Transcript Student Discipline

MAPP Conference 19 November 2010
SCHOOL DISCIPLINE HEARINGS
Buzz Williams
Assistant Supervisor in Student Services
Harford County Public Schools
[email protected]
410-588-5336
Purpose
 To provide an overview of school disciplinary
hearing procedures.
Maryland has 24 school systems
 …and 24 unique procedures for conducting
school discipline hearings.
Our titles across Maryland:
 Superintendent’s Designee
 Hearing Officer
 Director of Student Services
 Assistant Supervisor in Student Services
 Pupil Personnel Worker
 Special Assistant for Safe and Orderly Schools
 Administrative Director of Secondary Ed.
 Coordinator of Student Services Appeals Unit
Continuum of Approaches
Counseling
Courtroom
Common Components
 Case Preparation
 Introduction
 Hearing
 Discussion
 Disposition
 Closure
 Documentation
Case Preparation
 Demographic information
 Administrative incident report
 Due Process
 Discipline history
 Attendance history
 Academic history
 Possible consequences
Due Process (14th Amendment)
 Constitutional guarantee of fairness.
 Student informed of violations
 Opportunity to tell student’s story
 Before suspension
 Investigation that factors student’s story
 A decision supported by evidence
 Witnesses, statements, video, photos
 Laws, policies, and procedures followed
Possible Consequences
 Reduce suspension and return to home school
 Return to home school after 10 suspension days
 Extend suspension (5, 10, 15); return to home school
 Short-term expulsion from home school
(1Q, 2Q, 3Q, 4Q); place at Alt Ed; review optional
 Short-term expulsion; no ed services
 Long-term expulsion from home school; place Alt
Ed through graduation
 Permanent expulsion; no ed services
Consequence Criteria
Age—older = more accountable
Violation type—dangerous?
Remorse—sorry for violation?
Resolve—committed to follow rules?
Discipline history—patterns?
Attendance—satisfactory?
Grades—making effort to learn?
Credits—on track to graduate?
Intervention—contract for reduced suspension?
School System Policy—non-negotiable?
Greeting and Introduction
 Greet student, family, and advocates
 Assign seating
 Demonstrate mutual respect
 Explain Procedures
 Audio recording
 Check that all are ready to begin
Hearing
 Official introduction
 Minutes or audio recording
 Hearing officer, school system, date, purpose,
student name, violation (s), participants, audio
recording notification
 Student response to violation (s)
 Presentation of administrator’s evidence
 Presentation of student evidence
 Decision about violation (s)
Discussion
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Discipline history
Attendance
Grades
Credits
 On track to graduate?
 Remorse
 Resolve
 Interventions
 Letters of apology, mediation, mentoring, counseling,
physician referral, disability assessment, contract
Closure
 Summarize hearing decision
 Summarize consequence and placement
 Review reentry/enrollment date and
conditions
 Ask each participant for closing comments
 End audio recording or minutes
Documentation
 Complete administrative report
 hearing, decision, discussion, consequence,
placement, rationale, and reentry conditions
 Send letter to parent
 hearing decision, consequence, and placement
 Reentry Contract
 Conditions for reentry to school
Elementary Age Students
 Frequently reduced to less than 10 days
 Include familiar staff from school
 Allow administrator to suggest tone
 Developmentally appropriate communication
 Empower parents to help communicate
 Include administrator in reentry conditions
Special Ed
 10 removal days & FAPE
 Manifestation mtg summaries required
 “Yes-manifestation” = no conference; end susp.
 Manifestation mtg summary cites IAES
 Home School
 Alternative Ed
 Other
Reportable Offenses
 Cite COMAR Reg 7-303
 Case review, not suspension
 7-303 = not subject to the appeal rules of
suspension under 7-305
 Administrative placement can be made based
on charge prior to legal hearing
 Charge linked to school with potential for danger
or disruption
 Documentation not part of student record
Suspension Reductions
 Substance Abuse Counseling
 Tobacco Education Classes
 Fire Marshall Classes
 Sexting Education Counseling
 Bus Safety Counseling
 Sensitivity Counseling
 Peaceful Conflict Resolution Counseling
 Anger Management Counseling
Maryland Association of School
Discipline Hearing Officers
 MASDHO
 PPWs are encouraged to join
 http://hcps.org/masdho
Question & Answer
CONCLUSION