"We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations."

School discipline is a delicate balance between what is best for the student and what is best for the school community. Traditional suspension is unproductive from the point of view of academics as well as the well-being of the individual student. Not only that, but the school community at large suffers from a punitive approach that removes a student from their teachers and peers. There are also those students who intentionally take advantage of the suspension system in order to get away from school or to escape from a difficult situation. As a result, suspensions are not effective deterrence for many of the student they are designed to help.

Alternatives to suspension can provide a much better motivation to get students to engage, to attend school, and to succeed. While traditional suspension remains an option, available to school administrators when needed. There are several occasions when alternatives may be more effective: