Policy No. 3241

Section: 3000 - Students

 

STUDENT DISCIPLINE

Introduction/Philosophy/Purpose

The board focuses on the educational achievement of every student. The district holds high expectations for all students and gives all students the opportunity to achieve personal and academic success. The board intends that this policy and procedure be implemented in a manner that supports a positive school climate, maximizes instructional time, and increases equitable educational opportunities.

The purposes of this policy and accompanying procedure include:

1. Engaging with school personnel, students, parents, families, and the community in decisions related to the development and implementation of discipline policies and procedures.
2. Supporting students in meeting behavioral expectations, including providing for early involvement of parents and families.
3. Administering discipline in ways that respond to the needs and strengths of students and keep students in the classroom to the maximum extent possible.
4. Providing educational services that students need to complete their education without disruption.
5. Facilitating collaboration between school personnel, students, parents, and families to support successful reentry into the classroom following a suspension or expulsion.
6. Ensuring fairness, equity, and due process in the administration of discipline.
7. Implementing culturally responsive discipline that provides every student the opportunity to achieve personal and academic success.
8. Providing a safe environment for all students and for district employees.

 

Rights and Responsibilities 

The district will observe students’ fundamental rights and will administer discipline in a manner that does not:

1. Unlawfully discriminate against a student on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal.
2. 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 reasonable limitations upon the time, place, and manner of exercising the right.
3. 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.
4. Unlawfully interfere in a student's pursuit of an education while in the custody of the school district; or
5. 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 law.

This district’s student discipline policy and procedure is designed to provide students with a safe, healthy, and educationally sound environment. Students are expected to be aware of and comply with this policy and procedure, including behavioral expectations that respect the rights, person, and property of others. Students are also expected to pursue the required courses of study. Students and staff are expected to work together to develop a positive climate for learning.

 

Development and review

Accurate and complete reporting of all disciplinary actions, including the associated student-level information and behavioral violations, is essential for effective review of this policy; therefore, the district will ensure such reporting.

The district will collect data on disciplinary actions administered in each school, as required by RCW 28A.300.042, and any additional data required under other district policies and procedures.

School principals will confer with certificated building employees at least annually to review the district’s discipline standards and review the fidelity of their implementation.

School principals will ensure teachers and other school personnel receive adequate support to effectively implement a continuum of identified best practices and strategies that:

1. Focus on prevention to reduce the use of exclusionary discipline practices;
2. Allow the exercise of professional judgment and skill sets; and
3. May be adapted to individual student needs in a culturally responsive manner.

School principals will confer with certificated building employees at least annually to establish criteria for when certificated employees must complete classes to improve classroom management skills.

The district will periodically review and further develop this policy and procedure with the participation of school personnel, students, parents, families, and the community. As part of this development and review process, the district will use disaggregated data collected under RCW 28A.300.042 to monitor the impact of student discipline practices as well as to improve fairness and equity in the administration of student discipline.

 

Distribution of policies and procedures

The district will make the current version of this policy and procedure available to families and the community. The district will annually provide this policy and procedure to all district personnel, students, parents, and families, which may require language assistance for students and parents with limited-English proficiency under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

The district will ensure district employees and contractors are knowledgeable of this student discipline policy and procedure.

 

Application

This policy and accompanying procedure will be construed in a manner consistent with Washington law as stated in WAC 392-400-020.

 

Cross References:

2121	Substance Abuse Program
2161	Special Education and Related Services for Eligible Students
2162	Education of Students with Disabilities under Section 504
3122	Excused and Unexcused Absences
3210	Nondiscrimination
3244	Prohibition of Corporal Punishment
3520	Student Fees, Fines, or Charges
4210	Regulation of Dangerous Weapons on School Premises
4218	Language Access

 

Legal References:

42 U.S.C. 2000d et seq. Civil Rights Act of 1964

34 CFR Part 100.3 Regulations implementing Civil Rights Act of 1964

Chapter 392-400, WAC Pupils

WAC 392-190-048 Access to course offerings—Student discipline

Chapter 28A.320, RCW Provisions applicable to all districts

Chapter 28A.600 RCW, Students

RCW 28A.400.110 Principal to assure appropriate student discipline—Building discipline standards—Classes to improve classroom management skills

RCW 28A.400.100 Principals and vice principals—Employment of—Qualifications—Duties

Chapter 28A.225 RCW Compulsory school attendance and admission

RCW 28A.150.240 Certificated teaching and administrative staff as accountable for classroom teaching—Scope—Responsibilities—Penalty

RCW 9.41.280 Possessing dangerous weapons on school facilities—Penalty—Exceptions

 

Management Resources:

2010 - June Issue

2014 - August Issue

2014 - December Issue

2016 - July Policy Issue

2018 - August 2018 - August Policy Issue

2019 - April Policy Alert

 

 

Adopted: February 22, 2010

Amended: August 26, 2013

Amended: February 9, 2015

Amended: June 10, 2019

Amended: December 9, 2024