Indicator 18: Serious Disciplinary Actions Taken by Public Schools

Removing a student from school because of behavior problems stemming from crime and violence has a serious impact on the instruction of students. In the School Survey on Crime and Safety, public school officials were asked to report the number of disciplinary actions their schools took against students for specific offenses during the 2003-04 school year.

About 46 percent of public schools took at least one serious disciplinary action against a student-including suspensions lasting 5 days or more, removals with no services (i.e., expulsions), and transfers to specialized schools-for specific offenses during the 2003-04 school year (table 18.1). The offenses included physical attacks or fights; insubordination; distribution, possession, or use of alcohol; distribution, possession, or use of illegal drugs; use or possession of a weapon other than a firearm; and use or possession of a firearm or explosive device. Altogether, about 655,700 serious disciplinary actions were taken against students for these offenses in 2003-04. Of those actions, 74 percent were suspensions for 5 days or more, 5 percent were removals with no services, and 21 percent were transfers to specialized schools (figure 18.1 and table 18.1).

Four percent of all public schools took one or more serious disciplinary actions in response to students' use or possession of a firearm or explosive device (figure 18.2 and table 18.1). Students' use or possession of weapons other than firearms resulted in at least one serious disciplinary action in 17 percent of schools. Thirty-two percent of public schools took at least one serious disciplinary action for a physical attack or fight, and 22 percent responded to insubordination with a serious disciplinary action. Nine percent of all public schools took one or more serious disciplinary actions for students' distribution, possession, or use of alcohol, and 21 percent did so for the distribution, possession, or use of illegal drugs.