The Newark Public School’s Working Guide to Student Misconduct and Disciplinary Response

Text Box: Examples of Level III Student Misconduct 

1. Alcohol; 2. Gambling; 3. Graffiti; 4. Fighting;
5. Vandalism; 6. Stealing; 7. Threats to others;
8. Intimidation and bullying
9. Continued disruptive behavior:
10. Smoking on school property; 
11. Chronic tardiness; 12. Chronic Cutting; 
13. Chronic absenteeism; 14. Chronic truancy; 
15. Extreme defiance;
16. Gender, racial or ethnic harassment;
17. Sexual harassment/assault 
18. Beepers; 19. Cellular phones
Text Box: Level III Student Misconduct

Acts directed against persons or property. 

These acts can most frequently be handled by the disciplinary mechanism in the school. Corrective measures which the school undertakes, however, depend on the extent of the school’s resources for remediating the situation in the best interests of all students.
Level 1     Level 2    Level 3    Level 4

 

 

Text Box: Level I Student Misconduct

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Text Box: Examples of Level I Disciplinary Actions
1. Verbal reprimand from teacher/administrator;
2. Behavioral contract;
3. Conference;
4. Withdrawal of privilege;
5. Behavioral adjustment program;
6. Detention;
7. Contact parent;
8. Peer mediation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Text Box: Level 2 Student Misconduct

Text Box: Level I Disciplinary Action

1. There is an immediate intervention by the staff member who is supervising the student or who observes the misbehavior.
2. Misbehavior requires a teacher to contact parent; conference with the counselor and/or administrator may be needed. All student misbehavior and parent contacts must be documented;
3. Parent must be notified if a student is kept for detention, and no students in grades K-5 may be kept beyond 3:15 p.m.
4. A proper and accurate record of the offenses & disciplinary action is maintained by the staff member.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Text Box: Examples of Level III Disciplinary Action
1. Parent/guardian conference required;
2. Behavioral adjustment program;
3. Alternative programs;
4. Suspension;
5. Counseling with guidance counselor, social worker, psychologist, attendance counselor;
6. Referrals to outside agencies;
7. Restitution for vandalism;
8. Clean graffiti;
9. Referral to PRC Committee;
10. Referral to SAC Coordinator;
11. Confiscated items will not be returned;
12. Referral to Affirmative Action Officer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Text Box: Level III Disciplinary Action
1. An administrator initiates disciplinary action by investigating the infraction and conferring with staff on the extent of the consequences;
2. An attendance record form (763) is issued to attendance counselor by teacher;
3. An administrator meets with the student and confers with the parent about the student’s misconduct and the resulting disciplinary action;
4. An administrator notifies police when appropriate.
5. A proper and accurate record of offenses and disciplinary actions is maintained by the administrator and staff member;
6. Contact SAC Coordinator;
7. There is restitution of damages by the parent or guardian of any minor, to be collected in any court of competent jurisdiction, together with costs of suit.

Text Box: Level 3 Student Misconduct

 

Text Box: Level II Disciplinary Action
1. The student is referred to the administrator for appropriate disciplinary action;
2. The administrator meets with the student and/or teacher and effects the most appropriate response;
3. The teacher is informed of the administrator’s actions;
4. A proper and accurate record of the offense and the disciplinary action is maintained by the administrator;
5. A parental conference is held.
Text Box: Examples of Level II Disciplinary Action
1. Parent/guardian conference;
2. Behavioral contract;
3. Probation contract;
4. Peer counseling;
5. Peer mediation;
6. Referral to outside agency;
7. Behavioral adjustment program;
8. Counseling by guidance counselor, social worker, psychologist, attendance counselor;
9. Referral to SAC Coordinator;
10. Referral to PRC member;
11. Confiscated items only returned to 
parents;
12. Suspension upon Asst. Supt. approval.

Text Box: Level 4 Student Misconduct

 

Text Box: Examples of Level IV Disciplinary Action

For students up to the age of 17: 
1. Suspension;
2. Expulsion;
3. Alternative schools/services;
4. Other Superintendent actions which result in appropriate placement.

For students 18 years old and over:
1. Suspension;
2. Expulsion;
3. Alternative school/evening high school;
4. Other Superintendent action which results in appropriate placement.

Text Box: Examples 
1. Weapons;           2. Pulling fire alarms;
3. Unmodified Level III misconduct;
4. Extortion;          5. Bomb threat;
6. Theft/possession/sale of stolen property;
7. Possession/use/transfer of dangerous weapons;
8. Assault and battery;     9. Arson;
10. Alcohol possession and use;
11. Use/furnishing/selling/possession of unauthorized or illegal substances.
Text Box: Level IV Student Misconduct

Acts which result in violence to another person or property or which pose a direct threat to the safety of others in the school.

These acts are often criminal and are so serious that they may require administrative actions which result in the immediate removal of the student from the school, the intervention of law enforcement authorities and action by central office administrators.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Text Box: Level IV Disciplinary Action
1. The administrator verifies the offense(s), confers with the staff involved and meets with the student. The student is immediately removed from the school environment. Parents are notified;
2. School officials contact a law enforcement agency and assist in prosecuting the offender;
3. A complete and accurate report of the student’s infraction is immediately submitted to the Superintendent for action;
4. The student is given a full due process hearing before the Superintendent or designee within twenty-one (21) days following the day of removal;
5. Any weapons violation by a student results in an immediate suspension to be followed by a Superintendent’s hearing. A student found to have been in violation of the policy would immediately enter an alternative program for a period of not less than twenty (20) school days.
6. A classified student may be suspended for up to ten (10) days while a re-evaluation is undertaken to determine the student’s most appropriate placement;
7. Refer to the Child Study Team

 

 

 

 

 

Text Box: Examples of Level II Misconduct
1. Abusive language
2. Continuation of unmodified Level I misbehavior;
3. School tardiness;
4. Truancy;
5. Smoking on school property;
6. Using forged notes or excuses;
7. Scholastic dishonesty;
8. Cutting class;
9. Radio;
10. Walkman/CD Player
11. Wearing Gang-Related Apparel or accessory which indicates gang membership or affiliation.
Text Box: Level II Student Misconduct

Misbehavior whose frequency or seriousness tends to disrupt the learning climate of the school.

These infractions, which usually result from the continuation of Level I misbehavior, require the intervention of personnel on the administrative level because the execution of Level I disciplinary options has failed to correct the situation. Also included in this level is misbehavior which does not represent a direct threat to the health and safety of but whose educational consequences are serious enough to require corrective action on the part of administrative personnel.

Text Box: Example of Level I Misconduct

1. Disruptive behavior;
2. Classroom tardiness;
3. Cheating;
4. Failure to complete assignments or carry out teacher directives;
5. Failure to follow instructions;
6. Wearing hats or other apparel disruptive to the educational process.
Text Box: Level I Student Misconduct

Misbehavior on the part of the student which impedes orderly classroom procedures or interferes with the orderly operation of the school.

This misbehavior can usually be handled by an individual staff member but sometimes requires the intervention of other school support personnel.