Student Discipline Training

In accordance with RCW 28A.415.410, OSPI is developing a training program to support the implementation of discipline policies and procedures. Districts are strongly encouraged to provide OSPI’s training program to all staff who interact with students, particularly following any substantive changes to discipline policies and procedures.

The training content will be made available in increments and enhanced over time. The training program highlights the connection between research, policies, data, and best practices pertaining to student discipline within the context of Washington K–12 educational settings.

OSPI’s Behavior Menu of Best Practices and Strategies provides resources and information to guide schools in the implementation of supportive school discipline practices.

Student Discipline Training Materials

Administrative Procedures

On August 14, 2019, OSPI hosted a webinar on administrative procedures for implementing the state’s new discipline rules. This webinar highlights the connection between research, policies, data, and best practices in school discipline. The training content is followed by a Q&A time with OSPI staff and partner organizations.

Districts may use the Discipline Training Administrative Procedures presentation. If you intend to use or modify these slides, please keep the Legal Disclaimer and Training Considerations slides attached to your training materials. Also, please note that without the accompanying commentary from the training videos to provide context, these materials may be difficult to interpret.

Administrative Procedures Introduction

Administrative Procedures Introduction

Key Reading: Gregory, A., Skiba, R. J., & Noguera, P. A. (2010). The achievement gap and the discipline gap: Two sides of the same coin? Educational Researcher, 39, 59–68.

Due Process Legal Framework

Due Process Legal Framework

Goss v. Lopez, 419 U.S. 565 (1975) is a seminal Supreme Court decision establishing that students facing a suspension from school have a right to notice and hearing under the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

Due Process Procedures

Due Process Procedures

Procedures Knowledge Test

Equitable Systems & Data-Based Decision Making

Equitable Systems & Data-Based Decision-Making

Video: Why Black girls are targeted for punishment at school—And how to change that (Monique Morris)

Effective Implementation

Effective Implementation

Q&A

Active Implementation Hub is a free, online learning environment for educators involved in active implementation and scaling up of programs and innovations.
PBIS Assessment Tools provides free tools to assess implementation progress in school-wide positive behavioral interventions and supports (SWPBIS), including the SWPBIS Tiered Fidelity Inventory (TFI)—a valid, reliable, and efficient instrument that can be used to guide implementation of SWPBIS.

Classroom Procedures

On August 13, 2019, OSPI hosted a webinar on classroom procedures for implementing the state’s new discipline rules. This webinar highlights the connection between research, policies, data, and best practices in school discipline. The training content is followed by a Q&A time with OSPI staff and partner organizations.

Districts may use the Discipline Training Classroom Procedures slides. If you intend to use or modify these slides please keep the Legal Disclaimer and Training Considerations slides attached to your training materials. Also, please note that without the accompanying commentary from the training videos to provide context, these materials may be difficult to interpret.

Classroom Discipline Procedures, Introduction and Behavioral Expectations

Classroom Discipline Procedures, Introduction and Behavioral Expectations

Video: Keep it clean (A&M Consolidated High School)
National Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) Technical Assistance Center:

Behavioral Violations

Behavioral Violations

Video: School suspensions are an adult behavior (Rosemarie Allen)
National Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) Technical Assistance Center:

The Ohio State University Kirwin Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity: Understanding Implicit Bias
Project Implicit and the Harvard University Implicit Association Test

Equitable Systems & Data-Based Decision Making for the Classroom

Equitable Systems & Data-Based Decision-Making

Video: Why we need trauma-sensitive schools (Trauma Sensitive Schools)
Portland State University: Basic FBA to BIP School-Wide Training
National Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) Technical Assistance Center:

National Center on Intensive Intervention: Behavioral Progress Monitoring Tools and Behavior Strategies to Support Intensifying Interventions

Other Forms of Discipline and Classroom Exclusion
Effective Implementation

Effective Implementation

Q&A

Active Implementation Hub is a free, online learning environment for educators involved in active implementation and scaling up of programs and innovations.
National Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) Technical Assistance Center: Classroom PBIS

Best Practices & Laws in K–12 Student Discipline

On October 11, 2017, OSPI hosted a webinar to provide a preview of the content that will be covered in the first discipline training module. The content provides a foundation for understanding the connection between research, policies, and practices in student discipline.

Best Practices and Laws in K–12 Student Discipline

On October 11, 2017, OSPI hosted a webinar to provide a preview of the content that will be covered in the first discipline training module. The first module will provide a foundation for understanding the connection between research, policies, and practices in student discipline. OSPI is making a recording of the webinar and related resources available online until the formal training module is formatted and complete.

Best Practices & Laws in K–12 Student Discipline

Introduction (0:00 - 5:15)

The Purpose of Discipline in K–12 Education (5:16 - 12:07)
Video: Every Opportunity

The Impact of Exclusionary Discipline Practices (12:08 - 20:32)
Key Reading: American Psychological Association Zero Tolerance Task Force. (2008). Are zero tolerance policies effective in the schools?: An evidentiary review and recommendations. The American Psychologist, 63(9), 852.

Video: School to Prison Pipeline

Recent Laws and Public Policy (20:33 - 31:10)
Key Reading: Mosehauer, K., McGrath, N., Nist, J., & Pilar, K. (2012). Reclaiming Students: The Educational and Economic Costs of Exclusionary Discipline in Washington State. Washington Appleseed & Team Child.

Video: Students Speak Out About Exclusionary School Discipline

Recent Research and Best Practices in Discipline (31:11 - 37:59)
Key Reading: Gregory A., Bell J., & Pollock M. (2014) How Educators Can Eradicate Disparities in School Discipline: A Briefing Paper on School-Based Interventions. Discipline Disparities: A Research-to-Practice Collaborative.

Video: Dr. Pedro Noguera: Disproportional Discipline

Video: School ditching suspensions for conversations

Family Engagement (38:00 - 42:22)
Key Reading: Mapp, K.L. & Kuttner, P.J. (2013). Partners in education: A dual capacity-building framework for family-school partnerships. SEDL.

Video: Dr. Karen Mapp Shares Advice for Educators on Family and Community Engagement Strategies

Video: Workshop Session FWPS

Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) (42:22 - 48:33)
Key Reading: Green, A., Nese, R., McIntosh, K., Nishioka, V., Eliason, B., & Delabra, A. C. (2015). Key elements of policies to address discipline disproportionality: A guide for district and school teams.

Video: Reflections on a Multi-Tiered System of Supports

Video: PBIS: A Framework for All Schools

Conclusion (48:33 - 52:02)

Video: School suspensions are an adult behavior