In 2013, schools in New Zealand stood-down nearly 12,000 students as a result of behavioural difficulties. Research indicates that rather than improving behaviour, stand-downs can reinforce inappropriate behaviour and potentially put students at-risk. This paper overviews the use of stand-downs in New Zealand schools, discussing the nature and…

The purpose of this study was to determine how an urban school district's code of conduct aligned with actual school/class behaviors, and how stakeholders perceived the ability of this document to achieve its number one goal: safe and productive learning environments. Twenty participants including students, teachers, parents, and administrators…

As adult students constitute nearly half of all undergraduates in the United States, college practitioners need to identify effective disciplinary strategies for this population when violations of institutional rules and regulations occur. The purpose of this quasi-experimental, action research study was to modify the student conduct process for…

The focus of this dissertation was the use of restorative justice practices in the collegiate setting. Some have expressed concern with the legal nature of campus conduct processes. Restorative practices have been implemented in criminal justice and K-12 settings and are seen by some as an antidote to overly legalistic campus conduct processes.…

Threat assessment has been widely recommended as a violence prevention approach for schools, but there are few empirical studies of its use. This nonexperimental study of 280 Virginia public high schools compared 95 high schools using the Virginia threat assessment guidelines (Cornell & Sheras, 2006), 131 following other (i.e., locally…

Examines the efficacy of peer mediation as an alternative to traditional school discipline in middle schools. Discusses the role of social validity in the use of peer mediation, and examines student attitudes toward this strategy based on student interviews. Considers factors in the design of peer mediation programs. (JPB)

This paper presents findings of a study that evaluated the effectiveness of an in-school suspension program (ISSP) at a suburban Atlanta high school. Data were derived from a questionnaire that explored staff's and students' perceptions of the effectiveness of the ISSP. Responses were received from 70 staff members and 190 students. Fifty percent…

A pilot In-School Suspension Program was inaugurated at one junior high and one senior high school in Montgomery County, Maryland, during 1980-81, in order to provide an alternative to out-of-school suspension. To assess the pilot program's effectiveness, an evaluation study examined rates of and reasons for in-school suspension, length of such…

This study investigated an in-school suspension program implemented in a rural high school that used a television system to monitor students. Findings from interviews with 13 teachers and a survey completed by 233 students (64% of the student body) indicate that teachers and students see the program as having a positive effect on discipline. (SLD)

Schools are expected to provide a safe environment and to play an active role in socializing children for participation in a civil society. Most schools have programs to prevent problem behavior and serious misconduct such as drug use and violence. But how good are these programs? A recent national study surveyed principals, teachers, program…