CHARLESTON, W.Va. – At a recent West Virginia Board of Education (WVBE) meeting, President Dave Perry requested a stakeholder group be formed to review student behavior and the means by which schools address discipline. 

The stakeholder group will hold its inaugural meeting at 10 a.m. on November 13 in Capitol Building 6, Room 353 (Board Conference Room), 1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East, Charleston, West Virginia, to review data, policy and processes surrounding discipline. The group comprises a diverse group of stakeholders including members of AFT-WV, West Virginia School Board Association, West Virginia Education Association, West Virginia Association of School Administrators, West Virginia School Service Personnel Association, West Virginia Department of Education’s Support & Accountability division, classroom teachers, a special education representative and a central office representative. 


The intent of meeting is to review student discipline data and the interventions available to schools to ensure adequate supports are in place to benefit students and educators. The group will also consider possible changes needed to Policy 4373, Expected Behavior in Safe and Supportive Schools prior to next school year. 


“The climate in our schools is always evolving and it is our job to make sure our educators and principals have flexibility to properly handle student behavior and discipline,” Perry said. “My hope is that schools are innovative in how they address student behavior and do not simply suspend students routinely.” 


Perry suggested alternative considerations for addressing student behavior such as after-school suspension, in-school suspension or alternative educational settings.

“Our schools are often faced with unique situations, and I want to be sure we are providing flexibility and resources at the local level to properly handle those situations,” Perry said. 


Findings and recommendations from the stakeholder group will be presented during the December WVBE meeting. 

For more information, contact Kristin Anderson at the West Virginia Department of Education Office of Communications at 304-558-2699 or Kristin.Anderson@k12.wv.us.

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