The purpose of this study was to describe and explain the perspectives of the parents of expelled students. The study sample consisted of three parent participants whose children were subject to Zero Tolerance policies and had been expelled or suspended and administratively transferred to an alternative setting. A review of the literature described the views of authors on (a) Zero Tolerance policies, (b) alternative schools, (c) parent involvement in schools, (d) parent perspectives about schools, and (e) perspectives about alternative schools.

The research design was an adaptation of the phenomenological research design as outlined by Moustakas (1994). The methodology involved in depth, phenomenological interviews with each parent participant.

Analysis of the data indicated that (a) there is a need for schools to communicate with parents about discipline codes and zero Tolerance policies, (b) school behavior problems and home problems are often connected, (c) there is a need for schools to support the development of parenting skills, and (d) school family involvement programs can foster the development of positive home/school relationships.