Alternatives to Suspension

1. Alternatives to Suspension

2. Agenda • Why Develop Alternatives • Alternatives to Suspension • Re-Entry Process and Procedures • Making It Happen

3. Developing Alternatives to Suspension • Goal is to Change Behavior: • Data indicate suspension is not effective in changing behavior • Desire to move away from consequences as ‘punishment’ • Discipline means ‘to teach’ • Minority and special education students are over represented • Negative Side Effects: • Impedes academic success • Dropout rate increases • Students disengage from the learning process (Peterson, http://www.mslbd.org/Admin_Conference/Peterson%2010-6-06.pdf)

4. Alternatives • Mini-Courses • Community Service/Service Learning • Behavior Monitoring, Behavior Contracts • Cool-Off Passes • Reflective Activities • Alternate Schedule • Restitution, Restorative Justice • Peer Mediation/Teen Court • Referral to Community Agencies/Diversion Programs • ‘New and Improved’ ISS, Saturday School, Detentions • Loss of Privileges

5. 1. Mini-Courses • Independent, specific topics covered • Combination of videos, readings, research, etc. • YouTube, popular movies, TV shows, etc… • Blackboard, Illuminate, I-Tunes, etc… • Consider testing on the content at the completion of the course • Can be developed for any age level or behavior

6. Ideas for Courses • Specific Skills: • How to disagree respectfully • How to calm down when angry • Alternative responses during tense situations • How to organize your time • Specific Curricula: • Skillstreaming and PREPARE • Help task analyze specific actions involved in the skills

7. Ideas for Courses • Concept-Level Topics: • Variations in respectful behavior across cultures • Research the pros and cons of a rule • What might happen without the rule? • Why is it important to have a rule like “X” in place? • Identify current or historical events where a public figure violated a similar behavioral norm • What happened as a result of that person’s behavior? • Are there similarities to the student’s situation?

8. 2. Community Service and Service Learning • Helps build ties to the community and provides access to positive adult role models • Environmental clean up • Tutoring younger students • Assisting community service agencies • Students link their service to one of the school’s expectations and present on the outcomes • Set time frame, not during school hours

9. 3. Behavior Monitoring • Students monitor their own behavior • Get teacher agreements on ratings • Meet with Guidance Counselor, Dean, or AP on a weekly basis to review • Could be included with ongoing counseling

10. Adapted from Crone, Horner & Hawken (2004) Behavior Report Card HR 1st 2nd 3rd 4th L 5th 6th BE RESPECTFUL 2 BE RESPONSIBLE 3 2 3 BE PREPARED Points Possible: __72___ Points Received: __55__ % of Points: __76__ Goal Achieved? Y N Name: ______Lisa Overton________________ Date: __2/1/08______ Rating Scale: 3=Good day 2= Mixed day 1=Will try harder tomorrow GOALS 3 3 1 1 3 3 3 3 1 1 2 2 1 3 3 1 3 3 2 3 Teacher Comments: I really like how… ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Parent Signature(s) and Comments: _______________________________________________

11. FLPBS Tier 2 Excel Tool Tier 2 Spreadsheet : http://flpbs.fmhi.usf.edu/resources_targetedgroup.asp

12. Behavior Contracts • Guidelines: • Focus on only one behavior per contract • Develop contract collaboratively with student • Set realistic time frame and requirements • Identify reward if contract is met • Identify negative consequence if contract is broken • Sample templates: Tough Kid Toolbox • http://www.behavioradvisor.com/Contracts.html • http://specialed.about.com/library/templates/contract2.pdf • http://www.teachervision.fen.com/tv/printables/MENC_contract.pdf • http://www.usu.edu/teachall/text/behavior/LRBIpdfs/Behavioral.pdf

13. Sample Behavior Contract http://www.teachervision.fen.com/classroom-discipline/printable/6767.html

14. 4. Cool-Off Passes • Ideal for students who have difficulty managing frustration • Student receives “X” number of passes for the week • Pass allows student to go a pre-determined area to cool down and reflect • If student has passes left at the end of the week, and additional reward is earned

15. 5. Reflective Activities • Student: • Reflects on what happened • Determines what could be done differently next time • Develops a plan • Teacher follows up with student at regular intervals • Can be combined with other alternatives

16. 6. Alternative Schedule • Elementary Schools: • One morning teacher; One afternoon teacher • Secondary: • Able to earn attending an elective that is highly preferred by the student • Allow student to attend a preferred elective throughout the year/semester rather than rotating through electives that are non-preferred • If a preferred elective is not available for the student’s grade, allow student to enroll, or combine with above

17. 7. Restitution • Student makes amends for the result of his/her inappropriate behavior • Fix, repair or clean up ‘problem’ situation • Approval/agreement from the person(s) that were offended is obtained that the restitution will suffice • Certification of completion from the person(s) that were offended is obtained

18. 7. Restorative Justice • Students presents their case before a community or school-based court • Panel of judges • Majority opinion wins • Judges trained in alternatives to suspension, provide rationale for their opinion • Community partners should be involved • Obtain parent & student agreement beforehand • Court’s decision is binding

19. 8. Peer Mediation/Teen Court • Trained peers hear and review both sides of the situation • Peers decide the outcomes • Both parties must agree to abide by the outcomes • Kids come up with very creative ideas!

20. 9. Referral to Community Agencies/Diversion Programs • For ongoing problems, identify community agencies to provide assistance • Student must complete the agencies program • Builds ties with the community and positive adult role models • Diversion programs • First time offenders for drugs, tobacco, alcohol, etc. • Program completion required with continued follow-up

21. 10. New and ImprovedISS, Detentions, Saturday School • Incorporate a social skills component • ISS-assigned maximum # days but can work towards getting out early by meeting specific criteria • Restitution, apologies, community service • Saturday School • Parent training component • Early-release days may be another option

22. 11. Loss of Privileges • Unable to earn rewards/privileges • Temporary loss of parking privileges • Sports: Participation in practices only. Sidelined for games • Eat lunch in the cafeteria instead of outside • Unable to attend club meetings for set amount of time

23. Re-Entry Process and Procedures • Re-entry is a Priority: • Buy-in from staff, parents and students • When a student returns to class the first day, a neutral party mediates re-entry • Teacher-Student-Administration meet to problem- solve and teach before returning to class • Helps heal student-teacher relationships

24. Additional Supports • Local Community Agencies • School Resource Officer • Probation Officer/Truant Officer (if applicable) • School Social Worker • Child’s Case Worker (if applicable) • Parents, family members • Administrator

25. Making It Happen: Keys to Alternatives • District and Administrator Support: • Establish district-wide programs • Administrator input essential • Training for Administrators on alternatives and re-entry process and procedures • See Grid on following slide • Requires advanced planning and organization • Demonstrates commitment to behavioral change vs. punishment • Be creative and think outside the box

27. Contact Information and Resources • FLPBS:RtIB Project • Phone: (813) 974-6440 • Fax: (813) 974-6115 • E-mail: flpbs@fmhi.usf.edu • Website:http://flpbs.fmhi.usf.edu • OSEP Technical Assistance Center on PBIS • Website:www.pbis.org • Association on PBS • Website: www.apbs.org