Op, what are you doing to teach your kid right from wrong? What are you telling them to prevent this? What were the consequences that you imposed at home when they beat someone at school? How are you reining your kid in? We can’t have savage attacks at schools.

Anonymous wrote:I can’t believe all of this is over pushing another student.
Not hitting, not beating up, pushing. Someone wants your son out, bad. Maybe he just pushed the wrong guy.

Please understand that with students with disabilities when it has gotten to this point there is probably a LOT of other data being weighed that we are not privy to and OP is not divulging. It is 1000% not as simple “a kid pushed another and now they want him to switch schools.”

I can’t believe all of this is over pushing another student.
Not hitting, not beating up, pushing. Someone wants your son out, bad. Maybe he just pushed the wrong guy.

You need an attorney or advocate if the referral is going to division superintendent. They are considering expulsion, long term suspension, or reassignment to another school. If he is suspended or out for 10 days or more, you will have a “manifestation of disability” meeting. At this meeting, staff will decide If the behavior is a manifestation of his disability. FCPS cannot discipline the same way if the behavior was a manifestation of the disability. Bring an advocate or an attorney to the meeting and consult with them ahead of time.

The IEP team should 1) request a functional behavior assessment and 2) consider other assessments, services, or placements that may be appropriate. Bring an advocate or an attorney to these meetings also and consult with them throughout.

Can you share the offense and disability?
Public school staff are over-extended, not educated about disabilities, and really unable to support the needs of students. Unfortunately, they are spending all the money on non-essential electives, activities, advanced classes, etc instead of supporting students with disabilities and providing a safe learning environment. FCPS is really failing students here.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does your child Have a Behavior Plan as part of their IEP? Was it Followed? Is this a manifestation of their disability? Know your Procedural rights.

Behavior goals, I don't think there's a "plan" per se; DC tried to follow the supports he had in place, but some of the options weren't available that day. According to the doctor it is a manifestation of the disability.

Manifestation becomes a factor that they are required to consider after 10 days of suspension. So, even if there was a failure on their part, they may still suspend him and probably can do so legally.

Anonymous wrote:For DC's situation, right now we're waiting on the principal to make a decision on consequences, but we were told that if he (principal) chooses one of several options, that means a referral to the district superintendent. We were also told this means the District Super can assign DC to a different school, among other things.

For context, DC has an IEP with some goals related to modifying his behavior. I mean, he's been suspended before (1 day), but is a different school assignment something I need to be truly concerned about? School wants to meet with parents only to "discuss next steps".

Anyone have experience with this? We're in FCPS, if that helps.

That is VERY RARE these days, as schools want that easy Federal money for each student, so problem students rarely get expelled, much less transferred to other districts, unless they are a really violent problem student. Is this the case?

Anonymous wrote: BLUF, your kid shouldn't be hitting another student and if they did, they should be disciplined.

OP here, and I totally agree with this - he should definitely have consequences

Yes, I read the SR&R, but I didn't commit it to memory. Thanks for pulling that one section out and posting it.

Ask on the special needs board here for recommendations for an advocate who has experience in your district ideally with discipline issues.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP I get that you want to protect your privacy, but being super coy doesn't really help clarify your situation.

Yes, if your child hurt another child then your child might be reassigned to a different school. Obviously it didn't work so well at the current school so unless you have ideas for improvement, switching schools could Ibe an attractive option. Options to consider are the public option and getting to pay for a private placement.

Sorry, not trying to be super coy, just trying to protect privacy. They have several supports in place at the high school, but some of the team wasn't available to help deescalate the situation.
DC pushed/hit another student, but according to the school, the other student is fine. It was broken up pretty quickly, from what I understand.

I guess my question is - does being referred to the district superintendent mean that's a likelihood? Or am I jumping to the negative thoughts too quickly?

This sounds like every day at my teens’ high school. The kids that fight get a suspension (maybe) and always come right back.

Your child signed the SR&R, correct?

You should have also acknowledged the SR&R at the beginning of the year -- check your ParentVue. It will be under your Account, Acknowledged Documents. By signing the documents, your child is confirming they understand the consequences of specific behaviors.

For example, this is from Regulation 2602.40, Rules of Conduct And Disciplinary Procedures

--> Acts for which students may be disciplined include, but are not limited to:
1. Assault: (intending to cause physical injury to another person)
a. The following violations may result in a suspension from school for up to five days unless
the principal makes a referral to the Division Superintendent, in which event the principal
may suspend for up to ten days.
(1) Assaulting another student or any person (other than a staff member) without injury.
(2) Any involvement in a group assault. Any collection or group of students assembled
with the intention of committing an assault constitutes a group. Each and every
student who is part of a group shall be held directly responsible for any assault
committed by one or more members of the group.
(3) Assaulting a school staff member without injury.
(4) Improper touching of another person (whether or not consensual).10
b. For students in grades 7-12, assaulting a staff member without injury shall result in a
referral to the Division Superintendent and the principal may suspend for up to ten days.

It goes on, but you can research it yourself. BLUF, your kid shouldn't be hitting another student and if they did, they should be disciplined. Every child deserves a safe learning environment, including yours. And if your school is not the right environment, then being reassigned might be a better option. Go to the hearing with an open mind. Whatever gets decided is for the good of all involved parties.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A "manifestation of the disability" does not absolve the perpetrator of responsibility. I think a lot will hinge on what your child understands of the situation, and how able he is to control himself should a similar trigger arise again, from this student or any other adult or child. Are there private supports you can tweak, such as medication and therapy, to try and reduce the risk of recidivism; and how likely is it that this school will regularly find itself without the correct supports for your child?

Well it should absolve him; he has an IEP !!!

IEPs do not absolve children of the consequences of their actions and it is a huge disservice to kids with disabilities to operate under that misconception.

Anonymous wrote:A "manifestation of the disability" does not absolve the perpetrator of responsibility. I think a lot will hinge on what your child understands of the situation, and how able he is to control himself should a similar trigger arise again, from this student or any other adult or child. Are there private supports you can tweak, such as medication and therapy, to try and reduce the risk of recidivism; and how likely is it that this school will regularly find itself without the correct supports for your child?

Well it should absolve him; he has an IEP !!!

Should students who cannot control themselves be allowed to attend in-person school?

Anonymous wrote:The demands or insistence of the parents of the child your son hit will probably be a factor. Do you have any insight about whether the child's parents are plugged into this situation and making demands (like transferring your child)? I'm not saying their demands would over rule your child's needs, but it would be helpful for you to know if there are people advocating for your child's removal.

No I don't have any insight on that. Didn't realize this was a consideration. Thanks