THE STUDY BY THE STUDENT'S DEFENSE FUND INDICATES THAT 2 MILLION CHILDREN WHO SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN SCHOOL WERE EXCLUDED FROM ATTENDANCE BECAUSE OF SCHOOL SUSPENSION POLICIES. ANALYSIS OF DATA SUBMITTED TO THE OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS OF THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE FOUND THAT THE USE OF SUSPENSIONS WAS WIDESPREAD. THE MOST COMMON OFFENSE COMMITTED WHICH RESULTED IN A CHILD'S SUSPENSION WAS TRUANCY. THE MAJORITY OF THE OFFENSES WERE NONVIOLENT, SUCH AS DRUG USE. A DISPROPORTIONATE NUMBER OF THOSE SUSPENDED WERE BLACK, OLDER, MALE, AND POOR. SUSPENSIONS ARE NOT CONSIDERED NECESSARY TO MAINTAIN ORDER IN SCHOOLS IN THE MAJORITY OF CASES. INTERVIEWS WITH SCHOOL OFFICIALS INDICATE THAT SEVERAL SCHOOLS HAVE FOUND THAT CLASSES CAN BE SUCCESSFULLY RUN WITHOUT THE FREQUENT USE OF DISCIPLINARY EXCLUSIONS. ALTERNATIVES TO SUSPENSION INCLUDE SUPERVISION BY YOUTH SERVICES AGENCIES AND REMEDIAL TRAINING. EXAMPLES ARE CITED OF THE NEGLECT OF STUDENTS' RIGHTS BY THE FAILURE TO NOTIFY STUDENTS OF CHARGES AGAINST THEM AND THE LACK OF HEARINGS BEFORE SUSPENSIONS. (TWK)