NCJ Number
152925
Journal
School Safety Dated: (Spring 1993) Pages: 15-17
Date Published
1993
Length
3 pages
Annotation
Establishing a school discipline system begins with the endorsement of the local school board and includes the development of written discipline codes, disciplinary actions, and procedures for due process.
Abstract
Board of education policies on discipline must be consistent with State laws and provide the basis for developing and implementing discipline procedures. A discipline planning committee that includes administrators, teachers, school psychologists, school social workers, students, and parents should be organized to develop the written discipline code. An initial step should be to collect copies of the codes of other districts in the State and at least a few from out of state. Possible disciplinary actions include in-school suspensions, detention, student/teacher/parent conferences, referral to educational management teams or others, verbal warnings or reprimands, probationary status, behavior contracts, school chores, alternative school placement, short-term suspension, and referral to a hearing committee for possible long-term suspension or expulsion. The key principle involved in the use of disciplinary authority must be fairness. It is helpful to develop a booklet that covers due process procedures. Finally, schools and school systems should collect and analyze data on school discipline.