Committee clarifies discipline rules for students with disabilities and outlines entry/reentry process
March 27, 2024 | Beaufort 01, School Districts, South Carolina
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Beaufort County School District student-services staff on March 27 presented consolidated revisions to administrative regulations governing discipline of students with disabilities (SS 16), suspension/expulsion and alternative placement (SS 39), and a new entry/reentry regulation (SS 40) for students with prior disciplinary histories.
Dr. White, the student-services officer, summarized changes to SS 16 intended to align district procedure with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). "When it comes to a student who has been removed and suspended, it is important to know that a student with disability must still continue to have services," Dr. White said, adding that the IEP or 504 team must determine services and that functional behavior assessments should be conducted when students are removed for more than 10 days.
The revisions also clarify that principals may recommend an interim alternative educational setting (IAES) for serious incidents (weapons, drugs, serious bodily harm) but that the IEP team must determine the services that will be provided in that setting. Staff removed language implying administrators make special-education placement decisions and emphasized that the IEP/504 team holds that authority.
On SS 39, staff added a progressive-discipline alignment and spelled out notice and documentation expectations, including notifying parents in their native language and uploading intervention documentation to the district learning-management system. The AR also strengthens impartiality safeguards for student-discipline hearing officers: hearing officers "must not have been involved in the investigation or recommendation for expulsion," presenters said.
For students seeking to enroll in Beaufort County after expulsions or disciplinary actions elsewhere, the new SS 40 establishes an application-and-hearing process before a reentry committee composed of director-level staff and special-education coordinators when applicable. The goal, presenters said, is to ensure safety and continuity of education while addressing support needs.
Board members asked several questions about timeliness of parent notification and the practicalities of giving a referral or procedural-safeguards notice when an investigation is ongoing; staff said best practice is to provide the notice and follow up by the end of the workday (or within 24 hours) and to convene manifestation-determination review meetings to protect student rights.
Next steps: staff will share the revised ARs and implementation guidance with principals and assistant principals and proceed to the full board for adoption.
Dr. White, the student-services officer, summarized changes to SS 16 intended to align district procedure with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). "When it comes to a student who has been removed and suspended, it is important to know that a student with disability must still continue to have services," Dr. White said, adding that the IEP or 504 team must determine services and that functional behavior assessments should be conducted when students are removed for more than 10 days.
The revisions also clarify that principals may recommend an interim alternative educational setting (IAES) for serious incidents (weapons, drugs, serious bodily harm) but that the IEP team must determine the services that will be provided in that setting. Staff removed language implying administrators make special-education placement decisions and emphasized that the IEP/504 team holds that authority.
On SS 39, staff added a progressive-discipline alignment and spelled out notice and documentation expectations, including notifying parents in their native language and uploading intervention documentation to the district learning-management system. The AR also strengthens impartiality safeguards for student-discipline hearing officers: hearing officers "must not have been involved in the investigation or recommendation for expulsion," presenters said.
For students seeking to enroll in Beaufort County after expulsions or disciplinary actions elsewhere, the new SS 40 establishes an application-and-hearing process before a reentry committee composed of director-level staff and special-education coordinators when applicable. The goal, presenters said, is to ensure safety and continuity of education while addressing support needs.
Board members asked several questions about timeliness of parent notification and the practicalities of giving a referral or procedural-safeguards notice when an investigation is ongoing; staff said best practice is to provide the notice and follow up by the end of the workday (or within 24 hours) and to convene manifestation-determination review meetings to protect student rights.
Next steps: staff will share the revised ARs and implementation guidance with principals and assistant principals and proceed to the full board for adoption.
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