Student Discipline
SUSPENSION
IN-SCHOOL SUSPENSION
Students may be removed from their classes where behavioral problems are chronic or very disruptive.
In-school suspension can last anywhere from 1 class period to an entire school day.
Students will not be given credit for any tests, quizzes or projects missed due to in-school suspension. In addition, students must complete any work they miss.
Leaving the school grounds without permission and truancy are examples of reasons a student could receive in-school suspension.
Students may be removed from their classes where behavioral problems are chronic or very disruptive.
In-school suspension can last anywhere from 1 class period to an entire school day.
Students will not be given credit for any tests, quizzes or projects missed due to in-school suspension. In addition, students must complete any work they miss.
Leaving the school grounds without permission and truancy are examples of reasons a student could receive in-school suspension.
Objective: To reach the heart of the child and produce a self-disciplined individual.
Scope: All students in grades K through 12
GUIDELINES
LCA views discipline as an important part of schooling, but contrary to the narrow definition typically used, discipline involves much more than punishment. It involves training children to be “disciplined,” to become “disciples” of Christ. At times this process involves punishment, the primary focus of this policy, but in the larger sense, discipline is taught during many school activities.
PUNISHMENT
Whenever possible, punishment is to be a private matter; only when private methods have failed is public action appropriate. (Matt 18:15-17).
It is vital for parents and guardians and students to realize that maintaining an orderly and Christ-like atmosphere in the school and the classroom is critical to the learning process and mission of Liberty. As in all other areas of education at LCA, love and forgiveness are integral parts of the discipline of a student.
Students are expected to conduct themselves in accord with LCA’s Body of Values (see page 2) and Statement of Life Applications (see page 4) while at LCA and in officially sanctioned LCA functions. Conduct outside of these circumstances is disruptive to LCA carrying out its mission and will be disciplined at the discretion of the headmaster, including potential removal from student leadership, suspension, expulsion, or withdrawal.
With this in mind, the following guidelines will be implemented at Liberty:
LOWER SCHOOL
At the Lower School, the discipline system that we use is the “stop light”. The light system has three different colors: green, yellow, red.
The students all start the day with a green light, which means they are following classroom guidelines.
A yellow light is given for not following the classroom guidelines. This is simply a warning.
If another inappropriate behavior happens, a student will receive a red light, and a behavior report will be sent home. Red lights will be recorded with the Director and loss of recess may occur.
For a severe infraction, or continuous misbehavior, a red light is given and the student is sent to the Lower School Director’s office.
MIDDLE/UPPER SCHOOL
For Middle/Upper School students, the discipline system is divided into 3 forms:
Behavior: Used with the 3 strikes policy for in-class discipline.
For a student’s first infraction, their name is written on the board. At the second infraction, a check is placed by their name and a behavior slip is filled out and issued to the student. The third infraction will result in the student being sent to the office.
Unexcused Tardies: for arriving late to class or assembly.
When a student comes late to class or assembly, they are marked as tardy in FACTS and given a tardy slip.
Correction: for outside class discipline (such as running or shouting in the hallway, dress code violations, etc.). A correction slip is filled out and stapled to the student’s assignment notebook. Slips will be marked with a C for Correction, B for Behavior and T for Tardy infractions.
For every 5 behavior or correction slips a student receives, (s)he must serve a 30-minute detention.
Students receiving 2 detentions for any reason in one year will require a meeting with the M/US Director.
Penalties for unexcused tardies will be served each quarter at a pre-arranged Saturday morning (beginning at 8:00am). Service/work time will be supervised by staff.
*Service may include, but is not limited to, cleaning or repair of the school building.
The penalties for unexcused tardies will be assigned as follows:
1-2 Infractions: Warning from the school office
3-4 Infractions: 30 minutes of service/work time
5-6 Infractions: 1 hour of service/work time
7-8 Infractions: 2 hours of service/work time
9 or more Infractions: 2 hours of service/work time + a mandatory parent/student meeting with the MUS Director
Failure to report for service will result in a $100 fine unless there is a family emergency or alternate arrangements are made in advance. Late arrivals/early departures will be prorated
OFFICE VISITS
Official Office Visits are part of our disciplinary process. The following behaviors at school or school related events will automatically necessitate correction from the Division Director (versus the teacher).
Blatant disrespect shown to any staff member or property
Dishonesty in any situation while at school, including lying, cheating, and stealing
Rebellion, i.e. outright disobedience in response to instructions
Fighting, i.e. striking in anger with the intention to harm another student
Obscene, vulgar or profane language
Use of pornography
Use or possession of an illegal substance
Truancy (students who have 10 or more absences without sufficient reason)
Verbal, physical, or sexual misconduct
Religious practices that are disruptive or disrespectful to others
Possession of weapons
INFRACTIONS:
A third official office visit will be followed by a meeting with the student’s parents and guardians.
Should the student require a fourth official office visit, a 1 to 2-day suspension will be imposed on the student.
After five official office visits, the case will be brought before the board, and a decision regarding expulsion will be made.
UNOFFICIAL OFFICE VISITS
The following behaviors are examples that may result in an unofficial office visit:
Distracting classmates, i.e. talking during a lesson
Coming to class unprepared
Speaking out of turn in class; Disruptive behavior
The Division Director may exercise discretion to administer unofficial office visits for the purpose of training students as needed.
During each unofficial office visit, the Division Director will determine the nature of the punishment. The Division director may require restitution, forfeiture of free time or recess, light cleaning work, detention, or other measures consistent with biblical guidelines that may be appropriate.
If for any of the above or other reasons a student receives punishment from the Division Director, the following will be observed:
The student’s parents or guardians will be contacted and given the details of the visit.
The parents' and guardians’ assistance and support in averting further problems will be sought.
The Division Director will make a note of each occasion when the parents and guardians are contacted after an office visit, and enter that record in the student’s file.
After the second unofficial office visit during each academic year for related behavior, the Division Director will discuss with parents an appropriate behavior improvement plan that will be documented.
SUSPENSION
IN-SCHOOL SUSPENSION
Students may be removed from their classes where behavioral problems are chronic or very disruptive.
In-school suspension can last anywhere from 1 class period to an entire school day.
Students will not be given credit for any tests, quizzes or projects missed due to in-school suspension. In addition, students must complete any work they miss.
Leaving the school grounds without permission and truancy are examples of reasons a student could receive in-school suspension.
OUT-OF-SCHOOL SUSPENSION
A student in out-of-school suspension is not allowed on the school campus or at any school sponsored events during their suspension.
Homework and tests that are missed will be counted as zeros.
Students will be given a 1 to 2 days out-of-school suspension after receiving a fourth Official Office Visit.
EXPULSION
The LCA Board realizes that expelling a student from school is a very serious matter and should always be carefully dealt with on a case-by-case basis.
Forgiveness and restitution are fundamental to our total discipline policy.
Should a student and his/her parent and guardians not be able to eliminate behavioral problems by their fifth Official Office Visit, the student may be expelled at the discretion of the Board.
The Board will consult with the Headmaster and Director and will consider recommendations by these persons in considering expulsion.
In the event that the Board elects not to expel a student, the Board will work with the student, the student’s parents, and the Headmaster or Director to implement a written plan to deal with the behaviors at issue. The plan will include clear goals and actions to address the behaviors.
Revised Date: August 1, 2017