TZT

Texas

Texas groups actively working together to reform Chapter 37 of the Texas Education Code and change the way zero tolerance policies are implemented:

Advocacy, Inc. - Advocacy, Inc. advocates on behalf of persons with disabilities. Among its goals: People with disabilities are people whose basic human needs are no different from those of all people, and as such share with all people basic human, legal and civil rights.

Texas Appleseed - Texas Appleseed promotes justice for all Texans by using the volunteer skills of lawyers and other professionals to find practical solutions to broad-based problems.

Texas Public Policy Foundation - The Texas Public Policy Foundation is guided by the core principles of individual liberty, personal responsibility, private property rights, free markets and limited government.

Texas Coalition Advocating Justice for Juveniles - The Texas juvenile justice system is failing our youth. Over the last decade there has been a steady increase in the number of youth committed to the Texas Youth Commission, the most costly and ineffective aspect of the state juvenile justice system.

California

Citizens For a Better CVUSD (Conejo Valley Unified School District)

This group formed in the past year and effected change in the district almost immediately by pressuring two Board members to resign. While local, they have begun working with individuals in the California State Legislature to reform disciplinary laws. Link to an editorial listing their accomplishments.

Changing the System

Information on How to Form Your Own Group

We have received a lot of emails from throughout the nation. As far as we have been able to determine, Texas Zero Tolerance is the only statewide group in the nation that has organized to effect change. Our group began as an individual school district focused group. After realizing that state law kept school districts from changing disciplinary codes, we organized as a statewide group to garner support for reforming the system through our Texas State Legislature.

We have not examined laws in other states but we assume that most disciplinary codes are dictated to school districts through state law. In order for other citizens in the U.S. to see relief from these draconian laws, you will have to mount a statewide effort to make these changes. If you are interested in forming a group, we have included a web page outlining our efforts at organizing and initiating reform efforts in our legislature. If you are part of an organized group dedicated to changing zero tolerance laws, please drop us a line and we will link your group to our site.