DETROIT (WXYZ) — The Detroit Public Community Schools District could make changes to the student code of conduct that will change the dress code and also allow teachers to place students in an alternative school who are fighting.
DPSCD Superintendent Dr. Nikolai Vitti presented the proposed changes to the school board on July 1, and the board could vote on them during a meeting Tuesday.
According to the proposal, the code improved district-wide uniformity after the first year, but changes were needed after feedback from students, teachers, parents and administrators.
The changes include:
- The district plans to introduce the "expect respect" focus which will increase the level of expectations for students and personnel conduct
- Clear expectations and implementation of a demerit system of points that will address repetitive, negative behavior
- The ability for teachers to remove students after fighting, and a referral to the hearing office after three fights for the student to be placed in an alternate school
- The removal of the "disorderly conduct" code, which the district said served as a "catch all" infraction without specificity
- Add a level three infraction to address extreme negative behavior not identified in the code, while also requiring approval from the district with principal recommendation
- Allow students to wear shorts within the dress code, which were previously not allowed
- Make the Office of Civil Rights the contact on sexual related incidents
- Remove younger students from the classroom if behavior threatens the safety of the student, other students or personnel
- Remove detention and replace it with in-school suspension because of the inability to constantly implement detention in all schools
