WJCC revises student code of conduct to emphasize supports, alternatives to suspension and substance‑use education

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. — Williamsburg-James City County Schools presented revisions to its student code of conduct on June 4 that recast the document as a resource guide and highlight alternatives to exclusionary discipline, supports for students with behavioral and substance‑use issues, and clearer parent‑friendly policy language.

Doctor Brown and staff said the revised code is organized into four sections — resources and supports, interventions, responses to discipline, and policies — to make it easier for families and school staff to find supports and understand processes. “Committee feedback requested that more attention to available resources will allow better understanding of how to support students inside and outside of the classroom,” Brown said.

New or clarified elements include a “Supporting Healthy Choices” page that references the division’s approach to substance‑abuse education (presenter referenced the state opioid abatement education plan) and a partnership with Colonial Behavioral Health to streamline referrals for students who need real‑time services. Brown said the division will use an evidence‑based opioid‑prevention curriculum and noted the division will offer formal support plans through the Department of Student Services for students exhibiting patterns of substance misuse.

The revised code also draws a clearer distinction between “interventions” and “disciplinary responses” and adds a Student Services Action Plan — a formal agreement among school, student, family and student services that can serve as an alternative to long‑term suspension when appropriate. Brown gave an example of a student with repeated short‑term suspensions who could be placed on an action plan for structured monitoring and targeted supports instead of referral to a disciplinary hearing.

The division also proposed two policy clarifications that align with the code: clearer formatting around where the code is enforceable and a procedural change to require a principal review when an assistant principal issues a short‑term suspension (the policy sets review timeframes and appeal steps). Board members asked about distribution of the code; Brown said hard copies are printed (particularly at secondary schools) and distributed during orientation, and the document is also provided electronically.

Brown said the department will continue work with schools to analyze discipline data, support school‑level training and report KPIs in the fall. The board did not take a final vote on the code at the June 4 meeting; the code was presented for review.