For Students

While the District fully supports the philosophy of a progressive discipline system, one in which corrective action will be determined by the nature and severity of the offense, the individual student involved, and the cumulative discipline record of that individual student, there are infractions which may require resorting to suspension or expulsion prior to other forms of discipline. Those infractions are labeled as ”Exceptional Misconduct.”

Exceptional Misconduct Defined

Exceptional Misconduct means misconduct, other than absenteeism, which a school district has judged to be so serious in nature and/or so serious in terms of the disruptive effect upon the operation of the schools as to warrant an immediate resort to suspension or expulsion. Forms of misconduct deemed to be ”Exceptional Misconduct” have been approved by the Board of Directors in consultation with an Ad Hoc Citizens Committee and have been marked with an asterisk (*) within this handbook. Additionally, those specific forms of exceptional misconduct are listed as follows:

Disruption of School/Disruption of the Educational Process
Damage or Destruction of School Property/Vandalism
Damage or Destruction of Private Property/Vandalism
Occupation of School Property
Fighting, Assault or Causing Physical Injury
Weapons and Dangerous Objects
Alcohol and Other Drugs
Harassment, All Forms
Sexual Harassment
Threats
Criminal Acts
False Alarms
Fire/Arson
Trespass
Explosive Devices
Gangs
Insubordination
Lewd Conduct
Reckless and Dangerous Driving

Discipline Defined

”Discipline” shall mean all forms of correction other than suspension and expulsion and shall include the exclusion of a student from a class by a teacher or administrator for a period of time not to exceed the balance of the immediate class, provided that the student is in the custody of a District employee for the balance of such period. Discipline shall also mean the exclusion of a student from any other type of activity conducted by, or on behalf of, the District.

No form of discipline shall be administered in such a manner as to prevent a student from accomplishing specific academic grade, subject or graduation requirements. A student’s academic grade or credit in a particular subject or course may be adversely affected by reason of tardiness or absences only to the extent and upon the basis that:

  1. The student’s attendance and/or participation is related to the instructional objectives or goals of the particular subject or course; and
  2. The student’s attendance and/or participation has been identified by the teacher pursuant to policy of the District as a basis for grading, in whole or in part, in the particular subject or course.

Corporal Punishment

Corporal punishment shall not be administered. Corporal punishment is defined as an act which willfully inflicts or willfully causes the infliction of physical pain on a student. Only reasonable and moderate force shall be applied to a student so as to maintain order or to prevent a student from harming him/herself, other students and school staff or property. The forms of discipline set forth below are not intended to exclude the imposition of other appropriate forms of disciplinary action.

Emergency Removal Defined

Notwithstanding any provision of this section to the contrary, each teacher is empowered to exclude any student who creates a disruption of the educational process in violation of the building disciplinary standards while under the teacher’s immediate supervision from his or her individual classroom and instructional or activity area for all or any portion of the balance of the school day or until the principal or designee and teacher have conferred, whichever occurs first: Provided, that except in emergency circumstances, the teacher shall have first attempted one or more alternative forms of corrective action; Provided, further, that in no event, without the consent of the teacher, shall an excluded student be returned during the balance of the particular class or activity period from which the student was initially excluded.

The principal or designated school authority shall meet with the student as soon as reasonably possible following the student’s removal and take or initiate appropriate corrective action. In no case shall the student’s opportunity for such meeting be delayed beyond commencement of the next school day.

Detention

Teachers and other certificated employees shall have the authority to detain students under their supervision for up to thirty (30) minutes after the regular hour for student dismissal. Detention will not extend beyond the time of departure of the bus upon which the student rides unless prior arrangements have been made with the student’s parents or legal guardian.

Suspension Defined

”Suspension” shall mean denial of the right of attendance (other than for the balance of the immediate class for ”discipline” purposes) at any single subject or class, or any full schedule of subjects or classes, for a stated period of time. A suspension also may include a denial of admission to, or entry upon, real and personal property that is owned or controlled by the District.

”Short-Term Suspension” shall mean a suspension for all or any portion of a calendar day up to and not exceeding ten (10) consecutive school days.

  1. No student in grades kindergarten through four shall be subject to a short-term suspension for more than a total of ten (10) school business days during any single semester and no loss of academic grades or credit shall be imposed by reason of the suspension of such a student.
  2. No student in the grade five and above program shall be subject to short-term suspensions for more than a total of fifteen (15) school days during any single semester, or ten (10) school days during any single trimester.
  3. Any student subject to a short-term suspension shall be provided the opportunity, upon return, to make up assignments and tests if:
    1. Such assignments or tests have a substantial effect upon the student’s semester or trimester grade or grades; or
    2. Failure to complete such assignments or tests would preclude the student from receiving credit for the course or courses.
  4. All short-term suspensions, and the reasons therefore, shall be reported, in writing, to the Superintendent or his/her designee within twenty-four (24) hours after the imposition of the suspension.

”Long-Term Suspension” shall mean a suspension which exceeds ten (10) consecutive school days.

  1. No student in grades kindergarten through four shall be subject to long-term suspension.
  2. No single long-term suspension shall be imposed upon a student in the grade five and above program, in a manner which causes the student to lose academic grades or credit in excess of one semester or trimester during the same school year.
  3. All long-term suspensions, and the reasons therefore, shall be reported, in writing, to the Superintendent or his/her designee within twenty-four (24) hours after the imposition of the suspension.

The nature and circumstances of the violation must be considered and must reasonably warrant a suspension and the length of the suspension imposed. No student is normally to be suspended unless other forms of corrective action or punishment reasonably calculated to modify his or her conduct have failed. PROVIDED, however, that a student may be subject to immediate short-term or long-term suspension if the act for which the student is to be suspended has been determined to be one of exceptional misconduct as defined in this section, and if such punishment is set forth in advance by the Board of Directors as appropriate to the type or seriousness of the infraction committed.

Disciplinarians and hearing officers are expressly granted authority by the Board of Directors to make judgments and to grant exceptions in exceptional misconduct cases where they feel there are compelling extenuating circumstances.

In addition to the alternative corrective action requirement the District must, prior to suspending or expelling a student for one or more unexcused absences, do the following:

  1. Following the first unexcused absence, provide written notice to the student’s parent or legal guardian, in English or in the primary language of such parent or legal guardian where possible, that the student has failed to attend school without valid justification.
  2. After two unexcused absences within any month, hold a conference between the student, parent/legal guardian and principal. At such a conference, consideration shall be given to: adjusting the student’s program, providing more individualized instruction, preparing the student for employment with appropriate vocational courses or work experience, transferring the student to another school, or assisting the student to obtain supplementary services that might eliminate or lessen the cause or causes for the absence from school.
  3. Not later than the student’s fifth unexcused absence in a month, enter into an agreement with the student and parent/legal guardian that establishes school attendance requirements and/or the filing of a petition and affidavit with the juvenile court alleging a violation of RCW 28A.225.010.
  4. If such action is not successful, file a petition for a hearing with the juvenile court alleging a violation of RCW 28A.225.010 by the parent/legal guardian, student, or parent/legal guardian and student upon the seventh unexcused absence within any month or the tenth unexcused absence during the school year.

Expulsion Defined

”Expulsion” shall mean the denial of the right of attendance at any single subject or class or any full schedule of subjects or classes, for an indefinite time period. An expulsion also may include a denial of admission to, or entry upon, real and personal property that is owned or controlled by the District.

The nature and circumstances of the violation must reasonably warrant the harshness of expulsion. No student shall be expelled unless other forms of corrective action or punishment reasonably calculated to modify his or her conduct have failed, or unless there is good reason to believe that other forms of corrective action or punishment would fail if employed. The requirements shall pertain with respect to expulsions for unexcused absences.

All recommendations of expulsion and the reasons therefore shall be reported, in writing, to the Superintendent or his/her designee within twenty-four (24) hours after the imposition of the expulsion.

Appropriate local and state authorities, including juvenile authorities, shall be notified of any expulsion in order that such authorities may address the student’s educational needs.

Emergency Expulsion Defined

”Emergency Expulsion” shall mean the immediate denial of the right of school attendance for a student prior to the opportunity for a hearing. An emergency expulsion may only be imposed if the expelling authority has good and sufficient reason to believe that the student is an immediate and continuing danger to the student, other students or school personnel, or an immediate and continuing threat of substantial disruption of the educational process. Such emergency expulsion shall continue until the student is reinstated by the expelling authority or until a hearing is held and a final determination reached.

Delegation of Authority to Suspend and Expel

The following District personnel are delegated the authority to suspend, expel or order the emergency expulsion of students subject to the right of any such student to a conference pursuant to the procedures accompanying this policy, procedures for short-term suspension, procedures for long-term suspension/expulsion: Superintendent, principals, assistant principals and any other certificated administrator to whom such authority has been delegated, in writing, by the Superintendent.

Procedures for Short-Term Suspension

A short-term suspension may be imposed upon a student by a designated school authority subject to the limitations and conditions set forth below, and those contained in Policy No. 3200.

Prior to the short-term suspension of any student, a conference shall be conducted with the student as follows:

In the event of a short-term suspension, the parent or legal guardian of the student shall be notified of the reason for the student’s suspension, and its duration, orally and/or by letter, deposited in the United States mail as soon as reasonably possible. The notice shall also inform the parent or legal guardian of the right to an information conference and that the suspension may possibly be reduced as a result of such conference.

Prodcedures for Long-Term Suspension and Expulsion

Notice: Except in the case of an emergency expulsion, no long-term suspension or expulsion may be imposed on a student until written notice thereof has been delivered in accordance with the following requirements.

District personnel authorized to suspend or expel students shall be responsible for the preparation and delivery of notices of suspension or expulsion.

Written notice of the suspension or expulsion shall be delivered to the student and to his/her parent or legal guardian by certified mail or in person. Such notice shall:

  1. Be provided in the predominant language of a student and/or a parent or legal guardian who predominantly speaks a language other than English, to the extent feasible;
  2. Specify the alleged misconduct and the District rule(s) alleged to have been violated;
  3. Set forth the corrective action or punishment proposed;
  4. Set forth the right of a student and/or the parent or legal guardian to a hearing for the purpose of contesting the allegation(s) and/or sanction; State that a written request for a hearing must be received by the designated school authority on or before the expiration of the third school business day• after the receipt of the notice of opportunity for a hearing and, further, that the right to a hearing may be deemed waived, and the proposed sanction imposed without further to contest the matter if such a request is not received within the prescribed period of time;
  5. Include a schedule of the school business days applicable to the exercise of the right to request such a hearing.

The student and/or the parent or legal guardian shall reply, in writing, to the notice within three (3) school business days of receipt, indicating whether a hearing will be requested.

If such a reply is not received within the three (3) school business day period, the student and the parent or legal guardian shall be deemed to have waived the right to a hearing and the proposed sanction shall take effect.

Special Notice Requirements for Emergency Expulsion

If an emergency expulsion has been imposed on a student, the notice requirements shall apply except as follows:

  1. The written notice of emergency expulsion shall be prepared and delivered to the student and parent or legal guardian within twenty-four (24) hours of such expulsion. In addition, reasonable attempts shall be made to notify the student and parent or legal guardian by telephone or in person as soon as reasonably possible.
  2. The student and parent or legal guardian shall have ten (10) school business days in which to reply, in writing, to the notice of opportunity for a hearing.