NCJ Number
171914
Date Published
1992
Length
53 pages
Annotation
A survey of a national sample of 884 public school principals received responses from 830 principals regarding issues relating to the extent of discipline problems within their schools and the nature and effectiveness of their schools' current policies and drug prevention programs.
Abstract
The questionnaires were mailed to the principals in the spring of 1991. Responses were weighted to produce national estimates. Results revealed that 33 percent of secondary school principals and 2 percent of elementary school principals regarded student alcohol use as a serious or moderate problem. Sixteen percent of secondary school principals and 1 percent of elementary school principals thought that student drug use was a serious or moderate problem in their school. Principals reported an average of about 6 in-school suspensions, 4 out-of-school suspensions, and less than 1 expulsion, transfer to an alternative school, or police notification for every 100 students during the fall 1990 semester. More than 90 percent of both elementary and secondary schools offered referrals to social services outside the school system for disruptive students. About 70 percent of schools offered such outside referrals for students using alcohol, drugs, or tobacco. Many principals reported that insufficient alternative programs hindered discipline efforts. Sixty-nine percent of the principals reported that police provided assistance or educational support in promoting safe, disciplined, and drug-free schools. Tables, definition, and appended instrument and standard error tables