Behavior, Weapons, HIB and Unexcused Absence Report Marilyn Walsh

What is Required State and federal law require each public school district, and each approved private school to report to the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) by the last work day in July , all known incidents involving the possession of weapons on school premises, transportation systems, or in areas of facilities while being used exclusively by public or private schools. In addition, public school districts are required by Title IV (Safe and Drug-Free Schools) and by Title IX (Unsafe School Choice Option) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) to report the number of suspensions and expulsions for specific types of student behaviors.

2015-2016 Weapons Report for Sequim Schools Knife or Dagger ‘Other Weapons’ Grade 4 1 Grade 6 Grade 7 Grade 8 3 Grade 10 2 All 9 incidents resulted in suspensions, no expulsions.

Comparison with previous years 2014-2015 School year ‘Other’ Firearms Knife or Dagger ‘Other’ Weapons Grade 2 1 Grade 5 Grade 7 Grade 10 3 Grade 11 Grade 12 10 incidents resulting in 8 suspensions and 2 expulsions

Comparison with previous years 2013-2014 School year ‘Other’ Firearms Knife or Dagger ‘Other’ Weapons Grade 8 1 Grade 9 2 3 incidents resulting in 2 suspensions and 1 expulsion 2012-2013 School Year Knife or Dagger Grade 3 1 Grade 5 Grade 11 2 Grade 12 5 incidents resulting in 5 suspensions and no expulsions

Behavior Incidents for the 2015-2016 School Year Grade 2 Grade 4 Grade 5 Grade 6 Grade 7 Grade 8 Grade 9 Grade 10 Grade 11 Grade 12 Bullying 3 1 Tobacco 2 Alcohol Marijuana Illicit Drug Fighting w/o Major Injury 4 Violence w/o Major Injury 5 Violence w/injury Other Behavior 8 12 7 6 97 incidents resulting in 97 suspensions and 0 expulsions

Changes on the Horizon Dissemination of Policies Districts must annually disseminate discipline policies and procedures to “students, families, and the community.” Monitoring Districts must use disaggregated data to “monitor the impact” of the district’s discipline policies and procedures Reviewing and updating of policies Districts must periodically “review and update” their discipline rules, policies and procedures “in consultation with staff, students, families and the community.” “Discretionary Discipline” Long-term (exceeding ten school days) suspension and expulsion cannot be imposed as a form of “discretionary discipline.” There are only certain offenses for which long-term suspension and expulsion can be imposed.

Changes Continued Length of LTS/Expulsion Any long-term suspension or expulsion, if imposed as a form of discretionary discipline, must have an end date of not more than the length of an academic term Exceptional Misconduct prior to imposing discipline for an exceptional misconduct offense, districts will need to decide whether the offense falls within the new definition of “discretionary discipline.” If it does, long-term suspension and expulsion are NOT permitted. Educational Services Districts must “provide an opportunity for a student to receive educational services during a period of suspension or expulsion.” Reengagement Districts must convene a reengagement meeting with the student and the parents/guardians within twenty (20) days of the imposition of the suspension or expulsion.

Changes Continued Training The new law provides that districts should provide trainings to all school and district staff interacting with students following any substantive change to the school discipline policy and procedure. All of these changes are addressed in Updates to Policy #3240 – Student Conduct Expectations and Reasonable Sanctions, and Policy #3241 – Classroom Management, Discipline and Corrective Action, which were introduced tonight.

Changes on the Horizon Districts must now attempt to address the root causes of truancy, usually trauma caused by physical or sexual abuse or other incidents of violence or neglect. Upon enrollment, as well as at the beginning of each school year, districts must inform students and their parents of the benefits of regular school attendance and the consequences of truancy, the district’s role in responding to truancy, and resources available to assist the student and their parents in correcting truancy. The district is also required to make the information available online and in languages parents can understand. The process now requires dated acknowledgement by parents that the information has been reviewed.

Changes Continued As a first intervention, after the requisite statutory number of absences, districts must refer the student to a community truancy board. This is a joint venture between the district and its local juvenile court in which volunteers undergo significant training on the Washington Assessment of Risks and Needs of Students, interventions and community resources, in order to address the trauma experienced by the habitual truants who come before them. Districts must establish these community truancy board with their local courts with a Memorandum of Understanding. All of these changes are addressed in Updates to Policy #3122 – Excused and Unexcused Absences, which was introduced tonight.

Questions?