Student Discipline (Suspension) SOP

It is determined by administration that the student will need to be suspended outside of school due to recent student misconduct.

• The District generally considers gross disobedience or misconduct as  behaviors that pose a significant risk to student/staff safety and/or significant disruption to the learning environment.  Board of Education Policy 7:190 (“Student Behavior”) includes a non-exhaustive list of behaviors deemed to constitute gross disobedience or misconduct.  

• Notably, this list includes “[e]ngaging in any activity, on or off campus, that interferes with, disrupts, or adversely affects the school environment, school operations, or an educational function, including but not limited to, conduct that may reasonably be considered to: (a) be a threat or an attempted intimidation of a staff member; or (b) endanger the health or safety of students, staff, or school property.”   

• When considering 7 or more days of suspension, the following steps should be taken:

  • A school based team discussion

  • Discussing the situation and suspension term with the cross-town team

  • Contacting the Director of Student Services & Career Readiness

  • While a decision is being made, use language that the final decision for the number of days is pending.

10 Day Suspensions, in most cases, should only be used when the administration team is considering recommending expulsion.  Some major disciplinary incidents may lead to a recommendation for the student's expulsion.  Refer to the Expulsion SOP and contact the Assistant Superintendent or Superintendent to determine if an expulsion is appropriate.

• Such major disciplinary incidents may include possession of a weapon(s), use of a weapon(s), a school-wide threat, the distribution of drugs, or sexual assault.

In accordance with 105 ILCS 5/22-88, if it is determined the student behavior may have been an illegal action, before detaining and questioning a student on school grounds who is under 18 years of age and who is suspected of committing a criminal act, a law enforcement officer, a school resource officer, or other school security personnel must do all of the following:
        (1) Ensure that notification or attempted notification of the student's parent or guardian is made.
        (2) Document the time and manner in which the notification or attempted notification under paragraph (1) occurred.
        (3) Make reasonable efforts to ensure that the student's parent or guardian is present during the questioning or, if the parent or guardian is not present, ensure that school personnel, including, but not limited to, a school social worker, a school psychologist, a school nurse, a school counselor, or any other mental health professional, are present during the questioning 
        (4) If practicable, make reasonable efforts to ensure that a law enforcement officer trained in promoting safe interactions and communications with youth is present during the questioning. An officer who received training in youth investigations approved or certified by his or her law enforcement agency or under Section 10.22 of the Police Training Act or a juvenile police officer, as defined under Section 1-3 of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987, satisfies the requirement under this paragraph.

If the student has an IEP and they are going to reach 10 total days of out of school suspension for the school year, an MDR must be scheduled in accordance with this guidance and using this checklist.

***If the student has an IEP and the incident involved serious bodily harm, weapons, or drugs; contact the Director of Special Education or their designee immediately to discuss the possibility of a 45 day alternative placement.  (Decision must be made within 48 hours of the incident). 

Parent is contacted by phone or in person to discuss the rationale for the suspension, the length of the suspension, next steps, and the date the student can return.

When the parent comes to pick up the child the parent is notified that they will be getting the SWIS paperless discipline referral electronically emailed to them as well as the applicable duration suspension letter.
***Notification must be sent to parents within 24 hours of the suspension decision.

Suspension letter is completed by the administrator based upon the length of the suspension.  

• A short-term suspension is for three or less days - use the short-term suspension form (Spanish).  
• A long -term suspension is for four or more days, use the long-term suspension form (Spanish). 
• Reference: Discipline & Board Policy Reference

The suspension form is also given to the parent when they pick up the child or is emailed to the parent within 24 hours of the suspension.

• When appropriate, admin includes the Aggressive Behavior Reporting Letter (Spanish)

Completed suspension letters should be emailed to the Superintendent's Secretary (Pam Ashens) if she does not already have access to a shared folder for your suspensions. (Add Pam Ashens and Director of Student Services & Career Readiness (Matt Fry)).

Admin notifies staff that work with the student to let the know the child is suspended and that the child is able to complete work during their absence. The team determines a plan for getting the homework to the student.

Clerical needs to put the suspension dates in e-school for the dates the child will not be in school.

Additionally, this indicident needs to be documented in e-school in addition to the SWIS platform (for state reporting purposes).

Discipline Reporting Requirements

If the incident involves drugs, weapons, or attacks on school personnel, it must be reported to through SIRS within 24 - 72 hours; use this guidance document to submit a report to the ISBE.

• Only incidents that result in a long-term out-of-school suspension or expulsion should be reported.

If the student demonstrates threatening physical or verbal behavior, such as violent, suicidal, or assaultive threats, actions or other behaviors determined to pose a Clear and Present Danger to themselves or others, contact the Safety and Security Coordinator to determine if a report is to be filed to the ISP within 24 - 72 hours of that determination.

• Only incidents that result in a long-term out-of-school suspension or expulsion should be reported.

For all out of school suspensions the child's team will facilitate the re-engagement of the student upon their return to school.

For students who have a long-term suspension (4 or more days) the child's team and the parent will schedule a re-entry meeting and complete a re-entry plan to determine an action plan and appropriate supports for the student's return.  Depending upon the age of the student the child may sit in on the meeting.
    

• If appropriate and agreed to by all parties, hold a restorative conference.

In some instances, certain or repeated disciplinary incidents may lead to a “Building Contract” (Spanish Version) being put into place by the school principal/administrative team.

• Such incidents may include fighting, possession of a small quantity of drugs, sexual harrassment, or bullying.

If a Building Contract is broken by the student, a second Building Contract (English, Spanish) may be put into place that will typically state that a student may be recommended for expulsion if the second Building Contract is broken.

District/Central Office administration may be included in the meeting to review the second Building Contract.

If the second Building Contract is broken, the school principal/administration will use the coordinate with Central Office to determine if there is a need to complete an expulsion packet, using the Expulsion SOP.