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School Discipline Hearings

MAPP Conference 19 November 2010. Buzz Williams Assistant Supervisor in Student Services Harford County Public Schools buzz.williams@hcps.org 410-588-5336. School Discipline Hearings. Purpose. To provide an overview of school disciplinary hearing procedures.

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School Discipline Hearings

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  1. MAPP Conference 19 November 2010 Buzz Williams Assistant Supervisor in Student Services Harford County Public Schools buzz.williams@hcps.org 410-588-5336 School Discipline Hearings

  2. Purpose • To provide an overview of school disciplinary hearing procedures.

  3. Maryland has 24 school systems • …and 24 unique procedures for conducting school discipline hearings.

  4. Our titles across Maryland: • Superintendent’s Designee • Hearing Officer • Director of Student Services • Assistant Supervisor in Student Services • Pupil Personnel Worker • Special Assistant for Safe and Orderly Schools • Administrative Director of Secondary Ed. • Coordinator of Student Services Appeals Unit

  5. Continuum of Approaches

  6. Common Components • Case Preparation • Introduction • Hearing • Discussion • Disposition • Closure • Documentation

  7. Case Preparation • Demographic information • Administrative incident report • Due Process • Discipline history • Attendance history • Academic history • Possible consequences

  8. Due Process (14th Amendment) • Constitutional guarantee of fairness.  • Student informed of violations • Opportunity to tell student’s story • Before suspension • Investigation that factors student’s story • A decision supported by evidence • Witnesses, statements, video, photos • Laws, policies, and procedures followed

  9. Possible Consequences • Reduce suspension and return to home school • Return to home school after 10 suspension days • Extend suspension (5, 10, 15); return to home school • Short-term expulsion from home school (1Q, 2Q, 3Q, 4Q); place at Alt Ed; review optional • Short-term expulsion; no ed services • Long-term expulsion from home school; place Alt Ed through graduation • Permanent expulsion; no ed services

  10. Consequence Criteria Age—older = more accountable Violation type—dangerous? Remorse—sorry for violation? Resolve—committed to follow rules? Discipline history—patterns? Attendance—satisfactory? Grades—making effort to learn? Credits—on track to graduate? Intervention—contract for reduced suspension? School System Policy—non-negotiable?

  11. Greeting and Introduction • Greetstudent, family, and advocates • Assign seating • Demonstrate mutual respect • Explain Procedures • Audio recording • Checkthat all are ready to begin

  12. Hearing • Official introduction • Minutes or audio recording • Hearing officer, school system, date, purpose, student name, violation (s), participants, audio recording notification • Student response to violation (s) • Presentation of administrator’s evidence • Presentation of student evidence • Decision about violation (s)

  13. Discussion • Discipline history • Attendance • Grades • Credits • On track to graduate? • Remorse • Resolve • Interventions • Letters of apology, mediation, mentoring, counseling, physician referral, disability assessment, contract

  14. Closure • Summarize hearing decision • Summarize consequence and placement • Review reentry/enrollment date and conditions • Ask each participant for closing comments • End audio recording or minutes

  15. Documentation • Complete administrative report • hearing, decision, discussion, consequence, placement, rationale, and reentry conditions • Send letter to parent • hearing decision, consequence, and placement • Reentry Contract • Conditions for reentry to school

  16. Elementary Age Students • Frequently reduced to less than 10 days • Include familiar staff from school • Allow administrator to suggesttone • Developmentally appropriate communication • Empower parents to help communicate • Include administrator in reentry conditions

  17. Special Ed • 10 removal days & FAPE • Manifestation mtg summaries required • “Yes-manifestation” = no conference; end susp. • Manifestation mtgsummarycites IAES • Home School • Alternative Ed • Other

  18. Reportable Offenses • Cite COMAR Reg 7-303 • Case review, not suspension • 7-303 = not subject to the appeal rules of suspension under 7-305 • Administrative placement can be made based on charge prior to legal hearing • Charge linked to school with potential for danger or disruption • Documentation not part of student record

  19. Suspension Reductions • Substance Abuse Counseling • Tobacco Education Classes • Fire Marshall Classes • Sexting Education Counseling • Bus Safety Counseling • Sensitivity Counseling • Peaceful Conflict Resolution Counseling • Anger Management Counseling

  20. Maryland Association of School Discipline Hearing Officers • MASDHO • PPWs are encouraged to join • http://hcps.org/masdho

  21. Question & Answer Conclusion

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