The 2009 “Keeping Our Kids Safe At School” Education Act amendments, related regulations and PPMs have formalized principals’ and vice-principals’ duties with regard to Progressive discipline. As identified in PPM 145, Progressive Discipline is “a whole-school approach that utilizes a continuum of prevention programs, interventions, supports and consequences to address inappropriate student behaviour and to build upon strategies that promote and foster positive behaviours.”
Schools are required to develop and implement school-wide progressive discipline plans. As principal, you are responsible to ensure the plan is implemented.
There is a range of progressive discipline options that may be employed to address the behaviour of the student. Some of the options could include
- a meeting with parents
- career counselling
- anger management counselling
- withdrawal of privileges, such as participation in a field trip or sporting event
- An “in school” detention or “suspension” from classes
- Suspension and/or
- recommending expulsion from the student’s school or all schools within the board.
When a student behaves or continues to behave inappropriately, principals must, in considering the most appropriate response, take into account
- the particular student and circumstances (e.g. mitigating and other factors)
- the nature and severity of the behavior and
- the impact on the school climate (i.e. the relationship within the school community).
The mitigating and other factors are set out in Regulation (O. Reg. 472/07) and include:
- The pupil does not have the ability to control his or her behaviour.
- The pupil does not have the ability to understand the foreseeable consequences of his or her behaviour.
- The pupil’s continuing presence in the school does not create an unacceptable risk to the safety of any person.
- The pupil’s history.
- Whether a progressive discipline approach has been used with the pupil.
- Whether the activity for which the pupil may be or is being suspended or expelled was related to any harassment of the pupil because of his or her race, ethnic origin, religion, disability, gender or sexual orientation or to any other harassment.
- How the suspension or expulsion would affect the pupil’s ongoing education.
- The age of the pupil.
- In the case of a pupil for whom an individual education plan has been developed
- whether the behaviour was a manifestation of a disability identified in the pupil’s individual education plan,
- whether appropriate individualized accommodation has been provided, and
- whether the suspension or expulsion is likely to result in an aggravation or worsening of the pupil’s behaviour or conduct.
Students who are suspended for more than five days, or who are expelled from all schools in the board must be given opportunities to keep learning. (Source: The Education Amendment Act, Progressive Discipline and School Safety, 2007 (Bill 212)).