The perceived effectiveness of the in-school suspension (ISS) program in ten selected high schools in the Atlanta public school system, 1988

The purpose of this study was to determine if differences existed among classroom teachers, in-school suspension teachers and administrators regarding their perceived effectiveness of the In-School Suspension (ISS) Program in ten selected high schools in the Atlanta Public School System. Methods and Procedures The sample for this study consisted of 175 classroom teachers, 10 in-school suspension teachers and 10 administrators from a population of ten high schools that were selected from the eighteen high schools in the Atlanta Public School System. Five schools were selected from the top of the socioeconomic scale and five schools were selected from the bottom of the socioeconomic scale as determined by the number of free and reduced lunches in the respective school. Results The results of this study indicated that there was a significant difference among classroom teachers, in-school suspension teachers and administrators in their perception of the effectiveness of the In-School Suspension Program. There was a significant difference between the mean scores of in-school suspension teachers and classroom teachers. The administrators' mean score indicated that there may also be a significant difference between administrators and classroom teachers in their perception of the effectiveness of the In-School Suspension Program. Conclusions and Recommendations 1. Provide informative sessions for all school personnel to impart knowledge of the guidelines and procedures of the In-School Suspension Program. 2. Encourage good home/school relations by convening some of the PTA meetings in the community. 3. Reduce the confinement period of students assigned to in-school suspension for 3-5 day who exemplify good behavior after at least two days of the assignment. 4. Design a city-wide Conduct Council to include teachers, students and parents from each high school in the Atlanta Public School System. Award some type of incentive to one student in each school who has shown the most improvement in conduct. 5. Provide at least one brief annual meeting of all in-school suspension teachers in the Atlanta Public School System for the purpose of assessing problems and generating ideas for improving the programs