DISCIPLINE

Discipline Policy

In order to prepare youth for citizenship and to create an awareness of individual responsibilities, each site principal develops a school-wide discipline program of student behavioral expectation, accountability, and a plan for recognition of student accomplishments in accordance with Education Code. Parents are notified of school-wide expectations and each student is given a handbook explaining the school’s code of conduct at the beginning of school and/or upon a student’s admission during the year. The staff holds students to a strict accounting for their conduct on their way to and from school, in the classroom, on the playgrounds, or at school-related functions on or off campus. (Policy 5144  Administrative Regulation 5144)

SWPBIS- School Wide Positive Behavior Supports

Improving student academic and behavior outcomes is about ensuring all students have access to the most effective and accurately implemented instructional and behavioral practices and interventions possible. School-Wide Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (SWPBIS) provides an operational framework for achieving these outcomes. More importantly, SWPBIS is NOT a curriculum, intervention, or practice but IS a decision making framework that guides selection, integration, and implementation of the best evidence-based academic and behavioral practices for improving important academic and behavior outcomes for all students.

Bullying and Cyberbullying:

Bullying, including cyberbullying, is defined as intimidation, hazing or initiation activity, ridicule, extortion, or any other verbal, written, or physical conduct that causes or threatens to cause bodily harm or emotional suffering. "Cyberbullying" includes the transmission of communications, posting of harassing messages, direct threats, social cruelty, or other harmful texts, sounds, or images on the Internet, social networking sites, or other digital technologies using a telephone, computer, or any wireless communication device. Cyberbullying also includes breaking into another person's electronic account and assuming that person's identity in order to damage that person's reputation or friendships.

The Board desires to prevent bullying by establishing a positive, collaborative school climate and clear rules for student conduct.

Students may submit a verbal or written complaint of conduct they consider to be bullying to a teacher or administrator and may also request that their name be kept in confidence. The Superintendent or designee may establish other processes for students to submit anonymous reports of bullying. Complaints of bullying or harassment shall be investigated and resolved in accordance with site-level grievance procedures specified in AR 5145.7 - Sexual Harassment.

When a student is suspected of or reported to be using electronic or digital communications to engage in cyberbullying against other students or staff or to threaten district property, the investigation shall include documentation of the activity, identification of the source, and a determination of the impact or potential impact on school activity or school attendance.

Students shall be encouraged to save and print any messages sent to them that they feel constitute cyberbullying and to notify a teacher, the principal, or other employee so that the matter may be investigated.

Any student who engages in cyberbullying using district-owned equipment, on school premises, or off-campus in a manner that impacts a school activity or school attendance shall be subject to discipline in accordance with district policies and regulations. If the student is using a social networking site or service that has terms of use that prohibit posting of harmful material, the Superintendent or designee also may file a complaint with the Internet site or service to have the material removed. (BP 5131)

Additional resources on bullying can be found on the California Department of Education website.