Pubdate: Thu, 17 Nov 2005 Source: Gazette, The (Cedar Rapids, IA) Copyright: 2005 Gazette Communications Contact: http://www.gazetteonline.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/887 Author: Rod Boshart Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?225 (Students - United States) MORE STUDENTS BEING EXPELLED, SUSPENDED DES MOINES, IA - A new state report released today indicates that 11,385 students were suspended or expelled last school year, a number that was up nearly 28 percent from the previous year. Roughly three out of every four disciplinary incidents involved physical fighting, while the remaining suspensions and expulsions involved illicit drugs, weapons possessions or were alcohol related. The largest percentage increase in suspensions and expulsions between the two school years compared in the 2005 Condition of Education report occurred at the elementary school level with a jump of 35 percent. The number of students suspended or expelled increased the most in districts with 600-999 students and the largest districts with at least 7,500 students -- with both categories having similar 32 percent increases. The raw numbers broke down to 11,275 suspensions and 110 expulsions handed out during the 2004-05 school year. Half of the expelled students were involved in drug-related incidents. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake