DCSS: Student Relations

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DeKalb Student Relations

"Discipline helps children learn to think in an orderly fashion and to understand the consequences of their actions."

Student Relations provides support to each school and center in the DeKalb County School System by interpreting and implementing the rules and regulations regarding student conduct.

The following programs, procedures, and activities are implemented and administered by Student Relations.

DISTRIBUTION OF STUDENT DISCIPLINE INFORMATION

Students receive and sign for the Code of Student Conduct, which contains the discipline rules and regulations of the School System.
Students are taught the contents of the handbook.
Special Education students are taught the contents of the handbook
by special education teachers. Also, English students of other languages are taught the contents of the handbook by ESOL teachers and staff.
Students who enroll in a DeKalb school during the school year receive, sign for, and are taught the contents of the handbook.
Students are administered tests on the contents of the Student Rights and Responsibilities handbook. Students who score less than a 90 on the test must take a retest after additional instruction is provided. Tests are age appropriate and are prepared for grades K-3rd, 4th-7th, and 8th-12th.
Students receive a Student Against Violence Everywhere (SAVE) agreement that encourages conflict resolution as a substitute for violence.
Students receive the booklet Keeping Weapons Out of Your School to inform students of policies and laws and to encourage students to take an active role in making and keeping their school free of weapons and safe.

DISTRIBUTION OF POSTERS

As required by Georgia law (OCGA 16-11-127.1), posters that contain verbatim the State law prohibiting weapons on school property have been placed in every DeKalb school and center in public view.

Posters that contain the Federal and State laws prohibiting the possession and distribution of drugs on school property and within 1,000 feet of school property have been placed in every DeKalb school and center in public view.

Safe School Zone posters have been placed in every DeKalb school and center in public view.

STUDENT EVIDENTIARY HEARING COMMITTEEThe Student Evidentiary Hearing Committee (SEHC) is a panel composed of principals, assistant principals, counselors, psychologists, social workers, and special educators who work in the School System. They hear evidence concerning charges of misconduct that have been brought against students, which if proven, may require long-term suspension, referral to the DeKalb Alternative School, expulsion and/or other corrective action.

Alternative forms of disciplining students have been used by the SEHC. They include:

Community service in lieu of long- term suspension;
Referrals to community agencies;

Early Release component for stu- dents who perform well at DeKalb Alternative School; and

Referrals for mediation between and among students and/or parents when conflict seems unresolved or the potential for continued conflict seems high.

Student Relations has regular contact with the National School Safety Center, a partnership of the Departments of Justice and Education and Pepperdine University.

PARENT AND STUDENT CONFERENCES AND MEDIATIONStudent Relations has hundreds of conferences each year with parents and students. Since Student Relations has a certified mediator, schools and the SEHC refer some parents and students for mediation, especially if family or community conflicts have led to or have the potential for disruption at school.

Student Relations assist parents in identifying appropriate resources for family and children needs.

COLLABORATIONStudent Relations maintains a working relationship with several government and community agencies and resources, including: