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Subject: Regulation 2601, Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R)

 

Staff Contact: Dr. Michelle Boyd, assistant superintendent, Department of Special Services

                       

Other Staff Present:

 

            Deb Scott, director, Office of Intervention and Prevention Services

Dr. Shannon Anderson, coordinator, Office of Intervention and Prevention Services

Cindy Conley, principal, Irving Middle School

Margaret Barnes, principal, Holmes Middle School (will join as schedule allows)

Elizabeth Convey, assistant principal, Bailey’s Upper Elementary School

 

 

Meeting Category: Work Session, July 13, 2021

 

School Board Action Required:  Discussion

 

Ignite Link: Caring Culture

 

Problem Statement: Regulation 2601, Student Rights and Responsibilities annual review

 

Outcome: Review changes to regulation and receive input from board member.

 

Summary/Background (Key Points): Executive Summary

The presentation of the Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R), Regulation 2601, provides general updates based upon board feedback, state legislative requirements, changes made to ensure alignment with the state model guidance, updates on the district wide behavior referral implementation and proactive supports. The SR&R is aligned with the Virginia Board of Education Model Guidance for Positive and Preventative Code of Student Conduct Policy and Alternatives to Suspension and is reviewed each year and approved by the school board.

 

Significant changes were made to the 2020-21 SR&R. These changes include:

 

  • a hybrid distribution model
  • dress code changes to align with the state Dress Code Equity Act
  • implementation of the new Student Behavior and Administrative Response (SBAR) codes and Leveled Behavior Response Charts
  • the Reflective Considerations for Disciplinary Actions Flowchart for administrators
  • narrowing the mandatory police reporting requirements

 

The total number of behavior incidents entered to date during the 2020-21 school year have been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, because of this, the impact of the most recent changes to the Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R) is not fully known. The division has less than 3 days of discipline data in comparison to a typical school year. Detailed data points and notes were recently shared with the board and public in a Brabrand Briefing dated March 19, 2021.

 

The changes proposed with regards to the 2021-22 SR&R reflect the motions and further notes from the school board. In addition, a few language changes to note needed updates and definitions. No significant changes are proposed due to the need to implement the prior years’ changes as the division returns to in-person instruction five (5) days per week.

 

Notable changes that have been made this year include:

 

  • language has been edited throughout the document to reflect gender neutrality
  • each section in Chapter 1 has been clearly outlined as a right or a responsibility
  • the Chapter 2 title has been changed to align with the order of the content more clearly in the chapter
  • throughout Chapter 2, language has been expanded to minimize the use of the words inappropriate and disruptive
  • language around the SRO’s primary role (Page 39, II.B.3) in schools has been expanded and examples of safety concerns have been provided
  • Interventions aligning marijuana to alcohol violations
  • Expanded Equal Opportunity language to note rights and guide complaints
  • the definition of aggravating circumstances has been added to the Suspension of Students in Grades K-3 (page 43, II.C.3) paragraph in Chapter 2 for clarity
  • Title IX language and codes have been moved from the addendum into the main document along with information on retaliation to align with current federal requirements and Regulation 2118

 

No changes were necessary to the SR&R this year based upon the outcomes of the 2021 legislative session. To prepare for the new state data collection requirements and codes, FCPS implemented the Student Behavior and Administrative Response (SBAR) codes this school year and has anecdotally seen the benefit of focusing behavior conversations on the impact of the behavior on the learning environment and addressing it with a leveled response that includes appropriate sanctions and interventions. Per the VDOE, additional codes have been added to the SBAR data collection to reflect Persistently Dangerous behaviors that require a referral to the division superintendent and additional documentation for state reporting. These codes have been added as Category 6, which have the highest impact, in the code charts and require a referral to the Division Superintendent. The new codes will be used across the Commonwealth by all school divisions next school year and will provide consistency and transparency.

 

The focus for the 2021-22 school year, as students return to buildings 5 days per week, is to re-establish Tier 1 classroom routines and expectations while providing proactive social emotional support for our students. The division-wide implementation of the online behavior referral in the fall, paired with teacher and administrator training to support implementation at Tier 1, will provide more accurate data at the classroom, school, region, and division levels. The behavior incidents will populate the MTSS Workflow feature in SIS which will provide a school level dashboard for easy access to data that is updated each night.

 

Recommendation:  That the School Board adopt Regulation 2601.33P, Student Rights and Responsibilities, as detailed in the agenda item.

 

Attachments:

 

SR&R School Board Presentation

R2601 Clean

R2601 Redline