NCJ Number
171913
Date Published
1992
Length
44 pages
Annotation
A survey of a national sample of 790 public school district superintendents received responses from 739 superintendents regarding the extent of discipline problems within schools, the nature and effectiveness of current policies and drug prevention programs, and disciplinary actions.
Abstract
The survey was conducted in the spring of 1991 and used the Fast Response Survey System. The responses were weighted to produce national estimates. Results revealed that 97-98 percent of public school districts have written policies on general discipline and alcohol, drug, and tobacco use. In addition, 35-38 percent of public school districts significantly changed their alcohol, drug, and tobacco policies and 31 percent significantly changed their general discipline policies less than 1 year ago. Moreover, principals and teachers were involved in the development of general discipline and drug policies in more than 90 percent of school districts. Parents were involved in the development of these policies in more than 70 percent of the districts; students were involved in more than 50 percent of the school districts. The average number of hours of drug use education in each grade during the 1990-91 school year was about 14 hours in kindergarten through 3rd grade, 20 hours in grades 4-6, 21 hours in grades 7-9, and 18 hours in grades 10-12. Police provided assistance or educational support, according to 42 percent of the superintendents. Suspensions due to disruptive behavior occurred about 26 times for every 1,000 students during the fall 1990 semester; 2 student transfers and 1 student expulsion per 1,000 students occurred during the same period. Districts averaged 1.9 suspensions, 0.4 transfers to alternative schools, and 0.2 expulsions due to drug use, possession, or sales during the fall 1990 semester. Tables, definitions, and appended instrument and standard error tables