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Office discipline referrals (ODRs) are widely used by school personnel to evaluate student behavior and the behavioral climate of schools. In this article, the authors report the results of a review of the relevant literature to evaluate the validity of ODR data as indices of school-wide behavioral climate, the effects of school-wide behavioral interventions, and differing behavior support needs across schools. They used Messick's unified approach to validity by focusing on examples of evidence for empirical and ethical foundations of interpretations, uses, and social consequences of ODR measures at the school-wide level. The authors also discuss ongoing issues, study limitations, and related recommendations for interpretations and uses of ODR measures as school-wide indices, based on the existing literature.

Within the context of widely documented racially disproportionate discipline outcomes, we describe schoolwide positive behavior support (SWPBS) as one approach that might provide a useful framework for culturally responsive behavior support delivery. We conceptualize cultural and linguistic diversity as the result of a divergence between individual students’ and entire schools’ cultural identities and identify culturally responsive educational practices that might facilitate greater continuity between students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and school environments. Based on practical recommendations derived from the literature, we propose an expansion of the key features of SWPBS implementation (practices, data, systems, and outcomes) to facilitate culturally responsive behavior support delivery. We propose (a) systemically promoting staff members’ cultural knowledge and self-awareness, (b) commitment to culturally relevant and validating student support practices, and (c) culturally valid decision making to enhance culturally equitable student outcomes. We provide recommendations for future research and present the efforts of one school district to blend SWPBS implementation with training in cultural responsiveness.

In this study, literature that indicates a need for systematic methods to identify students who are candidates for functional behavioral assessments and strength-based assessments is reviewed. These assessments will guide the development of individualized interventions to prevent violence, chronic discipline problems, and negative high school outcomes. Longitudinal research involving an archival review of a randomly selected sample of 526 students is reported. This research supports the use of school records of discipline referrals as a screening device. Referrals for violence involving fighting in Grade 6 predicted similar referrals in Grade 8. Frequency of discipline referrals in Grade 6 predicted chronic discipline problems in later middle school, which predicted frequency of suspensions in Grade 9. Three or more suspensions in ninth grade predicted school failure. Boys referred for fighting more than twice and girls referred even once for harassing, as sixth graders, were not likely to be on track for graduation when in high school. revention of violent and disruptive behaviors at school and of -M~ dropout are not new concerns,

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This study examined disciplinary exclusion data from 77 schools implementing school-wide positive behavior support (SWPBS). The authors examined (a) patterns of exclusion in schools implementing SWPBS; (b) associations between decreased exclusions and SWPBS implementation at the whole school level, the classroom level, the nonclassroom level, and the individual student level; (c) the extent to which students from varying ethnicities were equitably represented in overall exclusions as well as long-term exclusions; and (d) the extent to which students with a disability from varying ethnicities were equitably represented in long-term exclusions. Whereas SWPBS implementation in the classroom appeared to be associated with decreased exclusions in elementary schools, SWPBS implementation in nonclassroom settings appeared to be associated with decreased exclusions in high schools. Although overall exclusions decreased, White students appeared to benefit most from this decrease, whereas African American students remained overrepresented in exclusions, in particular long-term exclusions. Small sample sizes limited generalizability of outcomes.

Two exploratory studies describe chronic discipline problems as recorded in referrals to the principal. In the first study, students who were chronically referred throughout their middle school career were identified ( n = 18). In addition to establishing that each student had a problem of long duration, a measure of the density of the behavior problem was taken (i.e., the highest number of referrals received in a single term). Two contrasting groups were formed to develop hypotheses about which events in the first term of Grade 6 predicted continued discipline problems. The second study was a comparison of discipline patterns for violent behaviors (e.g., fighting, vandalism, harassment) and nonviolent behaviors (e.g., disruption, skipping class, insubordination) for students with serious discipline problems ( n = 36) from three middle schools. The use of school discipline referral patterns is discussed as a means of checking the need for additional assessments (e.g., functional assessments of problem behaviors, social skills assessments), enhancing our understanding of students' problem behaviors, and constructing preventive interventions.

Office discipline referral (ODR) data provide useful information about problem behavior and consequence patterns, socialbehavioral climates, and effects of social-behavioral interventions in schools. The authors report patterns of ODRs and subsequent administrative decisions from 1,510 schools nationwide that used the School-Wide Information System in 2005-2006. Sample demographics differed from key demographics for schools nationwide on school enrollment, socioeconomic status, and race and ethnicity. Descriptive analyses showed over 88% of elementary grade students with zero or one ODR for the academic year, 72% for middle schools, and 67% for high schools. ODRs were most likely to be generated from classrooms and more likely to be related to peer-directed problem behavior in elementary schools, student-adult interactions in middle schools, and tardiness and skipping in high schools. Major consequences were suspensions and detentions for middle and high school students and varied for elementary students. The discussion focuses on the utility of ODR databases and implications of the reported patterns.