1. Student Discipline Reporting
Marilyn Watson
Program Manager, Safe and Drug-Free Schools
Jeff Hodges
Program Specialist, Safe and Drug-Free Schools
8/23/2019

2. U.S. Departments of Justice and Education Dear Colleague Letter
Explains nondiscrimination requirements under Titles IV and VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and reminds schools of their legal obligations to administer student discipline without discriminating on the basis of race, color or national origin
Explains what OCR will do when it receives a complaint or begins a compliance review related to discrimination in the administration of student discipline, and outlines the legal framework and approach OCR will follow in its investigation
8/23/2019

3. U.S. Departments of Justice and Education Dear Colleague Letter
Urges school districts to evaluate their discipline policies, practices and procedures to ensure they are fair and applied equally to all students
Provides recommendations to assist schools in the fair and equitable administration of student discipline
8/23/2019

4. What is the New Discipline Matrix
Serves as a guidance tool for school systems
May be aligned with student codes of conduct
Discipline Matrix includes:
New Discipline Incident Types (effective )
Updated definitions to provide more clarity
Specific examples
Three-tiered discipline incident severity levels (effective )
8/23/2019

5. Rationale Improve Data Accuracy and Reliability
Improve Transparency in Data Reporting
Address Concerns about the Disproportionate Use of Discipline Actions
Improve Ambiguous Categorical Definitions and the Correlation Between Discipline Incidents and Discipline Actions
8/23/2019

6. Data Reporting Resources
Discipline Matrix Rationale
Discipline Matrix
Discipline Matrix Quick Reference Guide
New Guidelines for Reporting Discipline Data Webinar
8/23/2019

7. Implementation Timeline
Fall 2012:
Request for comments from Superintendents on new discipline matrix
Training / Webinar – Archived online for future reference
Spring 2013:
Mandatory Reporting: New incidents and actions for school year
Optional Reporting: Severity levels for the school year
Summer 2013:
RESA and/or site-based training session on severity levels
Data Collections Conference Training and Discussion
Fall 2013:
Full implementation of severity levels
8/23/2019

8. Discipline Action Type
Detention- Disciplinary action consisting of the assignment of students to a certain area of the school outside of regular school hours (before school, after school, on a non-school day) for two days or the equivalent hours.
Does not include lunch-based detention or any single day detention.
May include Saturday school detention so long as the single Saturday school detention is the equivalent to two regular day detention periods.
8/23/2019

9. Updated Discipline Action Type
ISS- Temporary removal of a student from his or her regular classroom(s) for at least half a school day. Student remains under the direct supervision of school personnel.  (Direct supervision means school personnel are physically in the same location as students under their supervision.)
Provisions for Special Education / IEPs
8/23/2019

10. Discipline Incident Types
Other - Attendance-Related (30)
Repeated or excessive unexcused absences or tardies; including failure to report to class, skipping class, leaving school without authorization, or failure to comply with disciplinary sanctions.
Other - Dress Code Violation (31)
Violation of school dress code that includes standards for appropriate school attire.
8/23/2019

11. Discipline Incident Types
Other - Student Incivility (33)-
Insubordination or disrespect to staff members or other students; Includes but is not limited to refusal to follow school staff member instructions, use of vulgar or inappropriate language, and misrepresentation of the truth.
Other - Possession of Unapproved Items (34)-
The use or possession of any unauthorized item disruptive to the school environment.
8/23/2019

12. Discipline Incident Types
Academic Dishonesty (32)
Receiving or providing unauthorized assistance on classroom assessments and assignments.
Gang-Related (35)
Any group of three or more persons with a common name or common identifying signs, symbols, tattoos, graffiti, or attire which engage in criminal gang activity (O.C.G.A. § ).
Repeated Offense (36)
Collection of offenses not previously assigned a state reportable action that occurs on a single or across multiple school days that leads to a state reportable disciplinary action.
8/23/2019

13. Reporting “Other” Incidents
Treated the same as “Other Incident” (24) and only reported with a state reportable action.
Should not increase number of reported incidents as these incidents were reported in prior years as incident type 24 and a state reported action.
Reporting Non-“Other” Incidents
Academic Dishonesty (32), Gang-Related, (35) and Repeated Offenses (36), should be treated as state reportable incidents regardless of action type .
8/23/2019

14. Repeated Offenses vs. Continuation of Incident
Collection of offenses not previously assigned a state reportable action that occurs on a single or across multiple school days that leads to a state reportable disciplinary action.
Repeated offenses under same incident type should be reported at Level 3 if guidance provided. If no guidance then report under Repeated Offenses.
Continuation of Incidents
Multiple actions for a single incident
8/23/2019

15. Discipline Reporting and USCO
USCO is Separate Collection from Student Discipline
Focuses primarily on violent crimes.
USCO offenses must occur on school property or at a school-sponsored activity.
USCO data is based on official tribunals, hearings conducted by a disciplinary hearing officer, and official actions of the local board of education (instead of court proceedings).
Definitions are different
Battery (Student Discipline) vs. Aggravated Battery (USCO)
Robbery (Student Discipline) vs. Armed Robbery (USCO)
Threat / Intimidation (Student Discipline) vs. Terroristic Threat (USCO)
8/23/2019

16. USCO Offenses Aggravated Battery Aggravated Child Molestation
Aggravated Sexual Battery
Aggravated Sodomy
Armed Robbery
Arson
Kidnapping
Murder
Rape
Voluntary Manslaughter
Non-felony Drugs*
Felony Drugs*
Felony Weapons*
Terroristic Threats*
GaDOE USCO Webpage
8/23/2019

17. Response to Questions / Clarification
Intentional vs. Unintentional
Local decision on intent.
Questions on Public Displays of Affection (PDA)
Removed from Level 1 Sexual Offenses
Questions Thus Far……
8/23/2019

18. Examples and discussion…
Local Code Mapping
Examples and discussion…
8/23/2019

19. Disorderly Conduct Other/disruptive behavior Bus conduct violation
Inciting prohibited behaviors
Classroom disruption
General bus misbehavior
Behavior detrimental to learning
Behavior that endangers others (level 3)
Disruption of school operations
General disruption of school environment
8/23/2019

20. Other - Student Incivility
Disrespectful conduct
Insubordination, blatant disrespect
Insubordinate conduct
Profanity
Giving false/misleading information
Other – disrespect/defiance
Profane/vulgar/obscene/ insulting act
Other – giving false information
Failure to report event to teacher/administrator
Other – profanity
Refusal to do classwork
Disrespect
Willful and persistent disobedience
Inappropriate behavior or comments
8/23/2019

21. Other - Attendance Related
Tardies
Leaving campus without authorization
Truancy
Leaving class without authorization
Failure to serve detention
Refusal to serve ISS
Failure to serve Saturday School
Skipping class
Skipping school
8/23/2019

22. Other – Possession of Unapproved Items
Possession/use electronic or communication device
Use/display of cell phone or pager
Possession/use/exchange of items inappropriate for school
8/23/2019

23. Reporting Examples
8/23/2019

24. Example #1
A student uses a school computer to change his grade in Language Arts from an F to C. How would you code this incident??
Student Incivility
Computer Trespassing
Academic Dishonesty
Non-State Reportable Offense
8/23/2019

25. Example #2
A student is referred to the office for making a sexually explicit comment about a girl’s breast size. How would you code this incident??
Sexual Offenses
Sexual Harassment
Disorderly Conduct
Non-State Reportable Offense
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
8/23/2019

26. Example #2 – v2
A student is referred to the office for making a sexually explicit comment about a girl’s breast size and touches them. How would you code this incident??
Sexual Offenses
Sexual Harassment
Disorderly Conduct
Non-State Reportable Offense
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
8/23/2019

27. This would be coded as an USCO violation:
Example #3
A student brings a knife to school and uses it to steal another student’s lunch. How would you code this incident??
Threat / Intimidation
Robbery
Weapon - Knife
Non-State Reportable Offense
This would be coded as an USCO violation:
Armed Robbery
8/23/2019

28. Example #4
A student enters a locked classroom and steals a class calculator (worth approx. $10.00). How would you code this incident??
Larceny / Theft
Breaking and Entering / Burglary
Robbery
Non-State Reportable Offense
8/23/2019

29. Example #4 v2
A student enters a unlocked classroom and steals a class calculator (worth approx. $10.00). How would you code this incident??
Larceny / Theft
Breaking and Entering / Burglary
Robbery
Non-State Reportable Offense
8/23/2019

30. Example #5 Student Incivility Disorderly Conduct
A student takes Ritalin for ADHD. His medication is kept at his school and the school nurse distributes the medicine to him. Today his Mother put his medication in his book bag, because he is going to spend the night with a friend. The medication falls out of his book bag. How would you code this incident??
Student Incivility
Disorderly Conduct
Drugs – Except Alcohol and Tobacco
Non-State Reportable Offense
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
8/23/2019

31. Example #5 v2 Student Incivility Disorderly Conduct
A student takes Ritalin for ADHD. His medication is kept at his school and the school nurse distributes the medicine to him. Today his Mother put his medication in his book bag, because he is going to spend the night with a friend. The medication falls out of his book bag and he gives one of the pills to his friend. How would you code this incident??
Student Incivility
Disorderly Conduct
Drugs – Except Alcohol and Tobacco
Non-State Reportable Offense
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
8/23/2019

32. Example #6
A student sent to the office for verbally threatening harm to another student for a second time this semester. How would you code this incident?
Threat & Intimidation
Disorderly Conduct
Bullying
Non-State Reportable Offense
8/23/2019

33. Example #6 v2
A student sent to the office for verbally threatening harm to another student for a third or fourth time this semester. How would you code this incident?
Threat & Intimidation
Disorderly Conduct
Bullying
Non-State Reportable Offense
8/23/2019

34. Example #7
A student brings a lighter to school buried within his pocket and another student sees it and tells the teacher. How is this incident coded??
Arson
Weapon - Other
Possession of Unapproved Item
Non-State Reportable Offense
8/23/2019

35. Uses of Discipline Data
8/23/2019

36. Uses of Discipline Data
Accountability – CCRPI
School Climate Rating
Weighted Suspension Rate
Prediction models and data audits
CSPR Annual Disciplinary Reports
Legislative Reporting
External Requests for Data
8/23/2019

37. School Climate Star Rating Components: Student Discipline
Any # of ISS: pts.
1 – 2 OSS: pts.
3 – 4 OSS: pts.
5 - 9 OSS: pts.
10+ OSS pts.
Alternative School Assignment 6.00 pts.
(for disciplinary reasons only)
Expulsion pts.
8/23/2019

38. QUESTIONS?? Marilyn Watson: mawatson@doe.k12.ga.us
Jeff Hodges:
8/23/2019