Safe & Supportive Schools: Banning Willful Defiance
and Instituting Positive Behavior Intervention
Supports
Origin: San Francisco Unified School District
Bill Name/Number: Resolution No. 1312-10A4
Link: Click here
YEO Sponsor: Board of Education Vice President Matt Haney
Summary: The Safe and Supportive Schools Act commits the district to fully implementing restorative practices
along with positive behavior intervention and support over the next three years. Because “willful defiance” is a vague
and highly subjective category in many school discipline codes, students can get suspended or referred to a school
resource office (i.e. police in schools) for minor misbehaviors like talking back to a teacher.
Talking Points & Important Information:
• Educators and administrators are responsible for ensuring academic achievement; however, they often lack
the appropriate intervention training needed to foster a safe, positive, and inclusive school climate that
enables students to develop healthy relationships with adults, peers, and themselves. The Safe and Supportive
Schools policy will deepen and extend positive tiered behavioral interventions and alternatives to suspension,
increase instructional time, c