School Discipline
When a student’s behavior interferes with the learning process, the schools have an obligation to intervene. These interventions are scaled to the size of the misbehavior. Some interventions take place without other students ever knowing; some require a temporary separation from the classroom. In the process of implementing PBIS concepts, Henry County Public Schools will be committed to offering interventions at the appropriate times in an effort to keep students in the classroom.
Unfortunately, some offenses or violations of the Code of Student Conduct will still require students to be suspended. When a student offense creates a safety concern or injures someone or shows blatant disregard for school policies, a suspension is warranted. Principals, assistant principals, and principals’ designees—by extension of the authority of the principal—retain the authority to suspend students for up to ten school days.
Students have a right to Due Process and fair mindedness in decisions that result in suspensions, which means that they cannot be suspended without knowing what violations they are being held accountable for, they cannot be suspended for offenses beyond the scope of the school, and they cannot be suspended without having an opportunity to respond on their own behalf. Parents also have a right to be notified of a suspension. Notification of a suspension can be provided face to face, over the phone, or through a written communication.
Student violations that warrant removal from school for more than ten days are referred to the Student Support Services Office. When these incidents are reviewed, PBIS concepts still factor into the outcomes presented for each student. Consequences and supports are intended to run on parallel tracks so that students are not only held accountable for serious offenses but also given support and structure to prevent a recurrence of the undesirable behavior.
Please see page 16 for an overview of behavior interventions and leveled (or tiered) responses.
Teacher’s Authority to Remove Student from Class
Teachers are the disciplinarians in their classrooms, and they are entrusted with the initial authority to remove students who disrupt the learning environment. In accordance with HCPS Board Policy JFCA and §§22.1-276.01 and 22.1-276.2 of the Code of Virginia, teachers may remove students when the behavior is preventing other students from benefitting from the instruction or when removal of a student is the only way to restore a learning environment free from distractions.