Instructor or Administrator Intervention

May include, but is not limited to: warning conference with student, parent conference, referral to counselor, behavioral contract, restriction of privileges, requirement of corrective action by student, changing student’s seat or class assignment, involvement of local authorities or agencies, or other appropriate action as required or indicated by the circumstances.

Detention

Detention is a correctional measure used when it is deemed appropriate. Students are to report to the appropriate teacher/principal at the specified time with class work to be studied. Detention may be assigned on a weekday or on a Saturday, as deemed appropriate.

School Service

School service may be required of students when an administrator believes that it would allow the student to understand the logical consequences of his/her conduct.  Examples include, but are not limited to, cleaning after vandalism or littering, helping a teacher after disrupting class, etc. School service will not be utilized to augment the district’s workforce, in ways which are likely to endanger a student, or in a manner which is designed to unduly embarrass a student.

In-School Intervention

In-school intervention is an optional correctional measure that may be used by the school when deemed appropriate by a site administrator. It involves assignment to a school site, designated by the school, for a prescribed course of education as determined by school representatives and there shall be no grade penalty. In-school intervention is not considered by law to be out-of-school suspension and therefore is non-appealable. However, all in-school interventions of greater than 15 days, with the exception of those directed by Board policy, must be confirmed by the Superintendent or designee.

Alternative In-School Placement

Alternative in-school placement is an optional correctional measure that may be used by the school when deemed appropriate.  It involves assignment to a school site, designated by the school, for a prescribed course of education as determined by school representatives.  Any such placement will be made in accordance with applicable special education procedural safeguards.

Alternative Out-of-School Placement

Alternative out-of-school placement is an optional correctional measure specifically authorized in cases when a student has made electronic communications intended to terrify, intimidate, harass, or threaten injury or harm to faculty or students.  Any such placement will be made in accordance with applicable special education procedural safeguards.

Out-of-School Suspension

Students may be suspended out of school pursuant to the District’s policy regarding student suspension.

Behavior or Conduct Which May Result in Suspension

Students who are guilty of any of the following acts may be suspended out of school by the administration of the school or the District for:

1. Violation of a school regulation;

2. Immorality;

3. Adjudication as a delinquent for an offense that is an exception to a non-violent offense. For the purposes of this section, “violent offense” shall include those offenses listed as the exceptions to the term “nonviolent offenses” as specified in OS Title 57, § 571, “Violent offense” shall include the offense of assault with a dangerous weapon but shall not include the offense of assault;

4. Possession of an intoxicating beverage, low-point beer, as defined by OS Title 37, § 163.2, missing or stolen property if the property is reasonably suspected to have been taken from a student, a school employee, or the school during school activities; and

5. Possession of a dangerous weapon or a controlled dangerous substance, as defined in the Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Act. Possession of a firearm shall result in out of school suspension as provided in the District’s policy related to Firearms.

In the event of a suspension for any of the reasons listed above, an education plan shall be applicable. However, no education plan shall be necessary for possession of a dangerous weapon or a controlled dangerous substance.

Students suspended for a violent offense directed toward a classroom teacher shall not be allowed to return to the teacher’s classroom without the teacher’s prior approval. Whether an offense is considered a violent offense, requiring an affected teacher’s approval as a condition of return to a particular classroom, shall be based on applicable provisions of the Oklahoma school law regarding student suspension and applicable Oklahoma criminal law distinguishing between violent and nonviolent offenses.

Pre-Suspension Conference

Before the District recommends out of school suspension through its designated representatives, alternative in-school intervention including, but not limited to, placement in an alternative school setting, placement in an online program, reassignment to another classroom, placement in in-school detention, or other available disciplinary or correctional options shall be considered. These shall not be considered as an out of school suspension but shall be treated as disciplinary or correctional actions that may be used, if warranted, as an alternative to out of school suspension. Students identified as disabled under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and who are suspended out of school or receive disciplinary removal from the classroom require additional procedural considerations.

Pre-Out-of-School Suspension Conferences

When a student violates Board policy or a school rule or regulation or has been adjudicated as a delinquent for an offense that is not a violent offense (as set out in OS Title 57, section 571), the principal will conduct an informal conference with the student.

At the conference with the student, the principal will read the policy, rule or regulation which the student is charged with having violated and will discuss the conduct of the student which is a violation of the policy, rule, or regulation.

The student will be asked whether he/she understands the policy, rule or regulation and be given a full opportunity to explain and discuss his/her conduct. If it is concluded that an out of school suspension is appropriate, the student will be advised that he/she is being suspended and the length of the out-of-school suspension.

The principal will immediately notify the parent/guardian by phone and in writing that the student is being suspended out-of-school and that alternative in-school intervention or other available options have been considered and rejected. The written notice should state what alternative in-school placement or other available options have been considered and why they were rejected. Elementary, intermediate, and middle school students will not be dismissed before the end of the school day without advance notice to parent/guardian.

Immediate Out-of-School Suspension Without a Pre-Out-of-School Suspension Conference

A student may be suspended out of school without the above pre-out of school suspension conference with the student only in situations where the conduct of the student reasonably indicates to the principal that the continued presence of the student in the building will constitute an immediate danger to the health or safety of the students, or school employees, or to school property, or a continued substantial disruption of the educational process.

In such cases, an out of school suspension conference with the student and the parent or guardian will be scheduled as soon as possible after the student has been removed from the building.

Conferences with Parents/Guardians

The principal will seek to hold a conference with the parent or guardian as soon as possible after the out of school suspension has been imposed. The parent/guardian should be advised of his/her right to a conference with the principal at the time he/she is notified that an out of school suspension has been imposed. The conference will be held during the regular school hours, Monday through Friday, with consideration given to special exceptions. At the conference, the principal will read the policy, rule or regulation which the student is charged with having violated and will briefly outline the conduct or behavior on the part of the student. The principal will also explain the basis for an out of school suspension rather than the use of alternative options. The parent/guardian should be asked by the principal if he/she understands the rule and the charges against the student.

At the conclusion of the conference, the principal will state whether he/she will terminate or modify the out-of-school suspension. In all cases the parent/guardian will be advised of his/her right to have the out of school suspension reviewed as provided by this policy. 

Out-of-School Suspension Requirements

An out-of-school suspension shall be long-term or short-term. A long-term out-of-school suspension shall be an out-of-school suspension of eleven (11) or more school days. A short term out-of-school suspension shall be a period of ten (10) or fewer school days.

In no event should an out-of-school suspension extend beyond the current school semester and succeeding semester, except in the case of possession of a firearm in which case an out-of-school suspension for up to one (1) calendar year is appropriate. Out-of-school suspensions involving firearms are governed by the District’s Gun-Free School Policy. Out-of-school suspensions should have a definite commencement and ending date: indefinite out-of-school suspensions are not permitted. It is recommended that out-of-school suspensions of eleven (11) or more days be imposed only in serious situations.

The principal may take previous conduct and previous disciplinary actions and out of school suspensions of the student into consideration. In some instances, students who commit infractions resulting in long-term suspensions may be offered the option of an online alternative program. The suspension will be reduced to ten (10) days, during which time the student will be required to complete and/or initiate any requisite screenings, assessments, contacts or other actions as determined by the appropriate administrator. After ten (10) school days, if documentation is produced by the student indicating that the required actions have been completed, the student will be enrolled in the online education program.

Out-of-school suspensions until the student performs some remedial act are not permitted; however, the student may be advised that an out-of-school suspension of definite length will be terminated at an earlier date if he/she performs a prescribed remedial act or acts.

Out-of-school suspensions, in excess of five (5) days, shall include an Individualized Plan for Out-of-School Suspension (“Plan”) which shall describe either a home-based school work assignment setting or other appropriate work assignment setting. The Plan shall be prepared by the principal with the assistance of other school employees as warranted by the circumstances of the out-of-school suspension.

The Plan shall provide for the core units in which the student is enrolled. Core units shall consist of the minimum English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies and Fine Arts units required by the Oklahoma State Department of Education for grade completion in grades kindergarten through eight and for high school graduation in grades nine through twelve.

A copy of the Plan shall be provided to the student and parent or guardian. The parent or guardian shall be responsible for provision of a supervised, structured environment in which the parent or guardian shall place the student. The parent or guardian shall bear responsibility for monitoring the student’s educational progress until the student is readmitted into school. The Plan shall set out the procedure for education and shall also address academic credit for work satisfactorily completed.

Records and Reports

The principal will document each out-of-school suspension conference. The principal or designee shall maintain records related to the Education Plan.

Revised by the Board of Education June 2004

Revised July 2011

Revised June 2015

Revised May 2017

Revised April 2023