Vision: The Marion Cross School will be a learning community in which everyone cares about and feels responsible for each other.
1. Each individual will feel a sense of belonging and safety.

2. Each individual will feel inspired and encouraged to excel.

3. Each individual will feel respected and be respectful.

Rationale for Behavior Guidelines: The Marion Cross School requires that all students be considerate and respectful of other people and property. We model and promote those behaviors that are most conducive to learning. We want our students to understand and act in accordance with principles of fairness, tolerance, safety, and cooperation, treating others as they themselves expect to be treated, and taking responsibility for their own actions.

In addition to providing opportunities which allow children to develop the intellectual resources they need to make sound judgments of their own, we seek to nurture students' emotional well-being so that they can cooperate productively in all aspects of learning at our school. Our intention is to create an environment where students can develop self-awareness and self-discipline. We expect them to behave responsibly and appropriately in all school settings.

Positive Approach to Discipline: The Marion Cross School promotes a proactive system of school discipline to support a positive climate for students to progress academically, socially, and emotionally. A positive approach to discipline provides an opportunity to solve problems and to build community with students and families in a variety of settings. We believe that belonging, mastery, independence, and generosity characterize social and mental health. We are committed to consistently meeting all students' basic needs.

A rich, engaging curriculum, combined with school-wide expectations for behavior, form a foundation on which we foster high student achievement. To promote positive student behavior, we model and teach social skills and problem solving skills throughout the curriculum. We involve students in positive approaches to managing conflict, including mediation. When a student has serious behavior difficulties our approach is to help the student calm down, identify the misbehavior, discuss appropriate alternate behaviors, and plan a positive return to the classroom community. The goal is to discourage repetition of the misbehavior and to motivate the student to be a respectful member of the community.

"Inappropriate behavior" includes any behavior that disrupts the educational process, harms others, or is disrespectful to others or to property. This includes swearing, obscene language, verbal aggression (teasing, taunting, bullying, daring, excluding), threatening, physical aggression, sexual harassment, unsafe use of sports and playground equipment, leaving the grounds, and failure to follow directions from an adult.

Inappropriate behavior will be handled according to the following procedures:
Behavior that is minimally disruptive will be dealt with using classroom practices such as preferential seating, closer supervision by teacher or aide, a designated space within the room, or a quiet time in a designated space outside of the classroom.

If a student behaves inappropriately, the teacher or supervising adult will identify and describe the behavior to the student, e.g. "That is swearing, and we do not swear in our school". The student will be told to stop. This first response will usually be a warning. In most cases, this will be sufficient to redirect the student.

If a student has been warned and the inappropriate behavior continues, the student will be told to leave the class or playground and go to the designated, supervised time-out place for the remainder of that recess or a specified length of time. An Incident Report will be filed with the principal, and the classroom teacher will receive a copy. Parents will be notified.
Prior to returning to the regular program, student will discuss behavior with the reporting adult, classroom teacher, administrator, or counselor. Return to the classroom may include a written plan which will be shared with the classroom teacher.

Serious offenses: A serious offense, including any behavior that is dangerous or defiant, will require that the student be removed immediately from the class or playground. The student will be told to go to a designated, supervised time-out place for a specified length of time. An Incident Report will be filed with the principal, and the classroom teacher will receive a copy. Parents will be notified.

Failure by a student to report to the designated time-out space shall be considered a serious offense and may result in in-school suspension.

"In-school suspension" means that the student spends a stipulated time in a staff supervised setting, time completing class assignments, without participating in regular classes or activities. The suspension may include supervised break time. During the suspension the student will prepare a plan for reentry to class, which may include an apology and/or restitution if appropriate The student will present the plan to the classroom teacher for approval prior to reentry.

Due Process: In any situation which might result in suspension, both the student and the parent will be informed of the nature of the infraction and be given the opportunity to give an explanation of the behavior and participate in a deliberation before a decision is made by the principal.

If a student has had an Incident Report filed two times within five school days, parents must meet with the principal or his or her designee, and an in-school suspension for the student may result.

Behaviors which seriously endanger the safety of the student or others will result in the removal of the student from the classroom, a meeting with parents, and possible in-school suspension.

If in-school suspension must be implemented a second time within 10 school days subsequent to the first incident, the student may be suspended, in or out of school, for up to 10 days.

Suspensions of more than 10 consecutive days require a formal hearing before the school board prior to the suspension. Please refer to school board policy for procedures and legal requirements for such suspensions.

Students with disabilities, who are eligible under PL 101-476 Individuals with Disabilities Education Act or PL 93-112 §504 Rehabilitation Act of 1973, may not be suspended for more than 10 cumulative days within a school year until a Manifestation Determination is conducted by their team to determine if the behavior is a manifestation of the disability (IDEA §1415(k)(4)).

The administration will keep a current record of all in-school and out-of-school suspensions.

Drugs and Alcohol: Possession by students of drugs and other controlled substances (as published in the Federal Code of Regulations) will result in an Interim Alternative Educational Setting up to 45 days or out-of-school suspension, as determined through a due process hearing, and referral to the local law enforcement agency. This standard also applies to the possession of alcohol.

Weapons: The superintendent shall recommend to the school board expulsion from the school, for not less than one calendar year, of any student who brings a dangerous weapon to school or possesses a dangerous weapon (as defined by the Gun-Free Schools Act and school board policy).

Modifications, such as an Interim Alternative Educational Setting, or out-of-school suspension of shorter duration, may be made, based on a due process hearing, if:
a. the pupil is unaware that he or she has brought a weapon to school
b. the pupil did not intend to use the weapon to threaten or endanger others
c. the pupil is disabled and the misconduct is related to the disability
d. the pupil does not present an ongoing threat to others and a lengthy expulsion would not serve the best interests of the pupil.

Any student who brings a weapon to school or possesses a weapon in school shall be referred to a law enforcement agency. The term "dangerous weapon" is defined in school district policy JCDAD-1.

Other Criminal Acts: Any act constituting a criminal offense must be reported to law enforcement agencies in accordance with the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act, T.20§ 7101, and P.L. 103382. Any such offense may result in an Interim Alternative Educational Setting up to 45 days or out-of-school suspension, as determined through a due process hearing and in compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.