Pubdate: Mon, 18 Aug 2003 Source: Herald-Sun, The (Durham, NC) Copyright: 2003 The Herald-Sun Contact: http://www.herald-sun.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1428 Author: Associated Press SCHOOL SUSPENSIONS RISE STEEPLY WITH 'ZERO-TOLERANCE' POLICIES RALEIGH, N.C. -- Get-tough policies adopted after the 1999 Columbine school massacre in Colorado have led to increasing numbers of North Carolina students are being suspended or expelled. In 2001-02, the most recent year for which statewide data are available, school systems reported increases in suspensions of 20 percent or more from the year before. The number of students who were expelled and refused readmission because of the most serious offenses rose 50 percent. The figures on suspension rates are fueling a debate about school safety and the need to help individual students who break the rules, disrupt classes or commit violence. "The numbers create concern," said Joanne McDaniel, director of the North Carolina Center for the Prevention of School Violence. "When you start suspending kids, they miss instruction and can increase risk behaviors." Statewide in 2001-02, schools suspended 133,879 students at least one time during the year for up to 10 days -- a 17 percent increase from the year before. The number of long-term suspensions -- more than 10 days and often for the rest of the year -- jumped 25 percent from the previous year, to 3,318 students. The biggest increases were reported among students in middle school and the first two years of high school. Black male students are disproportionately represented among all suspended students. Rules governing suspensions are made at the school-district level by administrators and school boards. In most districts, aggressive behavior is the most frequent reason given for suspensions of any length, according to the state's analysis. Among students given long suspensions, frequent reasons include possessing drugs or alcohol and breaking rules. Along with the tougher policies have come more aggressive enforcement and closer vigilance, often from law enforcement officers now stationed in many high schools and middle schools. "There's a great deal of attention being paid to this," said Richard Murphy, principal of Leesville Road High School in North Raleigh and a veteran Wake school administrator. He said he's not surprised by increasing suspension rates, given the current expectations of high schools and the public demands to keep schools safe. "Over the years," Murphy said, "there's been a change from 'every child needs to be saved' to 'zero tolerance,' especially after Columbine." All but one of the state's 117 school systems now provide some kind of alternative schooling, yet not always for suspended students. The quality of those programs is uneven. Some education leaders argue that more attention is needed from experts in juvenile justice and mental health to better serve students' needs. A bill introduced in the General Assembly this year would have required the State Board of Education and other agencies involved with youth issues to study ways of expanding alternative schooling for suspended students. The bill wasn't approved, but a group led by the Department of Public Instruction will make recommendations on the issue to the state board next month. U - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman