1. Office of Safety and Youth Development Elayna Konstan, Chief Executive Officer Dennis M. Walcott Chancellor

2.  What is the purpose of the Discipline Code?

3.  The NYC DOE is committed to ensuring our schools are safe and orderly environments in which teaching and learning take place each day.  A safe and supportive school depends upon the efforts of all members of the school community to treat one another with mutual respect.  All members of the school community – students, staff and parents- must know and understand the standards of behavior which all students are expected to live up to and the consequences if these standards are not met.

4.  Purpose : ◦ Provide clear behavioral expectations to which students are held accountable ◦ Provide clear standards of behavior that ensure consistency and equitable treatment for all students ◦ View behavioral incidents as an opportunity for student growth and learning supported by guidance interventions

5.  Design of the Discipline Code: ◦ Two Age Appropriate Sections: K-5 and 6-12 ◦ Five levels of infractions ◦ Range of interventions and disciplinary responses ◦ Bill of Student Rights and Responsibilities  The Discipline Code is reviewed and updated annually.

6.  Understanding discipline as a "teachable moment" is fundamental to a positive approach to discipline.  Progressive discipline uses incremental interventions, whenever possible, to address inappropriate behavior with the ultimate goal of teaching pro-social behavior.  Disciplinary responses are coupled, when appropriate, with Guidance Interventions.

7.  Progressive discipline seeks concurrent accountability and behavioral change.  The goal is prevention of a recurrence of negative behavior by helping students learn from their mistakes.

9.  Parent Outreach  Intervention by Counseling Staff  Guidance Conference  Restorative Approaches  Individual/Group Counseling  Peer Mediation  Mentoring  Conflict Resolution  Individual Behavioral Contract  Short-term Behavioral Progress Reports  Referral to Pupil Personnel Team  Community Service (with parental consent)  Referral to a Community Based Organization  Referral to Substance Abuse Counseling  Referral to Counseling Services for Youth Relationship Abuse  Functional Behavioral Assessment/Behavioral Intervention Plan

10. Essential to progressive discipline is helping students who have engaged in unacceptable behavior to:  understand why the behavior is unacceptable and the harm it has caused  understand what they could have done differently in the same situation  take responsibility for their actions  be given the opportunity to learn pro-social strategies and skills to use in the future

11.  Important Considerations: ◦ Age and maturity of students involved ◦ Prior disciplinary record (including the nature of prior misconduct, the number of prior instances of misconduct, and the disciplinary and intervention measures applied for each) ◦ Nature, severity and scope of the behavior ◦ Circumstances/context in which the conduct occurred ◦ Frequency, duration and intensity of the behavior ◦ Number of persons involved in the behavior ◦ Student’s IEP, BIP (Behavioral Intervention Plan) and 504 Accommodation Plan, if applicable

12.  Promote positive student behavior through the implementation of progressive discipline and interventions and support measures  Identify additional behavioral supports and protections for students with disabilities  Support continued implementation of the Dignity Act  Address current trends and technology as they impact our students’ safety and well-being and add clarifying language where needed

13.  Refer to PBIS as an example of a school-wide approach to promoting positive behavior  Clarify and define “In-School Disciplinary Actions” : ◦ Disciplinary responses that include detention, exclusion from extracurricular activities or removal from communal lunchtime ◦ Consequences must not take place during class time or result in loss of instructional time in accordance with the Wellness Policy  Eliminate the possibility for suspension for selected infractions for Grades K-3; A22, A23, A25, A26 and A27.  Provide a more extensive range of disciplinary responses for A29, A30, A31, B23, B24, B26 and B28 to provide additional options for schools to use.

14.  Move B30-Engaging in sexual conduct on school premises or at school related functions from Level 3 to Level 4 (new B33)  Move A45/B47-Starting a fire to Level 5 (new A48/B50)  Eliminate infractions A21/B19, A32/B34, A49/B51- Engaging in a pattern of persistent behavior

15.  Strengthen use of Guidance Interventions through additional language: ◦ “ Every reasonable effort must be made to correct student behavior through guidance interventions and other school-based resources” ◦ “Guidance interventions are an integral part of a comprehensive response and schools are expected to provide support services at all stages of the disciplinary process, including during suspension.” ◦ “Guidance interventions are an integral part of a comprehensive response”

16.  Provide descriptions of Functional Behavior Assessments (FBAs) and Behavioral Intervention Plans (BIPs)  Add FBA/BIP to Guidance Interventions  Add to Item # 6 in the Bill of Student Rights (right to due process in instances of disciplinary action) a reminder of the special protections offered under IDEA  Add language about procedural safeguards, i.e. Manifestation Determination Review (MDR)

17.  Add to # 2 in the Bill of Student Rights, (the right to be in a safe and supportive learning environment) a reference to Chancellor’s Regulations A-420 and A-421 which are intended to protect students from corporal punishment and verbal abuse  Separate A37/B39 into two infractions:  A36/B39 Non bias based harassment, discrimination, intimidation and/or bullying  A37/B40 Bias based harassment, discrimination, intimidation and/or bullying

18.  Clarify Transfer Options to better reflect Chancellor’s Regulation A-450  Add “use of electronic cigarettes” to A11/B13  Add a new infraction to address “inappropriate use of electronic technology”-new A21/B19  Add “or through an unauthorized entrance” to B22  Add “or instigating” violence, injury or harm to A34/B37