3241 Policy – Student Discipline

Introduction/Philosophy/Purpose

Bellingham Public Schools makes a collective commitment to empower every child to discover and develop their passions, contribute to their community and achieve a fulfilling and productive life. The district holds high expectations for all students and gives all students the opportunity to achieve personal and academic success. The district intends that this policy and procedure be implemented in a manner that supports a positive school climate, maximizes instructional time and increases equitable educational opportunities.

The purposes of this policy and accompanying procedure include:

Providing a safe and supportive learning environment for all students.

Providing due process for students.

Implementing culturally responsive discretionary and nondiscretionary discipline policies and procedures that provide opportunity for all students to achieve personal and academic success.

Engaging with school personnel, students, parents, families and the community in decisions related to the development and implementation of discipline policies and procedures.

Ensuring fairness and equity in the administration of discretionary and nondiscretionary discipline.

Administering discretionary discipline in ways that respond to the needs and strengths of students, support students in meeting behavioral expectations and keep students in the classroom to the maximum extent possible.

A. Providing educational services that students need to complete their education without disruption.

B. Facilitating collaboration between school personnel, students, parents and families to support successful reentry into the classroom following a suspension or expulsion.

Students’ Fundamental Rights

The district will observe students’ fundamental rights and will administer discipline in a manner that does not:

A. Unlawfully discriminate against a student on the basis of sex, race, creed, ethnicity, religion, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity, homelessness, immigration or citizenship status, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, neurodivergence or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability.

B. Deprive a student of the student's constitutional right to freedom of speech and press, the constitutional right to peaceably assemble and to petition the government and its representatives for a redress of grievance, the constitutional right to the free exercise of religion and to have the student's school free from sectarian control or influence, subject to reasonable limitations upon the time, place and manner of exercising the right.

C. Deprive a student of the student's constitutional right to be secure in the student's person, papers and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures.

D. Unlawfully interfere in a student's pursuit of an education while in the custody of the school district; or

E. Deprive a student of the student's right to an equal educational opportunity, in whole or in part, by a school district without due process of law.

Student Responsibilities

Our student discipline policy and procedure are designed to provide students with a safe, healthy and educationally sound environment. Students are expected to be aware of and comply with this policy and procedure, including behavioral expectations that respect the rights, person and property of others. Students are also expected to pursue the required course of study. Students and staff are expected to work together to develop a positive climate for learning.

Development and Review

Accurate and complete reporting of all disciplinary actions, including the associated student-level information and behavioral violations, is essential for effective review of this policy; therefore, the district will develop and periodically review a discretionary and nondiscretionary discipline policy and procedure with the participation of school personnel, students, parents, families and the community. During the development and review, the district must use disaggregated data collected under RCW 28A.300.042 to monitor the impact of the district’s discipline policy, procedure and practices and update its policy and procedure to improve fairness and equity in the administration of discipline.

The policy and procedure will be developed in accordance with WAC 392-400-110.

Distribution of Policies and Procedures

The district will make the current version of this policy and procedure available to families and the community. The district will annually provide this policy and procedure to all district personnel, students, parents and families which may require language assistance for students and parents with limited-English proficiency under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

The district will ensure district employees and contractors are knowledgeable of this student discipline policy and procedure.