Charles County board backs pilot peer‑court program for upper elementary students

The Charles County Board of Education on Nov. 4 asked staff to design a pilot peer‑court program for upper elementary students and include startup funding in the fiscal‑year 2027 budget planning.

Chairperson Yonel Morley framed the proposal as preventive and restorative, saying the goal is to give young students tools to correct behavior before it escalates: “they're not bad students, they're bad behaviors,” she said during the presentation on the model the district is considering. The proposal would adapt Canyons, Utah’s peer‑court approach, using trained teen judges to hear minor nonviolent infractions and recommend restorative measures such as apologies, essays, community service or restorative circles rather than immediate suspensions.

Staff described logistics the board asked them to resolve: whether the pilot would operate in walkable schools or virtually, how to handle transportation and parental consent, and what staffing would look like. Pupil personnel workers (PPWs) were discussed as likely candidates to supervise and coordinate the program because of their daily student‑support role. Board members discussed starting with a limited, pilot rollout and asked staff to return in January with a detailed implementation plan and budget request.

Supporters said the model offers mentoring and follow‑up, not only immediate discipline. During the discussion board members emphasized equity, privacy and avoiding stigmatization; several suggested judges be recruited from a broad cross section of students rather than only top academic performers so the program is inclusive. The board recorded consensus to proceed and directed staff to present a budget line for FY27 and more detailed logistics in January.

Next steps: staff will draft an implementation plan and proposed FY27 line item and return with a staffing and logistics recommendation for board review in January.