Student discipline is one area that we receive lots of questions. Following is a list of some of the most common concerns and the contract language and Washington State statutes that apply:
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You have the right to exclude disruptive students from your classroom for up to two days for each event! The purpose of this law and contract language is for you to have a tool to protect the learning environment for other students in the classroom. Under the law you must have tried other interventions first, except in extreme situations. The student "may be excluded by the teacher from his or her individual classroom and instructional or activity area for all or any portion of the balance of the school day, or up to the following two days, or until the principal or designee and teacher have conferred, which ever comes first." When you are using this tool be sure to tell the principal you are exercising the "two day exclusion law" so that it is clearly understood what you are doing (RCW 28.A600.020 and the Collective Bargaining Agreement Article V).
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State law requires the school to inform teachers of any incoming transfer student's history of disciplinary actions, criminal or violent behavior, or other behavior that indicates the student could be a threat to the safety of educational staff or other students (RCW 28A.225.330).
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A student convicted of committing an offense such as assault, malicious harassment, malicious mischief, or other crimes against a teacher shall not be assigned to that teacher's classroom for the duration of the student's attendance at that school or any other school where the teacher is assigned. (RCW 28A.600.460)
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You have the right to obtain an Anti-harassment Protection Order against a student or a student's parent if those individuals engage in behaviors that are abusive; threatening; seriously alarm, annoy or harass; or would cause a reasonable person to suffer substantial emotional distress (RCW 10.14.020).
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Inappropriate acts/behaviors directed toward EEA staff, as a result of their employment with the Edmonds School District, whether occurring on or off school premises, shall be subject to building/district level investigation and may result in disciplinary or other appropriate action toward the perpetrator, as determined by the District (Collective Bargaining Agreement, Article V).
As always, if you need any assistance in exercising your rights under our contract and/or the law, contact EEA immediately. |
