Special Education and School Discipline: A Precarious Balance

The 1997 Amendments to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act brought together, for the first time, all of the disciplinary provisions pertaining to students with disabilities, attempting to guarantee a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) for students in special education while pre...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Behavioral disorders 2002-02, Vol.27 (2), p.81-97
Main Author: Skiba, Russell J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Behavioral disorders
Case law
Children with disabilities
Compliance (Legal)
Disabilities
Discipline
Educational Environment
Educational Legislation
Elementary Secondary Education
Expulsion
Federal Legislation
Firearm laws & regulations
Individuals with Disabilities Educ Act Amend 1997
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act 1990-US
Public Education
Public schools
Regular and Special Education Relationship
School discipline
School Safety
School suspension
School violence
Special Education
Special Needs Students
Student discipline
Students with disabilities
Suspension
Teachers
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Summary:The 1997 Amendments to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act brought together, for the first time, all of the disciplinary provisions pertaining to students with disabilities, attempting to guarantee a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) for students in special education while preserving a safe school environment for all students. Yet the discipline of special education students has continued to create controversy, with critics suggesting that those provisions create a dual system that limits the options of school administrators with respect to school discipline. A review of the literature reveals little or no evidence that suspension and expulsion make any contribution to reducing disruption or violence and some evidence that those procedures target certain populations disproportionately. Seeking to move toward a unified system of discipline that implements effective and accountable disciplinary options will be more likely to preserve FAPE and guarantee safe and civil schools for all children.
ISSN:0198-7429
2163-5307
DOI:10.1177/019874290202700209