School Disciplinary Policies

Pioneer facilitates the development of disciplined individuals toward fostering a community of learners’ attitudes and environment. Pioneer celebrates the development of our children and recognizes the positive growth in all areas, while at the same time correcting the negative choices and teaching the proper way.

Policies and consequences consistent with our mission are necessary to ensure a safe learning environment for every child.

Inappropriate Behavior

Examples of inappropriate behavior include, but are not limited to:

• Disrespectful or inappropriate talk and actions
• Disobedience
• Misusing school equipment, or that of others
• Running in class, or in the hallways
• Littering
• Teasing
• Horseplay
• Bullying
• Sexual harassment

Teachers will discuss the above behaviors with children and will contact parents in working together to resolve them. If the child’s behavior problems continue, a referral to the office administration may occur.

Office Referrals

It is at the discretion of the teacher to refer a child to the administration for the intervention of behaviors. The administration will talk with the child, as well as others involved, to understand the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Depending on the circumstances that caused the referral, a student may remain at the office for a brief “time out” period or may receive another form of consequence. These may include detention, in-school suspension, out of school suspension, or expulsion. Conflict resolution, individual, and/or group counseling may be involved as a component of Pioneer’s intervention strategies. Upon each referral to the administration, the parent or guardian will be called and informed of the incident as well as the consequences. It is a shared responsibility of the parents to teach and model Pioneer’s Core Expectations.

Suspension

The following behaviors may result in immediate suspension:

• Fighting
• Biting
• Forgery
• Disrupting the educational environment or otherwise willfully defying the valid authority of staff, teachers, or other school officials
• Causing, attempting to cause, or threatening to cause physical harm to another
• Causing or attempting to cause damage or school property or private property
• Stealing or attempting to steal school property or private property
• Possessing or using tobacco, alcohol, or controlled substance
• Committing an obscene act or engaging in habitual profanity or vulgarity
• Sexual advances, request of sexual favors, or other verbal, visual, or physical conduct of a sexual nature
• Causing or attempting to bring harm to another through hate language
• Habitual misbehavior
• Bullying Policy

Suspensions may be in-school or out of school as specified in the notice of referral letter mailed to parents. Parents may be required to return to school with their child to meet with members of the administrative team as specified in the notice of referral letter.

Expulsion

The following behaviors may result in a student being expelled for a period of time as allowed by Arizona law:

• Causing serious injury to another person
• Habitual misbehavior
• Possession, use of, sale of, or furnishing any firearm, knife, explosive or other dangerous objects
• Unlawful possession of, use or sale of any controlled substance
• Robbery or extortion
• Offering, furnishing, or sale of any drug paraphernalia
• Criminal behavior
• Threats of a terrorist nature, hate violence, or hate crimes
• Sexual assault
• Battery

Forms and processes for appealing expulsion are available in the school office and are outlined in Indiana Code, IC 20-8.1-5.1, Chapter 5.1, Suspension, Expulsion, and Student Discipline.

Pioneer expects all students to conduct themselves in a civil and socially responsible manner. Disciplinary measures, carried out in accordance with state law, are used to maintain a safe and stable school environment.

Any student who has been expelled pursuant to these provisions shall have the right to appeal to the Board of Trustees as specified in IC 20-8.1-5.1-13. When a student is expelled under the provisions of this section and applies for admission to another school for acceptance, the Head of School shall notify the head of the receiving school of the reasons for the pupil’s expulsion.

The full details of Procedural Due Process are outlined in your Family Handbook.

Family and Student Support Team (FASST)

A Family and Student Support Team (FASST) works with school personnel, students, and families to assist students who are having difficulty adhering to expected attendance or behavior policies or who are experiencing other crises or concerns in their lives. Generally, referrals are made to the FASST team after interventions by the teacher, and lead teacher have not met with success. Parents/guardians may also request FASST team intervention by contacting the Principal or Student Support Manager.