Appropriate student discipline is a necessary component of any district policy in order to provide a safe and positive school climate in which students are able to learn and thrive. Unfortunately research shows that harsh approaches to discipline do not improve school safety or improve student success. In fact California suspends more students than it graduates, and data shows that strict discipline policies disproportionately effect African American, Latino, Native American, and students with disabilities more than other student populations. Other negative outcomes of suspension and expulsion practices include:
- Increased risk of dropping out
- 2x as likely to repeat a grade
- 3x as likely to have contact with the juvenile justice system
- Higher frequency of 'repeat' offenders
- Lower testing scores
CSBA Resources
Newly revised CSBA policies on discipline/suspension & expulsion as of April 2014
- BP 5144 Discipline
- AR 5144 Discipline
- BP 5144.1 Suspension and Expulsion/Due Process
- AR 5144.1 Suspension and Expulsion/Due Process
How school districts should address student walkout
CSBA has produced the following resources for districts and county offices of education.
Research Resources
School Discipline Data
This link will take you to an online tool by which to view a particular district’s or pair of districts' rate of suspension for various demographics of students. The data can be broken down by race, race and gender, or race and disability status.
By The Center for Civil Rights Remedies at the Civil Rights Project at UCLA
Truancy, Suspensions, & Expulsions Tool
By KidsData.org
Additional Resources
California Compilation of School Discipline Laws and Regulations
School Climate and Discipline
By US. Department of Education
Fix School Discipline Toolkit
By the Public Counsel
How the Local Control Funding Formula can fix school discipline: What you need to know.
By the Public Counsel
How to Support Students Reentering the Classroom After Facing Severe Disciplinary Actions
By the online Master of Social Work program at the University of Southern California.