Administrators often have options for meting out discipline. Principals ask teachers to handle disruptive students with the pupils and parents. Under state law, students possessing a weapon must be transferred to a remedial disciplinary school. They usually are placed in alternative in-school programs. Students who continue breaking rules can be referred to counseling by a school psychologist or an outside agency.
Suspension is the next step.
Some principals have created in-school suspension classes rather than let kids loose. If a student's misbehavior continues, a principal can transfer a student to another school, or ask the district to place the student in a remedial disciplinary school. Expulsion is another remedy, but the School Board only approves 20 to 30 a year. Parents can refuse counseling and referrals, and can appeal transfers, suspensions or expulsions.