part of a 'tough on discipline' trend that was big in the 1990s, but countless studies since then have shown that zero tolerance doesn't work and many states have amended their school discipline laws to reflect that.
When Gabby Collins started school last fall, she had a really good feeling about eighth grade. She thought this would be "my year when I changed and be all good ‘cause last year I did get in a lot of trouble, and I thought this year would be my year when I just don’t get in no trouble."
Things started off great. Gabby has a learning disability and behavior issues, all documented in her individualized education plan as required by federal law, and she often struggles in school. But Gabby’s mom, Dionne Collins, says Gabby was turning things around at the beginning of the school year. Her grades were improving and so was her behavior, thanks to a lot of hard work at home and some outside counseling.
"She was getting positive reports from teachers," says Collins. "The assistant principal even called me and told me because he was really impressed on seeing her positive leadership this year."
But that all changed in December. Gabby says she and her friends were playing around after lunch one day and one of them had an empty plastic water bottle, which they were throwing it at each other for fun. Gabby says when she tried to throw it down the hall at some boys she accidentally hit a teacher instead on the head. "So then that’s why I got expelled," she explains.