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Survey of School System Leaders

NCJ Number
244580
Date Published
2013
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This research brief presents the results of a survey of school system leaders regarding current student discipline policies and practices.
Abstract
This research brief from the Council of State Governments Justice Center presents the results of a survey of school system leaders regarding current student discipline policies and practices. Key findings from the survey include the following: respondents rated behavior management plans, mentoring, and in-school suspensions as the most effective alternatives to out-of-school suspension and expulsion aimed at improving student behavior and school climate; the most effective prevention strategies for improving school climate were PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports), consistency management, and cooperative discipline; two challenges for successful implementation of alternative prevention strategies were staff time demands and limited resources; 56 percent of respondents indicated their school system had recently updated its discipline policies; and 96 percent of respondents whose school district used school-based officers indicated that these officers had a positive on the school environment. This survey was conducted in February 2013 as part of the School Discipline Consensus Project. The project surveyed over 450 school system leaders across the country to obtain information on current student discipline policies and procedures. It is hoped that the findings from this project will provide information on improving current disciplinary policies and practices so as to improve student academic outcomes, more effectively manage student behaviors, reduce students' involvement with the juvenile justice system, and ultimately promote a safe and productive learning environment.