Garantías comprometidas con terceros

schools during this period.

In the School Survey on Crime and Safety, public school principals were asked to report the number of disciplinary actions their schools had taken against students for specific offenses. The student offenses were physical attacks or fights; distribution, possession, or use of alcohol; distribution, possession, or use of illegal drugs; use or possession of a firearm or explosive device; and use or possession of a weapon other than a firearm or explosive device.

During the 2009–10 school year, 39 percent of public schools (32,300 schools) took at least one serious disciplinary action—including suspensions lasting 5 days or more, removals with no services for the remainder of the school year (i.e., expulsions), and transfers to specialized schools—for specific offenses (table 19.1).

Out of all offenses reported, physical attacks or fights prompted the largest percentage of schools (29 percent) to respond with at least one serious disciplinary action (figure 19.1 and table 19.1). In response to other offenses by students, 20 percent of schools reported that they took disciplinary action for the distribution, possession, or use of illegal drugs; 13 percent took action for the use or possession of a weapon other than a firearm or explosive device; 9 percent did so for the distribution, possession, or use of alcohol; and 3 percent did so for the use or possession of a firearm or explosive device.

No linear trends were detected in the percentages of schools that took at least one serious disciplinary action for any of the reported offenses over time between 2003–04 and 2009–10, although the percentage of schools taking at least one serious disciplinary action for physical attacks or fights declined between 1999–2000 (35 percent) and 2009–10 (29 percent).

During the 2009–10 school year, the percentage of public schools that took serious disciplinary actions increased with school level. A higher percentage of high schools (83 percent) took at least one serious disciplinary action than did middle schools (67 percent) and primary schools (18 percent). Combined schools (schools that provide instruction at both elementary and secondary grades) took at least one serious disciplinary action at a higher percentage (49 percent) than primary schools, but at a lower percentage than either middle schools or high schools. This pattern by school level was generally observed for disciplinary actions taken in response to specific offenses as well. For example, 66 percent of high schools took serious disciplinary actions in response to distribution, possession, or use of illegal drugs, compared with 37 percent of middle schools, 23 percent of combined schools, and 2 percent of primary schools.

A total of 433,800 serious disciplinary actions were taken by public schools during the 2009–10 school year for specific offenses. Most of these reported disciplinary actions were taken in response to physical attacks or fights (265,100 actions). The number of disciplinary actions taken in response to the use or possession of a firearm or explosive device (5,800 actions) was smaller than for other offenses reported. Of the serious disciplinary actions taken during the 2009–10 school year, 74 percent were suspensions for 5 days or more, 20 percent were transfers to specialized schools, and 6 percent were removals with no services for the remainder of the school year.

Indicator 19 continued on page 84.

This indicator repeats information first reported in the Indicators of School Crime and Safety: 2011 report. For more information: Tables 19.1 and 19.2, and Neiman (2011), (http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2011320).

Figure 19.1. Percentage of public schools that took a serious disciplinary action, by type of offense and school level: School year 2009–10

! Interpret data with caution. The coefficient of variation (CV) for this estimate is between 30 and 50 percent.

1 _{Primary schools are defined as schools in which the lowest grade is not higher than grade 3 and the highest grade is not higher than grade 8.}

Middle schools are defined as schools in which the lowest grade is not lower than grade 4 and the highest grade is not higher than grade 9. High schools are defined as schools in which the lowest grade is not lower than grade 9 and the highest grade is not higher than grade 12.

NOTE: Responses were provided by the principal or the person most knowledgeable about crime and safety issues at the school. Serious disciplin- ary actions include removals with no continuing services for at least the remainder of the school year, transfers to specialized schools for disciplinary reasons, and out-of-school suspensions lasting 5 or more days, but less than the remainder of the school year. Respondents were instructed to respond only for those times that were during normal school hours or when school activities or events were in session, unless the survey specified otherwise.

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Greater percentages of out-of-school suspensions lasting 5 days or more were imposed upon students in response to physical attacks or fights (81 percent) and the distribution, possession, or use of alcohol (74 percent) than were imposed in response to the other offenses covered in the survey (ranging from 55 to 62 percent; figure 19.2). Greater percentages of removals with no services for the remainder of the school year were imposed upon students in response to the use or possession of a firearm or explosive device (22 percent) than were imposed in

response to other offenses reported (ranging from 4 to 9 percent). Greater percentages of transfers to specialized schools were imposed in response to the distribution, possession, or use of illegal drugs (32 percent) and the use or possession of a weapon other than a firearm or explosive device (29 percent) than were imposed in response to the distribution, possession, or use of alcohol (22 percent) and physical attacks or fights (14 percent).

Figure 19.2. Percentage distribution of serious disciplinary actions taken by public schools, by type of offense and type of disciplinary action: School year 2009–10

! Interpret data with caution. The coefficient of variation (CV) for this estimate is between 30 and 50 percent.

NOTE: Responses were provided by the principal or the person most knowledgeable about crime and safety issues at the school. Serious disciplin- ary actions include removals with no continuing services for at least the remainder of the school year, transfers to specialized schools for disciplinary reasons, and out-of-school suspensions lasting 5 or more days, but less than the remainder of the school year. Respondents were instructed to respond only for those times that were during normal school hours or when school activities or events were in session, unless the survey specified otherwise. Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding.

Discipline, Safety, and Security Measures

86

Indicator 20