TJS strives to create a safe and welcoming place for all students. All of us help create this positive and respectful learning environment. The table below offers a summary of the responsibilities we share to create a positive school and district culture:

Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS): A Framework for All Schools

Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is an educational, preventive, and restorative approach to behavior. This approach helps TJS create and sustain effective and culturally-inclusive environments that support academic and social success for all students. TJS use PBIS to teach school-wide expectations to all students and recognize students who meet those expectations. Small group and individualized supports are also provided in this approach.

The following systems and practices are foundational to PBIS implementation:

• clear and consistent school-wide expectations that promote positive behavior. These expectations, which reflect the school community, values and culture, are defined, taught, modeled, reinforced and (when necessary) retaught.
• collect and use data (student and staff) to guide how they teach and reinforce the expectations for individual students, groups of students, whole classrooms and school-wide. Data is also used to identify students in need of additional support and match them to interventions and support.
• continually refines its systems and practices as needs change. The goal is to provide positive and equitable behavioral, social, and academic outcomes for all students.

TJS designs its own three-tiered system:

• Tier 1: All students learn the behavior expectations at school. Staff members teach, model and reinforce these expectations throughout the school year.
• Tier 2: Some students receive small-group interventions to practice the behavior taught in Tier 1.
• Tier 3: A few students receive individualized interventions and support.

At each tier, students learn and practice the social-emotional and behavioral skills they need to do well in school and throughout their lives. Supports provided at each tier involve the integration and alignment of practices, programs and supports listed on the next page.

 Restorative Practices

Restorative Practices are ways for a school community to build relationships, problem solve and learn together. In this approach, relationships are the most important way we learn about the world and ourselves. A Restorative Practice school and community believe:

• Everyone in the school community is good, wise, and powerful.
• We are all connected to one another.
• All of us want to be in good, healthy relationships with others.
• We all have talents and gifts we bring to school.
• It takes time, habits and support to build and maintain positive relationships.

Social-Emotional Learning

Social and Emotional Learning is how children and adults learn how to manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions. All work collaboratively to support social-emotional learning through HeartMath as well.

Mental Health and Wellness

Mental Health and Wellness refers to the continuum of emotional support available to students and staff. These supports strive to create a safe learning environment, maximize collaboration between students and adults, provide students with choices, create trusting relationships, and empower students to do their best.

 Access to Records

Rights/Opportunities

• Students’ parents/guardians and eligible students under federal law generally have the right to view their school records according to state and federal laws.
• Students have the right to privacy regarding their school records. Any disclosure of information from student records will be consistent with legal requirements and policy established by the school district.

Responsibilities

• Eligible students are responsible for following established building and school procedures regarding access to their school records.

Attendance and Tardiness

Rights/Opportunities

• Absence or tardiness of students because of religious holidays and observances shall be recorded as excused absences or tardiness at the written request of the parent/guardian. For more details at https://www.thejourneyschool.org/policies

Responsibilities

• Students are expected to be in class. Students are responsible for following the school’s procedures, i.e. obtaining a pass from a staff person, when late for class or if there is a need to leave class.
• Students and parents/guardians are responsible for following the school’s attendance and tardiness rules and procedures.
• Students and parents/guardians are responsible for notifying the school (e.g., a written note, phone call) before an absence or upon returning to school after an absence.
• Students and parents/guardians are responsible for notifying the school if the student must leave during the school day. For more details at https://www.thejourneyschool.org/policies

Cellular Phones & Personal Electronic Devices

Rights/Opportunities

Students are not to use a school telephone or cell phones unless they have permission from a teacher. Messages will be taken by the school office and will be given to the student.  Damage or loss of cell phones is the responsibility of the student and parent, not the school.

If students bring a cellphone, tablet, or other technology, they must turn it in to their teacher when they arrive to school.  The teacher will return the device at the end of the school day.

 Equal Opportunity

Rights/Opportunities

• Students have the right of equal opportunity, as allowed by law, to participate in all school activities and school education programs for which they are eligible.

Responsibilities

• Students are responsible for following the rules and procedures of the school-sponsored activity in which they, or others, participate. Students may not discourage, impede or prevent the participation of other students.

Fair Treatment

Rights/Opportunities

• Students have the right to due process, as defined in the Minnesota Pupil Fair Dismissal Act, when involved in a violation of district/school rules. Included is the opportunity to hear the nature of the violation and to give their account of the situation.
• Students have the right to be informed of all applicable classroom and school rules, expectations and procedures.
• Students have the right to be treated respectfully by school employees and other students.
• Students have the right to be free from unreasonable physical contact from staff and other students. Reasonable force by staff to restrain or correct a student from injuring self or other persons, however, is allowable.

Responsibilities

• Students are responsible for responding to all directions or questions from staff and for following all laws, policies, rules and expectations that apply to them.
• Students are responsible for knowing and following all applicable school and classroom rules, expectations, and procedures.
• Students are responsible for treating all persons respectfully.
• Students are responsible for respecting the space and freedom of those around them.
• Students are expected to treat the property of others and the school responsibly.
• Students are responsible for refraining from using force or physical contact to inflict harm on another.
• Students are responsible for not engaging in conduct that threatens to physically or mentally injure themselves, other persons or property.

Free Speech and Expression

Rights/Opportunities

• Students have the right to free speech subject to certain Constitutional limitations.

Responsibilities

• Students are responsible for expressing opinions, publishing written materials and distributing literature in such a manner that is not libelous, obscene, discriminatory or sexually explicit; that does not contain references to alcohol, chemicals, tobacco, or other products that are illegal for use by minors; that does not interfere with the rights of others; that does not materially and substantially disrupt the atmosphere of learning in the school; and that follows school rules and procedures regarding time, place and manner.
• Permission of the Director is required for distribution or posting of written materials.

 Gender Identity

Rights/Opportunities

• Students have the right to be identified by their preferred name, pronoun, and asserted gender in learning spaces, facilities, and extracurricular activities.

Responsibilities

• Students must communicate with school staff if their school records are not reflective of their preferred name, pronoun, and/or gender identity.
• School record name and/or gender changes connected to gender identity require submitting updates to the school office in accordance with Board procedures.

 Learning and Academic Work

Rights/Opportunities

• Eligible resident students have the right to a free public education according to state and federal law.
• Students have the right to attend school and gain an education as provided by law. Attendance at school is a privilege, not a right. For more details, see Minn. Stat. § 120A.36 at revisor.mn.gov/statutes.
• Students have the right to attend school in a safe environment that is free from disruptive behavior by others. Students have the right to experience learning opportunities that reflect their cultural experiences in a non-racist, non-sex-biased, gender and disability fair manner. For more information see https://www.thejourneyschool.org/policies
• Students have the right to make up school work missed during any excused absence.
• When absent for an extended period as a result of a medical issue, students have the right to necessary home/hospital instruction as regulated by state guidelines.

Responsibilities

• Students are responsible for daily attendance, for completing class assignments on time, and for bringing appropriate materials required for class use.
• Students are responsible for behaving in such a manner that supports learning for all, does not pose a potential or actual danger to themselves or others, and is not disruptive to the learning process for others.
• Students are responsible for respecting the cultural experiences shared by their peers.
• Students are responsible for obtaining and completing make-up work assigned for periods of absence.

Medications

Rights/Opportunities

• Students have the right to receive medications and medical procedures that must be administered during the school day in order for a student to attend school consistent with Board policy and procedure. For more information see https://www.thejourneyschool.org/policies

Responsibilities

• Families are responsible for communicating with school staff about changes in medications or medical procedures when they must be administered during the school day.
• Students are responsible for cooperating with school staff regarding medications and medical procedures to be administered during the school day.

Non-Discrimination/Harassment-Free Environment

Rights/Opportunities

• Students have the right to a learning environment free from discrimination, harassment and violence based on an individual’s race, creed, sex, marital status, national origin, age, color, religion, familial status, status with respect to public assistance, sexual or affectional orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, or membership or activity in a local commission as defined by Minn. Stat.§ 363A.03
• Students have a right not to be retaliated against for making good faith reports of discrimination, harassment, or violence.

Responsibilities

• Students are responsible for treating other students and school employees respectfully and in a manner that does not discriminate or harass an individual based on protected class.
• Students are responsible for reporting to staff (i.e., teacher, student support staff or the Director) incidents of bullying, discrimination, harassment, violence or retaliation that they have experienced or of which they are aware.

Personal Property and Privacy

Rights/Opportunities

• Students generally have a right of privacy in their persons and in their personal property on school property and at school-sponsored or -associated events.
• According to Minnesota law, students have the right to use school-owned property (e.g., lockers, desks, Chromebooks, iPads) for storing appropriate items of personal property with the understanding that all school-owned property is within the exclusive control of the school district and may be searched by school authorities for any reason, at any time, without permission, consent or requirement for a search warrant. For more details, see Minn. Stat. § 121A.72, subd. 1 at revisor.mn.gov/statutes/. 

Responsibilities

• Students must not bring onto school district property, or to school-sponsored or -associated events, any item or material that violates school district policy, school rules, or state or federal law, or that would cause, or tend to cause, a disruption or endanger the health or safety of students or other people. Items prohibited include, but are not limited to, stolen goods, weapons and lookalike weapons, and other illegal items.
• When reasonable suspicion exists to believe a student possesses prohibited items or that a search will uncover evidence of a violation of a school rule or of the law, school officials may conduct a reasonable search of a student’s person or property.
• Students are responsible for keeping their lockers/desks in good condition and free of any items that are illegal or prohibited.
• The personal possessions of students within a school locker or desk may be searched only when school authorities have a reasonable suspicion that the search will uncover evidence of a violation of law or school rules. As soon as practicable after the search of a student’s personal possessions, the school authorities must provide notice of the search to students whose lockers were searched unless disclosure would impede an ongoing investigation by police or school officials. For more details, see Minn. Stat. § 121A.72, subd. 1 at revisor.mn.gov/statutes/.

 Pledge of Allegiance

Rights/Opportunities

• Minnesota law requires all public schools to provide students the opportunity to recite the Pledge of Allegiance at least once a week (unless the School Board votes to waive this requirement).

Responsibilities

• Anyone who does not wish to participate in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance for any personal reasons may elect not to do so, and students must respect another person’s right to make that choice. For more details, see Minn. Stat. § 121A.11, subd. 3(b) at revisor.mn.gov/statutes/.

Police Interviews

Rights/Opportunities

• Students have the right to be free from interview or interrogation by private parties, such as attorneys and private investigators, during the school day.
• Students have the right to be free from interview or interrogation during the school day by the Saint Paul Police Department unless the Director determines it is unwise or unsatisfactory for the Saint Paul Police Department to contact the student outside of school.
• When interviewed during the school day by the Saint Paul Police Department, students have the right to be interviewed in private and with confidentiality and in the presence of the Director or the Director’s designee, without interruption and without observance by other school personnel or students. For more details, see https://www.thejourneyschool.org/policies

 Student Dress

Rights/Opportunities

“All students are required to wear the school uniform. The colors for the uniform tops are: purple, black or gray; and the colors for shorts/skirts/pants are: black chinos or gray chinos.  Students are not required to wear their school uniform on Fridays unless there is a field trip.” Uniform tops may be purchased from TJS.

Responsibilities

• Students are responsible for wearing clothes that are appropriate for school. To maintain a safe learning environment, student dress cannot be a health and/or safety hazard, obscene, sexually explicit or discriminatory. Clothing that displays words or images that communicate a message that is racist, sexist, or otherwise derogatory is not permitted. Clothing that displays references to alcohol, chemicals, tobacco or other products that are illegal for use by minors is not permitted.
• Students are responsible for abiding by the Director’s mandated minimum standards of cleanliness and neatness. Students who TJS must follow the school’s uniform requirement. For more details, see https://www.thejourneyschool.org/policies

 Student Government

Rights/Opportunities

• Students have the opportunity to form and participate in student government that is open to all members of the student body being represented. The purpose of the existence of student government is to represent and to be responsive to the needs of all students.

Responsibilities

• Students are responsible, when forming a student government, for establishing purposeful governing rules. The student government is responsible for communicating with the student body, faculty and administration, and for being aware of and complying with any school’s policies affecting the student government procedures.

Technology Usage and Safety

Rights/Opportunities

• Students have the opportunity to access school technology resources in support of learning.

Responsibilities

• Students are responsible for using the district technology resources, including iPads and Chromebooks, properly and following all school rules and procedures.
• Students are responsible for respecting the privacy of other users, and not intentionally seeking information on, obtaining copies of, or modifying files, other data or passwords belonging to other users without permission.
• Students are responsible for maintaining the security of the school technology resources and recognizing and honoring the intellectual property rights of others.
• Students are responsible for immediately disclosing inadvertent access of unacceptable materials or an unacceptable Internet site to an appropriate school personnel and the Director.
• Students are responsible for using the school technology resources without making changes to device operating systems and security profiles or installing any apps other than those authorized by TJS
• Students are responsible for ensuring that any digital content on school technology resources is school-appropriate.
• Unacceptable use of school technology resources, including e-mail and the Internet, may result in one or more of the following consequences: suspension or cancellation of use or access privileges, discipline under applicable school policies and procedures, or civil or criminal liability under applicable laws. For more details, see https://www.thejourneyschool.org/policies
• Please see Guidelines for Lost / Stolen / Damaged technology and Accessories on page 26 to learn of consequences.

 Transportation

Rights/Opportunities

• When riding a school bus or van to or from school, a student has the right to a safe ride that is free from intimidation, threat, or harassment.
• Parents/Guardians and students have the right to be informed that transportation service is a privilege that is granted to a student contingent upon appropriate behavior. In accordance with Minnesota Statute § 121A.59, transportation is a privilege, not a right, for eligible students.

Responsibilities

• Students are responsible for adhering to the expected behaviors, set by the Board of Education, while on the school bus and while in school bus loading and unloading areas. Misbehaviors occurring on the school bus will be managed in accordance with the Rights & Responsibilities Student Handbook. For more details, https://www.thejourneyschool.org/policies
• Parents/Guardians of transported students are responsible for supervising their children until their children board the school bus in the morning and after their children leave the bus at the end of the school day. 
• Students who are involved in serious or repeated incidents of unacceptable student conduct on the school bus or at the school bus stop may have their riding privileges suspended or revoked, including bus transportation for field trips.
• The parent or guardian of a student suspended from transportation is responsible for ensuring that the student travels safely to and from school and that the student arrives to school on time. 
• Bus drivers and school staff are responsible for teaching, modeling and reinforcing positive behavioral expectations to all students.

• School staff will inform the parents/guardians of any student whose behavior is in conflict with established expectations and procedures.
• School staff are expected to document, in the student’s behavior record, incidents of behaviors that are managed outside the classroom.
• Students, their parents/guardians and school staff are responsible for working collaboratively to support the expectations and procedures outlined in the Student Behavior Handbook.

Administrative Actions and Levels of Behavior Violations

Behaviors are divided into five levels. A Level 1 violation is the least severe (usually managed in the classroom), and a Level 5 violation is the most severe. For each violation on the charts below, (pages 17-24), there is a defined range of levels or responses; whichever level the first (•) appears under is the minimum response and whichever level the last (•) appears under is the maximum response. There are also examples of interventions and responses which:

• Correct and teach positive behavior so students can learn and be safe and respectful.
• Provide examples of appropriate administrative action.
• Make every reasonable effort to repair harm and address behavior concerns using interventions and the least severe response that is appropriate.

The following factors must be considered prior to developing interventions or assigning administrative action:

• The student’s age, maturity, intention and understanding of the impact of the behavior
• The student’s ability to repair harm caused by the behavior
• The student’s willingness to repair harm caused by the behavior
• The student’s disciplinary record including the nature of prior behavior, the number of prior instances of behavior, and the interventions and administrative action applied
• The nature, severity, and scope of the behavior
• The circumstances and context in which the behavior occurred, including its impact on the learning environment
• The student’s individualized Education Plan (IEP) or 504 plan, if applicable

Full and Equitable Participation in Early Learning per the Pupil Fair Dismissal Act:

A pupil enrolled in a preschool or pre-kindergarten program, including a child participating in early childhood family education, school readiness, school readiness plus, voluntary prekindergarten, Head Start, or other school-based preschool or prekindergarten program, or kindergarten through grade 3 is not subject to dismissals of one school day or more under this Handbook, subject to state and federal law for students receiving special education services. Expulsions and exclusions may be used only after resources outlined below have been exhausted, and only in circumstances where there is an ongoing serious safety threat to the child or others.

Non Exclusionary discipline must include at least one of the following:

1. collaborating with the pupil’s family or guardian, child mental health consultant or provider, education specialist, student support staff or other community-based support;
2. creating a plan, written with the parent or guardian, that details the action and support needed for the pupil to fully participate in the current educational program, including a preschool or prekindergarten program; or
3. providing a referral for needed support services, including parenting education, other supportive education interventions, or, where appropriate, an evaluation to determine if the pupil is eligible for special education services or section 504 services.

Note: Please refer to the glossary for additional terms and definitions, related Minnesota statutory references, and other information.