Consequences and Responses to Student Behavior

Level 1 responses are intended to prevent further behavioral issues while keeping the student in school.

Afternoon/Evening School - An administrative detention, not to exceed three hours, that is held after school or in the evening with the permission of the parent/legal guardian. Students must be supervised by a teacher, administrator, or teacher assistant.

Bus Suspension - The temporary removal of the student from the bus or a loss of bus privileges.

Community Service - An approved duty or activity meant to make restitution for actions and/or benefit both the student’s personal growth and the school community. The assignment must be a written mutual agreement between parent/legal guardian, student and administrator.

Confiscation - Temporary possession of the student’s personal property.

Detention - Detaining a student for disciplinary reasons before or after school hours. The parent/legal guardian will be notified in advance of the detention. Students must be supervised by a teacher, administrator, or teacher assistant.

Probation - A written agreement with the student for a defined period of good behavior in lieu of suspension.

Restriction - The temporary denial of the student’s right to participate in designated activities.

Revocation of Privilege - The removal of a student privilege (e.g., use of technology, ability to possess electronic device) for a defined length of time.

Saturday School - A student detention, not to exceed three hours, that is held on a Saturday with
the permission of the parent/legal guardian. Students must be supervised by a teacher, administrator, or teacher assistant.

Timeout - The temporary removal of the student from class.

Verbal Warning/Reprimand - The staff member will remind the student of appropriate behavior/tell the student not to engage in inappropriate behavior. Every effort should be made to conduct warnings/reprimands privately.

Level 2 responses are designed to prevent further behavioral issues and attempt to keep the student in school. Depending upon the severity of the behavior, short-term removal of the student from the classroom may be appropriate.

In-School Suspension (up to 3 days)
The administrator may assign the student to in-school suspension (ISS) for up to three school days
(i.e., quarter day, half day, full day). During a period of ISS, the student is assigned to a classroom for up to three days and is given classwork by qualified school personnel serving as the school’s ISS Coordinator. Students are given an excused absence for all classes missed while in ISS. Refusal to attend ISS will result in out-of-school suspension (OSS).

Level 3 behaviors, dependent upon the severity, chronic nature of the behavior and/or safety concerns, may result in the student’s short-term removal from school.

Choices Program Referral
Choices is an instructional program designed to serve students who consistently demonstrate inappropriate behaviors, excluding truancy, that interfere with learning. Students placed in this program have not successfully implemented the behavioral interventions put in place by the school. The Choices curriculum provides students with information and activities to develop skills necessary to make appropriate choices and understand the impact of anti-social behavior on their lives and the lives of their families and communities. The student may be placed into the Choices Program as an alternative to suspension. The administrator will meet with the student and parent/legal guardian to review the requirements of the Choices program to determine the acceptance of the responsibilities of this placement.

Out-of-School Suspension (up to 5 days)
The administrator may assign the student to out-of- school suspension (OSS) for a period up to five days (i.e., quarter day, half day, full day). During the period of OSS, the student is not permitted on school property or at school-sponsored activities. Any student who is under OSS and is also enrolled in a work cooperative program and/or extracurricular activities shall be restricted from employment and/or excluded as a participant or spectator from extracurricular activities until reinstated in his/her school. The student will be provided classwork and homework material so that the student may remain current with school instruction while enrolled in school. The parent/legal guardian shall be required to confer with the administrator prior to the student’s reinstatement from OSS.

Level 4 behaviors may require a report to the Director of the Office of Student Leadership (as the Superintendent’s designee) as outlined in Virginia Code §22.1-279.3:1. It does not automatically result in a long-term suspension, change of placement or expulsion. After a review of the incident in context, the student may be permitted to return to the comprehensive setting with additional
supports and/or responses to be implemented.

Corrective Action Plan in the Office of Student Leadership
If the student has had five or more disciplinary referrals without an improvement in behavior after interventions and supports put into place by the school, the Principal or Principal’s designee may suspend the student and refer the student to the Office of Student Leadership for the completion of a Corrective Action Plan (CAP). The student and parent/legal guardian will meet with the Coordinator of Student Conduct/Services. The student may only be readmitted to school after the CAP has been signed and the parent/legal guardian and student have met with the Principal or designee for reinstatement.

Out-of-School Suspension (6-10 days)
The administrator may assign the student to out-of-school suspension (OSS) for a period of six to ten days with the approval of the Director of the Office of Student Leadership or the Director’s designee. During the period of OSS, the student is not permitted on school property or at school-sponsored activities. Any student who is under OSS and is also enrolled in a work cooperative program and/or extracurricular activities shall be restricted from employment and/or excluded
as a participant or spectator from extracurricular activities until reinstated in his/her school. The student will be provided classwork and homework material so that the student may remain current with school instruction while enrolled in school. The parent/legal guardian shall be required to confer with the administrator prior to the student’s reinstatement from OSS.

Substance Abuse Intervention Program (SAIP) Referral due to Tobacco and/or Alternative Nicotine Products
The student in middle or high school may be assigned the Substance Abuse Intervention Program (SAIP) as the result of a third infraction involving tobacco and/or alternative nicotine products. The student assigned to SAIP as a disciplinary response to behavior is considered to be under out-of-school suspension (OSS), and during the period of SAIP, the student is not permitted on school property or at school-sponsored activities. Any student who is under administrative assignment to SAIP and is also enrolled in a work cooperative program and/or extracurricular activities shall be restricted from employment and/or excluded as a participant or spectator from extracurricular activities until reinstated in his/her school. All absences associated with referral
and completion of SAIP are excused and should not be counted when determining excessive absences  of a student. The student will be provided classwork and homework material so that the student may remain current with school instruction while enrolled in school. The parent/legal guardian shall be required to confer with the administrator prior to the student’s reinstatement from OSS.

Substance Abuse Intervention Program (SAIP) Referral in Lieu of Expulsion
The student in middle or high school may be assigned the Substance Abuse Intervention Program (SAIP) in lieu of a recommendation for expulsion as the result of an infraction involving the possession, being under the influence or use of drugs or alcohol. The student assigned to SAIP as a disciplinary response to behavior is considered to be under out-of-school suspension (OSS), and during the period of SAIP, the student is not permitted on school property or at school-sponsored activities. Any student who is under administrative assignment to SAIP and is also enrolled in a work
cooperative program and/or extracurricular activities shall be restricted from employment and/or excluded as a participant or spectator from extracurricular activities until reinstated in his/her school. All absences associated with referral and completion of SAIP are excused and should not be counted when determining excessive absences of a student. The student will be provided classwork and homework material so that the student may remain current with school instruction while enrolled in school. The parent/legal guardian shall be required to confer with the administrator prior to the student’s reinstatement from OSS. If the student and parent/legal guardian decline the offer of SAIP in lieu of expulsion, a recommendation for expulsion will be made.

Level 5 responses are reserved for the most serious behaviors, resulting in a report to the Director of the Office of Student Leadership (as the Superintendent’s designee). The referral to the Director of the Office of Student Leadership may not automatically result in a school reassignment, alternative placement, long-term suspension or expulsion.

Request for Activation of Deferred Alternative Placement
The Principal or acting Principal may request activation of an alternative placement that was assigned to the student in deferment by a hearing officer or discipline committee as a result of a long-term suspension or expulsion recommendation. The request would be made in cases where the student has violated his/her probation by committing an act similar to the one that resulted in the discipline hearing.

Recommendation for Long-term Suspension
The Principal or acting Principal may recommend the student for long-term suspension. The student can be suspended for more than ten days following a hearing before a hearing officer designated by the Superintendent or designee. For certain offenses or habitual offenses, the student may be suspended for the remainder of the semester, the rest of the
school year, or for a calendar year.

In the case of a recommendation for long-term suspension, the Director of the Office of Student
Leadership shall arrange a time and place for a hearing to be held before a hearing officer within ten school days of the date of notice from the Principal or acting Principal and notify the parent/legal guardian and the Principal or acting Principal. The Principal and any witnesses deemed necessary by the Principal should attend the hearing. The student and the parent/legal guardian shall also be required to attend the hearing. The hearing officer may uphold or modify the
recommendation, to include assigning an alternative placement for up to one year. It may be determined that transfer to another school serves the best interest of the student and the school. The student will remain on out-of-school suspension (OSS) pending the hearing and written decision of the hearing officer. The student is restricted from entering upon school property and is excluded as a participant or spectator from extracurricular activities. The student will be provided classwork and homework material so the student may remain current with school instruction while enrolled in school.

Recommendation for Expulsion
The Principal or acting Principal may recommend the student for expulsion. Upon the recommendation, the Director
of the Office of Student Leadership shall review the recommendation, which he/she may uphold or modify.

If the Director of the Office of Student Leadership upholds the recommendation for expulsion, he/she shall notify the student and his/her parent/legal guardian of the time and place of a hearing before a discipline committee of the School Board. A hearing shall be held before the discipline committee within ten school days of the date of notice from the Principal or acting Principal. The student will remain on out-of-school suspension pending the hearing and written decision of the hearing officer or discipline committee. The student is restricted from entering upon school property and is excluded as a participant or spectator from extracurricular activities. The student will be provided classwork and homework material so the student may remain current with school instruction while enrolled in school. If the decision of the three-member discipline committee is not unanimous, the student and his/her parent/legal guardian have the right of appeal to the full School Board. The Principal and any witness deemed necessary by the Principal should attend the hearing. The student and parent/legal guardian shall also be required to attend the hearing.