Sierra County/Sierra-Plumas Joint USD
Board Policy
Discipline

BP 5144 
Students

The Board of Education is committed to providing a safe, supportive, and positive school environment which is conducive to student learning and to preparing students for responsible citizenship by fostering self-discipline and personal responsibility.  The Board believes that high expectations for student behavior, use of effective school and classroom management strategies, provision of appropriate intervention and support, and parent involvement can minimize the need for disciplinary measures that exclude students from instruction as a means for correcting student misbehavior.

(cf. 5131 - Conduct)
(cf. 5131.1 - Bus Conduct)
(cf. 5131.2 - Bullying)
(cf. 5137 - Positive School Climate)
(cf. 5138 - Conflict Resolution/Peer Mediation)
(cf. 5145.9 - Hate-Motivated Behavior)
(cf. 6020 - Parent Involvement)

The Superintendent or designee shall design a complement of effective, age-appropriate strategies for maintaining a positive school climate and correcting student misbehavior at district schools. The strategies shall focus on providing students with needed supports; communicating clear, appropriate, and consistent expectations and consequences for student conduct; and ensuring equity and continuous improvement in the implementation of district discipline policies and practices.

In addition, the Superintendent or designee's strategies shall reflect the Board's preference for the use of positive interventions and alternative disciplinary measures over exclusionary discipline measures as a means for correcting student misbehavior.

Disciplinary measures that may result in loss of instructional time or cause students to be disengaged from school, such as detention, suspension, and expulsion, shall be imposed only when required by law or when other means of correction have been documented to have failed.  (Education Code 48900.5)

(cf. 5020 - Parent Rights and Responsibilities)
(cf. 5144.1 - Suspension and Expulsion/Due Process)
(cf. 5144.2 - Suspension and Expulsion/Due Process (Students with Disabilities))
(cf. 6159.4 - Behavioral Interventions for Special Education Students)
(cf. 6164.5 - Student Success Teams)

The administrative staff at each school may develop disciplinary rules to meet the school's particular needs consistent with law, Board policy, and district regulations.  The Board, at an open meeting, shall review the approved school discipline rules for consistency with Board policy and state law. Site-level disciplinary rules shall be included in the district's comprehensive safety plan.  (Education Code 35291.5, 32282)

(cf. 0450 - Comprehensive Safety Plan)
(cf. 9320 - Meetings and Notices)

At all times, the safety of students and staff and the maintenance of an orderly school environment shall be priorities in determining appropriate discipline.  When misconduct occurs, staff shall attempt to identify the causes of the student's behavior and implement appropriate discipline.  When choosing between different disciplinary strategies, staff shall consider the effect of each option on the student's health, well-being, and opportunity to learn.

Staff shall enforce disciplinary rules fairly, consistently, and in accordance with the district's nondiscrimination policies.

(cf. 0410 - Nondiscrimination in District Programs and Activities)
(cf. 5145.3 - Nondiscrimination/Harassment)
(cf. 5145.7 - Sexual Harassment)

The Superintendent or designee shall provide professional development as necessary to assist staff in developing the skills needed to effectively implement the disciplinary strategies adopted for district schools, including, but not limited to, consistent school and classroom management skills, effective accountability and positive intervention techniques, and development of strong, cooperative relationships with parents/guardians.

(cf. 4131 - Staff Development)
(cf. 4231 - Staff Development)
(cf. 4331 - Staff Development)

District goals for improving school climate, based on suspension and expulsion rates, surveys of students, staff, and parents/guardians regarding their sense of school safety, and other local measures, shall be included in the district's local control and accountability plan, as required by law.

(cf. 0460 - Local Control and Accountability Plan)
(cf. 3100 - Budget)

At the beginning of each school year, the Superintendent or designee shall report to the Board regarding disciplinary strategies used in district schools in the immediately preceding school year and their effect on student learning.

Legal Reference:
EDUCATION CODE
32280-32288  School safety plans
35146  Closed sessions
35291  Rules
35291.5-35291.7  School-adopted discipline rules
37223  Weekend classes
44807.5  Restriction from recess
48900-48926  Suspension and expulsion
48980-48985  Notification of parent/guardian
49330-49335  Injurious objects
52060-52077  Local control and accountability plan
CIVIL CODE
1714.1  Parental liability for child's misconduct
CODE OF REGULATIONS, TITLE 5
307  Participation in school activities until departure of bus
353  Detention after school

Management Resources:
CSBA PUBLICATIONS
Providing a Safe, Nondiscriminatory School Environment for Transgender and Gender-Nonconforming Students, Policy Brief, February 2014
Safe Schools:  Strategies for Governing Boards to Ensure Student Success, 2011
Maximizing Opportunities for Physical Activity during the School Day, Fact Sheet, 2009
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION PROGRAM ADVISORIES
Classroom Management: A California Resource Guide for Teachers and Administrators of Elementary and Secondary Schools, 2000
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION POLICIES
01-02 School Safety, Discipline, and Attendance, March 2001
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS PUBLICATIONS
Dear Colleague Letter on the Nondiscriminatory Administration of School Discipline, January 2014
WEB SITES
CSBA: http://www.csba.org
California Department of Education:  http://www.cde.ca.gov
Public Counsel:  http://www.fixschooldiscipline.org
U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr

	SIERRA-PLUMAS JOINT UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
Policy	SIERRA COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION
adopted:  April 10, 2007	Loyalton, California
revised:  May 10, 2011
revised:  April 9, 2013
revised:  May 13, 2014