FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
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STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
JIM HORNE
Commissioner of Education
F. PHILIP HANDY,
Chairman
T. WILLARD FAIR,
Vice Chairman
Members
LINDA J. EADS, ED.D.
CHARLES PATRICK GARCÍA
JULIA L. JOHNSON
WILLIAM L. PROCTOR, PH.D.
LINDA K. TAYLOR
CONTACT
PERSONS
NAME:
Louise Rill
Lorraine
Allen
PHONE:
(850) 245-0416
SUNCOM:
205-0416
E-MAIL:
Louise.Rill@fldoe.org
Lorraine.Allen@fldoe.org
DPS:
04-107
MEMORANDUM
TO:
District School Superintendents
FROM:
Jim Warford
DATE:
April 9, 2004
SUBJECT
:
2002-2003 Statewide Report on School Safety and Discipline Data
We are pleased to provide you with the electronic copy of the 2002-2003 Statewide Report on
School Safety and Discipline Data. The Florida Department of Education (FDOE) collects data
on 21 incidents of crime, violence, and disruptive behaviors through the
School Environmental
Safety Incident Report (SESIR)
system.
SESIR
, as it is commonly identified, collects incident
data that occur on school grounds, on school-sponsored transportation, and at off-campus,
school-sponsored events during any 24-hour period, 365 days per year.
FDOE also collects data on six types of disciplinary actions that are administered when students
violate school or district rules. The three main discipline actions described in this report are in-
school suspensions, out-of-school suspensions, and expulsions.
JIM WARFORD
K -12 Chancellor
325 W. GAINES STREET • SUITE 514 • TALLAHASSEE, FL 32399-0400 • (850) 245-0509• www.fldoe.org
District School Superintendents
April 9, 2004
Page 2
The report contains tables and figures that summarize the
SESIR
and discipline data that were
reported to FDOE by the 67 Florida school districts for 2000-2001, 2001-2002, and 2002-2003.
This report provides statewide totals, including a trend analysis of the
SESIR
data and discipline
data over a period of three school years, 2000-2003, and discipline data disaggregated by school
grade level, gender, and race for 2000-2003. It also contains a comprehensive district data
profile of the
SESIR
and discipline data for each of the 67 school districts in Florida over the past
three years.
The latest report may be viewed at the following website:
http://www.firn.edu/doe/besss/discipline.htm
Please note that pursuant to Section 1006.09(6), Florida Statutes, the principal is responsible for
ensuring the accuracy of the
SESIR
and discipline data for the school. A process should be in
place for verifying the accuracy and making corrections to the data on an ongoing basis. One
challenge to accurate reporting is reporting expulsions. To ensure accuracy of reporting
expulsions, it is important that a process is in place to change “out-of-school suspension” to
“expulsion” in the district database when the school board has determined a student is to be
expelled. Over reporting of suspensions and inaccuracies in expulsions may result, if the record
is not changed.
As indicated in DPS Memo 03-056, dated December 23, 2002, the FDOE will assist with a
system review as well as provide customized training to help meet the specific needs of districts
with their collection and reporting accuracy. Please contact Louise Rill, Program Specialist,
Office of Safe Schools, at 850-245-0416 or Suncom 205-0416 or at Louise.Rill@fldoe.org to
schedule this review and/or training.
Thank you for your continued support in creating and maintaining safe learning environments for
students and staff.
JW/lhr
cc:
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Safe Schools Contacts
Safe and Drug-Free Schools Coordinators
District MIS Contacts
Student Services Coordinators
