A 1983 New Jersey law requires the commissioner of education to monitor the incidence of violence, vandalism, and substance abuse in the state's public schools. This report summarizes the incident reports for the 1987-88 school year and makes comparisons with prior years (1984-1987). The data collected identify neither causes nor specifics as to the date, time, location, or circumstances surrounding each incident. In 1987-88, there were 11,128 individual acts of vandalism, 8,053 violent incidents, and 2,370 substance abuse incidents. The overall 4-year trend for all incidents is slightly downward. Violent incidents have increased, while vandalism has decreased. Figures are given for school district responses to disruptive acts, ranging from routine discipline, suspension, reports to police, and expulsion. The New Jersey State Department of Education has responded by developing several programs, including the Grant Program to Reduce Student Disruption in Schools, the New Jersey Project on Student Expectations, and various substance abuse, teenage pregnancy, and suicide prevention programs. General recommendations are provided regarding school practice, interagency activities, communication across the community, cocurricular activities, and development of a discipline policy and a prevention plan. Appendices containing the state public school safety law, report forms, instructions, definitions, directory information, a list of department publications, and state board resolutions are included. (MLH)