A recorded version of this presentation will be posted to http://wvde.wv.us/osp/sebta.html

1. Policy 4373 Expected Behaviors in Safe and Supportive Schools Presented by Justin Boggs March 12, 2013 A recorded version of this presentation will be posted to http://wvde.wv.us/osp/sebta.html

2. “Our challenge as educators is to make sure that we provide all children in our public schools the opportunity for success. Teachers of children with special needs understand this challenge more than most. They are dedicated individuals who have a passion for teaching and high expectations that every child can learn given an opportunity.” – James B. Phares, Ed.D.

3. Policy 4373 Revisions Student Code of Conduct Expected Behavior in Safe and Supportive Schools Combines: 2418 – Alternative Education 2421 – Harassment 2422.5 – Substance Abuse 4372 – Student Rights and Responsibilities 4373 – Student Code of Conduct

4. WVBEVision “ . . . to provide an education that supports students to develop into healthy, responsible, and self-directed citizens who have the knowledge and Global21 skills to lead satisfying and productive lives.” (Intro.)

5. Within this vision . . . “. . .a goal for all students to develop personal skills and dispositions of wellness, responsibility, self-direction, ethical character, cultural awareness and good citizenship in an environment that is caring and safe.” (Intro., WVBE Goal #2)

6. The Big Picture

7. Table of Contents Ch. 1 Expected Student Dispositions Ch. 2 Student Rights and Responsibilities Ch. 3 Planning for Policy Implementation Ch. 4 Inappropriate Behaviors and Meaningful Interventions and Consequences Ch. 5 Procedures for Addressing Allegations of Inappropriate Behaviors Ch. 6 Procedures for Taking Action on Substantiated Inappropriate Behaviors

8. Chapter 1Expected Student Dispositions Sec. 1 – Rationale for Developing Dispositions Sec. 2 – School and Community Social Skills Standards • Self-awareness and Self-management • Social-awareness and Interpersonal Skills • Decision-making Skills and Responsible Behaviors

9. What are dispositions? • “the values, • commitments • and ethics - that - • influence one’s behaviors toward others, and • affect learning, motivation and development.” (Ch. 1, Sec. 1)

10. Dispositions reflect Values such as… • Caring • Fairness • Honesty • Responsibility • Social Justice (Ch. 1, Sec. 1)

11. Socially Competent Students are Skilled in Three Core Areas: Self-awareness and Self-management + Social-awareness and Interpersonal Skills + Decision-making Skills and Responsible Behaviors (Ch. 1, Sec. 2)

12. Standards and Objectives:2nd – 4th

13. Standard 1:Self-awareness and Self-management This standard promotes the development of self- esteem and the identification of emotions leading to student self-efficacy to express themselves in constructive ways. These skills enable students to > control impulses > manage stress and > motivate themselves to establish, monitor and achieve academic and personal goals. (Ch. 1, Sec. 2)

15. Standard 2:Social-awareness and Interpersonal Skills Social-awareness involves recognition of the thoughts, feelings and perspectives of others, including those that are different from one’s own. Interpersonal skills involve • cooperating • communicating respectfully and • constructively resolving conflicts … Both are essential for building and maintaining positive relationships that are essential to success in school and life. (Ch. 1, Sec. 2)

16. Standard 3: Decision-making Skills and Responsible Behaviors Decision-making requires an ability to accurately assess a variety of situations, define and evaluate choices, anticipate consequences of each, generate alternative choices and select a responsible choice. Responsible behaviors are those that • promote safety • avoid risk • deal honestly and fairly with others • contribute in a positive way to one’s classroom, school, family and community (Ch. 1, Sec. 2)

17. How are the Social and Emotional Learning Standards to be used? “The social and emotional learning standards are not expected to be documented in individual teacher lesson plans but rather should serve as a framework for school-wide student behavior expectations as determined by each school faculty.” (Ch. 1, Sec. 2)

18. Social and Emotional Learning is addressed through WV Board of Education policies such as: • 2315 - Guidance and Counseling • 2520.4 - Social Studies • 2520.55 - Wellness PreK-4 • 2520.5 - Health Education 5-12 • 2520.6 - Physical Education 5-12 • 2520.14 - Learning Skills and Technology Tools • 2520.15 - Early Learning Standards Framework: Content Standards and Learning Criteria for West Virginia Pre-Kindergarten (WV Pre-k) • 2520.19 - Advisor/Advisee 5-12

19. Sample of Crosswalk

20. In what context must this learning take place? “Competence in the use of these skills is promoted in the context of safe and supportive school, family and community learning environments in which students feel valued, respected, connected to and engaged in learning.” (Ch. 1, Sec. 2)

21. Whose Responsibility is This? “It is the collective responsibility of all school staff and all community partners to assume an appropriate role in teaching and supporting social and emotional learning skills.” (Ch. 1, Sec. 2) “Parents, teachers and community members, by fostering a sense of cooperative responsibility, can reinforce one another’s efforts.” (Ch. 3, Sec. 1)

22. Survey Data from 42 WV Schools – Spring 2011 During the past 30 days, • 18% of students reported smoking cigarettes at least once • 13% reported using smokeless tobacco at least once • 29% had at least one drink of alcohol • 19% had five or more drinks in a row within a couple of hours (Binge drinking) • 15% used marijuana • 29% of students felt that student depression was a moderate or severe problem in their school • During the previous 12 months, 15% said they seriously considered attempting suicide Obviously, schools cannot address these problems effectively without support from community organizations and agencies.

23. How are parents involved? “Parents, as their children’s first and most enduring teachers, can complement their children’s school learning and behavior by serving as collaborators in the educational process.” (Ch. 3, Sec. 1)

24. And the Community? “Community involvement, including strong business partnerships, promotes a safe and supportive school climate/culture that connects students to a broader learning community.” (Ch. 3, Sec. 1)

25. Chapter 2Student Rights and Responsibilities Sec. 1 – The Right to a Thorough and Efficient Education Sec. 2 – Student Inquiry and Expression Sec. 3 – Non-curriculum Related Student Groups Sec. 4 – Extra-curricular Activities Sec. 5 – Privacy Sec. 6 – Protection from Unreasonable Searches and Seizures Sec. 7 – Child Abuse Prevention (Refer to Chapter 2 for details)

26. Sections in Chapter 2 with Changes • Section 1-School supplies • Section 2-Electronic communications • Section 4-GED participation in Extra-Curricular Activities

27. Chapter 3Planning for Policy Implementation Sec. 1 – Conceptual Framework Sec. 2 – Responsibilities of the West Virginia Board of Education Sec. 3 – Responsibilities of the Regional Education Service Agencies Sec. 4 – Responsibilities of County Boards of Education Sec. 5 – Responsibilities of Schools

28. If the School Climate/Culture is Positive – Students, Staff and Parents Feel: • Safe . . . emotionally, intellectually and physically • Engaged • Respected (Ch. 3, Sec.1)

29. What a Positive School Climate/Culture Looks Like? • characterized by warmth, positive interest, and involvement by adults • firm limits to unacceptable behavior • where non-hostile, non-physical negative consequences are consistently applied in cases of violations of rules and other inappropriate behaviors • adults act as authorities and positive role models (Olweus, D., Limber, S. & Mihalic, S.F. (1999). Bullying Prevention Program. Boulder, CO: Center for the Study/Prevention of Violence)

30. How does the policy support this? In order to convey a pervasive and consistent message that these valued dispositions are a priority, all students, staff and public guests of West Virginia public schools shall behave in a manner that promotes a school climate/ culture that is safe and supportive and conducive to developing our valued dispositions. (Ch. 3, Sec. 1)

31. Where do Expectations Apply? Conduct expectations apply to all students, staff and public guests: -> on school property, -> on school owned/leased buses and vehicles, -> at school bus stops and -> at sponsored events. (Ch. 3, Sec. 1)

32. Based on a dozen years of experience implementing the West Virginia Model for Positive School Climate, these minimums in Policy 4373 express What Works! They describe Essential Components of a Safe and Supportive School

33. At a minimum, schools shall: Establish a leadership team and a process to gain school-wide input and commitment to manage the design, monitoring and improvement of school climate/culture (Ch. 3, Sec. 5)

34. At a minimum, schools shall: Make data driven improvement decisions based on school climate/ culture data to set school-wide improvement priorities/plans

35. At a minimum, schools shall: Implement programs/practices that promote • Universal youth asset development • Targeted at-risk group interventions • Referral processes for intensive interventions

36. What interventions are in place at your school? Level 3 • Intensive Interventions • Individual students • Assessment-based Level 2 • Targeted Group Interventions • Some students (at-risk) • Rapid response Level 1 • Core Instructional Interventions • All settings, all students • Preventive, proactive

37. At a minimum, schools shall: Evaluate school climate/culture improvement process and revise as needed

38. How Will We Assess Progress? • Climate/culture survey data • Reduced referrals for inappropriate behaviors • Decreases in absentee rate • Increases in informal positive socialization • A perceived sense of community • Reduction in out-of- school and in-school suspensions • If it’s starting to look and feel like we imagined

39. Change is Slow and often Subtle Changing a school’s climate is a process Not in big events, but steps implemented, strategically, over time. This process usually takes between 3-5 years.

40. Chapter 4 Inappropriate Behaviors and Meaningful Interventions and Consequences The purpose of these regulations is to provide schools with policy that creates and ensures an orderly and safe environment that is conducive to learning. (Ch. 4, Sec. 1)

41. The Charge Revisited This policy requires that all schools respond quickly and consistently to any behavior that disrupts the learning environment in a manner that effectively deters future incidentsand affirms respect for individuals. (Ch. 4, Sec. 1)

42. Sample for Level 1

43. Level 1 Minimally Disruptive Behaviors- disrupt the educational process and the orderly operations of the school but do not pose direct danger to self or others. Cheating Inappropriate Language Deceit Inappropriate display of affection Tardiness Failure to serve detention Falsifying identity Disruptive/Disrespectful Conduct Inappropriate appearance Vehicle parking violation Skipping class Possession of inappropriate personal property

44. Level 2 Disruptive and Potentially Harmful Behaviors- disrupt the educational process and/or pose potential harm or danger to self and/or others. The behavior is committed willfully but not in a manner that is intended maliciously to cause harm or danger to self and/or others. Gang-related activity Habitual violation of school rules or policies Insubordination Leaving school without permission Physical fight without injury Possession of imitation weapon Possession of knife not meeting “dangerous weapon definition” Profane language/obscene gesture/indecent act toward employee or student Technology misuse

45. Level 3 Imminently Dangerous, Illegal and/or Aggressive Behaviors-are willfully committed and are known to be illegal and/or harmful to people and/or property. Fraud/forgery Battery against a student False fire alarm Gambling Trespassing Sexual misconduct Inhalant abuse Threat of injury/assault against an employee or student Imitation drugs Improper or negligent operation of a motor vehicle Hazing Substance containing tobacco/nicotine Larceny Harassment/bullying/intimidation Defacing school property/vandalism

46. Level 4 Safe School Act Behaviors- are consistent with those addressed in West Virginia Codes. Battery against a school employee Felony Illegal substance related behaviors Possession and/or use of dangerous weapon *Level 4 behaviors are used in the identification and classification of Persistently Dangerous Schools.

47. May Counties Reclassify Behaviors? “County policies may reclassify Level 2 and 3 inappropriate behaviors depending on the severity or repetition f the behaviors and provided this reclassification assures that the treatment of the inappropriate behavior is consistent with West Virginia Code.” (Ch. 4, Sec. 1)

48. May Counties Add Interventions and Consequences? “County/school policies should identify appropriate and meaningful interventions and consequences that include, but are not limited to, examples provided in this policy.” (Ch. 4, Sec.1)

49. Examples of Interventions that Could be Added • For students with disabilities: Behavior Intervention Plan, Reconvene the IEP or 504 Committee • Referral to a local mental health agency for counseling • Placing a student who has been excluded from class or suspended in school in another teacher’s classroom to complete assignments

50. Prevention is the process in which we teach students to choose acceptable behavior and help them develop an attitude of respect for oneself and others. Intervention is the process in which we hold students responsible for their behavior and for the consequences of that behavior.