3015 DISCIPLINE PLAN Philosophy We want this to be the most successful year your student has had. School safety as well as student physical and psychological safety is essential in providing an optimal learning environment. We also realize that the first step to diminishing the need for student discipline starts with a strong classroom management plan on the first day of school. This is essential to build responsibility and accountability in students. Students need to realize that their choices have positive and negative consequences. Positive student choice can lead to good grades, increased personal satisfaction, increased self-esteem, and an optimal learning environment. Negative student choice can jeopardize the safety of the student or others as well as diminish the optimal learning environment. In order to help students realize this process, we are implementing a demerit system where negative student choice determines student discipline. Once negative choices have been made and discipline occurs the discipline process has just begun. Helping the student improve and trying to help them make positive choices in the future is our goal at Lincoln Academy. Support This system will ensure disciplinary actions are consistent for everyone. The Demerit system offers and even-handed approach, allowing the administration to give children appropriate consequences for inappropriate behavior. It also allows students to earn back points lost through creating a plan encouraging positive choices. Approach As an administrative staff, we will train and encourage our teachers to use interventions in their classroom management. Administrators may use various means in an attempt to influence student behavior including, but not limited to, counseling with the student, assigning detentions, having conferences with parents, assigning extra responsibilities or time in school, or an in-school suspension. With any minor classroom disturbance the teacher will follow the following guidelines before sending students to the office: *Remind the student of appropriate behavior using positive reinforcement. 1 st offense Warning from teacher 2 nd offense Teacher discipline 3 rd offense Teacher discipline (utilizing a processing room and form)-parent communication 4 th offense Teacher discipline-student/teacher team meeting- plan created to improve student behavior-parent notified 5 th offense Teacher discipline-student/teacher/ parent conference. Notice provided to principal 6 th offense Teacher discipline-student sent to office, student meets with administration and loses demerit points. Administration will decide whether or not to involve the school counselor.
When the teacher has exhausted all classroom interventions, (6 th offense) he/she will send the student to the office with a citation. Anytime the student is referred to the office, they will begin to lose points. All students will begin with 100 points. As the year progresses students will receive demerits (lose points) for inappropriate behavior. Elementary The administration reserves the right to discipline students according the demerit system or with appropriate pedagogical consequences taking the opportunity to teach appropriate choices. Jr. High Depending on the number of demerits or points lost during the year a specific consequence will follow. Parents are required to sign all notices when demerits are given. After a student has lost 25 or more points they will be eligible to earn points back. A conference will be held between the administration and student to create a plan to have points reinstated. Most likely the plan will include not receiving additional citations and applying to have points reinstated. The manner of application will be determined between the student and administration. Specific point values are listed below. Demerit Level Consequence 76-95 points Could include: Lunch or after school detention, in school suspension, parent conference, or another appropriate consequence 75 points One day suspension 51-75 Could include: Lunch or after school detention, in school suspension, parent conference, or another appropriate consequence 50 points Two day suspension 26-49 points Could include: Lunch or after school detention, in school suspension, parent conference, or other appropriate consequence 25 points Three day suspension There are different levels of offenses for each negative student choice. The levels and brief definitions are listed below; a more extensive list as well as specific definitions are on the following pages. Offense Level Level I Level II Level III Definition Calls for immediate suspension and potential expulsion. It consists of acts that threaten the health, welfare, safety and/or security of the students, teachers and staff at Lincoln Academy. Calls for the reduction of up to 25 demerits. Depending on the incident, suspension and a citation may be involved. Calls for the reduction of 5 to 20 demerits. LEVEL I OFFENSES These offenses, which are taken seriously by the administration, require parental conferences and may result in legal action. These offenses will result in 75 demerit points being given and an
automatic three-day suspension. Depending on the extent and severity of the infraction further suspension and/or expulsion may occur pursuant to this policy. DRUGS, ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, TOBACCO, E-CIGARETTES, OR INHALANTS A student shall not possess, use, transmit, distribute sell tobacco or be under the influence of any drug, alcoholic beverage, e-cigarette, or detrimental inhalant of any kind. WEAPONS Students shall not possess, use, conceal, or threaten another person with any object that might be considered a dangerous weapon or instrument of violence. SEXUAL HARASSMENT Students shall not participate in sexual comments or behaviors that are unwelcome, offensive, demeaning, humiliating, derogatory, or otherwise inappropriate or fails to respect the dignity of an individual. TRESPASSING Illegal or unauthorized entry into school facilities. HABITUAL SUSPENSION After six suspensions, a student may be subject to further disciplinary action, including expulsion. LEVEL II OFFENSES These offenses, which are taken very seriously by the administration, require parental conferences and may result in legal action. These offenses will result in up to 25 demerit points being given and an automatic one-day suspension. Depending on the extent of the infraction further suspension may be given. FIGHTING A student shall not cause physical injury to any student, teacher or other school employee or visitor on school grounds or during a school function or event. VANDALISIM A student shall not steal, cause damage to or destroy school property or private property if on school grounds or during a school function. BULLYING A student shall not engage in any act that harasses, intimidates, threatens, intentionally manipulates, degrades or disgraces another fellow student or teacher, by written, verbal or gestural means. Discretion of a level II vs. a level III offense shall be left to the discretion of administration. LEVEL III OFFENSES These offenses will result in 5 to 20 demerit points being given. Once the demerits from these infractions equal 25 points combined, the student will be suspended for one day.
DEFIANCE A student shall not fail to comply with the directions of teachers, student teachers, aids, principals or other authorized school personnel. He/she shall not fail to comply with the rules and regulations of the school. UNEXCUSED TARDINESS for each unexcused tardy between classes TRUANCY-skipping or sluffing class 10 demerits Skipping or cutting class is defined as not being in the assigned classroom, study hall, lunch period and/or leaving the school building/grounds. PUBLIC DISPLAY OF AFFECTION DRESS CODE Parent is called to bring proper clothing BREAKING TECHOLOGY CODE 10 demerits Engaging in any activity prohibited by the technology code STEALING Up to 20 demerits A student shall not take another student s property without permission PROFANITY A student shall not use any form of profanity - written or verbal. Included in this prohibition would be the use of obscene gestures, signs, pictures or publications, obscene language, phrase or partial phrases ROUGH HOUSING 15 demerits Inappropriate aggressive or non-aggressive behavior. This could include playing with water, snowballs, food in the lunchroom or halls pushing, shoving, etc.
POSSIBLE DISCIPLINARY MEASURES Lincoln Academy Policy Manual Definition of possible disciplinary measures which Lincoln Academy employees may follow in consultation with the school administration. 1. Student Conference: Conference between employee of Lincoln Academy and individual student. 2. Parent Phone Call/Parent Conference: Prior to a problem becoming quite serious, the parent(s)/guardian(s) will often be asked to come to the school to work with school officials. Many times a student will begin to show progress with the involvement of the parent(s)/guardian(s) in managing the problem. 3. Student/teacher Team Meeting: Student will meet with teachers who teach the individual student. The teacher will converse with the student and come up with a plan to help the student behavior choice that negatively affects safety or school environment. 4. Assignment to Detention: This may be assigned before school, after school or on Saturday. The parent(s)/guardian(s) will be notified a day in advance when detention is assigned. 5. Notification in this section means a notice to parents by reasonable, reliable process, e.g. by mail, by student delivery, a telephone call, or during school registration. Notification may be in the form of a citation or a report depending on the circumstances surrounding the reason for the disciplinary measures. 6. Suspension: All suspensions in this section must be approved by the school principal. One Day Suspension- A teacher or school administrator may remove any student from the class for the day from actions that may result in a suspension. If the removal was done by someone other than the school principal, that person shall immediately report the removal to the principal and take the student to the principal for appropriate action. As soon as possible, the teacher shall ask the parent or guardian of the student to attend a parent/teacher conference regarding the suspension. A school administrator shall attend the conference if the teacher or parent/guardian so requests. The student shall not be returned to the class from which he/she was suspended during the period of suspension without the concurrence of the teacher of the class and the principal. During the time of suspension from the class, a place shall be provided by the administration for the student to report, until the situation is resolved. Students may be required to participate in an after school restitution program provided by Lincoln Academy as part of their re-admittance to school. Two to Ten Day Suspension: Depending on the circumstances, the principal may suspend a student for up to ten consecutive school days. The length of time that a student is suspended shall be related to the seriousness of the offense. If possible, suspension of the student must be preceded by a
meeting between the student, the principal or designee, and whenever practical, parents and the teacher or supervisor who referred the student to the principal. If a student is suspended, the suspending authority shall immediately notify the parent or guardian of the following: 1) The student has been suspended 2) The grounds for suspension 3) The period of time for which the student is suspended 4) The time and place for the parent or guardian to meet with the suspending authority to review the suspension. This meeting shall be scheduled to occur as soon as is practicable. Suspension may be imposed without affording the student an opportunity to have a hearing in an emergency situation which constitutes a clear and present danger to students or school personnel. If a student is suspended without a conference prior to suspension, a conference shall be held within three days. Upon conclusion of the meeting or upon a determination that the parent or guardian has not appeared for the meeting, the principal or assistant principal shall take one of the following actions: 1) Take no further disciplinary action to extend the suspension beyond the previously stated period of suspension 2) Increase the time of suspension up to a total of ten days 3) Make a determination to have a further hearing to increase the suspension for longer than ten days or if there should be a potential expulsion 4) Rescind the suspension already imposed and return the student to classes or impose disciplinary measures not including suspension/expulsion. A suspended student shall be allowed to complete all assignments and tests missed during the suspension, and within a reasonable time limit designated by the teacher and upon satisfactory completion, shall be given full credit. Students will be required to participate in an after school restitution program provided by Lincoln Academy as part of their re-admittance to school. Suspension Longer than Ten Days or Expulsion If a student is to be suspended longer than ten days, the suspending authority shall immediately notify the parent or guardian of the following: 1) that the student has been suspended 2) the grounds for suspension 3) the period of time for which the student is suspended 4) the time and place for the parent or guardian to meet with the suspending authority to review the suspension. This meeting shall be scheduled to occur as soon as is practicable. At the meeting including the student, the parent or guardian, and the principal or his designee, the student shall be informed in writing of the charges and evidence against him/her with a list of any witnesses. If the student denies the charges he/she shall be given an opportunity to tell his/her side of the story. If the parent requests, the student can be represented by legal counsel (if the school is also represented by counsel) and the hearing can be recorded at the parent s request. If the parent or guardian fails or refuses to attend the meeting at the scheduled date, time and place, and reasonable efforts to contact them are unsuccessful, the principal or his designee shall mail notification to the parent or guardian describing the charges and evidence against the student.
Suspension may be imposed without affording the student an opportunity to a hearing in an emergency situation which constitutes a clear and present danger to students or school personnel. If a student is suspended without a conference prior to suspension, a conference shall be held within three days. Upon conclusion of the meeting or upon a determination that the parent or guardian has not appeared for the meeting, the principal or assistant principal shall take one of the following actions: 1) Take no further disciplinary action to extend the suspension beyond the previously stated period of suspension 2) Rescind the suspension already imposed and return the student to classes or impose disciplinary measures not including suspension/expulsion 3) Increase the time of suspension which may include expulsion. The principal shall notify the parent of the student in writing of the school s determination. A suspended student shall be allowed to complete all assignments and tests missed during the suspension. A reasonable time limit shall be designated by the teacher and upon satisfactory completion, shall be given full credit. Students will be required to participate in an after school restitution program provided by Lincoln Academy as part of their re-admittance to school. The parent/student shall have the right to appeal the suspension. The parent/student shall prepare a written statement and submit it to the principal. The principal shall attach the parent/student statement to the Suspension Notice and submit it to the Board of Directors. After reviewing the case to determine if there is sufficient evidence to find that the alleged violation occurred and whether the penalty imposed was appropriate for the violation, the Board shall inform the parent/student and principal in writing of the decision. Lincoln Academy reserves the right to modify or adjust this policy at any time throughout the year to better meet the needs of individual students. If whole policy modifications take place, students, parents, teachers, and administration will be notified.