Racial inequity has long been an issue in the educational system. In recent years, researchers and policy makers have begun to recognize the role of implicit bias in the disproportionate number of African American children who are suspended or expelled from school. Particular attention is being given to the use of exclusionary practices in early…

Disproportionate rates of suspensions and expulsions among racial/ethnic groups are a local, state, and national concern. Maryland has made significant progress in decreasing the use of exclusionary discipline, but there is substantial work left to do to move toward equity. Maryland has cut the use of exclusionary discipline practices by half in…

This guide is designed to supply educators with a means to identify whether racial/ethnic disproportionality in discipline practice exists in their schools or districts. It also aims to help educators use data to reduce racial/ethnic disproportionality in suspensions and expulsions. The guide is organized into two sections. The first section…

Discriminatory discipline practices in the nation's schools disproportionately impact students of color; students with emotional, behavioral, and cognitive disabilities; and youth who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ). Large numbers of these students are removed from class, lose opportunities to learn, and…

This description of the development of a discipline policy at the Downers Grove (Illinois) Public Library recounts discipline problems, the process of creating the policy, and its effects. The text of the rules of behavior and a sample page from the procedures manual, which provides practical guidelines for enforcement, are included. (MES)

Describes a method for controlling minor incidents of disruptive behavior and failure to prepare for class. (MCG)

A three-year study of data on student discipline in one school supports a theory of a relationship between behavior and environmental factors.(MD)

Five criteria useful in evaluating any discipline model will help evaluators make sense of a complex issue. Discipline policies should be philosophically sound, pedagogically defensible, psychologically appropriate, pragmatically feasible, and professionally evaluated. (TE)

Outlines the history of corporal punishment in American schools and the development of the debate on its application in the schools. Reviews court decisions since the 1970s that affect the controversy. Includes a list of references. (MD)

The effectiveness claims for Assertive Discipline made by Lee Canter and other advocates are not supported by the limited research that has been conducted in the program's 12 years of existence. (Author/TE)

At a Florida high school, students who break school rules face predetermined consequences that are ascending in severity. The success of the system is contingent on staff training, communication, recordkeeping, administrative support, and evaluation. (MLF)

Reviews a Pennsylvania higher court decison in which a student sued the school board for reducing her grades as punishment for misconduct during a school outing. The court found in the student's favor. The punishment must fit the crime. (MD)

Asks whether Machiavelli or St. Benedict of Nursia provides the better model for school administration and student discipline. Finds Benedict's teachings, which stress love, prudence, and the avoidance of extremes, better suited to the traditions and spirituality of Catholic education. (DMM)

At Liberty High School (Missouri), in-school suspension is a corrective, rehabilitative process. The successful program features a Saturday School, infraction-specific self-help packets for students, staffing by a full-time paraprofessional, visits by subject-area teachers, and meetings with counselors. (PGD)

In-school suspension programs work when students are treated with a blend of toughness and love. The toughness consists of strictly applied limitations on movement, interaction among students, and acceptable activities; the love is present in the personal tutoring and counseling provided by a caring adult supervisor. (PGD)