Classroom Management, Discipline, and Corrective Action
Rules of student conduct are essential for maintaining a safe and supporting learning environment for all students. A student’s refusal to comply with written rules and regulations established for the governing of the school will constitute sufficient cause for disciplinary action.
Staff are responsible for supervising student behavior, employing effective classroom management methods, and enforcing the rules of student conduct in a fair, consistent, and non-discriminatory manner. Disciplinary action must be reasonable, culturally responsive, and necessary under the circumstances, while reflecting the district’s priority to maintain a safe and positive learning environment for all students and staff. The district will administer disciplinary action in a way that responds to the needs and strengths of students, supports students in meeting behavioral expectations, and keeps them within the classroom to the maximum extent possible.
When administering discipline under this policy and the related procedure, district staff must not:
- Unlawfully discriminate against a student on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal;
- Deprive a student of constitutional rights to freedom of speech, press, peaceable assembly, petition the government and its representatives for a redress of grievances, free exercise of religion, free from sectarian control or influence, subject to reasonable time, place, and manner limitations on exercising such rights;
- Deprive a student of the constitutional right to be secure in the person, papers, and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures;
- Unlawfully interfere in a student’s pursuit of an education while in the custody of the school district; or
- Deprive a student of the right to an equal educational opportunity, in whole or in part, without due process of law.
The district will distribute its discipline policy and procedure to students, their parents/guardians, and the community on an annual basis. The district will provide students and/or their parents/guardians with all required substantive and procedural due process concerning grievances, hearings, and/or appeals of corrective action. The district will ensure that it provides such information with language assistance for students and parents with limited-English proficiency under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The district will also strive to provide trainings regarding policies and procedures related to student discipline for appropriate school and district staff whose duties require them to interact with students and enforce or implement components of student discipline.
The district will assist long-term suspended and expelled students in returning to school as soon as possible by providing them with a reengagement plan tailored to the student’s individual circumstances, including consideration of the incident that led to the student’s long-term suspension or expulsion.
The District, however, may preclude a student from returning to the student’s regular educational setting following the end date of a suspension or expulsion for the purpose of protecting victims of certain offenses, as follows:
- A student committing an offense under RCW 28A.600.460 (2), when the activity is directed toward the teacher, shall not be assigned to that teacher’s classroom for the duration of the student’s attendance at that school or any other school where the teacher is assigned; and
- A student who commits an offense under RCW 28A.600.460 (3), when directed toward another student, may be removed from the classroom of the victim for the duration of the student’s attendance at that school or any other school where the victim is enrolled.
The district will annually collect and review data on disciplinary actions taken against students within each school. The data will be disaggregated into subgroups as required by RCW 28A.300.042 and will include students protected by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The review must include short-term suspensions, long-term suspensions, and expulsions. In reviewing the data, the district will determine whether it has disciplined a substantially disproportionate number of students within any of the disaggregated categories. If the district finds disproportionality, the district will take action to ensure that it is not the result of discrimination.
In consultation with school district staff, students, families, and the community, the district will periodically review and update this policy and its accompanying procedure.
Cross References:
Board Policy 2121 – Substance Abuse Program
Board Policy 2161 – Special Education and Related Services for Eligible Students
Board Policy 2162 – Education of Students With Disabilities Under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
Board Policy 3122 – Excused and Unexcused Absences
Board Policy 3210 – Nondiscrimination
Board Policy 3240 – Student Conduct Expectations and Reasonable Sanctions
Board Policy 3244 – Prohibition of Corporal Punishment
Board Policy 3520 – Student Fees, Fines, or Charges
Board Policy 4210 – Regulation of Dangerous Weapons on School Premises
Board Policy 4218 – Language Access Plan
Legal References:
RCW 9A.16.100 Use of force on children — Policy — Actions presumed unreasonable
RCW 9.41.280 Possessing dangerous weapons on school facilities — Penalty — Exceptions
RCW 28A.150.240 Certificated teaching and administrative staff as accountable for classroom teaching — Scope — Responsibilities — Penalty
Chapter 28A.225, RCW Compulsory school attendance and admission
Chapter 28A.320, RCW Provisions applicable to all districts
RCW 28A.400.100 Principals and vice principals — Employment of — Qualifications — Duties
RCW 28A.400.110 Principal to assure appropriate student discipline — Building discipline standards — Classes to improve classroom management skills
Chapter 28A.600 RCW, Students
WAC 392-190-048 Access to course offerings – Student discipline
Chapter 392-400, WAC Pupils
34 CFR Part 100.3 Regulations implementing Civil Rights Act of 1964
42 U.S.C. 2000d et seq. Civil Rights Act of 1964
Management Resources:
2018 – August Issue
2016 – July Issue
2014 – December Issue
2014 – August Issue
2010 – June Issue
Adoption Date:
Classification: Encouraged
Revised Dates: 04/99; 12/06; 06/10; 10/11; 08/14; 12/14; 07/16; 08/18