AISD Zero Tolerance Statistics

Under the proposed state zero tolerance policy, any student who gets caught with drugs or a weapon, and any student who assaults someone on school grounds, would be removed from that school and given the option in most cases to attend an alternative education program. The state estimates that 3,600 students will be placed in these alternative programs per year, at a cost of about $25 million.

According to the "Austin AISD Police Department Crime Analysis - Reported Offenses" for the 1992-93 school year, there were 2,257 total offenses reported, 381 of them resulting in a student being arrested. The data includes all AISD schools, not just high schools. Those numbers break down as follows:

Reports Arrests

Arson/Property Destruction 22 0

Assault 601 110

Burglary/Theft/Robbery 565 39

Criminal Mischief/Criminal Trespass 447 75

Disorderly Conduct/Class

Disruption/Reckless Conduct 88 21

Drug Offense 87 53

DWI/Liquor Laws 10 7

Inhalant use 1 0

Sex offenses/Indecent Exposure 26 2

Weapons/Criminal Instruments 52 31

The rest are divided among miscellaneous reported offenses such as:

possession of a pager, 103; bomb hoax, 2; runaways, 3; suspicious activity, 7; traffic/parking violations, 52; and evading arrest, 6.

In a 1993 statewide survey of teachers by the Texas Federation of Teachers, 35% of those responding said that there is a significant problem with "student discipline or student misbehavior" in the classroom, including: abusive and profane language directed at the teacher, 35%; vandalism, 65%; racial tensions, 39%; unexcused tardies, 60%; failure to do homework, 78%; and unexcused absences, 65%. Most said that violence becomes more of a problem each year.