Every board in Ontario is required to have and implement progressive discipline policies that contain the 9 prescribed components identified in PPM 145 as:
- Key policy goals.
- Prevention and Awareness Raising - Opportunities for all members of the school community to increase their knowledge of homophobia, gender-based violence, sexual harassment, inappropriate sexual behaviour, critical media literacy and safe Internet use.
- Responding to Incidents – Every board employee working with students must respond to any student behaviour that is likely to have a negative impact on the school climate unless doing so would cause immediate physical harm to the employee, that student or another person.
- Supports for Students – Procedures to support student victims and their parents, including legislative duties around reporting to parents, communication of available professional supports for students must be identified; support for student perpetrators around the continuation of the learning program during the suspension or access to programs for suspended/expelled students as well as professional supports for underlying issues.
- Reporting to Principals – The legislative duty (s. 300.2 of the Education Act)on all board employees to report to the principal that a student may have engaged in an activity for which suspension or expulsion must be considered and all accompanying details, responses and documentation must be included in the policy.
- Building Partnerships – Protocols between boards and community agencies facilitating the delivery of prevention and response programs, referrals and support services for students and their parents should be included. PPM 149 identifies the requirements for the development of protocols between the board/school and external agencies.
- Implementation Strategy.
- Communication Strategy – To ensure staff, students, parents, community partners are all aware of the progressive discipline policy.
- Monitoring and Review.
Positive student behaviour is promoted at school through programs such as character and citizenship development and bullying prevention. For example, every school board has policies and procedures in place for bullying prevention and intervention. Early and ongoing intervention can also help prevent inappropriate behaviour from escalating. For example, social workers and psychologists can work with schools to offer students counselling to assist with anger management or substance abuse to help them get back on track.
Students can also be offered alternatives such as volunteer activities or career counselling to help encourage positive behaviour, which will also engage and motivate students. Career counselling, for example, can help students set goals and develop a career path.