Category: In-School Discipline
Subcategory: Alternatives to Suspension
State: District of Columbia
The state or jurisdiction(s) you selected for this subcategory are shown below, followed by the laws and regulations. To add or change states, use the Back button and resubmit your search request.
To view a state profile showing school discipline laws and regulations in all subcategories for a given state, click on the state name.
§ 38-236.01. Definitions.
For the purposes of this part, the term:
(8) "In-school suspension" means temporarily removing a student from the student's regular class schedule as a disciplinary consequence, during which time the student remains on school grounds under the supervision of school personnel who are physically in the same location as the student.
§ 38-236.03. Establishment of school discipline policies.
(b) Local education agencies shall adopt, in consultation with school personnel, students, and parents, school discipline policies to promote the safety and well-being of students and staff. School discipline policies shall:
(9) Promote disciplinary actions that are individualized, fair, equitable, developmentally appropriate, proportional to the severity of the student's offense, and, if appropriate, restorative.
§ 38-236.06. Support for positive school climate and trauma-informed educational settings.
(a) The Office of the State Superintendent of Education shall provide an array of supports to assist local education agencies and schools to achieve the goals of §§ 38-236.03 through 38-236.05 and to adopt trauma-informed disciplinary practices. The OSSE shall provide local education agencies and schools with, among other supports, the following:
(1) Guidance and materials that inform local education agencies and school communities about developments in the fields of school climates and behavioral management;
(2) Regular, high-quality professional development opportunities and technical assistance, and recommendations for further instruction outside of these opportunities, for local education agency and school personnel on:
(D) Restorative practices and other evidence-based or promising behavioral interventions.
5-B2500. General policy.
2500.6 Options for prevention, intervention, and remediation shall include, but not be limited to:
(y) Restorative justice strategies.
5-B2502. Grounds for disciplinary action.
2502.1 Tier I behaviors are those behaviors that are insubordinate or cause minor disruptions to the academic environment but do not involve damage to school property or harm to self or others. Tier I behaviors result in classroom-level disciplinary responses that may be elevated to administrative response if they are not successfully abated by the teacher or the appropriate school-level committee.
(b) Disciplinary responses for Tier I behaviors shall include:
(1) Verbal redirection or reprimand;
(2) Teacher/student conference;
(3) Parental contact in writing or by phone;
(4) Teacher/parent conference;
(5) Temporary Removal of Student from Classroom;
(6) In-School Disciplinary Action;
(7) Behavior contract; and
(8) Other school-based consequences as approved by a person designated by the Chancellor.
2502.2 Tier II behaviors are those behaviors not specifically enumerated in any other tier in this chapter that cause disruption to the academic environment, involve damage to school property, or may cause minor harm to self or others. Tier II behaviors result in school-based and administrative disciplinary responses.
(b) Disciplinary responses for Tier II behaviors shall include:
(1) Verbal redirection or reprimand;
(2) Teacher/student or administrator/student conference;
(3) Parental contact in writing or by phone;
(4) Administrator/parent conference;
(5) Temporary Removal of Student from Classroom;
(6) In-School Disciplinary Action;
(7) Behavior contract;
(8) Other school-based consequences as approved by a person designated by the Chancellor; and
(9) In the case of non-compliance with an approved dress code or uniform policy, disciplinary actions described in section 2408.16 of this title.
2502.3 Tier III behaviors are those behaviors not specifically enumerated in any other tier in this chapter that cause significant disruption to the academic environment or cause harm to self or others. In addition to lesser consequences, Tier III behaviors may result in either on-site or off-site Suspension.
(b) Disciplinary responses for Tier III behaviors shall include:
(1) Verbal redirection/reprimand;
(2) Teacher/student conference or administrator/student conference;
(3) Parental contact (written or by phone);
(4) Parent conference;
(5) Temporary Removal of Student from Classroom;
(6) Behavior contract;
(7) In-School Disciplinary Action;
(8) Grade reduction for Academic Dishonesty;
(9) On-site Short-Term Suspension with provision of appropriate intervention services.
5-B2599. Definitions.
2599.1 Unless the same term or phrase is defined in § 2599.2, the definitions set forth in § 2099 are incorporated in this chapter by reference and shall apply to the terms and phrases used in this chapter.
2599.2 As used in this chapter, the following terms and phrases shall have the meanings ascribed:
"In-School Disciplinary Action"–disciplinary actions such as after-school detention, loss of privileges (including recess), exclusion from extracurricular activities, written reflection, conflict resolution, mediation, or similar actions of short duration that do not result in the student's loss of academic instruction time.