Fix School Discipline Toolkit for Educators | Page 76
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ALTERNATIVE DISCIPLINE RESOLUTIONS AND
POLICIES FROM DISTRICTS IN CALIFORNIA
We recommend either engaging your School Board
to pass a policy or resolution to provide clear
direction to the Superintendent about what should
be implemented and by when, or working directly
with the Superintendent to put in place an alternative
strategy in support of goals already supported by the
School Board. In either case, several school districts
have already passed alternative discipline resolutions
and/or put in place policies, which require
alternatives, like SWPBIS, SEL and Restorative
Justice, to be instituted districtwide.
Here is a summary of a few of those resolutions
and policies, the complete versions of which can be
found online at under the ‘Research and Resources’
tab at FixSchoolDiscipline.org.
FRESNO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
(FRESNO UNIFIED) BOARD RESOLUTION
IN SUPPORT OF A RESTORATIVE JUSTICE
FRAMEWORK
On March 8, 2013, as a result of the tireless advocacy
and work of the Students United to Create a Climate
of Engagement, Support and Safety (SUCCESS)
Team and the support of Fresno Unified teachers and
administration, the Board adopted a Resolution to
create and implement restorative school discipline
principles and practices.
This Resolution states that discipline should be
“equitable, timely, consistent, fair, developmentally
appropriate, and match the severity of the student’s
misbehavior, while ensuring school safety.” Other
notable features of this resolution include:
Discipline practices that define and
communicate expectations for student behavior
and staff responsibilities that balance student
needs, needs of the people affected by student
behavior and the safety needs of the overall
school community;
Every effort being made by the school and
district to engage parents/guardians early in
discipline process, including making sure that
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How we can fix school discipline
discipline policies and practices are linguistically
accessible; and
Disciplinary actions starting on the lowest
possible level and designed to change student’s
behavior and minimize any loss of instructional
time.
To learn more about the youth-led advocacy
campaign that led to the adoption of this Resolution,
see the highlight about the SUCCESS Team and
Youth Leadership Institute.
LOS ANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
(LAUSD) DISCIPLINE FOUNDATION POLICY
In March 2007, after an extensive campaign led by
parent organizing group CADRE and others, LAUSD
passed a Discipline Foundation Policy based on
School-Wide Positive Behavior Support. This policy
is grounded in the belief that every student, preschool through adult, has the right to be educated
in a safe, respectful and welcoming environment
and every educator has the right to teach in an
atmosphere free from disruption and obstacles that
impede learning.
This policy mandated the development of a schoolwide positive behavior support and discipline plan
including positively stated rules, which are taught,
enforced, advocated and modeled at every campus
in LAUSD. It further mandated staff and parent
training in the teaching and the reinforcing of the
skills necessary for implementation of this policy.
Notable features include
Responsibilities outlined for every student,
parent/caregiver, teacher, school administrator,
school support personnel, school staff, local
district staff, central office staff, visitor and
community members
Mandatory professional development in the area
of school-wide positive behavior support that is
broad-based and inclusive of all staff involved in
supporting schools and students.