K-12 School Discipline – Understanding the Process to Best Help Children and Families
As a lawyer for students in the school discipline arena, my goal is to educate CPS case workers, and any child advocate, on Washington State’s K-12 school discipline laws and procedures. Many students and parents don’t understand the impact of harsh discipline on drop-out rates, graduations rates, and the increased likelihood of arrests due to exclusion from school. This presentation will cover key laws (RCW’s/WAC’s), critical timelines, and steps students, parents, or advocates can take when responding to discipline notifications.
Real-life case examples will be used throughout, and we will walk through the formal appeal process for emergency expulsions, suspensions and expulsions. While focused on general education, the presentation will also address special education discipline. The last portion of the presentation will address re-engagement plans, post discipline procedures and best practices, and how to best address the child’s record- followed by Q & A.