Disciplinary Penalties

Disciplinary Actions

A principal or designee may use any of the following penalties to maintain order and discipline within the school environment. Equitable and consistent implementation of rules and regulations shall occur across school sites and within all student groups.

1. Warning and Counseling – Warnings and counseling should be used where appropriate to assist a student to understand that his/her conduct interferes with his/her educational process, threatens the rights of others, or is contrary to school policy or regulations, and needs to be corrected.
2. Lunch Detention – A student will be directed to eat lunch in a separate setting as identified by school staff.
3. After-School Detention – A student may be detained for a reasonable period of time before or after scheduled classes and may be required during this time to engage in such activities that may reasonably contribute to better behavior. The parent of the student to be detained shall be notified by the school. The student who has been assigned detention time shall promptly inform his/her parents. The parent will be responsible for transporting the student. Except in certain circumstances, a student shall be given at least one day's notice if he/she has been assigned detention time.
4. Special Assignments – A student may be given special assignments as a corrective measure. This may include, but is not limited to, reasonable assignments of community service at the school facility.
5. Class Restriction – A student may be removed from their regular schedule of classes and assigned to another location.
6. Suspension from Extracurricular Activities – A student’s privilege to participate in all or certain extracurricular activities may be suspended for a fixed period of time or until certain specified conditions have been fulfilled. Suspension from extracurricular activities may be imposed in conjunction with other penalties. Students who have been charged with a criminal offense may be suspended from participation for a period of time or until certain conditions have been fulfilled. Any and all sanctions are at the discretion of the school principal.
7. School Probation – Being placed on probation is notification that a student’s behavior has been unacceptable and must be improved. A student may be placed on probation for a period not to exceed 45 school days by the principal following a conference with the student’s parent in which the terms and conditions of the probation are explained. The principal shall also notify the parent in writing when a probation is imposed, including the reasons for the probation and its date of termination.
8. In-School Suspension – In-school suspension is a disciplinary measure that assigns students to a restrictive and highly controlled school-based setting other than the regular classroom where students are isolated and must complete all assigned work.
9. Short-Term Suspension (10 days or less) – A student may be suspended from school for certain violations of the Code of Behavior. Suspension is the temporary exclusion of a student from regular school attendance and activities by the principal or designee for a period of time not to exceed 10 days. While the suspension is in effect, the student is denied attendance at any and all programs of PWCS. No student in grades preschool-3 may be suspended for more than three school days by the school principal or their designee. For suspensions beyond three school days, the principal must refer the matter to the SHD for review. The SHD will collaborate as necessary with the school administrator, Level Associate Superintendent, Special Education (if applicable), Director of Preschool Programs (if applicable), and any other relevant stakeholders.
10. Report to Law Enforcement Officials – Principals must make a report to law enforcement for those offenses identified as a mandatory report in the Acts for Which a Student May be Disciplined section.
11. Removal from Class – A disruptive student may be removed from class according to the requirements of the Code of Virginia § 22.1-276.2.

Further Disciplinary Action

A principal may refer a student to the Student Hearings Department (SHD). The SHD will appoint a hearing officer who acts as the Superintendent’s designee for disciplinary matters. If, following a hearing, the hearing officer determines that a violation of the Code of Behavior has occurred, a hearing officer may impose disciplinary consequences including:

1. School Probation – Being placed on probation is notification that a student's behavior has been unacceptable and must be improved. A student may be placed on probation up to one school year by a hearing officer appointed by the SHD following a hearing with the student’s parent(s) or legal guardian(s) in which the terms and conditions of the probation are explained. For reasonable cause, a student may be required to take an alcohol or drug screening at the request of school authorities at no cost to families. The Superintendent or designee shall also notify the parent(s) or legal guardian(s) in writing when a probation is imposed, including the reasons for the probation and its date of termination.

2. Long-Term Suspension – Long-term suspension is the exclusion of a student from regular school attendance and activities by the Superintendent or the Superintendent's designee for a period of 11-45 school days. While the suspension is in effect, the student is denied entry to all programs of PWCS. A student on long-term suspension may be readmitted to school on a conditional entry basis (as per regulations) following the completion of the suspension.

   A long-term suspension may extend beyond a 45 school-day period but shall not exceed 365 calendar days if: 1) the offense is one described in Code of Virginia §§ 22.1-277.07 or 22.1-277.08 or involves serious bodily injury or a committee of the School Board or the Superintendent or Superintendent’s designee finds that aggravating circumstances exist, as defined by the Virginia Department of Education. For the purposes of Code of Virginia §§ 22.1-277 and 22.1-277.05, the Virginia Department of Education has defined “aggravating circumstances” to mean:

   1. That a student engaged in misconduct which caused serious harm (including but not limited to physical, emotional, and psychological harm) to another person(s) or posed a credible threat of serious harm to another person(s), as determined by a threat assessment.
   2. That a student’s presence in the school poses an ongoing and unreasonable risk to the safety of the school, its students, staff, or others in the school.
   3. That a student engaged in a serious offense that is:
      1. Persistent (repeated similar behaviors are documented on the student’s disciplinary record).

      2. Unresponsive to targeted interventions as documented through an established intervention process.

         Except as provided in Code of Virginia §§ 22.1-277(B), 22.1-277.07, or 22.1-277.08, no student in grades preschool-3 shall be suspended for more than three school days unless 1) the offense involves physical harm or credible threat of physical harm to others or 2) the local school board or the superintendent or designee finds that aggravating circumstances exist, as defined by the Virginia Department of Education.

3. Assignment to a Nontraditional Education Program - “A school board may require any student who has been (I) charged with an offense relating to the Commonwealth’s laws, or with a violation of school board policies on weapons, alcohol or drugs, or intentional injury to another person; (ii) found guilty or not innocent of an offense relating to the Commonwealth’s laws on weapons, alcohol, or drugs, or of a crime that resulted in or could have resulted in injury to others, or for which the disposition ordered by a court is required to be disclosed to the superintendent of the school division pursuant to the Code of Virginia, Section 16.1-305.1; (iii) found to have committed a serious offense or repeated offenses in violation of school board policies; (iv) suspended due to Code of Virginia, Section 22.1.277.05; or (v) expelled pursuant to Code of Virginia, Sections 22.1-277.06, 22.1-277.07, or Section 22.1-277.08, or subsection B of Section 22.1-277, to attend a nontraditional education program. A school board may require such students to attend such programs regardless of where the crime occurred...” (Code of Virginia § 22.1-277.2:1). Pursuant to the disciplinary authority of the School Board, the Superintendent, or designee, may require students to attend a nontraditional education program consistent with the provisions of Code of Virginia § 22.1-277.2:1 and such decision shall be final unless altered by the School Board upon timely written petition.

4. Recommendation for Expulsion – A hearing officer may recommend a student’s expulsion to the School Board for serious misconduct. Expulsion is an action by the School Board whereby a student is not permitted to attend school in the division and is ineligible for readmission for 365 calendar days after the date of the expulsion. After 365 days have passed, the student may apply for readmission. Expulsion denies attendance at any and all programs of PWCS. Expulsion is an action by the School Board which terminates the student from regular school attendance for 365 calendar days or longer. A student who is expelled may be permitted to attend a nontraditional education program during the term of the expulsion.

   Except as provided in Code of Virginia §§ 22.1-277(B), 22.1-277.07, or 22.1-277.08, no student in preschool through grade three shall be expelled from school unless 1) the offense involves physical harm or credible threat of physical harm to others or 2) the local school board or the superintendent or designee finds that aggravating circumstances exist, as defined by the Virginia Department of Education.

Further information on disciplinary responses may be found in the Appendix. Additional information on referrals for Further Disciplinary Action can be found on the Further Disciplinary Action Hearing Process webpage of the PWCS website.