School suspensions and expulsions may seem to be an effective discipline method for severe and ongoing school disciplinary problems.

However, these methods often create unforeseen problems, especially if they are applied in a zero-tolerance setting. 

In a policy statement, Out-of-School Suspension and Expulsion, published in the March 2013 issue of Pediatrics (published online Feb. 25), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) does not support zero tolerance policies and recommends that student suspension or expulsion should be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Research has demonstrated that students who experience out-of-school suspension and expulsion are 10 times more likely to drop out of high school than those who do not.

Also, suspension and expulsion can often place the student back into the environment that led to the behavior problems