3241 Student Discipline
STUDENT DISCIPLINE
Introduction/Philosophy/Purpose
The purposes of this policy and accompanying procedure include:
- Providing a safe and supportive learning environment for all students
- Providing due process to students
- Implementing culturally responsive discretionary and nondiscretionary discipline policies and procedures that provide opportunity for all students to achieve personal and academic success
- Engaging with school personnel, students, parents, families and the community to the development and implementation of discipline policies and procedures
- Ensuring fairness, equity, and due process in the administration of discretionary and nondiscretionary discipline
- Administering discretionary discipline in ways that respond to the needs and strengths of students, supports students in meeting behavioral expectations, and keep students, in the classroom to the maximum extent possible
- Providing educational services that students need during to complete their education without disruption
- Facilitating collaboration between school personnel, students, parents, and families to support successful reentry into the classroom following a suspension or expulsion
Students’ Fundamental Rights
The district will observe student’s fundamental rights and will administer in a manner that does not:
- Unlawfully discriminate against a student on the basis of sex, race, creed, ethnicity, religion, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity, homelessness, immigration or citizenship status, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical, disability, nerodivergence, or in the use of a trained dog guide or service by a person with a disability is prohibited
- Deprive a student of the student’s constitutional right to freedom of speech and press, the constitutional right to peaceably assemble and to petition the government and its representatives for a redress of grievances, the constitutional right to the free exercise of religion and to have the student’s school free from sectarian control or influence, subject to the reasonable limitations upon the time, place, and manner of exercising the right
- Deprive a student of the student’s constitutional right to be secure in the student's 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 student's right to an equal educational opportunity, in whole or in part, by a school district without due process of the law
Student Responsibilities
The district’s student discipline policy and procedures are designed to provide students with a safe, healthy, and educationally sound environment. Students are expected to be aware of and comply with the policy and procedure, including behavioral expectations that respect the rights, and property of others. Students are also expected to pursue the required course of studies. Students and staff are expected to work together to develop a positive climate for learning.
Unless a student’s presence poses an immediate and continuing danger to others or an immediate and continuing threat to the educational process, staff members must first attempt one or more forms of other forms of discipline to support students in meeting behavioral expectations before imposing classroom exclusion.
Development and review
The district will develop and periodically review a discretionary and nondiscretionary discipline policy and procedure with the participation of school personnel, students, parents, families, and the community. During the development and review, the district must use disaggregated data collected under RCW 28A.300.042 to monitor the impact of the district’s policy, procedure, and practices and update its policy and procedure to improve fairness and equity in the administration of discipline.
Staff authority
District staff members are responsible for supervising students during the school day, during school activities, whether on or off campus, and on the school bus. Staff members will seek early involvement of parents in efforts to support students in meeting behavioral expectations. The Superintendent has general authority to administer discipline, including all exclusionary discipline. The Superintendent will identify other staff members to whom the Superintendent has designated disciplinary authority. After attempting at least one other form of discipline, teachers have statutory authority to impose classroom exclusion for behaviors that disrupt the educational process. Because perceptions of subjective behaviors vary and include implicit or unconscious bias, the accompanying procedures will seek to identify the types of behaviors for which the identified district staff may administer discipline.
Distribution of policies and procedures
The district will make the current version of this policy and procedures available to families and the community. The district will annually provide this policy and procedures to all district personnel, students, and parents, which may require language assistance for students, parents, and families with limited-English proficiency under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Cross References:
- 2121 - Substance Abuse Program
- 2161 - Special Education and Related Services for Eligible Students
- 2162 - Education of Students With Disabilities Under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
- 3122 - Excused and Unexcused Absences
- 3200 - Rights and Responsibilities
- 3210 - Nondiscrimination
- 3244 - Prohibition of Corporal Punishment
- 3520 - Student Fees, Fines, or Charges
- 3210 - Regulation of Dangerous Weapons on School Premises
- 4218 - Language Access Plan
Management Resources:
- 2019 - April Policy Alert
- 2010 - June Issue
- 2014 - August Issue
- 2014 - December Issue
- 2016 - July Policy Issue
- 2018 - August 2018 - August Policy Issue
Adoption Date: 06.03.03
Stanwood-Camano School District
Revision Date: 05.21.08; 06.17.08; 08.19.14; 09.02.14; 06.20.17;10.16.18; 08.06.19; 01.06.26