Expulsion From School as a Disciplinary Action

This report examines the percentage of U.S. public elementary and secondary schools that were allowed to expel students from school as a disciplinary action and the percentage of schools that used this action. This analysis examines both expulsion with and without continuing services (such as school-provided tutoring or home instruction). Specifically, this report investigates the trend over time in schools’ allowance for and use of these disciplinary actions, and comparisons between schools with varying levels of minority student enrollment. While differences in the percentage of schools allowed to use expulsion as a disciplinary action highlight differences in school, district, or state policies, differences in the use of expulsion highlight differences in schools’ actual practices.