AUSTIN, Texas -- A survey of 11 public school districts who teach a quarter of Texas children found that officials spend $227 million a year on disciplinary programs and school security.

Texas Appleseed, a group that monitors how schools discipline children, released the report a day before the Texas Senate how schools treat troublesome students.

The survey included a blend of schools from inner city Houston to suburban Plano and rural Bryan.

Districts reported spending millions on expulsions, in-school suspensions, alternative schools and policing. The results come as school districts are suing the state for funding cuts and conservatives complain about spending.

The group said it released the report on Monday to start a discussion about how best to spend taxpayer money on public schools and what disciplinary programs work.