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The Prince William County School Board approved the school system鈥檚 revised code of behavior, including new restorative disciplinary practices but with changes to controversial sections in a previous draft.
The version approved at Wednesday night鈥檚 board meeting removed 鈥渞estorative practice鈥� conferences or circles from the list of responses to more serious misconduct, but left them in as potential responses to low-level misbehavior. They鈥檙e meant, division administrators say, to serve largely as preventative tools, helping students to model better behavior and preventing them from escalating misconduct that could ultimately lead to suspension.
鈥淚t鈥檚 responsive to the feedback that we agreed with when we got feedback from parents and the school board,鈥� Superintendent LaTanya McDade said.
As was previously the case, suspension remains on the table for schools when more serious infractions occur.
The approved code of conduct also includes new sections on 鈥渆ducator cultural competency鈥� and a 鈥渕ulti-tiered system of supports,鈥� calling for disruptive behavior to be met with a 鈥渟tudent support team,鈥� goal setting and 鈥渆arly implementation of evidence based interventions.鈥�
Intended to serve as alternatives to more serious punishment for minor misconduct, the use of what have been termed 鈥渞estorative practices鈥� has grown in school systems across the country. Ashley Reyher, the division鈥檚 superintendent for special education, said research showed that where the practices were implemented, rates of discipline fell 鈥渄ue to them responding positively.鈥�
鈥淚t鈥檚 really to get ahead of student behaviors occurring,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 working with schools to teach students ways that they can demonstrate the expected behaviors positively. 鈥� It鈥檚 very different than replacing consequences.鈥�
Board members Justin Wilk (Potomac) and Lillie Jessie (Occoquan) had both expressed concern over the original draft of changes, saying teacher and administrator buy-in could be hard, and that more severe punishments needed to be on the table when warranted.
Both voted for the new code on Wednesday, saying the revisions made them more comfortable.
鈥淚鈥檓 profoundly grateful. I feel heard. I think a lot of people, with these revisions and changes, will feel heard,鈥� Wilk said Wednesday.
Level associate superintendents will be tracking discipline data on a 鈥渞egular basis,鈥� according to Deputy Superintendent Carol Flenard. Training on the new code will take place in August for all school-based administrators and teachers, though she pointed out that it would be optional for the latter.
Behavioral problems have been on the rise locally and around the country since schools closed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The new code also includes state-mandated language requiring that principals or their designees inform the parents or guardians of any instances of bullying involving their child within 24 hours of knowing about it.
鈥淚 know behaviors, they were rough this year,鈥� Coles Board Member Lisa Zargapur said. 鈥淚 believe this is an adult problem. It鈥檚 parents, it鈥檚 teachers, it鈥檚 administrators. We all have to work together to make sure that our kids are getting the best instruction, 鈥� academically but also behaviorally.鈥�
