Schools across the United States use abeyance agreements as an alternative to suspension or expulsion, yet little is known about them. These agreements allow students to avoid or reduce suspensions or expulsions, if they meet the terms of the agreement and waive certain due process rights. David Perrodin argues that these agreements enable school…

Zero tolerance policies were designed to create safety by implementing automatic exclusion (e.g., suspensions, expulsions) for misbehavior in response to rising school violence in the United States. However, evidence over the past four decades shows that these policies fail to increase objective and subjective safety, and instead foster poor…

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…

Disciplining students with disabilities has been a controversial issue among school officials, parents, and other members of school communities for many years. Federal law guiding administrative practice is codified in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004 (IDEA), a lengthy, cumbersome, and sometimes difficult to understand…

The West Virginia Board of Education (WVBE), recognizing the need for safe and supportive schools, revised its policy regarding student conduct. The result, "Expected Behaviors in Safe and Supportive Schools" (WVBE Policy 4373, effective July 1, 2012), put forth the behaviors expected of West Virginia's students; the rights and…

A statement of policy which emphasizes due process but focuses discussion on the expulsion itself. (Author)

Historically, public school officials have acted without consideration for due process in issuing grades to students, in excluding students from school for academic failure, and in lowering grades as a means of disciplining students. The constitutionality of these actions is challenged and recent court cases are reviewed. (Author/KC)

To facilitate the learning process, each school's staff must be empowered to maintain strong, consistent discipline; however, school discipline maintenance is also a total community responsibility. Whenever possible, teachers should solicit parental assistance in correcting discipline problems. Fort Wayne Community School Employees or other adults…

This paper examines the reported decisions, one unreported decision, and two Attorney Generals' opinions that deal with school punishment for the use of drugs and alcohol off campus and with suspensions pending criminal charges for student offenses committed off school property. (Author)

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…

Examines the procedural due process challenge to short-term suspensions. (Author)