LOS ANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
SEPTEMBER 2014
School Climate Bill of Rights
Positive and Safe School Environments
Message Points
The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) cares about the well-­‐being and safety of our students.
• LAUSD is commi7ed to crea:ng safe, produc:ve school environments so our students can learn and thrive for success.
• LAUSD is also commi7ed to providing a vigorous educa:on that prepares our students for college, career, and life aYer gradua:on.
• Our school climates focus on safety, teaching and learning, interpersonal rela:onships, and building an environment of support and mutual respect.
Furthering our commitment to creaAng safe, supporAve school environments, the Los Angeles Board of EducaAon adopted the “School Discipline Policy and School Climate Bill of Rights” on May 14, 2013. • Since then, LAUSD has been hard at work transforming our discipline policies to build safe, respecPul posi:ve school cultures through mutual respect and coopera:on. These overarching efforts include:
✴ RestoraAve JusAce (RJ): Approaches build community and resolve student interpersonal conflict by ge\ng to the root cause of an issue and repairing harm through respecPul dialogue.
✴ AlternaAves to suspension: Alterna:ves to suspension for appropriate offenses to keep our students in class and on track to graduate college-­‐prepared and career-­‐
ready. Note: Strategies will be used, except those limited offenses where suspension is required under California Educa:on Code, to keep our students in the classroom and on track to graduate college and career ready.
✴ PosiAve behavior intervenAons and support: Interven:ons that increase a7endance, improve academic performance, provide support from all school employees, and reduce suspensions.
✴ A new School Climate Bill of Rights: Outlines the District’s overarching commitment to providing a posi:ve, produc:ve, safe school climate that offers students the environment they need to succeed to their full poten:al.
✴ Decriminalizing minor offenses commiVed on school campus: Joint effort made by our school police department and other offices to decriminalize many acts of minor law offenses that in the past resulted in cita:ons and arrests. Instead, students will receive posi:ve interven:on, problem solving and other supports.
LOS ANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
SEPTEMBER 2014
School Climate Bill of Rights
Positive and Safe School Environments
Message Points - Continued
To show LAUSD’s commitment toward building posiAve school environments, every school will prominently display the School Climate Bill of Rights on their campus.
• The School Climate Bill of Rights establishes LAUSD’s commitment to a District-­‐wide culture of a posi:ve and humanis:c approach to working with students, staff and parents.
• The School Climate Bill of Rights outlines students’ right to holis:c, safe and healthy school environments with effec:ve posi:ve behavior support and interven:ons.
• It serves as a visible reminder to students, parents, staff and others of the District’s commitment to all of our schools.
Schools are encouraged to engage their students, staff, parents/guardians and other stakeholders in an ongoing dialogue about building a posiAve culture throughout the school year.
• District-­‐wide special events help raise awareness of the School Climate Bill of Rights include:
✴ LAUSD will celebrate the “School Climate Bill of Rights” month during May 2015.
✴ In September 2014, schools are encouraged to par:cipate in the School Climate Bill of Rights Week with fun ac:vi:es to engage students, parents and staff and increase understanding of the bill’s importance.
Although the School Climate Bill of Rights is new, the District has a long-­‐standing track record of supporAng safe, supporAve environments for our schools through a number of ongoing iniAaAves, including:
✴
✴
Out for Safe Schools
Bullying Preven:on and Awareness
✴ Student-­‐to-­‐student Healthy Rela:onships
✴ And many more!
• These ini:a:ves strengthen and support LAUSD’s overall commitment to crea:ng and sustaining healthy environments for our students to learn to read, write and think for success. LAUSD remains commiVed to the all of the posiAve changes outlined in the Board of EducaAon’s 2013 School Discipline Policy and School Climate Bill of Rights, and expanding our successful efforts to help improve our student’s behavior and academic success.
• The number of suspensions con:nue to decline, with a decrease in the number of instruc:onal days lost due to suspension.
• Truancy cita:ons have also declined, resul:ng in fewer students facing court sanc:ons and having to miss school to go to court.
• This is just the beginning. As we con:nue our efforts and expand these already successful programs, we will see con:nued student achievement, higher gradua:on rates, and con:nued lower numbers for suspensions and truancies.