LEGAL ISSUES IN DISCIPLINING STUDENTS
August 31, 2004
8:00 a.m. Registration
9:00 a.m. LEGAL REQUIREMENTS: CASES, STATUTES & REGULATIONS
ü What is Due Process & When Does It Apply?
ü What Is Required to be in Every Code of Conduct as a Result of HB 1190 and Other State Laws?
ü What Infractions Must Be Reported to Law Enforcement and to the State Board?
ü How the Persistently Dangerous Schools Rule will Change Student Discipline
10:30 a.m. Break
10:45 a.m. TRIBUNALS: PRESENTING CASES & MAKING DECISIONS
ü Preparing a Case and Drafting a Charge Letter
ü Successfully Presenting the Case to a Tribunal or Hearing Officer
ü Dealing with the New Issues Imposed by HB 1190
ü The Role of the Tribunal Member and Appeals to the Board
12:00 p.m. Lunch (Provided)
1:00 a.m. DISCIPLINING THE 504 & IDEA STUDENT
ü What Are the Legal Restrictions on Disciplining Students with Disabilities?
ü What Must a Behavioral Intervention Plan Provide in Order
ü To Impose Effective Discipline?
ü How to Write Discipline Options in an IEP & How to Document Discipline Decisions
ü When Parents of 504 or IDEA Students Challenge Discipline Decisions
1:45 p.m. CREATIVE APPROACHES TO CHRONIC PROBLEMS
ü Riding the Bus – Privilege or Right?
ü Disciplining Truancy & Tardiness
ü When May Academic Non-Performance Be Disciplined?
ü What New Discipline Options Are Working for School System
2:30 p.m. Break
2:45 p.m. SETTING-UP REPORTING PROCEDURES: ACCURACY & COMPLIANCE
ü How to Use Law Enforcement Effectively
ü What Has to Be Reported?
ü Linking Criminal Acts to Codes of Conduct
ü What About other Reports Under State Law?
ü The Rights of “Victims” and Avoiding Civil Suits
4:00 p.m. Adjourn
DOCUMENTING, EVALUATING & TERMINATING INEFFECTIVE TEACHERS
August 31, 2004
8:00 a.m. Registration
8:45 a.m. Documentation & Evaluation in Light of Education Reform Legislation
ü The Impact of the No Child Left Behind Act on Teacher Performance
ü Georgia’s Education Reform Acts & Teacher Evaluation
ü Teacher Evaluation & Student Achievement: How They Must Be Connected
ü A Critical Look at Teacher Evaluation Instruments: Is There a Better Approach than the GTEP Instruments?
9:30 a.m. Developing a Plan for Improving Teacher Performance & Student Achievement
ü Identifying the Least Effective Teacher(s) for Improvement
ü Devising Strategies for Observations, Staff Development & Constructive, Effective Documentation
ü Enlisting the Support of the Board & Superintendent
ü Putting Together a Team to Implement Teacher Improvement Strategies
10:15 a.m. Break
10:30 a.m. When Teachers Are Unable or Unwilling to Improve: Strategies for Building a File That Legally Will Support Termination
ü Drafting Defensible Documentation: What always works (with examples)
ü How to Respond to Allegations of Harassment
ü How Much Documentation Is Enough?
ü How Long Must Documentation Take Place Before Termination?
11:30 a.m. Lunch (Provided)
12:30 p.m. Documenting Particular Performance Problems
ü The Excessively Absent or Tardy Teacher
ü The Teacher Unable to Communicate Effectively with Parents & Others
ü The Defensive Teacher Who Will Not Accept Constructive Criticism
ü The Teacher with Personal Behavior Issues
ü The Teacher Who Will Not Follow Rules
1:45 p.m. Break
2:00 p.m. Putting Together a Case for Non-Renewal or Termination
ü How to Obtain a Resignation
ü Dealing with Teacher Organizations & Representatives
ü What Documentation is Essential to Win a Teacher Termination or Non-Renewal Case?
ü Preparing For Trial: What Witnesses & Evidence are Essential?
ü Preparing the Board: What Can/Should the Board Know Before Hearing the Case?
ü How to Testify Effectively
ü If Appealed, What Happens?
3:45 p.m. Adjourn
The faculty will be available following adjournment to discuss individual cases with administrators attending this preconference session.
LEGAL ISSUES FOR GEORGIA’S EDUCATIONAL LEADERS
SEPTEMBER 1-2, 2004
SEPTEMBER 1, 2004
9:00 a.m. Improving Student Attendance: Drafting and Implementing a Protocol
ü How to Convene the Committee
ü How Can Each Agency Help Improve Student Attendance?
ü Drafting the Statement of Consequences for Failing to Attend School
ü A Notice for Everyone
10:30 a.m. Future Lawsuits in Student Discipline: The New Issues
ü Off Campus Misconduct
ü Dealing with the New Definitions: What Has Changed?
ü The Charge Letter: Key to Avoiding Problems
ü And, Of Course, Special Education
11:45 a.m. Lunch
12:45 p.m. Concurrent Sessions
Greater Flexibility for School Councils and How to Use It
ü Members and Meetings
ü Selecting a New Principal and the Principal’s Role on the Council
ü Developing New Bylaws: What Should Be Changed?
Contracting with Educators: New and Old Issues
ü Filling in the Blanks
ü Supplemental Contracts
ü Multi-Year Contracts for Administrators
Making Use of School Facilities
ü Defining Who Can Use the Facility
ü Drafting An Agreement
ü Avoiding Lawsuits
2:00 p.m. Promotion/Retention; Lessons Learned and Challenges Ahead
ü How to Convene and Run a Placement Committee
ü Should You Allow Appeals?
ü Whose Fault Is It When a Student Isn’t Promoted?
ü Planning for the Student’s Promotion
3:00 p.m. Special Education for All Students
ü Gifted Students Demanding IEP’s
ü AYP and Special Education
ü The Crucial Role of SST’s
ü What To Expect with Reauthorization?
SEPTEMBER 2, 2004
7:30 a.m. Eye Opener Session
8:30 a.m. What Students Say, When They Say It and What Do You Do About It
ü New Court Decisions and What They Mean for You
ü The Internet and Email
ü Dress Codes
ü Teaching Civility
10:00 a.m. The EEOC and OCR: How They Have Changed and How to Respond
ü What Laws Are Involved?
ü How Do They Investigate?
ü What Can They Do To You?
ü Settle or Fight?
11:30 a.m. LUNCH
12:30 p.m. Concurrent Sessions (Repeated)
1:45 p.m. Evaluating Teachers Based on Student Achievement
ü Why Was My Child Retained?
ü The Teacher and AYP
ü Setting Goals and Tracking Them
ü What Evidence Is Needed at the Hearing?
3:00 p.m. Adjourn