COVID-19   Law    Advocacy    Topics A-Z     Training    Wrights' Blog   Wrightslaw Store    Yellow Pages for Kids 

 Home > Topics >  Discipline  >  Wrightslaw Game Plan: How to Deal with Discipline & Behavior Problems


The Special Ed Advocate newsletter
It's Unique ... and Free!

Enter your email address below:

2024
Training Programs

Mar. 20-21 CA - Private

Apr. 11 - Denver, CO

June 5-8 - San Antonio, TX

Sept. 24 - MD via ZOOM

Full Schedule


Wrightslaw

Home
Topics from A-Z
Free Newsletter
Seminars & Training
Yellow Pages for Kids
Press Room
FAQs
Sitemap

Books & Training

Wrightslaw Storesecure store lock
  Advocate's Store
  Student Bookstore
  Exam Copies
Training Center
Mail & Fax Orders

Advocacy Library

Articles
Cool Tools
Doing Your Homework
Ask the Advocate
FAQs
Newsletter Archives
Short Course Series
Success Stories
Tips

Law Library

Articles
Caselaw
Fed Court Complaints
IDEA 2004
McKinney-Vento Homeless
FERPA
Section 504

Topics

Advocacy
ADD/ADHD
Allergy/Anaphylaxis
American Indian
Assistive Technology
Autism Spectrum
Behavior & Discipline
Bullying
College/Continuing Ed
Damages
Discrimination
Due Process
Early Intervention
  (Part C)

Eligibility
Episodic, such as
   Allergies, Asthma,
   Diabetes, Epilepsy, etc

ESSA
ESY
Evaluations
FAPE
Flyers
Future Planning
Harassment
High-Stakes Tests
Homeless Children
IDEA 2004
Identification & Child Find
IEPs
Juvenile Justice
Law School & Clinics
Letters & Paper Trails
LRE / Inclusion
Mediation
Military / DOD
Parental Protections
PE and Adapted PE
Privacy & Records
Procedural Safeguards
Progress Monitoring
Reading
Related Services
Research Based
  Instruction

Response to Intervention
  (RTI)

Restraints / Seclusion
   and Abuse

Retention
Retaliation
School Report Cards
Section 504
Self-Advocacy
Teachers & Principals
Transition
Twice Exceptional (2e)
VA Special Education

Resources & Directories

Advocate's Bookstore
Advocacy Resources
Directories
  Disability Groups
  International
  State DOEs
  State PTIs
Free Flyers
Free Pubs
Free Newsletters
Legal & Advocacy
Glossaries
   Legal Terms
   Assessment Terms
Best School Websites

 

Print this page

Wrightslaw Game Plan:
How to Deal with Discipline & Behavior Problems

The Question

My son, who has a learning disability, is in trouble at school. It seems that one boy brought a bottle of root beer to school and shared it with my son and another boy. The student who brought the bottle to school mentioned that root beer may contain alcohol.

After hearing that root beer may contain alcohol, my son notified school officials during lunch, about two hours after this incident.

During the investigation, it was alleged that my son had a drink of root beer. The school expelled all three boys. The school is now trying to expel the boys for an entire semester.

We requested a Manifestation hearing and appeal. Because of this, my son has remained in school.

I read your notes in the discipline section of USC 1415 which seems to say that the school cannot punish my son as they plan to do.

I have consulted with an attorney who has experience with other types of special education law, but not with discipline. Can you cite cases or other administrative findings that support your comments? If I have solid information to take to the school heaing, I may be able to put an end to this episode.

This incident occurred less than two weeks after my son entered high school. For any student, such severe punishment is uncalled for. For a child with serious learning disabilities, this type of "discipline" may cause him to drop out and end his chances for an education.

The Answer

Zero Tolerance Policies: Defining Deviancy Down

The situation you describe is absurd and can have tragic consequences for children like your son. Recently, Pam read an article by former New York Senator Daniel Moynihan about "defining deviancy down." The concept applies to the "zero tolerance" policies that many school administrators have embraced.

Schools administrators are supposed to maintain a safe school environment - and keep guns out of schools. Because they have "defined deviancy down," they are suspending and expel kids for bringing plastic knives in lunchboxes, water pistols in backpacks, tiny toy guns from gumball machines - and for drinking root beer.

Weapons and Illegal Drugs

Did your son bring a weapon to school? No.

Did your son bring illegal drugs to school? No.

Bringing a weapon or illegal drugs to school is the basis for placing a child in an alternative placement for up to 45 days. During the 45 day alternative placement, schools must continue to provide the IDEA child with a free appropriate education. The law is clear about this.

Discipline is a hot topic. In the discipline article you read, I added comments to the "plain language" of the statute.


URL: https://www.wrightslaw.com/law/code_regs/discipline.html

Caselaw About Discipline

In 1988, the U. S. Supreme Court issued a strong decision on behalf of children with disabilities who were being suspended and expelled from school in Honig v. Doe, 484 U. S. 305 (1988). I suggest that you download and read this article - it will help you advocate for your son.

URL: https://www.wrightslaw.com/law/caselaw/ussupct.honig.doe.htm

Game Plan for Discpline Problems with School

You need to learn about your child's legal rights. You also need to learn how to persuade others to see your position and want to help.

1. Get a copy of our book, Wrightslaw: Special Education Law. The book includes a more comprehensive discussion of discipline issues. Wrightslaw: Special Education Law also includes a casebook of decisions from the U. S. Supreme Court, including Honig v. Doe. You may want to order two copies - one for yourself and one for your attorney.

2. Get an independent evaluation of your son by a private sector expert - child psychologist. (Ask around to see who has a good reputation for doing quality evaluations on kids.)

Does your son have other problems, i.e., ADHD? Is the school teaching your son the skills he will need as an adult?

A good private sector expert can be an effective advocate for your son, and get you "out of the loop". This person can explain why your son's behavior (drinking root beer) did not violate school rules. Or, if your son did violate school rules (i.e., brought alcoholic beverages to school), the private sector expert can link his behavior to his disability (LD and/or ADHD).

3. Get a copy of How to Argue and Win Every Time by Gerry Spence. The book is not about arguing but about persuading others to see your point. This book will help you tell your son's story so people want to help. The book is available in our Advocacy Bookstore.

4. Our new book, From Emotions to Advocacy, will teach you how to deal with the school - how to write letters, make your case at meetings, and deal with your personal emotions which is probably the most difficult task of all!

5. Try to find a copy of "Discipline in the School" by Eric Hartwig and Gary Ruesch, was published in 1994 by LRP Publications. This the best book I've read about this area of law and will be very helpful to you and your attorney. The chapter on "Positive Educational Alternatives to Traditional Discipline" begins with this statement:

"Regrettably, the strongest force against developing alternatives to traditional discipline is inertia, since everything that is done now is based on what was done in the past."

(We wanted to add "Discipline in the School" to the Advocate's Bookstore but it seems to be out of print.) If you call LRP (800-341-7874), they may have a few extra copies available.

Good luck!

Pete

Email Newsletter icon, E-mail Newsletter icon, Email List icon, E-mail List icon The Special Ed Advocate: It's Free!

March Sale - SAVE 25%

Print, Immediate Downloads
and Advocacy Supplies
Order Wrightslaw Product
s
and Save 25% Now!



Check Out
The Advocate's Store!

Wrightslaw on FacebookWrightslaw on TwitterWrightslaw YouTube Channel 

Wrightslaw Books
Wrightslaw: Special Education Law, 3rd Edition, by Pam and Pete Wright
About the Book

Wrightslaw: From Emotions to Advocacy, 2nd Edition
About the Book

Wrightslaw: All About IEPs
About the Book

Wrightslaw: All About Tests and Assessments
About the Book

Wrightslaw: Special Education Legal Developments and Cases 2019
About the Book

Surviving Due Process: Stephen Jeffers v. School Board
About the DVD Video


The Advocate's Store


Understanding Your Child's
Test Scores (1.5 hrs)

Wrightslaw Special: $14.95