Board Policy 4136: Alternative - Rules and Procedures

The alternative programs are provided as an option when a student’s behavior management or academic performance needs cannot be met in a regular setting. The following process shall be followed in determining entrance and exit to programs in the Durham Public Schools:

LAKEVIEW SCHOOL A. Placement Criteria Students may be placed at Lakeview School either through the Office of Student Assignment, through a school-based referral, pursuant to Policy 4134, or as an alternative to a long-term .

1. Office of Student Assignment Placement The Office of Student Assignment may place a student at Lakeview School if the student: a) is coming from another and has not completed a suspension or alternative school assignment in that district, b) is coming from jail, development center or youth detention center and/or the student committed a felony or other serious crime, or c) is identified as a special education student and has been suspended from another public school system, charter school or private school for conduct that could result in a long-term suspension in DPS.

2. Administratively Placed from School-Based Referral The Superintendent/designee may administratively place a student at Lakeview School if the student’s behavior management cannot be met in a regular education setting. a) A principal, in conjunction with the school-based Intervention Team, may refer a student for placement at Lakeview School only after appropriate, individualized behavior interventions have been attempted and been unsuccessful. b) Prior to making a referral, the principal or Intervention Team shall meet with the parent to discuss the proposed referral. If reasonable attempts to meet with the parent are unsuccessful, the principal may notify the parent in writing of the referral. c) To make a referral, the school must provide documentation of interventions that have been attempted to address the behavior that prompted the referral. To complete the process, the school shall submit a letter to the Superintendent/designee with a copy to the parent, describing the interventions that have been attempted and stating the reasons that the student cannot be appropriately served in the regular school setting and that the alternative school placement is necessary to preserve a safe, orderly and inviting learning environment in the regular school setting. d) The referral shall include documentation of: o Prior notice to the parent of the referral o The individualized behavior interventions attempted with the student, including any Behavior Intervention Plan, IEP, Personal Education Plan and/or Intervention Plan o Any criminal charges pending against the student o Transcripts/progress reports/report cards o State assessments R&P 4136 Page 2

o Current Achievement Series data o Attendance records o Discipline records

e) The student’s parent/guardian may subsequently request a hearing to review the involuntary transfer pursuant to Policy 4132. The parent/guardian should contact the Office of the Assistant Superintendent for Student, Family, and Community Services at (919) 560-3640 for more information about the appeal process.

3. Placement Based on Policy 4134 (Pending Criminal Charges) Whenever a student is charged with a criminal offense, either as a juvenile or an adult, the Superintendent or designee, based upon a review of the allegations associated with the arrest or criminal charges and an informal meeting with the student and parent/guardian, may effect an immediate involuntary transfer to another school or to a full-time alternative education program if the Superintendent or designee, based upon a preponderance of the evidence, is of the opinion that the peace, health, safety, or welfare of the students or staff of the Durham Public Schools may be disturbed by maintaining the student in his or her current placement. The student’s parent/guardian may subsequently request a hearing to review the involuntary transfer pursuant to Policy 4132. The parent/guardian should contact the Office of the Assistant Superintendent for Student, Family, and Community Services at (919) 560-3640 for more information about the appeal process. 4. Long-term Suspension Alternative Placement Students who are approved for long-term suspension, with the exception of students who are charged with a Level IV offense, will be reassigned to Lakeview School or another appropriate alternative placement. For students with a Level IV offense, the Superintendent/designee will decide whether to offer alternative education services following the criteria outlined in Board Policy 4303.4B.

The student’s sending school shall provide the documentation listed in item 2.d. above within three schools days of the student’s placement at Lakeview School.

5. Transition Process As soon as possible after the student is admitted to Lakeview School, representatives of the sending school shall schedule a meeting with the student’s parent and Lakeview School staff to develop a transition plan for the student that identifies the student’s academic, behavioral and attendance goals based upon a review of the student’s educational records.

6. High school students who enter Lakeview (Administrative Placement or Long-term Suspension) during the last month of each semester shall remain cross-enrolled (listed as visitor in NCWISE at Lakeview). These students’ classwork and final exams should be submitted to Lakeview in a timely fashion.

B. Exit Criteria 2

R&P 4136 Page 3

1. Students who are placed by the Student Assignment Office based on a suspension/ alternative school placement in another district shall exit Lakeview when the period of suspension/alternative school placement ends. In the case of students returning from incarceration, the Lakeview School transition team will conduct a transition meeting with the base school to set a date for the student to begin at his/her base school based upon a review of the student’s behavior and attendance and a determination that the student is prepared to transition to the regular school setting.

2. Students who are administratively placed may return to the base school at the semester or school year break if the student has made reasonable progress in achieving the goals on the student’s transition plan. The student’s progress shall be reviewed in a meeting of Lakeview and base school representatives at least every nine weeks. A student should not remain at Lakeview School for more than two consecutive semesters, unless there is strong evidence/ documentation that the student presents a continuing threat to the safety and order of the regular school setting.

3. Students who are assigned to Lakeview School as an alternative to long-term suspension shall exit the school and return to the base school at the conclusion of the suspension period unless there is strong evidence/documentation that the student presents a continuing threat to the safety and order of the regular school setting. If the student is retained at Lakeview after the period of suspension, the Lakeview School staff shall meet with the parents to develop a transition plan for the student that identifies the student’s academic, behavioral and attendance goals based upon a review of the student’s educational records. The exit criteria in B.2. shall apply under these circumstances.

C. Failure to Attend Lakeview School If a student is assigned to Lakeview School through the Office of Student Assignment or as an administrative assignment, the student may not enroll in a base school until he/she has attended Lakeview School and met the exit criteria. If a student is assigned to Lakeview School as an alternative to long-term suspension and the student fails to attend Lakeview School or another approved alternative educational program, the student will be assigned to Lakeview School upon re-enrollment in the district until the beginning of the next grading period. DURHAM PERFORMANCE LEARNING CENTER/ACADEMIC READINESS CENTER Durham Performance Learning Center/Academic Readiness Center (DPLC/ARC) is a program designed to help students who are at risk of of school. The program serves high school and over-aged middle school students (over 14 years old). Admission to the program is by application and interview. Students with chronic discipline problems are not eligible for the program. Students may remain at DPLC to complete their high school degree program. Middle school students in the ARC program can either return to their base high school or apply to attend DPLC upon completing the ARC program.

Issued: July 1, 2004 Revised Effective: April 2012 3