Comprehensive Plan for Equitable

Discipline Practices
Kathryn Chontos, Interim Assistant Superintendent
Dr. Rodney Trice, Assistant Superintendent of Equity Affairs
April 2019

www.wcpss.net 1
Guiding Principles

• Guiding Principle 1:
• Climate and Prevention

• Guiding Principle 2:
• Clear, Appropriate, and Consistent Expectations and Consequences

• Guiding Principle 3:
• Equity and Continuous Improvement

www.wcpss.net 2
Action Steps, Activities, & Updates

• Ongoing Work: • 2017-18 Updates: Red Print

• 68 of 75 activities: 91%

• Completed Work:
• 5 activities
• 2018-2019 Updates: Green Print

• Work Underway:
• 2 Activities

www.wcpss.net 3
Plan Leadership

• Superintendents Leadership Team

• Senior Director Student Due Process and Alternative Education
• Senior Director for Counseling and Student Services
• Senior Director School Security
• Director of Intervention Services
• Director of Counseling
• Director of Special Education
• The Department of Student Support Services and Office of
Equity Affairs manage implementation/monitoring of the plan.

www.wcpss.net 4
Guiding Principle 1

Climate and Prevention

6 Actions Steps and 31 Activities

www.wcpss.net 5
Guiding Principle 1
• For 2018-19: All WCPSS schools
have access to an MTSS Coach that
supports schools to analyze and/or
develop behavior systems and
structures through data-based
problem solving.
• Explore funding to expand mentoring
programs to all races/gender – Spring • Provided numerous opportunities to
2019.
www.wcpss.net
• Elementary Principals provided
Professional Learning on the Tiered
Behavior Response Tool.
in September 2018. Middle and High
School Principals received
Professional Learning on the TBR
February 2019.
parents and community groups on
ACE, Adverse Childhood
Experiences, Resilience
6
Guiding Principle 1
• In 2018, Funding was
received from the Wake
County Commissioners
to reduce allotment
ratios for Counselors,
Social Workers and
Psychologists to bring
them closer to the
National Model.
• Spring 2019 Present 5
Year Plan to BOE and
County
Commissioners.
www.wcpss.net
• SEL Universal
Screener Pilot
Implemented Spring • Standard Treatment
2019. Protocol: Create an
evidence, research-based
• Projected
MTSS of SEL behavior
Implementation of SEL
and mental health
Universal Screener standards around Tiers
2019-20 1, 2 & 3 that includes
• 2017-18 MTSS utilized community, university,
in all schools as the mental health and
hospital partnerships.
driver for redesign of
School Improvement
Planning.
7
Guiding Principle 1
November 2019: District has adopted a resolution agreement with the Office of Civil
Rights to continually address potential causes of disparities in student discipline.

Office of Equity Affairs Courses:

• Beyond Diversity: • Racial Equity Institute:

• Beyond Diversity is a powerful, • This workshop helps participants

personally transforming two-day
seminar designed to help
teachers, students, parents, and
administrators understand the
impact of race on student
learning and investigate the role
that it plays in institutionalizing
academic achievement
disparities.
become clear on how race and
racism have been constructed in
the US and how ideas about
racism live in our unconscious
minds and social structures even
50 years after the successes of the
Civil Rights movement.

www.wcpss.net 8
Guiding Principle 1
Equity Micro-courses:
Provide educators with a wealth
of information, knowledge, and
skills in a relatively short time
frame. The courses typically
meet 3-4 times over the course of
a few weeks or months and are
focused on turnkey strategies
that school leaders and teacher
can use in their departments and
classrooms immediately.
www.wcpss.net
Current Micro-courses Include:
• Supporting LGBTQ+
Students & Families
• Equity Leadership: Digging
Deeper
• Creating Engaging &
Equitable Classrooms
9
Guiding Principle 1

• Acts as the foundation for each

C.A.R.E. model (Courageous
Action Research for Education
Equity):
micro course. WCPSS Equity
Micro-courses are open to any
educator interested in deepening
their understanding, practice,
and leadership in service to
creating more equitable schools.

www.wcpss.net 10
Guiding Principle 1

• The Office of Equity Affairs

established CELT, in
partnership with Community
organizations, that focuses on
• Community Equity Leadership problem-solving school and
Team (CELT) established 2017 district-based equity
challenges.
• CELT meets on the last
Wednesday of each month.

www.wcpss.net 11
Guiding Principle 2

Clear, Appropriate, and Consistent

Expectations and Consequences

5 Action Steps and 24 Activities

www.wcpss.net 12
Guiding Principle 2

• Alternative Learning Centers (ALC), In-School Suspension (ISS), and Alternative

Education:

• The District is reviewing and evaluating ALC programs as well as revising

procedures for students assigned to Alternative Learning Centers in middle and
high schools.
• By July 1, 2019, we will have a status report to clearly define ALC vs ISS.
• Data & Accountability is preparing an evaluation to study gaps in alternative
education seats to increase needed types and number of seats for Spring 2019.
• Decisions will be made as to where we need increased alternative opportunities
for student success.

www.wcpss.net 13
Guiding Principle 2
• Code of Student Conduct:
• 2018-2019: Proposed revisions to the
Code of Student Conduct directly
support implementing non-
exclusionary and non-discipline
interventions to support student
academic and behavioral success.
• 2019: The Office of Student Due
Process is leading various sessions
with community members, students,
administrators, teachers, and the
Board to seek input and guidance on
student behavior policies under
revision.
www.wcpss.net
• 2018-2019: Revisions to the Code of
Student Conduct support changes to
definitions of certain rules to encourage
exclusionary discipline practices are
reserved for serious offenses that impact
the welfare and safety of students and
staff.
• 2018-2019 The District is reviewing all
discipline referral data to determine
origins of any found disparities.
14
Guiding Principle 3

Equity and Continuous Improvement

2 Action Steps and 20 Activities

www.wcpss.net 15
Guiding Principle 3
• Completed January 2018: Two
Director positions added to the
Office of Equity Affairs
• District wide MDR training
January & February 2019
• District wide FBA and BIP
training April - June 2019
www.wcpss.net
• The Middle School Discipline
Cohort Pilot Program has had a
positive impact on reducing the
number of suspensions. The
Middle School Discipline Cohort
Pilot Program has been expanded
to include another cohort of
schools. Area Superintendents
review discipline data with
schools.
• Elementary School Student
Discipline Cohort added 2018-
2019
16
Guiding Principle 3

• Began redesign of the Equity Audit Data Dashboard to better align

with the revamped MTSS process.

• Updated the District-wide Equity Plan at http://bit.ly/2p6Enkj

www.wcpss.net 17
Next Steps

• By July 1, 2019 the District will review and revise, as

appropriate, its procedures for the assignment of students to
Alternative Learning Centers and alternative educational
services and define the distinction between ALC and ISS.
• By October 1, 2019 and in subsequent years, provide training to
all District teachers, administrators and other District personnel
on appropriate imposition of sanctions, policies, practices and
procedures.

www.wcpss.net 18
Next Steps

• By March 1, 2020, Review and consider input from stakeholders,

including students, parents, instructional staff, administrators
and community groups on fair and equitable discipline practices.
• By March 1, 2020, Analyze data for evidence of unlawful
intentional discrimination in discipline referrals or sanctions
districtwide and at individual schools.

www.wcpss.net 19
Discussion

Questions and Discussion

www.wcpss.net 20