Philosophy
District 147 is committed to providing a learning environment for all disabled students which is conducive to their academic, social and emotional growth. District staff will intervene with students whose behavior is not consistent with this goal. Specifically, intervention will occur when a student's behavior:
- Is resulting in, or has the potential of resulting in, property loss or damage
- endangers the health and safety of him/herself or others
- represents a disruption of the educational process
- interferes with the school's legitimate educational purpose, i.e., non-compliance with the program's rules and regulations.
District staff will emphasize positive interactions and will intervene in the least intrusive manner consistent with the student's behavior. More intrusive interventions will occur when the student's behavior represents a significant danger to the health, safety and well-being of him/herself or others. Staff will use no interventions that are prohibited by law, such as corporal punishment, physical manipulation or procedure that causes pain and/or damage when used as an aversive procedure. Suspensions or expulsions of students with disabilities are to be effected in a manner consistent with IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act).
Procedures
Interventions employed by the District shall be consistent with generally accepted practices in the field of behavioral interventions and are grouped under the following headings:
- non-restrictive
- restrictive
Unless the student's behavior is severe and potentially harmful, staff will utilize non-restrictive procedures. If non-restrictive measures are not effective in de-escalating the student's behavior, restrictive measures will be employed. If these are not effective, alternative programming will be considered via the IEP process. Written documentation is required for each instance of a "restrictive" intervention for purposes that require the convening of the IEP meeting. Parents will be informed of such intervention as soon as possible and provided an opportunity to respond. Parents and students will be informed of this policy annually or upon initial enrollment of the student in District special education programs.
Procedural Safeguards
Appropriate procedural safeguards must be followed and, through this process, it must be determined that special education programming and/or services are necessary to meet the education al needs of the student. There can be no "short cuts" or "cutting of corners". Each student shall be guaranteed his/her civil rights. This is our responsibility.
Explanation of the Procedural Safeguards
Available to Parents of Students with Disabilities
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