SPR: Questions to Considering When Reviewing Suspension and Expulsion Data

• What percent of students at my school were suspended/expelled at least once last year? How many students does this represent?
• What percent of school days were lost due to suspension/expulsion? What educational services were provided, if any, to students who were suspended or expelled?
• What types of incidents resulted in suspensions or expulsions? What is the weapon/drug-related incident rate? How many incidents involved other violations of the school's code of classroom conduct (e.g. other types of dangerous, destructive, disruptive, or unruly behavior)?
• How do the numbers/percents/rates compare across student groups within the school? With prior years? With districtwide or statewide statistics? with other schools?
• Why are there differences in these percents and rates over time and across student groups and schools?
• What is my school's code of classroom conduct? Who developed the code of conduct; were they diverse with respect to gender, race/ethnicity, and ability? How does our code reflect different understandings and values of conduct that diverse cultural groups may have?
• Is the code of conduct applied equitably and consistently across student groups? Do certain student groups tend to receive more frequent or more severe discipline for similar behavior?
• How is my school's code of classroom conduct different from the code at other schools in my district? In other districts?
• What do the incident rates say about how safe and disciplined my school is? Do more incidents resulting in suspension/expulsion mean my school is safer and more disciplined or less safe and less disciplined?
• How is my school trying to promote positive behaviors and prevent behaviors leading to suspensions and expulsions? What programs or alternatives to suspension and expulsion does my school offer? How do the programs meet the diverse needs of all student groups?

Related Web Pages:

• Answers to Frequently Asked School Discipline Questions
• Disciplinary Action Advisor (a guide to help schools appropriately apply the law when students with disabilities are subjected to disciplinary removals from school)
• Classroom Management and School Discipline (a toolkit for creating effective learning environments)
• Self-Evaluation Guide: Trends and Patterns of Disciplinary Actions and Handling of Pupil Harassment

For questions about this information, contact dpistats@dpi.wi.gov (608) 267-3166

Last updated on 12/16/2011 7:29:50 AM