STUDENT BEHAVIOR - ELEMENTARY

This policy shall apply to student behavior during any activity approved or sponsored by the School and under the supervision of a teacher, advisor, coach, or other assigned personnel. The duration of the school function shall be that time during which students are being supervised by School Department personnel.

Primary Education in Portsmouth is a developmental process beginning formally with kindergarten and extending through grade four. Throughout the primary program, an emphasis is placed on developing each child's self-concept within his total school environment.

In each of the elementary schools, we shall attempt to address one dimension of the disciplinary problem - namely, fair treatment for the rights of individual students and a regard for the health, safety and environmental order in which all students may have the best opportunity to grow and learn.

At the elementary level, exclusions from school are rare and generally fit into three categories:  

Categories 1 and 2 - Chronic Offenders of School Rules

1. Constant offenses relative to the health or safety of other children which are the responsibility of the school.

2. Constant interruptions of class with disruptive behavior such as:  

a.     emotional outbursts;

b.     refusal to follow teacher directions;

c.     any similar such behavior which tends to deny other students their right to learn.

General Procedure for Categories 1 and 2:

1.    Child counseled by teacher.

2.    Child counseled by principal and informed that parent will be notified.

3.    Parent notified of behavior problem and asked to speak with child.

4.     Parent called in for parent conference to help plan course of action in dealing with         child's behavior. Such a plan may include suspension from school as listed in Category 1.

Category 1

Suspension from school with consent of parents, following a conference with the child's parents. No formal record of suspension would be maintained in this instance; the child's permanent record would show only an excused absence from school for these days. A suspension of this nature would be no longer than five (5) days. This type of exclusion would be utilized after all other avenues of action have been met with no success, and parents agree with this action prior to the exclusion.

Category 2

Exclusion from school without consent of parent. In some circumstances, as above, wherein the parent on request for conference refuses to meet with the building principal is notified that the child will be suspended. Such exclusion will be until the parent meets with the building principal. Such a suspension shall not exceed five (5) days. If in five days no conference has occurred, the building principal shall turn the matter over to the Superintendent of Schools.

Category 3

Exclusion from school without prior parent knowledge may occur when in the judgment of the building principal, a child's actions endanger the safety of other children or staff members. Following such a suspension, a meeting with the child's parents will be scheduled at the earliest time possible. The child will return to school following the conference unless it is decided, at that time, that the suspension should continue. Such a suspension will continue for a period no longer than 5 days. If upon return to school the child's behavior has not improved, a conference shall be scheduled with the child's parents, the building principal, and the Superintendent to determine further action. 

Reviewed: 1992-1993 Portsmouth, Rhode Island

Presently under review: 9/1/98  

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