COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- Ohio schools are reluctant to expel their young students and often view the move as a last resort for dealing with unruly children.

The Columbus Dispatch reports ( http://bit.ly/t9iSrT ) that Ohio schools don't have to accept students who have been expelled from another. The newspaper cites reports that indicate students who have been expelled are less likely to graduate.

Nearly 4,000 Ohio students were expelled last year, but only 8 percent of those were elementary school children.

Deborah Fowler with the school discipline study group Texas Appleseed says students who are expelled for long periods will fall behind their peers and likely be more frustrated with school.

Indiana University professor Russ Skiba says younger students are unlikely to see a 70-80 day expulsion as a reason to change bad behavior.

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Information from: The Columbus Dispatch, http://www.dispatch.com