DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Office of the Secretary

FINAL

REGULATORY IMPLEMENTING ORDER

611 Consortium Discipline Alternative Programs for Treatment of Severe Discipline Problems

I. Summary of the Evidence and Information Submitted

The Secretary of Education intends to amend 14 DE Admin. Code 611 Consortium Discipline Alternative Programs for Treatment of Severe Discipline Problems by clarifying eligibility for placement in the Consortium Discipline Alternative Programs; clarifying the district’s responsibility for providing a written decision if a student is not placed; and to delineate the requirement for Student Success Plans as required by 14 DE Admin. Code 505. The amendments are intended to be congruent with the requirements of House Bill No. 326 of the 144th General Assembly and other sections of Delaware Code.

Notice of the proposed regulation was published in the News Journal and the Delaware State News on December 4, 2008, in the form hereto attached as Exhibit “A”. Comments were received from Governor’s Advisory Council for Exceptional Citizens, the State Council for Persons with Disabilities and the Delaware Developmental Disabilities Council. The comments were similar. The first comment related to the issue of charter schools and the requirement for placement of such students into the Consortium Discipline Alternative Programs. With regards to charter schools, HB 326 must be read in conjunction with the limitations set forth in 14 Del.C., Section 504A(8). The Department has revised the language to address the concern to the extent possible. The second set of comments related to Section 1.2 and the provisions for a student placed into the Consortium Discipline Alternative Programs and included comments for placement of students covered under IDEA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. To the extent possible, the Department has made changes to be consistent with the comments presented. The third comment suggested the decision of non-placement be submitted rather than just provided to the Department with a copy sent to the parent. The Department has made revisions to reflect these comments. The fourth comment requested the Department annually evaluate the reasons for non-placement. The regulation has been amended to require a review of reasons for non-placement. The Department appreciates the time each of the Councils provided in reviewing the proposed amended regulation.

II. Findings of Facts

The Secretary finds that it is appropriate to amend 14 DE Admin. Code 611 Consortium Discipline Alternative Programs for Treatment of Severe Discipline Problems in order to clarify eligibility for placement in the Consortium Discipline Alternative Programs; clarify the district’s responsibility for providing a written decision if a student is not placed; and to delineate the requirement for Student Success Plans as required by 14 DE Admin. Code 505. The amendments are intended to be congruent with the requirements of House Bill No. 326 of the 144th General Assembly and other sections of Delaware Code.

III. Decision to Amend the Regulation

For the foregoing reasons, the Secretary concludes that it is appropriate to amend 14 DE Admin. Code 611 Consortium Discipline Alternative Programs for Treatment of Severe Discipline Problems. Therefore, pursuant to 14 Del.C. §122, 14 DE Admin. Code 611 Consortium Discipline Alternative Programs for Treatment of Severe Discipline Problems attached hereto as Exhibit “B” is hereby amended. Pursuant to the provision of 14 Del.C. §122(e), 14 DE Admin. Code 611 Consortium Discipline Alternative Programs for Treatment of Severe Discipline Problems hereby amended shall be in effect for a period of five years from the effective date of this order as set forth in Section V. below.

IV. Text and Citation

The text of 14 DE Admin. Code 611 Consortium Discipline Alternative Programs for Treatment of Severe Discipline Problems amended hereby shall be in the form attached hereto as Exhibit “B”, and said regulation shall be cited as 14 DE Admin. Code 611 Consortium Discipline Alternative Programs for Treatment of Severe Discipline Programs in the Administrative Code of Regulations for the Department of Education.

V. Effective Date of Order

The actions hereinabove referred to were taken by the Secretary pursuant to 14 Del.C. §122 on January 15, 2009. The effective date of this Order shall be ten (10) days from the date this Order is published in the Delaware Register of Regulations.

IT IS SO ORDERED the 15th day of January 2009.

Department of Education

Valerie A. Woodruff, Secretary of Education

Approved this 15th day of January 2009

611 Consortium Discipline Alternative Programs for Treatment of Severe Discipline Problems

1.1 Except as otherwise provided in this regulation, any student who is expelled by a local school district, who is subject to expulsion or who otherwise seriously violates the district discipline code shall be eligible for placement at a Consortium Discipline Alternative Program site.

1.12 [Subject to Section 11.0, Ll]ocal school districts may shall place a student at a Consortium Discipline Alternative Program site only if the district board:

1.12.1 Has expelled the student for a violation of the district’s discipline code or, [Determines that the student has engaged in conduct that permits the board to expel the student determined that the student has been suspended for engaging in conduct that could result in expulsion and has not required the student to participate in other options such as behavioural contracts or counseling] or, determine[sd] that the student has exhibited such severe discipline problems that expulsion is imminent.; and

1.2.2 Determine[sd] the student is not [in]eligible for placement at a Consortium Discipline Alternative Placement pursuant to the conditions in 2.0.

1.23 School districts may place a student in a Consortium Discipline Alternative Program site for classroom or school environment disruptions only if:

1.23.1 Such disruptions are chronic and repetitive; and

1.23.2 The student has participated in all available School Based Intervention Programs pursuant to 14 DE Admin. Code 609 and continues to routinely and seriously disrupt the classroom and impede the learning of other students.

2.1 Any student expelled or suspended pending expulsion for behavior equivalent to a violation of the following is not eligible for, and may not be placed at a Consortium Discipline Alternative Program site.

2.1.1 11 Del.C. §613 Assault in the First Degree; class C felony; or

2.1.2 11 Del.C. §1457 Possession of a Weapon in a Safe School and Recreation Zone; class D, E, or F: class A or B misdemeanor; or

2.1.3 11 Del.C. §802 Arson in the Second Degree affirmative defense; class D felony; or

2.1.4 11 Del.C. §803 Arson in the first degree; class C felony; or

2.1.5 11 Del.C. §770 Rape in the fourth degree; class C felony; or

2.1.6 11 Del.C. §771 Rape in the third degree; class B felony; or

2.1.7 11 Del.C. §772 Rape in the second degree class B felony; or

2.1.8 11 Del.C. §773 Rape in the first degree class A felony; or

2.1.9 16 Del.C. §4753A Trafficking in marijuana, cocaine, illegal drugs, methamphetamine, LSD, or designed drugs or

2.1.10 Any behavior equivalent to or greater than the offenses in 2.1.1 through 2.1.9.

2.2 Provided further, any student expelled or suspended pending expulsion may not be placed at a Consortium Discipline Alternative Program if the school district determines, by a preponderance of the evidence, the student is inappropriate for such placement. When determining whether a student is inappropriate for placement in a Consortium Discipline Alternative Program, the school district shall consider the availability of space in the program to serve the student, and the student's age.

When a school board expels a student but determines the student shall not be placed at a Consortium Discipline Alternative Program under subsections 2.1.1 to 2.1.10 of this regulation, the school district’s written decision shall be in writing and address with specificity the reason for non placement and the evidence in support thereof. Such decisions shall be [reported submitted] to the Delaware Department of Education’s Office of School Climate and Discipline within five working days of such decision [with a copy to the student’s parent, guardian, or Relative Caregiver].

Districts shall inform the parents, guardians, Relative Caregiver or students (if the student is age 18 or older) of the alternative education options that are then currently available to them if the students have been expelled or expulsion is being considered. These options may include, but are not be limited to, the Consortium Discipline Alternative Program, a GED Program, James H. Groves High School and continued special education and related services for children with disabilities as determined by the student’s individual eligibility for participation in such programs. A student’s eligibility for such alternative education options is determined by the requirements of such programs.

Eligible students in the Consortium Discipline Alternative Program shall be primarily those who are enrolled in grades 6 through 12, however students in the lower grades may also be served through Alternative Program funds.

6.1 Each district shall establish an Alternative Placement Team to review each case and prescribe the appropriate placement for students. The Placement Team, in concert with the Consortium Discipline Alternative Program staff, shall design an Individual Service Plan (ISP) for each student that will include educational goals, behavioral goals, and services needed by both students and their families. The ISP shall include a tentative transition plan.

6.1.1 The Alternative Placement Team shall be composed of a representative of the Consortium Discipline Alternative Program staff; a district level coordinator who will be designated by the superintendent; the building level principal, assistant principal or other person as appropriate; the student’s custodial adult; guidance counselor or school social worker; and a representative from the Department of Services for Children Youth and Their Families (DSCYF) with knowledge of the student’s and family’s needs as appropriate. Other individuals may be invited as determined by the placement team.

6.1.1.1 Students who are being placed at a Consortium Discipline Alternative Program site as a transition from DSCYF facilities shall have an ISP developed in concert with the DSCYF facility team, the Alternative Placement Team, and the student’s custodial adult.

6.1.2 If students from either a school district or DSCYF facility are children with disabilities, appropriate special education staff shall be included in placement considerations. The Alternative Placement Team and the Individual Education Program (IEP) Team may be the same so long as the membership of the IEP Team meets the requirements of 14 DE Admin. Code 925.

7.1 Students enrolled at a Consortium Discipline Alternative Programs site shall be counted in the enrollment of the sending school.

7.2 Students shall be reported for the level of special education service as defined by the current IEP.

7.3 If a student was enrolled the previous year in a Career and Technical Program in the reporting school, the students shall be reported as enrolled in the next Career and Technical course in the program series.

8.1 The Consortium Discipline Alternative Program setting shall be apart from the regular school setting, however, a part of a school building may be used for these programs if the students do not interact with the regular school population or use any school facility at the same time as the regular school population.

8.1.1 Use of other agency facilities (Boys and Girls Club, YMCA, YWCA, etc.) is encouraged. Consortium Discipline Alternative Program settings shall meet all applicable health and safety laws and regulations for student occupancy.

9.1 The Consortium Discipline Alternative Program shall include an educational program designed to maintain and improve skills aligned to the Delaware State Content Standards that will allow students to reenter the regular school program with a reasonable chance and expectation for success. Opportunities for academic acceleration shall also be provided.

9.1.1 The academic program shall include applied learning activities that encourage students’ active participation in the learning process as opposed to work sheets and other “seat oriented” drill exercises. Study skills, test taking strategies for academic confidence building, and Character Education shall be integrated with the Delaware State Content Standards.

9.1.1.1 Credit for work accomplished in the Consortium Discipline Alternative Program setting shall be automatically transferred to the sending school.

9.1.2 All students enrolled in Consortium Discipline Alternative Programs shall participate in the Delaware Student Testing Program (DSTP) or successor statewide student assessment program, and Student Success Plans (SSP) as required by 14 DE Admin. Code 505.

Instructional staff shall include educators who are licensed and certified in the content areas of English language arts, mathematics, science and social studies.

[11.1 Notwithstanding any of the provisions to the contrary, children with disabilities shall be served pursuant to the provisions of 14 DE Admin. Code 925 922 through 929. Nothing in this regulation shall alter a district's or charter school's duties under the Individual with Disabilities Act (IDEA) or 14 DE Admin. Code 922 through 929. Nor shall this regulation prevent a district or charter school from providing supportive instruction to children with disabilities in a manner consistent with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Department regulations.

11.2 Nothing in this regulation shall alter a district's or charter schools's duties under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 or the Americans with Disabilities Act to students who are qualified individuals with disabilities. Nothing in this regulation shall prevent a district or charter school from providing supportive instruction to such students.

12.1 [A charter school may refer a student to a Consortium Discipline Alternative Programs pursuant to provisions of chapter 16 of Title 14 of the Delaware Code, subject to the conditions set forth in 14 Del. C. 505A(8). A charter school, subject to the limitations of 14 Del.C. 504A(8), shall pursue referral of any student meeting the requirements of Section 1.2 into a Consortium Discipline Alternative Program pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 16 of Title 14 of the Delaware Code.]

12.2 To the extent applicable, a charter school placing a student in a Consortium Discipline Alternative Program shall be subject to the provisions of this regulation.

The Department of Education shall annually evaluate the effectiveness of the Consortium Discipline Alternative Programs using criteria that includes student demographic data, types of interventions employed, and prior versus subsequent behavioral and academic patterns, parent involvement, agency involvement and recidivism. [In addition, the Department of Education shall annually review the decisions acquired pursuant to Section 3.0 to assess the reasons for non-placement of students in the alternative programs, including lack of space and number, age, race and special education status of excluded students by district and charter school.] Grantees shall compile and submit data based on uniform standards and format established by the Department.