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The Tobacco-Use Prevention Education (TUPE) Program supports the use of alternatives to suspension to address youth substance use.
Alternatives to suspension (ATS) are disciplinary strategies and interventions that address a student's behavior without removing them from the educational environment.
These approaches aim to minimize the negative academic, social, and emotional consequences associated with suspension. This means addressing the root causes of behavior, providing support, and fostering accountability.
The goal of this toolkit is to support schools and districts in advocating for, planning, implementing, and communicating about alternatives to suspension.
You can access all of the downloadable resources in this toolkit in one place through Google Drive.
A quick note about language:
You will notice that this toolkit uses terms like "incident" rather than "offense" or "violation." It also refers to "substance use" and not "substance abuse" or "addicts." This language shift helps us move away from a criminal justice mindset and avoid perpetuating stigma.
While not all student substance use is the result of addiction, leading with empathy makes it more likely that students will seek help when they need it.
By reframing behaviors as opportunities for growth rather than grounds for punishment, we can reduce stigma and foster a culture of care that supports students' well-being.
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