All disciplinary actions will be processed pursuant to TJS’ discipline policies, the requirements of the Minnesota Pupil Fair Dismissal Act, and other applicable laws.
Any student who violates TJS Student Discipline Policy may be subjected to the consequences established in this Rights and Responsibilities Handbook.
Schools will attempt to use non-exclusionary disciplinary procedures and practices before dismissing a student, except where it appears that the student will create an immediate and substantial danger to self or to surrounding persons or property.
Any student who violates a policy that has a potential consequence of suspension from school for more than one school day shall have an informal conference with the Director and or Student Support Staff.
Suspended students will have the opportunity to complete all school work assigned during the period of the student’s suspension and to receive full credit for satisfactorily completing the assignments.
No student may be suspended for more than 10 consecutive days for the same course of conduct or incident of misconduct, except where the pupil will create an immediate and substantial danger to self or to surrounding persons or property, or where the school is in the process of initiating an expulsion, in which case the school may extend the suspension to a total of 15 consecutive school days.
If a student’s total days of removal from school exceed 10 cumulative days in a school year, the school shall make reasonable attempts to convene a meeting with the student and the student’s parent or guardian before subsequently removing the student from school. The purpose of this meeting is to attempt to determine the student’s need for assessment or other services or whether the parent or guardian should have the pupil assessed or diagnosed to determine whether the pupil needs treatment for a mental health disorder. With the permission of the parent or guardian, the school may arrange for a mental health screening for the pupil. The school is not required to pay for the mental health screening.
No student will be excluded or expelled from the school without notice and the opportunity to have a hearing in accordance with Minnesota law.
Alternative Educational Services Procedures
If a student is suspended for more than five consecutive school days:
| Length of Suspension | Services Provided | Administration Team or Designee Responsibility | Parent/Guardian Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to five consecutive school days | Current classroom work and homework will be made available, if possible. | Arrange for collection of classroom work and homework from teachers. | Pick up classroom work and homework from the school office. Return completed work upon student’s return to school. |
| Six to 10 consecutive school days | Current classroom work and homework will be made available no later than the sixth school day of suspension. | Arrange for collection of classroom work and homework from teachers. | Pick up classroom work and homework from the school office. Return completed work upon student’s return to school. |
| Up to 15 consecutive school days (only pending expulsion or when student constitutes a substantial and immediate danger) | Current classroom work and homework will be made available no later than the tenth school day of suspension. | Arrange for collection of classroom work and homework from teachers. | Pick up classroom work and homework from the school office. |
This schedule does not preclude school administrators from providing different alternative educational services that allow the student to progress toward meeting graduation requirements. Each suspension action may include a
readmission plan. The readmission plan shall include, where appropriate, a provision for implementing alternative educational services upon readmission and may not be used to extend the current suspension.
The Director is responsible for ensuring that the school attempts to provide required alternative educational services. Parents/guardians also have the responsibilities set forth above. Parents who have concerns about the school’s compliance with these procedures should contact the Director promptly.
Additional information related to special education students: TJS may have additional obligations to special education students that are not explained here. For more information about the rights of special education students, see the Procedural Safeguard Notice Parental Rights for Public School Special Education Students at https://education.mn.gov/MDE/dse/sped/proc/ or contact the Director or, your student’s case manager at 612-389-1579.
Student Support Team
The Student Support Team deals with problems relating to student discipline and school adjustment for: (1) students who are not eligible for special education services; and (2) students receiving special education services whose conduct was determined by the appropriate team to be not a manifestation of the student’s disability. If the conduct at issue is the conduct of a student receiving special education services and that conduct was determined to be a manifestation of the student’s disability, the IEP team should address that conduct and school’s response in accordance with state and federal law.
The Director appoints this committee and it usually includes an administrator, counselor, teachers, student support team and/or other staff (5-7 members). The committee shall meet to consider disciplinary and behavioral problems of students referred to it by the Director or designee (chair) and shall recommend to the Director such remedial, corrective, or disciplinary measures as it may deem to be in the best interests of the students and the school. To avoid noncompliance with Minn. Stat. § 121A.41 of having a student suspended longer than ten days, the committee should meet and make a decision or recommendation within two business days from the time of the incident. When a major decision or recommendation regarding a student is being considered, parents shall be invited to be present at the meeting or to submit a written statement. Parents have the option to bring an additional person with them to the meeting.
The Director reviews the recommendations and makes the final determination. If the decision is a school transfer, expulsion or exclusion, the Director will submit the required expulsion/administrative transfer paperwork within 24 hours of receiving the recommendation to The Journey School Board. For Level 5 offenses, the Director has the authority to submit a referral for expulsion or exclusion directly to The Journey School Board for its review and decision without the committee’s action.
If parents/guardians wish, they may submit a written statement within three days after receiving notice of the Director’s or Student Support Team recommendation for transfer, expulsion or exclusion. The Director will include any such written statement with the recommendation to The Journey School Board.