JDD

File: JDD (pdf)
Adopted: prior to 1969
Revised: August 27, 1992, June 22, 2000, June 9, 2020

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STUDENT DISCIPLINE

The purpose of disciplining students is to assist the student in recognizing misconduct and to allow other students to learn in an atmosphere which is safe, conducive to the learning process, and free from unnecessary disruption. Student discipline is to be achieved through collaboration, respectful dialogue, awareness of cultural differences and respect built upon trusted relationships rather than through autocratic force which is only a one-way form of communication. Daily recognition of the fact that students are entitled to full consideration as human beings is an expectation of the Board, and one embraced by our Superintendent. This policy acknowledges that there are few children who will not respond favorably to fair and honest treatment. Treatment, in this context, must also include mature allowances for vulnerable students, an awareness of special needs and the desire to build relationships through every interaction and learning opportunity.

Proportionate disciplinary interventions and consequences shall be imposed to address the student's misconduct and maintain a safe and supportive learning environment for students and staff. School administrators shall consider violations of this policy provision on a case-by-case basis to determine what disciplinary action is appropriate based upon the individual facts and circumstances involved. It is important for students to see a path back from involvement with school discipline processes.

Wherever possible, the student’s behavior will be dealt with in the classroom. When the behavior of a student suggests the need for improvement, the teacher shall first discuss the matter with the student, at which time all the facts should be obtained and a decision reached about the best way to improve future behavior. When serious problems arise or when misbehavior persists, the teacher and/or principal shall arrange a student-parent/guardian conference with the principal or other administrator. The Board encourages schools to accommodate parent/guardian scheduling requests to the fullest extent possible in order to facilitate home and school collaboration.

The Board encourages the use of non-exclusionary discipline, wherever possible, with a focus on restoring relationships in the school setting and returning the student’s focus to learning. The use of interventions will vary, depending upon the facts and circumstances of an individual case. Such interventions shall be at the principal's or designee's sole discretion and include but are not limited to: use of positive behavioral intervention supports, counseling, participation in restorative justice, peer mediation, detention, in-school suspension, referral to a juvenile assessment center for counseling or other services, or other approaches to  address the student's misconduct that do not involve an out-of-school suspension or expulsion and minimize the student's exposure to the criminal and juvenile justice system.

In implementing the Conduct and Discipline Code, each school must also show due consideration of the impact of certain violations of the code upon victims of such violations, in accordance with the provisions of Title IX of the United States Code and other state and federal laws. Parents/guardians/students who allege unlawful discrimination or harassment in a discipline decision may initiate a complaint under Board Policy AC, Nondiscrimination/ Equal Opportunity. In all other circumstances, parents/guardians/students may seek review of a discipline decision pursuant to Board Policy KE, Complaints and Concerns.

Recordkeeping

The District shall maintain adequate records documenting the circumstances leading to discipline, especially exclusionary discipline of students. For students who bring weapons to school, the documentation must include the name of the school, the number of students expelled and the types of weapons involved as required by law.

Reports

The principals of each school in the School District shall submit annual written reports to the Board of Education concerning the learning environment in their schools each school year, as required by law. Each principal's report shall include (1) the total enrollment for the school; (2) the average daily attendance rate at the school; (3) dropout rates for grades seven through twelve, if such grades are taught at the school; and (4) the number of conduct and discipline code violations broken down as to type of violation and type of discipline, as required by law.

The Board of Education shall annually compile the principals' reports from each school in the District and submit its compiled report to the Colorado Department of Education and other government agencies as required by law. The Board's compiled report shall also include the average size of each school in the District, calculated as the total number of students enrolled in the school divided by the number of full-time teachers in the school. The Board's compiled report shall also be made available to the general public, but not in such a way as to disclose confidential personally identifiable student information in violation of state or federal law.

 

LEGAL REFS.:

C.R.S. § 22-32-109.1 (2)(a) (adoption and enforcement of conduct and discipline code)
C.R.S. § 22-32-109.1 (9) (immunity provisions in safe schools law)
C.R.S. § 22-33-105 (suspension, expulsion and denial of admission)
C.R.S. § 22-33-106 (1) (grounds for suspension, expulsion and denial of admission)

CROSS REFS.:

AC, Nondiscrimination/Equal Opportunity
GBEA, Staff Protection
IGBA, Special Education Programs for Students with Disabilities
JB, Equal Educational Opportunities
All JD and JR policies, Student Conduct and Discipline Code
KE, Complaints and Concerns