NC Schools Dropout Data

1. NC Schools Dropout Data Reporting the 17 “Reportable Offenses” Dr. Ken Gattis Program Monitoring & Support NC Department of Public Instructionkgattis@dpi.state.nc.us (919) 807-4049

2. NC General Statute 115C-288(g) (Powers and Duties of Principal) To Report Certain Acts to Law Enforcement. – When the principal has personal knowledge or actual notice from school personnel that an act has occurred on school property involving assault resulting in serious personal injury, sexual assault, sexual offense, rape, kidnapping, indecent liberties with a minor, assault involving the use of a weapon, possession of a firearm in violation of the law, possession of a weapon in violation of the law, or possession of a controlled substance in violation of the law, the principal shall immediately report the act to the appropriate local law enforcement agency. Failure to report under this subsection is a Class 3 misdemeanor. For purposes of this subsection, "school property" shall include any public school building, bus, public school campus, grounds, recreational area, or athletic field, in the charge of the principal. It is the intent of the General Assembly that the principal notify the superintendent and the superintendent notify the local board of any report made to law enforcement under this subsection.

3. Locations Where Acts Must Be Reported 115C-288(g): For purposes of this subsection, "school property" shall include any public school building, bus, public school campus, grounds, recreational area, or athletic field, in the charge of the principal. SBE Policy HRS-A-000: …State Board of Education policy requires that…the "location" or site of every reported incident be specified as a classroom, hallway, cafeteria, office, restroom, gym, stairway, other location in the school, parking lot, school grounds, off school grounds, on the school bus, a bus stop, or other.

4. SBE Policy HRS-A-006 (formerly SS-A-006)Violent Criminal Offenses, or “Dangerous Acts” 1.Homicide 2. Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury 3. Assault Involving Use of a Weapon 4. Rape 5. Sexual Offense 6. Sexual Assault 7. Kidnapping 8. Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon 9. Robbery 10. Taking Indecent Liberties with a Minor

5. SBE Policy HRS-A-006Persistently Dangerous School Criteria A persistently dangerous school is a public elementary, middle or secondary school or a charter school in which a total of five or more violent criminal offenses were committed per 1000 students (0.5 or more per 100 students) during each of the two most recent school years and in which the conditions that contributed to the commission of those offenses are likely to continue into another school year.

6. NC General Statute 115C-12(21) Duty to Monitor Acts of School Violence. – The State Board of Education shall monitor and compile an annual report on acts of violence in the public schools. The State Board shall adopt standard definitions for acts of school violence and shall require local boards of education to report them to the State Board in a standard format adopted by the State Board.  In practice, the SBE adopted definitions of 17 crimes, including the ten violent acts.

7. What Acts Must Be Reported?SBE Policy HRS-A-000(formerly SS-A-000) Incidents/Acts Specified by G.S. 115C-228(g) The new law requires teachers to report to principals and principals to report to law enforcement any of the following acts that have occurred on school property. In the case of incidents that involve the committing of more than one reportable act, all such incidents need to be reported. 1. Assault involving the use of a weapon 2. Assault resulting in serious personal injury 3. Kidnapping 4. Possession of a controlled substance in violation of the law 5. Possession of a firearm, as differentiated by handgun, rifle, shotgun and other 6. Possession of a weapon 7. Rape 8. Sexual assault 9. Sexual offense 10. Taking indecent liberties with a minor

8. SBE Policy HRS-A-000 (continued) In addition, and in keeping with G.S. 115C-12 (21), the State Board of Education requires principals to report to law enforcement the following additional acts occurring on school property: 1. Assault on school officials, employees and volunteers 2. Homicide, including murder, manslaughter and death by vehicle 3. Robbery 4. Robbery with a dangerous weapon 5. Unlawful, underage sales, purchase, provision, possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages 6. Making bomb threats or engaging in bomb hoaxes; possession of explosives or abetting a minor to possess explosives 7. Willfully burning a public or private school

9. Offenses and Reporting Categories Offenses are reported in NC WISE for the 10 dangerous offenses (PD), the other 7 reportable offenses (RO), and a large number of unacceptable behavior offenses (UB). The PD and RO offenses map to the Reporting Categories 1-17. Most of these mappings are one-to-one with the following exceptions:

10. From DPI Discipline Data Reporting Guidelines“What Must Be Reported” • Any of the 17 reportable acts committed on a school campus or in connection with a school function. • Any act resulting in an out-of-school suspension or expulsion. • Any in-school suspension received by an EC student. • Any assignment to an alternative school or alternative learning program. Any of the following acts, regardless of consequences assigned: - bullying - discrimination - verbal harassment - sexual harassment - a violent assault not resulting in serious injury (as defined by SBE) - fighting (or affray) - communicating threats - gang activity - extortion - property damage - possession or use of tobacco products

11. From DPI Discipline Data Reporting Guidelines DPI Guidance for Reporting Offenses 1. For a particular offender in an incident, report the most serious offense(s) first. 2. Report each additional offense committed that is not subsumed by a previously reported offense. For example, in a knife assault the act of “Possession of a Weapon” is subsumed by the more serious “Assault Involving the Use of a Weapon,” (because the knife must be possessed in order for the assault to take place). 3. Report multiple offenses for incidents involving multiple victims if the offenses are clearly separate events in time. For example, if a student robs two different students while displaying a handgun in the same day, two acts of “Robbery With a Dangerous Weapon” would be recorded. However, if the student displays a handgun to a group of students and threatens them collectively, only one act of “Assault Involving Use of a Weapon” would be recorded.

12. From DPI Discipline Data Reporting Guidelines DPI Guidance for Reporting Offenses 4. Report a separate offense for each possession, use, or sale of a particular contraband item. Do not report possession as a separate offense if also reporting use or selling of the same item in the same incident. 5. An offense should be reported whenever school officials become aware that the act occurred, regardless of when the act occurred. Therefore, it is possible that an offense that occurred in a previous year will need to be reported in the current year’s data.

13. Reportable Acts and Scenarios. The following slides contain a reportable act with its definition or a series of reportable acts and definitions followed by offense scenarios to test your understanding of how to report the acts correctly.

14. 1. Assault Resulting in Serious Injury. • An intentional physical attack causing the victim obvious severe or aggravated bodily injury involving (a) broken bones, loss of teeth, possible internal injuries; severe lacerations and bleeding; or loss of consciousness; and/or (b) requiring emergency medical services by trained school personnel or other health professionals (e.g. EMS) and/or hospitalization. If the offender used a weapon in an assault resulting in serious injury, report both Assault Resulting in Serious Injury and Assault Involving Use of a Weapon. Fights or affrays, where no weapon was used, resulting in no apparent or serious injuries are not required by state law to be reported, even if the incident resulted in suspensions or expulsion for the student. Local School Board policy may require reporting of fights or affrays to law enforcement.

15. 2. Assault Involving Use of a Weapon • An assault by one person against another where the attacker either uses a weapon or displays a weapon in a threatening manner. Weapon is defined as: Any firearm or explosive device; force-impacting device; knife or sharp-edged or sharp-pointed utensil, device or tool; or any article, instrument or substance which can or is likely to produce death or great bodily harm. If a firearm or other weapon is used in the commission of any offense, the type of weapon must be identified.

16. 3. Assault on School Personnel. • An assault is an intentional physical attack by one person on another. An assault is either the actual intentional striking of another person, or an attempt to physically strike another by an intentional show of force or menace of violence sufficient to put a reasonable person in fear of immediate physical injury. This offense includes assaults on school personnel that do not involve use of a weapon and do not result in apparent serious injury. If apparent serious injury to school personnel results from the assault, report as Assault Resulting in Serious Injury. If the assault involves use of a weapon, report as Assault Involving Use of a Weapon. Victims included in this category are school administrators, education professionals (e.g. teachers), classified staff members (e.g. custodial, clerical), and adult volunteers. Acts which would not be reported are things such as unintentional pushing and jostling, as in a crowd; a school staff member who is accidentally struck while attempting to break up a fight or affray; or a volunteer who is knocked down by a student carelessly rushing through a door. Verbal threats to physically attack are not included unless they are accompanied by an act that is an intentional show of force or menace of violence sufficient to put a reasonable person in fear of immediate physical injury.

17. Assault Scenarios:Which Offense to Report? • A senior high school football player is told by the coach that for academic reasons he is being suspended by the principal for his last football game. The player confronts and strikes the principal, knocking him down and bruising his jaw. • Assault Resulting in Serious Injury. • Assault Involving Use of a Weapon. • Assault on School Personnel. • A lesser offense.

18. Assault Scenarios:Which Offense to Report? • A senior high school football player is told by the coach that for academic reasons he is being suspended by the principal for his last football game. The player confronts and strikes the principal, knocking him down and bruising his jaw. C. Assault on School Personnel.

19. Assault Scenarios:Which Offense to Report? 2.After an exchange of words, a 9th grade student strikes a janitor in the shin with a metal bar, causing a bad bruise. • Assault Resulting in Serious Injury. • Assault Involving Use of a Weapon. • Assault on School Personnel. • A lesser offense.

20. Assault Scenarios:Which Offense to Report? 2.After an exchange of words, a 9th grade student strikes a janitor in the shin with a metal bar, causing a bad bruise. B. Assault Involving Use of a Weapon.

21. Assault Scenarios:Which Offense to Report? 3. An elementary student attacked and wounded the school principal with an ink pen, causing bleeding to the point that an ambulance had to be called. • Assault Resulting in Serious Injury. • Assault Involving Use of a Weapon. • Assault on School Personnel. • A lesser offense.

22. Assault Scenarios:Which Offense to Report? 3. An elementary student attacked and wounded the school principal with an ink pen, causing bleeding to the point that an ambulance had to be called. • Assault Resulting in Serious Injury. • Assault Involving Use of a Weapon.

23. Assault Scenarios:Which Offense to Report? 4. After being scolded by a teacher for being in the hall after the bell, a middle school student makes a fist and pulls back as if to throw a punch. The student stops the motion of his fist after moving forward a few inches, but not before the teacher flinches and steps back. • Assault Involving Use of a Weapon. • Assault on School Personnel. • A lesser offense. • No offense.

24. Assault Scenarios:Which Offense to Report? 4. After being scolded by a teacher for being in the hall after the bell, a middle school student makes a fist and pulls back as if to throw a punch. The student stops the motion of his fist after moving forward a few inches, but not before the teacher flinches and steps back. B. Assault on School Personnel.

25. Assault Scenarios:Which Offense to Report? 5. Two high school students are fighting in a gym class. As the gym teacher moves in to pull away one student, the students draws back to throw a punch and unintentionally strikes the teacher in the face. • Assault Involving Use of a Weapon. • Assault on School Personnel. • A lesser offense. • No offense.

26. Assault Scenarios:Which Offense to Report? 5. Two high school students are fighting in a gym class. As the gym teacher moves in to pull away one student, the students draws back to throw a punch and unintentionally strikes the teacher in the face. C. A lesser offense (Fighting or Affray).

27. Assault CrimesKey Factors in Reporting 1. There is a low threshold for reporting Assault on School Personnel, however the act should be intentional. 2. Do not report Assault on School Personnel if reporting Assault Involving Use of a Weapon or Assault Resulting in Serious Injury. 3. Either seriousness of injuries or requirement for emergency care elevates an assault to be reported as “resulting in serious injury.” 4. For reporting Assault Involving Use of a Weapon a) almost anything can be a weapon if it could cause “great bodily harm” and b) the weapon only has to be displayed in a threatening manner. 5. For a serious injury inflicted by a weapon, report both Assault Involving Use of a Weapon and Assault Resulting in Serious Injury.

28. 4. Bomb Threat • (See G.S. 14-69.1 and 14-69.2). Making or communicating a false bomb threat in any form, including a computer message; or perpetrating a bomb threat hoax by bringing a fake explosive device, whether openly or concealed, onto school property or to school-sponsored events (both are considered Class H felonies by G.S. 14-69.1 and G.S. 14-69.2). Because this definition is a summary of lengthy and detailed legislation, users of the definition should consult their school board attorney or the http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/statutes/toc-1.html website for further details or clarifications regarding its use.

29. 4. Bomb Threat • G.S. 14-69.1: …any person who, by any means of communication to any person or group of persons, makes a report, knowing or having reason to know the report is false, that there is located in or in sufficient proximity to cause damage to any building, house or other structure… any device designed to destroy or damage the building, house or structure…by explosion, blasting or burning, is guilty of a Class H felony.

30. Bomb Threat Scenarios • A student writes a note and gives it to a classmate before skipping school. It reads, “School sucks, especially Mr. Jones. I’m going to bomb the school.” The student turns in the note to the principal. • Bomb threat. • A lesser offense. • No offense.

31. Bomb Threat Scenarios • A student writes a note and gives it to a classmate before skipping school. It reads, “School sucks, especially Mr. Jones. I’m going to bomb the school.” The student turns in the note to the principal. • A lesser offense (Skipping School, Communicating Threats). (Note that a threat was communicated, but not a statement that a bomb had been placed.)

32. Bomb Threat Scenarios • The school office receives an anonymous phone call stating that there is a bomb located somewhere in the gymnasium. When asked if the bomb was live and set to go off, the caller hung up. • Bomb Threat. • A lesser offense. • No offense.

33. Bomb Threat Scenarios • The school office receives an anonymous phone call stating that there is a bomb located somewhere in the gymnasium. When asked if the bomb was live and set to go off, the caller hung up. • Bomb Threat.

34. 5.Burning of a School Building • (See G.S. 14-60). Any person who maliciously and willfully sets fire to, burns or causes to be burned (i.e. aids, directs or procures the burning of) any school building owned, leased or used by the public schools (considered a Class F felony by G.S. 14-60). Because this definition is a summary of lengthy and detailed legislation, users of the definition should consult their school board attorney or the http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/statutes/toc-1.html website for further details or clarifications regarding its use.

35. 5.Burning of a School Building • G.S. 14-60: If any person shall wantonly and willfully set fire to or burn or cause to be burned or aid, counsel or procure the burning of, any schoolhouse or building owned, leased or used by any public or private school, college or educational institution, he shall be punished as a Class F felon.

36. School Burning Scenarios • Over the weekend after the first football game, a student sets fire to the locker room of a county football stadium that the high school leased for its home football games. • Burning of a School Building. • A lesser offense. • No offense.

37. School Burning Scenarios • Over the weekend after the first football game, a student sets fire to the locker room of a county football stadium that the high school leased for its home football games. • Burning of a School Building.

38. School Burning Scenarios • On a Tuesday night before the beginning of final exams, the main high school building burned to the ground. The initial investigation indicated that the origin of the fire was electrical in nature. • Burning of a School Building. • A lesser offense. • No offense.

39. School Burning Scenarios • On a Tuesday night before the beginning of final exams, the main high school building burned to the ground. The initial investigation indicated that the origin of the fire was electrical in nature. C. No offense.

40. 6.Death By Other Than Natural Causes. • The killing of a living person, done either by another or by suicide. Acts to be reported under this category include murder, manslaughter, death by vehicle, killing in self-defense, killing done by an insane person, accidental killing and suicide. Killing is to be reported if either the death or the act causing it occurred on school property, and regardless of whether the victim is associated with the school. Examples of incidents to be reported are the accidental death of a child in a school bus accident, or a victim on school property shot by someone located on or off school property.

41. Death Scenarios 1.In a tragic accident, a parent dropping his child off at school in a driveway on campus hits another child that darts into the path of the car. The child dies of her injuries at a local hospital. • Death By Other Than Natural Causes. • Assault Resulting in Serious Injury. • Not Reported.

42. Death Scenarios 1.In a tragic accident, a parent dropping his child off at school in a driveway on campus hits another child that darts into the path of the car. The child dies of her injuries at a local hospital. • Death By Other Than Natural Causes.

43. Death Scenarios 2.A 28 year old male was found dead in a car parked at a city baseball parked leased by the school for use during certain times each week. The cause of death was uncertain, but was believed to be a drug overdose. The victim was not a local resident. • Death By Other Than Natural Causes. • Not Reported.

44. Death Scenarios 2.A 28-year-old male was found dead in a car parked at a city baseball parked leased by the school for use during certain times each week. The cause of death was uncertain, but was believed to be a drug overdose. The victim was not a local resident. • Death By Other Than Natural Causes.

45. Death By Other Than Natural CausesKey Factors in Reporting • Can be self-inflicted or inflicted by another. • Can be accidental or purposeful. • Remember that the school campus includes the main campus, sports fields, on buses, and at bus stops. • The definition does not address whether it should be applied to victims who die at another location after being injured on a school campus. Recommend reportingthese cases.

46. 7. Kidnapping • Confining, restraining or removing from one place to another a person, without his/her or the victim’s or a minor victim’s parents’ consent, for the purpose of committing a felony; or holding a victim as hostage or for ransom, or for use as a shield. A parent taking a child in violation of a court order, although it may be a crime, is not kidnapping for this purpose.

47. Kidnapping Scenarios • The young son of a 3rd grade teacher attended the same school as his mother and usually rode home with her. One day after school he disappeared after telling his mother he was going to the bathroom. As police were investigating that evening a ransom note was found in the bathroom. • Kidnapping • A lesser offense. • No offense.

48. Kidnapping Scenarios • The young son of a 3rd grade teacher attended the same school as his mother and rode home with her. One day after school he disappeared after telling his mother he was going to the bathroom. As police were investigating that evening a ransom note was found in the bathroom. • Kidnapping.

49. Kidnapping Scenarios • A male student who had been suspended arrives a school with a shotgun the next day, walks into Mrs. Vickers’ room, brandishes the shotgun, and announces that no one is leaving until he says so. It is between classes and there are five students in the room with Mrs. Vickers. A police negotiator talks the student into giving up after about two hours. No one was hurt. • Kidnapping. • Assault Involving Use of a Weapon. • A lesser offense. • No offense.

50. Kidnapping Scenarios • A male student who had been suspended arrives a school with a shotgun the next day, walks into Mrs. Vickers’ room, brandishes the shotgun, and announces that no one is leaving until he says so. It is between classes and there are five students in the room with Mrs. Vickers. A police negotiator talks the student into giving up after about two hours. No one was hurt. • Kidnapping. • Assault Involving Use of a Weapon. (Not necessary to list more than one count of each.)