State board approves amended Rule r277-609, adds 'accountability practices' definition and reinstates expulsion language

The State Board approved amendments to Rule r277-609 on student discipline after extended debate, inserting a new definition for “accountability practices,” replacing specified uses of the word “restorative” with “accountability,” and reinstating a prior expulsion definition into draft 4. The board then approved draft 4 as amended on second and final reading and forwarded it to the reports-and-requirements task force.

The votes followed lengthy discussion about whether the rule should require or merely allow certain practices and how discipline terms should be defined for consistent reporting. "I would speak against it. I think we should do something that adds clarity and has us be able to get accurate data," said Member Davis, arguing for clearer numeric distinctions between suspension, long-term suspension and expulsion so LEAs could produce consistent incident data.

B…