Fulton County Schools

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• Fulton County Schools
• Office of Student Discipline

Andrea E. Allen, Director Lani L. Ray, Coordinator
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Administrative Procedures JDChanges from
Georgia Legislative Senate Bill 291
It is the policy of the Fulton County School
System not to discriminate on the basis of race,
color, sex, religion, national origin, age, or
disability in any employment practice,
educational program or any other program,
activity or service. If you wish to make a
complaint or request accommodation or
modification due to discrimination in any
program, activity, or service, contact
Compliance Coordinator, Michael Gray at
404.763.4585 or TTY 1.800.255.0135.
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SUBSTANTIVE RULE 18 ADDED

• School Bus Disciplinary Rule
• A. Students shall be prohibited from using items
  during the operation of a school bus in a
  manner which might interfere with the school
  bus communications equipment or the school bus
  drivers operation of the bus.

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SUBSTANTIVE RULE 18 ADDED

• These items include but are not limited to cell
  phones pagers audible radios tape or compact
  disc players without headphones mirrors, lasers,
  flash cameras, or anything that could interfere
  with the drivers operation of the school bus.

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SUBSTANTIVE RULE 18 ADDED

• School Bus Disciplinary Rule
• B. If a student is found to have engaged in
  bullying or in physical assault or battery of
  another person on the school bus, a meeting shall
  be scheduled involving the parent or guardian of
  the student and appropriate school district
  officials to form a school bus behavior contract
  for the student.

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SUBSTANTIVE RULE 18 ADDED

• Such contract shall provide for progressive
  age-appropriate discipline, penalties, and
  restrictions for student misconduct on the bus.
  Contract provisions may include but shall not be
  limited to assigned seating, ongoing parental
  involvement, and suspension from riding the bus.

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SUBSTANTIVE RULE 18 ADDED

• Rule 18 does not in any way limit or restrict
  the school systems ability to take additional
  action, including imposing disciplinary sanctions
  through and including permanent expulsion from
  the school system, as a result of the students
  behavior.

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Note

• Remember that by Georgia Law a student cannot be
  penalized for a parents non-participation in a
  school function.

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SUBSTANTIVE RULE 5 CHANGEDNOW DIVIDED INTO FOUR
PARTS

• RULE 5 (Physical or Verbal) Assault or
  Battery or Abusive Language by a Student to any
  Person.

• Rule 5i. A student shall not
• intentionally make physical contact
  which causes physical harm to another person

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SUBSTANTIVE RULE 5 CHANGEDNOW DIVIDED INTO FOUR
PARTS
RULE 5 (Physical or Verbal) Assault or Battery
or Abusive Language by a Student to any Person.
Rule 5ii A student shall not

• intentionally make physical contact of an
  insulting or provoking nature with another
  person

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SUBSTANTIVE RULE 5 CHANGEDNOW DIVIDED INTO FOUR
PARTS
RULE 5 (Physical or Verbal) Assault or Battery
or Abusive Language by a Student to any Person.
Rule 5iii. A student shall not

• attempt to cause physical injury, threaten
  bodily harm, or behave in such a way as could
  reasonably cause physical injury to another
  person or

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SUBSTANTIVE RULE 5 CHANGEDNOW DIVIDED INTO FOUR
PARTS
RULE 5 (Physical or Verbal) Assault or Battery
or Abusive Language by a Student to any Person.
Rule 5iv. A student shall not

• use opprobrious or abusive words, or obscene
  language, pictures or gestures tending to cause a
  breach of the peace.

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SUBSTANTIVE RULE 4 CHANGEDNOW DIVIDED INTO FOUR
PARTS
RULE 4 (Physical or Verbal) Assault or Battery
or Abusive Language to a School Employee

• Rule 4i. A student shall not
• intentionally make physical contact which causes
  physical harm to a school employee unless such
  physical harm was in defense of himself or
  herself
• (This rule now carries the possibility of a more
  severe penalty.)

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SUBSTANTIVE RULE 4 CHANGEDNOW DIVIDED INTO FOUR
PARTS
RULE 4 (Physical or Verbal) Assault or Battery
or Abusive Language to a School Employee

• Rule 4ii. A student shall not
• intentionally make physical contact of
  an insulting or provoking nature with a school
  employee

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SUBSTANTIVE RULE 4 CHANGEDNOW DIVIDED INTO FOUR
PARTS
RULE 4 (Physical or Verbal) Assault or Battery
or Abusive Language to a School Employee

• Rule 4iii. A student shall not
• attempt to cause physical injury, threaten
  bodily harm, or behave in such a way as could
  reasonably cause physical injury to a school
  employee or

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SUBSTANTIVE RULE 4 CHANGEDNOW DIVIDED INTO FOUR
PARTS
RULE 4 (Physical or Verbal) Assault or Battery
or Abusive Language to a School Employee

• Rule 4iv. A student shall not
• use in such employees presence opprobrious or
  abusive words, or obscene language, pictures or
  gestures tending to cause a breach of the peace

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Rule 4i violation carries the penalty of
mandatory expulsion for remainder of public
school experience with some waiver permitted if
determined at the time of the Tribunal Hearing.

• RULE 4i APPLIES TO STUDENTS IN GRADES
  KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 12.

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Rule 4i is a state law which cannot infringe on
any right provided to students through Federal
legislation, such as the Individuals or Americans
with Disabilities and 504 Acts.
Note
Continued
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Continued

As with all types of student disciplinary
hearings for students with special needs, the
Tribunal will fulfill the role of Finder of
Facts, determining guilt or innocence, ONLY. A
school level committee will make all further
determinations.
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POSSIBLE WAIVERS for students found guilty of
Rule 4i violations include the following if
allowed by The Board at the time of the Tribunal
Hearing
THE BOARD

• May allow a student to attend a state designated
  alternative school for the remainder of his
  public school career.
• (Crossroads/Second Chance Program)

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THE BOARD

• May allow an elementary or middle school student
  to return to a regular high school in ninth grade.

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THE BOARD

• May allow a student in grades K through 6 return
  to a regular school if no alternative school is
  provided by the district in these grades.

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State law mandates that Rule 4i hearings be held
by a Tribunal Panel of three teachers or
certificated personnel approved by the Board.
Therefore, well now have three types of student
discipline hearings in the Office of Student
Discipline.
PROCEDURAL RULES 8 and 11 ARE CHANGED
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1. INFORMAL HEARINGS

• All elementary school non-4i hearings are
  conducted by Hearing Officers.

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2. DISCIPLINARY HEARINGS

• All middle and high school non-4i hearings are
  conducted by Hearing Officers.

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3. TRIBUNAL PANEL HEARINGS

• All elementary, middle, and high school Rule 4i
  (and some other rules) hearings are conducted by
  a panel of three Tribunal members.

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AND, FINALLY

• The most important thing is that we want school
  staff to work in a safe and secure environment.
• We hope that the inclusion of this new law in our
  student Code of Conduct and Discipline Handbook
  will help to ensure this.
• You can help (continued)

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AND, FINALLY (continued)

• You can help by
• Reviewing the new handbooks with your students,
  emphasizing the seriousness of all rule
  violations,
• Collecting both student and parent signature
  sheets whenever students enroll throughout the
  year,
• Keeping a copy of the discipline handbook posted
  in your classroom, and
• working with your students throughout the year,
  emphasizing the importance of good behavior.

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THANKS FOR LISTENING.

• Make this your best year ever!
• Do your part to ensure that your school community
  is safe, secure, and focused on student learning.
• Contact the Office of Student Discipline if you
  have any questions, concerns, or need our help
  rayll_at_fulton.k12.ga.us allenae_at_fulton.k12.ga.us