Outline of the state of West Virginia
State
West Virginia
Not addressed

Category
Family Engagement into Policymaking on School Discipline and Behavior Management

Category
Family Engagement into Policymaking on School Discipline and Behavior Management

Topic is not addressed in state statutes or regulations.

West Virginia Code 18-5A-2. Local school improvement councils; election.

(2) The school improvement council annually shall conduct a meeting to engage parents, students, school employees and other interested parties in a positive and interactive dialogue regarding effective discipline policies. The meeting shall afford ample time for the dialogue and comply with any applicable provision of state, federal or county board policy, rule or law, as appropriate, regarding student privacy rights.

Policy Type
Statute

West Virginia Code 18-5A-2. Local school improvement councils; election.

(l)  Each local school improvement council annually shall develop and deliver a report to the countywide council on productive and safe schools. The report shall include:

  • (1)  Guidelines for the instruction and rehabilitation of students who have been excluded from the classroom, suspended from the school or expelled from the school, the description and recommendation of in-school suspension programs, a description of possible alternative settings, schedules for instruction and alternative education programs and an implementation schedule for such guidelines. The guidelines shall include the following:
  • (A)  A system to provide for effective communication and coordination between school and local emergency services agencies;
  • (B)  A preventive discipline program which may include the responsible students program devised by the West Virginia Board of Education as adopted by the county board, pursuant to the provisions of subsection (e), section one [§18A-5-1], article five, chapter eighteen-a of this code; and
  • (C)  A student involvement program, which may include the peer mediation program or programs devised by the West Virginia Board of Education as adopted by the county board, pursuant to the provisions of subsection (e), section one, article five, chapter eighteen-a of this code; and
  • (2)  The local school improvement council's findings regarding its examination of the following, which also shall be reported to the county superintendent:
  • (A)  Disciplinary measures at the school; and
  • (B)  The fairness and consistency of disciplinary actions at the school. If the council believes that student discipline at the school is not enforced fairly or consistently, it shall transmit that determination in writing, along with supporting information, to the county superintendent. Within ten days of receiving the report, the superintendent, or designee, shall respond in writing to the council. The county board shall retain and file all such correspondence and maintain it for public review.
Policy Type
Statute

West Virginia Code 18A-5-1. Authority of teachers and other school personnel; exclusion of pupils having infectious diseases; suspension or expulsion of disorderly students; corporal punishment abolished.

(f) Each county board is solely responsible for the administration of proper discipline in the public schools of the county and shall adopt policies consistent with the provisions of this section to govern disciplinary actions. These policies shall encourage the use of alternatives to corporal punishment, providing for the training of school personnel in alternatives to corporal punishment and for the involvement of parent(s), guardian(s) or custodian(s) in the maintenance of school discipline. The county boards shall provide for the immediate incorporation and implementation in the schools of a preventive discipline program which may include the responsible student program and a student involvement program which may include the peer mediation program, devised by the West Virginia Board of Education. Each county board may modify those programs to meet the particular needs of the county. The county boards shall provide in-service training for teachers and principals relating to assertive discipline procedures and conflict resolution. The county boards also may establish cooperatives with private entities to provide middle educational programs which may include programs focusing on developing individual coping skills, conflict resolution, anger control, self-esteem issues, stress management and decision making for students and any other program related to preventive discipline.

Policy Type
Statute