High-profile attacks on teachers at school have focused legislators' attention on several school discipline plans. One calls for zero tolerance, establishing mandatory expulsion when a student assaults an educator. Another approach says that schools must try other methods before resorting to suspension in an effort to keep more students in school — especially when the offense falls in the "disruptive behavior" category.

Yet a third proposal would create a working group to examine the data on school violence and student discipline before crafting new policy. That's the best approach, as it will help lawmakers take account of the wide variety of circumstances that cause suspensions or expulsions.

The bill creating the working group is authored by Sen. Greg Clausen, DFL-Apple Valley, Sen. Jim Abeler, R-Anoka, and Rep. Drew Christensen, R-Burnsville. It calls for a panel — convened by the state's education commissioner — that would include representatives from at least 18 different groups of educators, students, parents, community groups and school officials. The committee would review data about school violence and discipline and take testimony from students and teachers who experience school climates daily.

The group would report back to the Legislature early next year with recommendations as to what amendments, if any, need to be made to Minnesota's Pupil Fair Dismissal Act — the statute governing suspensions and expulsions. The committee might also suggest that some discipline policy decisions be made at the local level — not by state decree.

No one in a school can feel safe if there are no consequences for willful attacks against teachers or students. It is challenging to determine when and how adults should intervene in student altercations. Many school staff members feel obligated to break up trouble, fulfilling their responsibility to keep kids safe. If they don't, parents could argue that the school did nothing to help their children. But if a staff member is injured in the process, how should they be protected?

Taking time to study the issues doesn't mean school districts should do nothing in the meantime. St. Paul and Minneapolis schools have suffered a few high-profile violent assaults recently, and it's not enough to say that those behaviors "will not be tolerated.'' Administrators must use the tools already available to them to send a strong message about the consequences of attacking a teacher or a fellow student.

In St. Paul, where two assaults occurred, a new teacher contract seeks to prevent violence before it starts by adding support staff and empaneling school climate committees.

Assault is a crime, so filing charges is a proper consequence. And state law is clear that students can be dismissed for willful violation of school regulation and endangering others.

Occasions for student discipline can be as diverse as students themselves. Policymakers must find balance between overreacting to minor misbehavior and delivering tough consequences for serious crimes.