KYLE THOMPSON LEFT SCHOOL IN HANDCUFFS, BUT HE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING

'Zero-tolerance' meant Kyle Thompson left school in handcuffs. Sign the petition now to stop treating our kids like criminals. Please note: If you forward or distribute, the links will open a page with your information filled in. Dear Friend: Kyle Thompson is a normal 14-year-old kid who loves playing football and hanging out with his friends. His coach is his biggest fan. His principal says he’d love to have an entire school filled with students like Kyle. So why on earth was Kyle led from school in handcuffs, expelled from all state public schools and placed under house arrest? Because of Michigan’s so-called ‘zero-tolerance’ policy that criminalizes our kids by turning minor issues into criminal offenses. Kyle’s teacher wanted to see a note he had written, and when she playfully tried to take it from him, he tried to hold on to it. Even though all the witness statements said that the teacher was joking around and Kyle didn’t act aggressively, the day ended with Kyle under arrest. Kyle’s story exposes the injustice of Michigan’s ‘zero-tolerance’ policies, and we're going to spark a change with a massive petition to the state legislature. Will you stand up for Kyle and sign the petition demanding that Michigan reform its failed ‘zero-tolerance’ policies that criminalize students like him for minor infractions? Sadly, Kyle’s story is not unique. Countless young students across the country are treated the same—and even worse—because of a ‘zero-tolerance’ approach to school discipline that is spreading throughout the U.S. It takes kids out of the education system and funnels them into the criminal justice system because of a single, small infraction. There, they can look forward to a life of neglect and lost opportunity, as it can be impossible to find new schools or attend college once their records are tainted.