File: JKBA*-R - Disciplinary Removal from Classroom

NOTE: Colorado school boards are required by law to adopt a regulation on this subject and the law contains some specific direction as to the content or language. This sample contains the content/language that CASB believes best meets the intent of the law. However, the board should consult with its own legal counsel to determine appropriate language that meets local circumstances and needs.

A student who engages in classroom conduct or behavior prohibited by the code of conduct may be removed from class by a teacher and placed temporarily in an alternative setting in accordance with these procedures and consistent with state and federal law.

For purposes of this policy and procedure, a "class" includes regular classes, special classes, resource room sessions, labs, study halls, library time, school assemblies and other such learning opportunities taught or supervised by a teacher. "Teacher" means a person holding a teaching license or authorization issued by the state who is employed to instruct, direct or supervise the instructional program. It does not include substitute teachers as defined in state law.

Informal removal to the principal's office

An informal removal from class occurs when a student breaks one or several classroom rules in a class period or during the school day. The teacher may remove a student by using approved discipline management techniques such as having the student stand in the hall outside the door or some other safe "time out" environment either in or out of the classroom, or sending the student to the principal's office for a short period of time. Generally, the student will be allowed to return to his or her classroom later the same day. The procedures set forth below do not apply to an informal removal from class.

Formal removal from class

A teacher may formally remove a student from class for the following conduct or behavior:

1. Conduct that is prohibited in the student code of conduct. A teacher's decision to remove a student from class for behavior covered by board policies regarding suspension and expulsion may, but does not necessarily, mean that the student will also be suspended and/or expelled.

2. Disruptive, dangerous or unruly behavior. The following behavior, by way of example and without limitation, may be determined to be disruptive, dangerous or unruly:

a. Inappropriate physical contact intended or likely to hurt, distract or annoy others such as hitting, biting, pushing, shoving, poking, pinching or grabbing;

b. Inappropriate verbal conduct intended or likely to upset, distract or annoy others such as name calling, teasing or baiting;

c. Behavior that may constitute sexual or other harassment;

d. Repeated or extreme inappropriate verbal conduct likely to disrupt the educational environment, particularly when others are talking (e.g., lecture by teacher, response by other student, presentation by visitor) or during quiet study time;

e. Throwing any object, particularly one likely to cause harm or damage such as books, pencils, scissors, etc.;

f. Inciting other students to act inappropriately or to disobey the teacher or school or class rules, including without limitation, inciting others to walk out;

g. Destroying or damaging the property of the school, the teacher or another student; or

h. Loud, obnoxious, or outrageous behavior.

3. Conduct that otherwise interferes with the ability of the teacher to teach effectively. Students are required to cooperate with the teacher by listening attentively, obeying all instructions promptly, and responding appropriately when called upon. A student's noncompliance may, in turn, distract others either by setting a bad example or by diverting the class from the lesson to the student's inappropriate behavior. By way of example and without limitation, this behavior includes:

a. Open defiance of the teacher, manifest in words, gestures or other overt behavior;

b. Open disrespect of the teacher, manifest in words, gestures or other overt behavior; or

c. Other behavior likely or intended to sabotage or undermine classroom instruction.

Procedures to be followed for formally removing a student from class

Unless the behavior is extreme as determined by the teacher, a teacher shall warn a student that continued misbehavior may lead to removal from class. When the teacher determines that removal is appropriate, the teacher shall take one of the following courses of action:

1. Instruct the student to go to the main office. Unless prevented by the immediate circumstances, the teacher shall send a note with the student stating the reason for the student's removal and call the building principal's office.

2. Obtain coverage for the class and escort the student to the main school office. The teacher shall inform the building principal or designee of the reason for the student's removal from class.

3. Seek assistance from the main school office or other available staff. When assistance arrives, the teacher or the other staff member should accompany the student to the main office. The principal or designee shall be informed of the reason for the student's removal.

Within 24 hours of the student's removal from class, the teacher shall submit to the building principal or designee a short and concise written explanation of the basis for the student's removal from class.

Notice to parent/guardian

As soon as practicable, the building principal or designee shall notify the student's parent/guardian, in writing, that the student was removed from class. The written notice shall specify the class from which the student was removed, the duration of the removal, and the basis for the removal as stated by the teacher. The notice shall provide an opportunity for the parent/guardian to attend a student-teacher conference regarding the removal. If the student's removal from class is also subject to disciplinary action (i.e., suspension or expulsion) for the particular classroom misconduct, the student's parent/guardian shall also be notified of the disciplinary action in accordance with legal and policy requirements.

Placement procedures

Each building principal shall designate a room or other suitable place in the school to serve as the short-term removal area.

When the student arrives at the main office, the building principal or designee shall give the student an opportunity to briefly explain the situation. If the building principal or designee is not available immediately upon the student's arrival, the student will be taken to the designated short-term removal area and the principal or designee will speak to the student as soon as practicable.

At the discretion of the building principal or designee, the student may be placed in another appropriate class, program or educational setting, provided students are supervised in such alternative setting.

Students placed in the short-term removal area shall be supervised. During their time of placement, students are expected to do work of an academic nature. If possible, such work shall be related to the work in the class from which the student was removed or may be related to the student' s misconduct. In no event shall a student's time in the short-term removal area be recreation or other free time.

In most cases, a student shall remain in the short-term removal area for the duration of the class from which he or she was removed. Prior to allowing the student to resume his or her normal schedule, the building principal or designee shall speak to the student to determine whether the student is, or appears to be, ready and able to return to class without recurrence of the behavior for which the student was removed. In the event it is not deemed appropriate to return the student to regular classes, the building principal or designee may consider a different placement option.

Behavior plan

The principal or designee and teacher shall consider whether a behavior plan should be developed for the student upon the student's first removal from class. The behavior plan will be similar, if not the same, as a remedial discipline plan developed for disruptive students in accordance with the Board's policy on student discipline. A behavior plan shall be developed and implemented after the teacher formally removes a student from class for the second time and must be developed and implemented before a student may be removed from class for the remainder of the term of the class.

Removal for remainder of term

Upon the third formal removal from class, a student may be officially removed from the teacher's class for the remainder of the term. The principal shall be responsible for determining the appropriate educational placement of the student, which may or may not be another section of the same class, depending on a variety of circumstances. The principal's decision regarding placement is final.

Once a student is officially removed from class, a loss of credit may occur if the principal determines that it would be too disruptive to enroll the student in another class after the start of the term.

Review by principal

The principal is required to collect data pertaining to the number of students who are removed from class during the year. This information will be reported to the public on the safety section of the school report card. While there are a variety of factors to consider when analyzing this data, an unusually high number of formal documented student removals from any one teacher may be cause for concern. The principal shall review this data with teachers at least annually.

A student may be removed from a classroom by a teacher only in accordance with the requirements of this regulation and accompanying policy and the applicable provisions of state and federal law. All teacher actions under this regulation shall be subject to evaluation and supervision by the teacher's supervisor as provided in Board policies and procedures.

(Adoption date)

[Revised July 2015]