For what behaviors can a student be referred to the principal by a teacher? [CA EdCode 48900(k)(5)]
A teacher may refer a student to a school administrator for the following behavior:
A teacher may refer a student to a school administrator for the following behavior:
- Cause, attempt to cause or threaten to cause physical injury to another person.
- Willfully use force or violence upon another person, except in self-defense.
- Possess, supply, or sell a firearm, knife (brandishing a knife), explosive, or other dangerous object. The exception is possession of the item with written permission from a certificated employee, and with the agreement of the principal or principal designee.
- Unlawfully possess, use, supply, sell, or be under the influence of a controlled substance or intoxicant.
- Supply or sell a liquid, substance, or material representing it as a controlled substance or intoxicant.
- Commit or attempt to commit robbery or extortion.
- Cause or attempt to cause damage to school property or private property.
- Steal or attempt to steal school property or private property.
- Possess or use tobacco or nicotine products. This does not include use or possession the the student's own prescription products.
- Willfully defy the authority of teachers, administrators, school officials, or other school personnel engaged in the performance of their duties.
- Commit an obscene act or engage in habitual profanity or vulgarity.
- Unlawfully possess, supply, or sell drug paraphernalia.
- Knowingly receive stolen school property or private property.
- Possess an imitation firearm such that a reasonable person concludes the replica is a firearm.
- Sexual harassment in grades 4-12 and committing or attempting to commit sexual assault or battery.
- Harass, threaten, intimidate, or retaliate against a complaining student witness.
- Engage in or attempt to engage in hazing.
- Bullying, including cyberbullying.
- In grades 4-12, intentionally engage in harassment, threats, or intimidation directed against personnel or students severely enough to disrupt classwork, create disorder, or create a hostile educational environment.
- Cause, attempt to cause, or threaten to cause an act of hate violence.
- Make terroristic threats against school officials, school property, or both.
What can a teacher expect from the principal? [CA EdCode 48900(k)(5)]
- The school administrator must, within 5 days, document actions taken in response to the referral and place that documentation in the student's record.
- The school administrator must also, by the end of the 5th day, inform the referring employee, verbally or in writing, what actions were taken and, if none, the rationale used for not providing any interventions or supports.
What interventions are available to a principal for addressing improper behavior? [CA Ed Code 48900.5(b)]
- A conference between school personnel, the student's parent or guardian, and the pupil.
- Referral to a school counselor, psychologist, social worker, child welfare attendance personnel, or other school support service personnel for case management and counseling.
- Study teams, guidance teams, resource panel teams, or other intervention-related teams that assess the behavior, and develop and implement individualized plans to address the behavior in partnership with the pupil and the pupil’s parents.
- Referral for a comprehensive psychosocial or psychoeducational assessment, including for purposes of creating an IEP or 504 plan.
- Enrollment in a program for teaching prosocial behavior or anger management.
- Participation in a restorative justice program.
- Community service on school grounds or, with written permission of the parent or guardian of the pupil, off school grounds, during the pupil’s non-school hours.