LANSING, Mich. - 80 miles is a long way to travel by foot, but that's not stopping hundreds of high school kids in Michigan today. They'll make their way from Detroit to Lansing to meet with legislators to discuss alternatives to zero-tolerance policies. 16-year-old Trevon Stapleton of Detroit is among those walking and he says unjust suspensions need to end because they have a negative effect on a student's academic success.

"They will fall behind in school, their grades will fall and then they be like, what's the point of coming if they can't keep up so they might act out and then they get suspended again, then the teacher will label them the bad child," he said. "Usually that drags out until they get expelled or drop out of school."

Stapleton and others are calling for alternatives to ensure better access to education, including in-school suspension, detention and behavioral assessments for youths with needs. Additionally, they say, zero tolerance should be modified to reserve 180-day expulsions for serious offenses.

The walk will end with a rally at the Capitol building at 9 a.m. Wednesday.

Stapleton says he's walking not just for himself, but because he wants policies to change for other students and generations to come.

"I feel like they have given up on us. If they give us the things we need to succeed, a lot more students would not be dropping out of school if they come up with simple solutions like in-school suspension."

Director of YOUTH VOICES Kayla Mason, a social worker, says they support zero tolerance for serious offenses related to safety, but it's troubling that kids can be suspended or expelled for minor infractions.

"A lot of students are suspended for offenses such as not having their identification card on, or being out of uniform," she said. "This is called insubordination, which is really at the discretion of the school administrator."

Studies show that minority and marginalized students are disproportionately suspended. And Mason adds there is no evidence that zero-tolerance policies improve student behavior or school safety. She's a member of NASW-Michigan, which is among the organizations supporting legislation to correct zero-tolerance policies, restorative practices, and modifying school discipline codes.

Mary Kuhlman, Public News Service - MI

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