News
Panel may scrap strict school discipline policies
Posted: Oct 18, 2011 8:41 AM by Adam Atchison
DENVER - A Colorado panel reviewing school disciplinary measures adopted after the 1999 Columbine High School shootings is discussing legislation to scale back or scrap strict policies.
The panel of legislators, law enforcement and community leaders meets for the last time Tuesday after hearing from students, law enforcement and victim advocates about school punishment trends.
Some panelists say school administrators should have more discretion in disciplinary matters and that zero-tolerance policies are applied inappropriately or inconsistently.
Panelists say students are being needlessly criminalized. Lawmakers say about 100,000 students in Colorado have been referred to police during the last decade.
The Legislature created the panel this year to determine whether policy changes are needed and to make legislative recommendations.
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