The basic requirements for fair school disciplinary proceedings were set down in the Supreme Court decision of Goss v. Lopez. The requirements are that students be given oral or written notice of both the nature of the rule (violation of which will result in punishment) and the nature of the specific violation and the intended punishment. In…

A Georgia school district standardized discipline procedures, codified offenses, and published the results in booklet form. A clear hierarchy of offenses specifies problems to be handled at the local school, at formal hearings, or at a special disciplinary committee. Students know what to expect, and administrators know how to proceed. (MLF)

This review of law and schooling focuses on student rights and the tort liability of educators. Federal legislation on special education and copyright is briefly mentioned. A bibliography on these topics is appended. (SJL)

This guide to student disciplinary hearings provides an understanding of procedures and options during the student suspension or expulsion process through the perspectives of the different participants. Section 1, "Why Hearings?" discusses due process and the three categories of student disciplinary hearings: pre-suspension, suspension, and…

This guide is a supplement to the 1996 edition of "Texas School Law: A Practical Guide." It addresses four topics: real-estate issues relating to school districts and colleges, student-discipline law, education of children with disabilities, and sexual abuse or harassment of students. The first section examines legal changes in the realm…

Although problems of drug abuse, bomb threats, theft, and concealed weapons sometimes make search and seizure necessary, the student's rights must be protected through proper legal procedures. The article presents guidelines for conducting locker and personal searches and for educating students, teachers, and administrators on student rights. (DS)

Since the 1975 United States Supreme Court Decision of "Goss versus Lopez," which provided the foundation for the law of procedure in student suspensions, the law of expulsion and suspension has reached such a level of complexity that school officials can no longer simply "do what is right" when punishing students by expulsion or suspension.…

Explores the current status of federal special education law as it relates to discipline for students with disabilities in public schools. Designed to help local school administrators be equipped to successfully implement school discipline while being in compliance with the regulations' mandates. (Contains 19 references.) (MLF)

Corporal punishment is one option available to many school districts as a disciplinary measure. State law generally regulates the use of corporal punishment, and many states prohibit it while others provide specific guidelines for its use. However, many state legislatures have delegated responsibility for setting corporal-punishment policy to…

Nationwide, schools, communities, parents and students recognize the continuing need to make schools a safe place, an environment where children can learn without fear for their safety. In the past few years, the available research on violence prevention has increased, providing legislators with important information about effective violence…

Recent headlines in the North Carolina and national media illustrate that many schools are unsafe places for children and school staff. Problems associated with student misconduct and student crime can be found in schools and appear to be increasing. This publication identifies strategies for creating safe environments for learning in North…

To establish effective school discipline policies, educators need to understand (1) the nature of and reasons for misbehavior, (2) social and legal attitudes toward the school's disciplinary function, (3) acceptable responses to disciplinary problems, and (4) what effective policies cover. This booklet's first chapter considers the need for…

This manual outlines a process of establishing a student discipline program that can be tailor-made to specific schools or districts. The first chapter describes two basic considerations that must serve as the foundation for any discipline program--public expectations and legal requirements. The first part of this chapter explores sources of…

The courts have come to play an increasingly important role in educational policy making and the administrative management of our public schools. This is especially apparent in the context of school discipline where numerous and varied controversies have been translated into legal disputes over the past three decades, many of which have ultimately…

Views about corporal punishment in schools are changing. Some seek a return to accountability, authority, and increased order in schools, while others seek to make schools a sanctuary from social violence, especially violence against children. Local school boards often are criticized as being too lenient or too severe, and more state legislatures…