DISCIPLINE

 

 

STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT

 

            The School Board recognizes the necessity for reasonable control and discipline over the conduct of students under its jurisdiction.

            Principals shall have both the authority and the duty to take disciplinary action whenever the behavior of any student(s) materially interferes with or substantially disrupts the maintenance of a proper atmosphere for learning within the classroom or other parts of the school.

 

SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS – DISCIPLINE

 

            For removals from current educational placement of one to ten days, students with disabilities and students with suspected disabilities may e removed in accordance with the discipline policies for non-disabled students.

If a student with disabilities or suspected of having disabilities is removed for more than ten consecutive days, or when a pattern of removals cumulating to 10 schooldays has occurred, or upon the fourth suspension, the IEP Team must determine if the student’s behavior was a manifestation of the disability.

School personnel may order additional removals of not more than 10 cumulative days in the same school year for separate incidents of misconduct as long as the removals do not constitute a change of placement.

School personnel may remove a student with a disability to an appropriate interim alternative education setting (IAES) for the same amount of time a student without a disability would be subject to discipline, but for not more than 45 days, if the student caries a weapon to school or to a school function under the jurisdiction of the State or Tangipahoa Parish School System; or the student knowingly possesses or uses illegal drugs or sells or solicits the sale of a controlled substance while at school or a school function under the jurisdiction of the State or Tangipahoa Parish School System.        A State Hearing Officer, in an expedited due process hearing, may order a change of placement to an appropriate interim alternative education setting (IAES) for not more than 45 days if the hearing officer:

  1. determines that the Tangipahoa Parish School System has demonstrated by substantial evidence that maintaining the current placement of the student is likely to result in injury to the student or to others.
  2. considers the appropriateness of the current IEP.
  3. considers whether the Tangipahoa Parish School System has made reasonable efforts to minimize the risk of harm in the student’s current placement including supplementary aids and services.
  4. Determines that the interim alternative setting that is proposed by school personnel in consultation with the student’s special education teachers, meets IAES requirements.

Whenever an action involving a removal that constitutes a change of placement for a student with a disability is contemplated, a functional behavior assessment, behavioral intervention, an IEP, and a manifestation determination review is required.  If the results of the manifestation determination review is that the behavior of the student with a disability was not a manifestation of the student’s disability, the relevant disciplinary procedures, applicable to students without disabilities, may be applied to the student in the same manner in which they would be applied to students without disabilities except that Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) will be provided and educational services will not cease.

      If the misconduct is a manifestation of the student’s disability, Tangipahoa Parish School System personnel shall not remove the student form school.  The IEP Team must consider modifications to the student’s program, IEP and/or Behavior Modification Plan.

            In-school suspensions in which a student’s IEP is being implemented are not considered removals from a student’s current educational setting.  All other removals, whether to an alternative school or homebound, are considered changes in placement, regardless of whether the student’s IEP is being implemented in the alternative setting.

 

Ref. LA. Regulations for Implementation of the Children with Exceptionalities Act

(R.S. 17:1941 et seq.) Title 28, Part XLIII.

Bulletin 1706

Subpart A – Regulations for Students with Disabilities

 

INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT ASSERTIVE DISCIPLINE PLAN

 

      The Tangipahoa Parish School Board mandates that each school establishes a schoolwide Assertive Discipline Plan with specific stated goals.

      The goal of a schoolwide Assertive Discipline Plan is to develop a systematic consistent way in which to deal with discipline problems throughout the school.  To accomplish this goal there must be a two-sided effort from the staff:

1.      Every teacher will develop and post a classroom plan, i.r. a set of rules, rewards, and consequences that are in effect at all times in his or her classroom. (Plan shall have prior approval of principal.)

2.      There must also be a schoolwide plan that governs student behavior in all of the common areas in the school.

3.      School rules must be posted in all common areas.

 

ADMINSTRATOR’S ASSERTIVE DISCIPLINE LADDER

 

            The School Board has implemented the Assertive Discipline Plan for the treatment of students who violate school rules.  Before a student is referred to the administrator for a violation of classroom rules, five steps designated by the classroom teacher will be followed in order to correct the student’s discipline problem.

STEP I:

  1. The assertive Discipline Policy will be reviewed with each student.  The student will be directed to inform his/her parents.  The school has the option of sending a copy of the Assertive Discipline Policy to each parent.
  2. Corporal Punishment or alternative program.

STEP II:

  1. Contact parents by telephone or mail.
  2. Corporal punishment, alternative program or suspension for one (1) day.
  3. Parent conference – optional

STEP III:

  1. Contact parent by telephone or mail.
  2. Corporal punishment, alternative program, or suspension for three (3) days.
  3. The principal may require a parent conference before the student can return to school.  A student will be allowed to make up any work missed as a result of the parent’s failure to attend the conference.

STEP IV:

  1. Contact parent by telephone or mail.
  2. Suspension, five (5) days.
  3. Parents to accompany student back to school for conference with principal.

STEP V:

  1. Contact parent by telephone or mail.
  2. Suspension, five (5) days.
  3. Principal or designee will schedule a conference prior to the student’s return to school.

STEP VI:

  1. Contact parent by telephone or mail.
  2. Suspended until a due process hearing for expulsion is held with the Superintendent’s designee.
  3. A student may be recommended for expulsion at any time if the administrator feels the student’s actions warrant such recommendation.

Students committing the following offences may receive the corresponding disciplinary actions:

 

OFFENSES                                                                                  DISPOSITION

A.

1.  Assault                                                                                      Step VI

2.  Possession of a weapon with intent to use                                   Step VI

3.  Possession of a firearm                                                  Step VI

4.  Distribution, use, and possession of drugs and/or alcohol            Step VI

5.  Inciting a riot                                                                              Step VI

6.  Molesting students, immoral/indecent behavior,

           sexual harassment                                                                Step VI

7.   Verbal abuse of any school system employee                Step VI

8.    Possession of beepers, pagers, cellular phones,

         walkie-talkies or other communication devices                        Step VI

9.  Promoting gang membership and/or activities                  Step VI

B.

1.  Extortion                                                                                   Steps II-V

2.  Verbal Abuse                                                                            Steps II-V

3.  Possession of a weapon (other than a firearm)                Steps II-VI

C.

1.      Fighting – student provoking a fight Refer to Zero Tolerance Policy.

    1. 1 on 1
    2. 2 or more on 1
    3. use of object

D.

1.    Vandalism (to include restitution)                            Steps I-III

2.    Possessions or use of tobacco on school grounds   Steps II-IV

3.    Profane language                                                               Steps I-III

4.    Stealing (to include restitution)                                            Steps II-IV

5.    Possession of pornographic material                                   Steps I-III

E.

1.    Disrespect for authority                                                      Steps I-VI

2.    Threatening                                                                        Steps I-IV

3.    Disobedience                                                                     Steps I-IV

4.    Classroom disturbance                                                       Steps I-IV

5.    Gambling                                                                           Steps II-IV

6.    Leaving Campus                                                                Steps II-IV

7.    Cutting Class                                                                     Steps I-II

8.    Tardiness                                                                           Steps I-IV

9.    Truancy                                                                             Steps II-IV

10.  Respect Law                                                                     Steps II, 1