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…

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…

A draft policy developed by the Minneapolis (Minnesota) public schools concerning the use of aversive or deprivation procedures with students who are handicapped is presented. The policy model covers such elements as response to prior interventions; written treatment plan; informed consent; supervision; maintenance and retention of records;…

Focuses on practical guidelines for the implementation of discipline policy at the local level, including suggestions for distinguishing discipline policy for disabled students from discipline policy affecting students in general. (MLF)

Discusses how PL94-142 may cause discipline dilemmas in schools, especially regarding suspension and expulsion, noting difficulties of determining separate discipline policies for handicapped and nonhandicapped students. Notes that the literature, the law, and the courts all point to the need for options for dealing with disciplining special…

This article cites the incidence of corporal punishment in schools; levels of public support for it; and factors that place students with behavioral, emotional, learning, and mental disorders at risk for corporal punishment. Teachers are encouraged to educate themselves and others, to say no to corporal punishment, and to develop alternatives to…

This discussion of the discipline of students with disabilities notes rules and limitations that are different from those for the discipline of students without disabilities. Legal considerations in disciplining all students as well as those protected under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of…

This pamphlet describes requirements under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 relating to the discipline of students with disabilities. Information is provided on the educational requirements of the legislation, the due process procedures, the suspension and expulsion of students with disabilities, and the reevaluation process required…

Issues surrounding disciplinary exclusion of seriously emotionally disturbed children from public schools are addressed, along with applicable federal legislation, court cases, and Office of Civil Rights (OCR) opinions. Exclusion is defined as the removal from, or the prohibition of, participating in the public school program in part or entirety,…

This article analyzes the legal requirements and regulations regarding the discipline of students with disabilities found in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (Amendments of 1997) as well as policy statements of the Office of Special Education Programs and the results of state-level due-process hearings. Guidelines for school…

This booklet looks at selected recent court cases dealing with a number of questions regarding P.L. 94-142 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973: (1) What is meant by "free appropriate" education? (2) Which services are considered "related services" and thus obligatory upon schools? (3) What procedural protections…

This guide from the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services in the U.S. Department of Education is designed to assist school administrators in understanding the challenges faced in creating safe, effective learning environments, whole school practices that have dramatically increased effective learning environments, and under what…

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)

This paper presents the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as statutory frameworks for providing educational services for students with disabilities. The paper then addresses the issue of disciplinary exclusion as provided for in each of…

This paper reviews the literature which examines school policies currently guiding educational practice in the area of student substance abuse and discusses the relationship between special education and substance-using and substance-abusing students. Reviewed are: (1) definitions of substance abuse, which vary with the conceptualization of the…