Behavior that interferes with the learning or safety of others is dealt with through Steps. The systematic allowing of Steps gives students the opportunity to review their behavior, think of positive, alternate behaviors, and make a decision on their next course of action. Students are only allowed Steps by the teacher or adult in charge. Steps give students a time to reflect on how their actions interfered with the learning environment and how they can adjust their own behavior to be successful.
Step 1
If a student's behavior interferes with the learning or safety of others, s/he will be quietly allowed to take a seat that faces away from the learning environment. For a short period - 3-5 minutes - the student is given the opportunity to quietly think about his/her behavior and how they can adjust their behavior to meet the expectations set forth by the teacher.
After 3-5 minutes, the teacher will privately ask the student to state what behavior they chose that they were allowed to choose Step 1. When the student is able to verbalize his/her inappropriate behavior and indicates a willingness to meet the expectations, s/he returns to his/her seat.
Step 2
If a student fails to take advantage of Step 1 by not following the expectations for Step 1, s/he chooses Step 2 - to stand facing away from the academic environment in order to make a decision about behaving appropriately and meeting the expectations. After a brief time, when the student is able to verbalize the inappropriate behavior that s/he was allowed Step 2 and indicates a willingness to behave appropriately, s/he returns to Step 1 and follows the process for returning to the learning environment.
Step 3
If a student continues to behave inappropriately and not meet the expectations on Step 2, they are faced with a choice: they may choose Step 3 which is choosing to focus on the school rule (NO STUDENT HAS THE RIGHT TO INTERFERE WITH THE LEARNING, SAFETY, AND WELL-BEING OF OTHERS), which is placed in front of him/her. This helps the student focus to facilitate concentrating on the decision-making process. Or, they may choose Step 4 (see below). If the student chooses Step 3 and, after a brief time, is able to verbalize his/her inappropriate behavior and indicates a willingness to behave appropriately and meet the expectations, s/he returns to Step 2. Then, the process of returning to Step 1 and back to the learning environment will continue.
Note: Steps 1, 2, and 3 follow in succession. A student may not be allowed Step 3 without first having chosen Steps 1 and 2. At Step 3 the student makes the choice to behave appropriately and meet expectations or continue to Step 4.
Step 4
If a student chooses to continue to Step 4, s/he will be given a Step 4 Conference Referral and sent to the office to contact a parent. The student is expected to explain why s/he has chosen to call a parent conference. Please do not request to speak to an administrator or staff member at this time. The appropriate time to discuss the matter is during the conference when you come to school. The student will remain on "Step 1" in an alternative classroom until the parent and the student are available to meet with the staff member in order to determine if the student is ready to return to class for the purpose of learning. The student is expected to follow "Step 1" expectations while waiting for their opportunity to conference with their parent(s).
If a parent cannot conference until the next school day, then the student will be dismissed from the alternative classroom at his/her regular dismissal time. The student would then go home as s/he normally would. They will start the next day in the alternative classroom unless they have completed the conference before school starts. If a conference cannot be scheduled within twenty-four hours, the student will be placed on an in-school suspension and then a parent conference is required for readmission at the start of the next school day. After a successful Step 4 conference at school with the parent, child, and referring staff member, the student then returns to class.
Step 5
A student chooses to advance to Step 5 when s/he is out of control, exhibits behaviors that are totally inappropriate for school, exhibits inappropriate behavior when waiting for a Step 4 parent conference, or is demonstrating actions that are clearly a Step 5 offense. Behaviors constituting immediate advancement on Step 5 are listed in the EMPS Student Handbook. At this point, an administrator or designee will contact the parent so that the child will be immediately removed from school. A school suspension may be a consequence for Step 5 offenses. A parent conference is required for readmission at the end of the suspension.