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Gwinnett County Public Schools
Midcourse Corrections to the Implementation of Policy JCDI
Midcourse Corrections to the Implementation of Policy JCDI

In December 2022, Phase I of the GCPS Discipline Task Force brought together a cross-section of internal and external stakeholders charged with providing recommendations for midcourse corrections to Policy JCDI implementation.  The primary Task Force’s goals were to

  1. ensure that stakeholder feedback and voice are heard and reflected in any decision regarding Policy JCDI moving forward.
  2. identify the strengths and challenges of policy JCDI.
  3. review the current rule-level assignments and provide recommendations for changes as needed.
  4. provide recommendations for professional development regarding policy JCDI.

The Task Force’s feedback will be used to develop a matrix for the five levels.

Thank you, Discipline Task Force.

Thank you to those of you who participated on the Task Force, provided feedback, or had staff, community members, parents, and/or students represent your schools and clusters.  The insights provided were extremely beneficial and solution-oriented.  It was a perfect example of what we can accomplish when we make intentional efforts to work together!

The following represent high-level themes that emerged from the Task Force meetings in December:

Rescind Policy JCDI and reinstate Policy JCD from last year with a requirement of implementing interventions.

  • Pause or suspend the Restorative Practices requirement until districtwide professional development is possible. Consider piloting Restorative Practices at specific schools.
  • Adjust the current rule level assignments and consequences to ensure appropriate alignment with behaviors that should be classroom-managed and those that should be office-managed (73 rules were recommended for further review)
  • Develop training, professional development, and communication strategies to ensure that all staff is aware and equipped to successfully implement the midcourse corrections for Policy JCDI.
  • Develop communication strategies to ensure all students and parents are aware of the mid-course corrections.

GCPS Policy JCDI Midcourse Correction Plan for Second Semester

Policy JCDI remains intact with the following adjustments/modifications to the implementation based on Discipline Task Force recommendations. Gwinnett County Public Schools has an established process for reviewing and revising, where applicable, board policies and procedures to ensure that the Board and school district are in compliance with and that policies reflect changes to state legislation and state board rules and regulations. The Board of Education acts as a policy-making body separate from the roles and responsibilities authorized to the Superintendent. The changes below are effective January 3, 2023:

Restorative Practices Professional Development/Training & Pilots

  1. GCPS has paused required restorative practice interventions until the 2023-2024 school year, with full implementation expected by the 2024-25 school year to allow for training.
  2. Beginning in January 2023, the South Gwinnett and Shiloh clusters will serve as pilot sites for restorative practices in partnership with the Kingmakers of Oakland (KOO) and Equal Opportunity Schools (EOS).

Rule Level Assignment Adjustments

  1. GCPS has adjusted the current rule level assignments and consequences to ensure appropriate alignment with behaviors that should be classroom-managed and those that should be office-managed (43 recommended rule level changes were approved (59% of recommended changes) – see below).

Training/Professional Development & Communication

  1. GCPS will develop training, professional development, and communication strategies to ensure that all staff is aware and equipped to successfully implement the midcourse corrections for Policy JCDI. This work is in progress, including professional development on the January 4 non-student day.
  2. Develop communication strategies to ensure all students and parents are aware of the midcourse corrections for Policy JCDI. The Student-Family Handbook has been updated; additional communication will continue throughout the school year.

Continued Stakeholder Monitoring and Oversight of Policy JCDI

  1. Continue the use of the Discipline Task Force as a monitoring and oversight committee. Phase I of the Discipline Task Force was intended to provide midcourse corrections. GCPS will make this a permanent oversight and advisory structure.
  2. Teacher/Staff Survey on Policy JCDI
    1. A Qualtrics survey will be provided to all GCPS teachers in January 2023 to gather feedback on the midcourse corrections in place and Policy JCDI.

Rule Level Assignment Adjustments

These 43 rule-level assignments and consequences to ensure appropriate alignment with behaviors that should be classroom-managed and those that should be office-managed have been updated in the Handbook Information for Students & Families.

Rule

Description of Violation

Level as of

January 3, 2023

Level

Semester 1 2022-23

1B

Occupy or block any area on campus; prevent or attempt to prevent students from attending a class, school activity, or event;

II or III


I, II, or III

 

1C

Except under the direct instruction of the principal, block or attempt to block normal pedestrian or vehicular traffic on a school campus or adjacent grounds;

 III

I, II, or III

1E

Refuse to identify himself/herself upon request of any teacher, principal, superintendent, school bus driver, or other school personnel;

III

I or II

 

1F

Urge, encourage, or counsel other students to violate any rules of the Student Conduct Behavior Code;

II or III

I, II, or III

 

1H

Be on campus or enter the premises of a school without proper authorization of the superintendent, principal, or other school personnel;

 III

I, II, or III

 

2BA

Steal school property (valued at less than $300);

 II or III

I, II, or III

 

2DA

Possess, use, sell, buy, or transmit stolen school property (valued at less than $300);

 II, or III

I, II, or III

 

2I

Alter/misuse technology or any other equipment, hardware or software, or school website/page;

II or III

I, II, or III

 

2J

Engage in computer trespass (accessing unauthorized areas on the computer/software);

III

I, II, or III

 

3AA

Damage or vandalize the private property of another person (valued at less than $300);

 II or III

I, II, or III

 

3BA

Steal the private property of another person (valued at less than $300);

II or III

I, II, or III

 

3CA

Possess, use, sell, buy, or transmit stolen property (valued at less than $300);

II or III

I, II, or III

 

4AF

Use of profanity;

 III

I, II, or III

 

4AG

Ethnic, racial, sexual, religious, or disability slur;

III

I, II, or III

 

4AM

Any expression (oral, written, or gesture) which has the effect of undermining the authority of the school employee or distracting staff and/or students from the learning environment, including writings of a threatening or provoking nature;

 III

IV or V

4BB

Behavior that unintentionally caused physical injury to an employee;

 III

II or III

5AA

Oral threat/verbal assault (oral speech that creates, or is intended to create, a fear of physical harm)

 II or III

I, II, or III

 

5AB

Written threat;

II or III

I, II, or III

 

5AC

Rude and/or disrespectful conduct, including but not limited to symbolic gestures or insults;

II or III

I, II, or III

 

5AD

Bullying (*See note below on bullying and state law.);

II or III*

I, II, or III*

 

5AG

Ethnic, racial, sexual, religious, or disability slur;

 II or III

I, II, or III

 

5AL

Harassment - Repeated words (verbal or written), conduct, or action that annoys, alarms, or causes distress and serves no legitimate purpose;

II or III

I, II, or III

 

5AO

Posturing to fight;

II or III

I, II, or III

 

5BF

Physical contact of a threatening or provoking nature to another student;

III

I, II, or III

 

7AL

Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs [ex. NoDoz, Vivarin, asthma medicines, energy/diet pills, aspirins, herb pills, etc.];

III, IV or V

IV or V

7BA

Pipes, water pipes, clips, rolling papers, or other objects used for drug use;

 III

I, II, or III

 

7BC

Tobacco paraphernalia (ex., matches, lighters, rolling papers, and the like);

III

I, II, or III

 

7CA

Tobacco products (ex. cigarettes, electronic tobacco or nicotine cartridges (any type), chewing tobacco, dip, snuff, cigars, liquid nicotine— regardless of bio-logical source, electronic cigarette vapors— with or without nicotine, etc.);

 III

I, II, or III

 

8C

Failure to serve an administrative consequence (ex., Administrative Detention, Saturday School);

III

I, II, or III

 

9C

Obscene and/or indecent gestures or gestures that mimic or imply sexual intercourse;

II or III

I, II, or III

 

10B

Tardy to school;

 II or III

I or II

 

10C

AWOL from class (absent without official leave);

II or III

I or II

 

10D

AWOL from school;

II or III

I or II

 

10E

Unexcused absence (failure to comply with compulsory school attendance law);

I, II or III

I or II

 

10Z

Other: (list)                                                                                 

I, II or III

I or II

 

11A

Violation of local school rules (state specific rule(s));

I, II or III

III, IV, or V

11K

Laser pointers;

I, II or III

I or II

 

13D

Use of mirrors, lasers, flash cameras, or any other lights or reflective devices during the operation of a school bus without the permission of the driver;

III

I, II, or III

 

13E

Posturing to fight;

III

II or III

 

13G

Diverting or distracting the driver’s attention;

III

II or III

 

13H

Throwing objects on the bus or out the bus window;

III

II or III

Gwinnett County Public Schools is committed to implementing the Gwinnett County Board of Education’s Theory of Action to Improve Student Behavior and Outcomes toward creating a safe, secure, and supportive learning environment.

GCPS will continue to utilize a multi-tiered system of responses in order to address the behavioral, social, and emotional needs of students.