Pagers and Cellular Phones on School Property MS Word PDF - Policies restricting student possession of pagers and cellular phones on school property were first enacted by state legislatures in the late 1980s and early 1990s. These policies responded to concerns that students carried these devices to participate in gang activity or drug sales, served as a distraction in the classroom setting, etc. Here are multistate compilations of statutes prohibiting pagers and/or cellular phones and statutes granting policymaking authority to local boards. (Jennifer Dounay, Education Commission of the States, Updated September 2004)...

Persistently Dangerous School Criteria MS Word PDF - This StateNote provides information on the national response to the federal requirement that allows students attending a “persistently dangerous school” to transfer to a safe school within the local education agency (LEA). Included in this document are brief descriptions of the requirement, state responses, notes of interest and state-by-state summaries. (Gloria Zradicka, Education Commission of the States, September 2004)...

State-level Policies Regarding Corporal Punishment in Public Schools MS Word - Specific state polices and code citations related to corporal punishment are summarized in this multi-state chart compilation. (Education Commission of the States, September 1998)...

Summary of State Policies on School Safety and Violence MS Word - Provides a detailed summary of activities undertaken by state leaders to address school safety and violence since 1995 (Education Commission of the States, October 1999). Also, please see the companion document, "Common State Strategies for Addressing School Safety."...

Common State Strategies for Addressing School Safety MS Word - This list represents the most common state strategies for addressing school safety enacted legislatively since 1995. Some of these strategies include preventing violence and intervening with violent students; creating disciplined and safe school environments; and providing better information (Education Commission of the States, October 1999). Also, please see the companion document, "State Strategies on School Safety and Violence."...

Discipline: Pagers/Cellular Phones MS Word - Multi-state policy compilations. (Education Commission of the States, March 1998)...

Discipline: Transfer of Student Records MS Word - Multi-state policy compilations. (Education Commission of the States, March 1998)...

Discipline: Zero Tolerance/Gun Control MS Word - Multi-state compilations: states with laws in compliance with the federal Gun-Free Schools Act of October 1994. (Education Commission of the States, March 1998) ...

Discipline: Zero Tolerance/Gun Control (Detailed Version) MS Word - Multi-state compilations. (Education Commission of the States, March 1998)...

Teachers: Protections/Limits on Liability MS Word - Multistate policy compilations. (Education Commission of the States, March 1998)...

Discipline: Colorado Pilot Schools for Expelled and At-Risk Students MS Word - Colorado, like most states, has faced rising levels of violence and disruption in its public school classrooms. Read how the Colorado General Assembly and the State Board of Education have dealt with these issues. (Julie Pelegrin, Education Commission of the States and National Center for State Legislatures, September 1996)...

Student Exclusions in Massachusetts Public Schools 2000-01 - Defined as "the removal of a student from participation in regular school activities for disciplinary purposes for more than ten consecutive school days," including permanent removal, student exclusions are on the rise in Massachusetts. This report looks at the frequency, demographics and three-year trends of student exclusions in the state. One table shows characteristics of excluded students by race; gender; age; grade level and participation in regular, alternative or special education programs. The report also provides 2001 figures and three-year trends in the types of offenses that triggered exclusions and the length of exclusions by school days, reported both overall and by student race. (Massachusetts Department of Education, September 2003) ...

Making a Safe Haven: A Review of School Safety Status, Perceptions and Practices in the South - This report provides a review of school safety policies and practices in the South. Data is included on the types of crimes committed at schools, as well as the prevalence of theft, gangs, guns and harassment. The report discusses various approaches states use to make schools safe and summarizes recent activities and initiatives of the Southern Legislative Conference states in particular. (Jonathan Watts Hull, Southern Legislative Conference, Council of State Governments, April 2000)...

The Alabama Joint Interim Legislative Committee on School Violence, Final Report - In response to tragedies of school violence in many states, most notably Colorado, Mississippi, Oregon and Kentucky, the Alabama Legislature appointed this committee to seek findings, reach conclusions and render recommendations on the issue of school violence, with an emphasis toward prevention, crisis management and heightening awareness. The committee invited statewide input through a state tour and town meetings. This final report provides a bibliography of current state programs which are addressing school violence, and an account of successful practices. The committee’s recommendations engage the participation of teachers and administrators, students, parents, law enforcement, the justice system and the media. (Alabama State Legislature, August 2000)...