On Tuesdays we like to focus on issues of importance to student discipline. The Toolbox Workshop is all about the "tools" that are available to campus administrators when confronting inappropriate behavior from students with disabilities. One of those tools--Tool #7--is what we call "the FAPE-Free Zone."  This refers to the ten days per year when disciplinary consequences can be imposed, even if this means that the services in the IEP will not be provided. Obviously an out of school suspension would require the use of Tool #7.

However, the twin forces of law and policy are encouraging educators to rely on Tool #7 as little as possible.  Out of school suspension is an example of "exclusionary" discipline.  It excludes the student from the community, doesn't really teach the student anything, and may retard the student’s academic progress.  As evidence of the trend away from exclusionary discipline, we now have HB 674, which prohibits the out of school suspension of kids until they are in third grade.  There are exceptions for offenses involving weapons, drugs, alcohol or violence (assault). But that  non-compliant second grader who is smoking in the classroom while dropping F-bombs will have to be dealt with in some other way.

DAWG BONE: THIRD GRADE! FIRST OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE THE STAAR TEST!! FIRST OPPORTUNITY TO GET SUSPENDED!!!

Tomorrow: You can vote at 18….