Fresno Schools Turning Away From Zero Tolerance - California

What's important to note about Fresno, which wasn't included in this Q-and-A, is that it implemented the Safe & Civil Schools program in 2008, and plans to integrated it into all 94 schools in the district. One of the aspects of Safe & Civil Schools is that it helps schools move from a punitive to a compassionate approach to school discipline; there are many other parts to it. It incorporates many restorative practices that are also part of  restorative justice programs. So, to say that the superintendent did a major reversal may be misinterpreted to read that he did a major reversal on punitive school discipline, when he had already instituted Safe & Civil Schools. Restorative justice is a great program, but it's only one of several important programs that fit into the Safe & Civil Schools matrix. Others include anti-bullying programs, date violence prevention programs and teaching children social/emotional learning skills (e.g., Second Step). Schools in the Fresno Unified School District that have implemented the Safe & Civil Schools program have already seen a dramatic drop in suspensions and expulsions.