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Table 15.  Number and percentage of public secondary schools reporting the use of serious disciplinary actions and the percentage distribution of serious disciplinary actions taken, by selected offenses: 1999–2000


Offense Schools using a serious disciplinary action   Percentage distribution of serious disciplinary actions
Number of schools Percent of schools Number of actions taken   Removals with no services for at least 1 year Transfers to specialized schools for at least 1 year Out-of-school suspensions lasting 5 days to 1 year
Total offenses 10,157 86 458,889   11 9 81
Use of a firearm/explosive device1 563 5 4,372   9 7 84
Possession of a firearm/explosive device1 1,461 12 3,239   21 25 53
Use of a weapon2 other than a firearm1 1,180 10 3,180   25 30 46
Possession of a weapon other than a firearm 4,617 39 17,558   16 24 60
Distribution of illegal drugs 4,264 36 14,788   22 21 57
Possession or use of alcohol or illegal drugs 7,395 62 62,728   10 17 72
Physical attacks or fights3 7,437 63 111,614   8 9 82
Threat or intimidation4 4,744 40 39,492   9 6 86
Insubordination5 4,265 36 101,406   16 3 81
Other infractions (not including academic reasons) 2,853 24 100,511   5 4 91
1 Firearm/explosive device was defined for respondents as, "any weapon that is designed to (or may readily be converted to) expel a projectile by the action of an explosive. This includes guns, bombs, grenades, mines, rockets, missiles, pipe bombs, or similar devices designed to explode and capable of causing bodily harm or property damage."
2 Weapon was defined for respondents as, "any instrument or object used with the intent to threaten, injure, or kill. Includes look-alikes if they are used to threaten others."
3 Physical attack or fight was defined for respondents as, "an actual and intentional touching or striking of another person against his or her will, or the intentional causing of bodily harm to an individual."
4 Intimidation was defined for respondents as, "to frighten, compel, or deter by actual or implied threats. It includes bullying and sexual harassment."
5 Insubordination was defined for respondents as, "a deliberate and inexcusable defiance of or refusal to obey a school rule, authority, or a reasonable order. It includes but is not limited to direct defiance of school authority, failure to attend assigned detention or on-campus supervision, failure to respond to a call slip, and physical or verbal intimidation/abuse."
NOTE: Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding. "At school/at your school" was defined for respondents as including activities happening in school buildings, on school grounds, on school buses, and at places that are holding school-sponsored events or activities. Respondents were instructed to, unless the survey specified otherwise, only respond for those times that were during normal school hours or when school activities/events were in session. Serious disciplinary action includes suspensions lasting 5 days or more, removals with no services (i.e., expulsions), and transfers to specialized schools.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, School Survey on Crime and Safety (SSOCS), 2000.