The presence or absence of effective prevention programs that serve students with a range of risks and abilities is likely to affect the rates of school disciplinary events. Proactive school discipline programs have demonstrated effectiveness in reducing student behavior problems. The existence of a schoolwide discipline plan is a key strategy used in schools for preventing behavior problems that lead to student exclusion from school. Such a plan includes a clear statement of rules and expectations, consistently communicated and applied consequences for rule-breaking behavior, concrete efforts to teach students appropriate behavior, and positive consequences available for positive behavior. With this system in place and consistent implementation by all staff, students have a better chance of behaving in ways that will maximize their inclusion into the activities of the school.
The following essential characteristics of schools with low school disciplinary referrals have been identified: (a) Administrators and teachers demonstrate ownership of discipline-related problems that students present; (b) opportunities exist to develop strong bonds between teachers and students; (c) ongoing staff development is conducted about best practices in handling student misconduct; (d) a schoolwide code of conduct and expectations is promoted; (e) a process, location, and plan for students who need to ‘‘cool off’’ is available so that more severe outbursts can be prevented; (f) student sanctions are considered on a case-by-case basis with input from students and parents; (g) community participants are welcomed into the school, including parents, mental health and juvenile justice professionals, business leaders, and so on; (h) explicit efforts are made to show students that they are valued and respected members of the school community and that they are expected to uphold high behavioral and academic standards; (i) a wide variety of prevention and intervention support programs are available for students; and (j) the school physical environment is a friendly and welcoming space.
These school characteristics add to the likelihood that students will stay within the behavioral standards of the school and not be exposed to school removal actions.
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