2.8 Disciplinary Action. A. The disciplinary actions for violations of the bullying policy shall be determined by the school/district appropriate authority. Disciplinary actions for violations of the bullying policy shall balance the need for accountability with the need to teach appropriate behavior. The severity of the disciplinary action shall be aligned to the severity of the bullying behavior. B. The range of disciplinary actions that may be taken against a perpetrator for bullying, cyberbullying or retaliation shall include, but not be limited to: 1. Admonitions and warnings 2. Parental/Guardian notification and meetings 3. Detention 4. In-school suspension 5. Loss of school-provided transportation or loss of student parking pass 6. Loss of the opportunity to participate in extracurricular activities 7. Loss of the opportunity to participate in school social activities 8. Loss of the opportunity to participate in graduation exercises or middle school promotional activities 9. Police contact 10. School suspension: No student shall be suspended from school unless it is deemed to be a necessary consequence of the violation of this Policy.

(a) The Rhode Island department of education shall prescribe by regulation a statewide bullying policy, ensuring a consistent and unified, statewide approach to the prohibition of bullying at school. The statewide policy shall apply to all schools that are approved for the purpose of § 16-9-1 and shall contain the following: (5) The range of disciplinary actions that may be taken against a perpetrator for bullying or retaliation; provided, however, that the disciplinary actions shall balance the need for accountability with the need to teach appropriate behavior; and provided, further: (i) A parental engagement strategy; and * (ii) A provision that states punishments for violations of the bullying policy shall be determined by the school's appropriate authority; however, no student shall be suspended from school unless it is deemed a necessary consequence of the violations;