But of the other five, Decatur officials say, only one re-enrolled in school this fall. The federal government rejected the school district's bid for funds to improve alternative education for such students. Money promised by the state never came. The saga illustrates a nationwide struggle. Despite zero tolerance legislation and speeches about getting tough on disruptive students, questions persist about how to educate them, discipline them, or modify their behavior.
Many states report record rates of suspensions and expulsions under zero tolerance policies.
By 1998-99 that number had more than doubled to 2,744. That legislation required states to pass laws mandating that local school districts expel for one calendar year any student bringing a gun to school. All 50 states passed legislation. Some states and school districts took the federal requirement further, ordering expulsion for weapon or drug possession, for fighting, and for threatening violence. However, federal officials admit that record-keeping problems may have inflated the initial numbers.