Discriminatory discipline has been widely documented for decades, yet little progress has been made to narrow the gap. Due to the long-standing history of discriminatory discipline, current nationwide data, and recent federal initiatives, there is a need for a comprehensive examination of this critical issue. Therefore, we discuss populations…

The increasing number of special education-related lawsuits has become costly, time-consuming, and a strain on school-community relations--in short, an issue of growing concern to U. S. school systems. To identify factors associated with this type of litigation, this study analyzed data from one state's 10-year experience with due process special…

Special education litigation remains a volatile area with significant practice implications. A review of the 2010 case law in the "Special Educator" identified discipline (manifestation determination, seclusion and restraints, harassment), evaluation/RTI, and postsecondary transition as specific areas of concern. School administrators should keep…

Instead of avoiding, eliminating, or managing interpersonal conflict, school leaders should explore its transformational uses. A Consensual, no-conflict approach to decision making is impossible. Conflict can serve transformational purposes by helping to organize motives; broadening, strengthening, and clarifying values; and detecting and…

Reviews current legal interpretations regarding discipline of handicapped students. Proposes a model for fostering compliance with legal mandates when considering disciplinary procedures for such students. Principals should employ behavior management options (such as time-out techniques, use of school counseling and social workers, in-school…

Research on high school students using the Perry scheme (progressing from dualism to multiplicity, contextual relativism, and dialectic reasoning) suggests gifted students are at least one stage ahead of their agemates. While most students are grasping the notion of unanswered questions, gifted students are seeking structures to help them explain…

To achieve lasting educational improvement in the face of rapid social change, this article suggests that disciplinary progression (toward increasing restriction) be instituted, that teachers adopt evening office hours, that bilingual education be abolished, that minimal standards be adopted, that instructional objectives be revamped, and that a…

Suicide is the second major cause of death for adolescents, after accidents. Administrators should adopt cautious and comprehensive policies, risk management, and prevention programs. Educators should recognize warning signs: suicide threats, recent losses, traumatic events, sudden changes in appearance, heavy drug or alcohol use, and…

The Character Education Partnership, a national coalition, has developed 11 principles to help students internalize desirable societal values. Successful character-education programs require committed school leadership, a common vocabulary, staff development, integration with academics, a focus on respect for others, and service learning. Program…

A survey of exclusionary discipline practices with handicapped students revealed a national pattern of "de facto" differential treatment. In denying a school's unilateral authority to remove dangerous or disruptive students, the Supreme Court's judgment in "Honig v. Doe" (1988) took precedence over all earlier court decisions.…

Although increased attention to testing has resulted in improved guidelines for measuring skills and interpreting test results, educators are confused about certain testing problems and appropriate ameliorative strategies. Changing from multiple-choice formats to authentic performances will not reform education. Highly valuable outcomes such as…

Students who learn more geography have a dual payoff: intellectual challenge through the introduction of new, stimulating information about people, places, and regions; and exposure to career possibilities that did not exist even five years ago. The 18 national geography standards stress a spatial world view, places and regions, physical and human…

The principal's job is to encourage and facilitate cooperation and problem solving. The team concept can be used to improve education by developing consistent processes that involve many people and ensure group development of solutions to problems. (MD)

Reports the results of a study of the discipline alternative, in-school suspension, in which disruptive students are removed from the mainstream and placed in a specialized program within the school. Identifies four areas in which discrepancies were found between what was planned and what actually happened. (Author/WD)

The Knox and Bown decisions, involving school personnel's defiance of school prayer/moment-of-silence directives, strongly suggest that principals and their faculty members avoid taking the law into their own hands. Although an up-to-date knowledge of school law is prudent, job security requires educators to follow the advice of those legally…