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District unveils unified student code of conduct and matrix to reduce disparities
Summary
Administrators presented a unified student code of conduct and an administrative matrix designed to standardize responses across sites, pair corrective and supportive measures, and increase transparency for parents and staff; implementation will include quarterly committee review and updates to incident reporting systems.
The board received a detailed presentation of a proposed unified student code of conduct and an administrative implementation matrix intended to reduce inconsistency in discipline across the district.
Mr. Zurbuchen and other members of the committee said the district currently operates more than 90 site-based student codes of conduct, leading to inequitable responses for similar behaviors. The unified code, developed by a multi-disciplinary committee (administrators, student services, SEL staff, special education, Office of Equal Opportunity and principals), pairs clearly defined behaviors with a spectrum of corrective and supportive measures and includes guidance on when to escalate to district case management.
Committee members emphasized the documents training value for new administrators and the intent to balance corrective measures (suspension/expulsion when warranted) with supportive interventions (check-ins, restorative practices, family advocates). The matrix will exist in two versions: an administrative view with internal links and a public-facing version for parents. Administrators said the matrix will be updated quarterly and integrated with Encore incident reporting to ensure consistent data capture.
Why it matters: Staff said the unified approach will increase fairness and predictable consequences across campuses, make case management clearer, and improve training for administrators and assistant principals. The public version is intended to enhance transparency for families and to reduce parental confusion about disparate site practices.
What happens next: The policy rewrite and matrix remain in the review process. Staff will continue stakeholder engagement, confirm technical integration with Encore, and present a finalized policy for future board action; the matrix is currently being used in pilot contexts and administrators reported strong early support.
