School/Court Cooperative

ProgramsWorking Together to Reduce Crime and

Improve Education

Types of Programs

• Alternative to Suspension

• Truancy Prevention

• Information Sharing

• Reporting Center– Alternative to Expulsion – Alternative to Detaining Kids in Juvenile

Detention Center

Alternative To SuspensionWhy?

• Suspension from school means– A Gap in Education– A Punishment of Questionable Value

• Student gets a “vacation”

– Students are Often Unsupervised During Suspension Period

– No Modification of Negative Behavior

Extended Day Programs

• Alternative to out-of school suspension• Allows students to attend their regular classes in

their home school• Student Day is extended

– 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

• Attendance is Court Ordered

Court Hearing

• School Sends Order to Appear under Signature of Judge– Files Affidavit of Service

• Petition for Enforcement of School Rules– Sent to parent and filed with Court

• School Prepares Court Order– Sets hearing date

How is a Student Referred?

• Referred by the Principal• Reasons:

– Repeated or chronic behavior problems• Hall misconduct, late to school, unserved detentions,

disruptive classroom behavior

– Non-Physical offenses that would result in automatic suspension

• Theft, vandalism, possession of electronic device, insubordination, gambling

– Students Who Do Not Serve In House Assignments Successfully

Who Attends the Hearing

• Student• Parents• Principal or Assistant Principal• Sometimes…

– Other agencies involved with family – Translator

What Information Does the Judge Have?

• Petition

• School Disciplinary Record

• Grades

• Family Court Information Sheet– Contains prior court involvement of

Family Members

Results…

Year School Totals Year Totals

1996-1997 Boston 348

Kesling 306 654

1997-1998 Boston 59

Kesling 35 94

2002-2003 Boston 81

Kesling 79 160

LaPorte Community Schools Suspensions

“John”• Entrance Date 10/17/02• Reason for Placement

– Low credits– Truancies– Frequent In School

suspensions

• Goals– To Stay Awake– Control Anger– Pass My Classes

• Passing less than half of classes

• Exit Date 3/14/03• After Completion

– Steadily Increasing Credits– Zero Truancies– No In School Suspensions

• Goals– Monitor sheets indicate on

task, working hard– Behavior no longer a major

issue– Passed all classes,

increased grade point and class rank significantly

Avoid a “Cookie Cutter” Approach

Do What Works for your Students

Alternative to SuspensionMichigan Area Schools

Middle School Alternative Programming

Project MAP

• Michigan City Area Schools, Grades 6-8

• Mainly Urban School District

• High Suspension and Expulsion Rate

• Funding:– Local Foundations

• Want to see problem addressed

– Mayor of Michigan City – Riverboat Funds

Truancy Prevention

Active in both Michigan City and LaPorteWho Attends?

-Parent and student if in 5th grade and above

-County attendance officers

-School principal

-Investigator from Child Protective Services

-Probation officer if Middle School student

Goals of Project Attend

• Group discussion of the attendance problem

• Identify reasons for non-attendance• Enter into contract to improve situation• Inform parent and child of legal

consequences of not attending school• Put services into place if necessary• Open up communication between the

family and the school

Day Reporting

• Alternative to Expulsion

• Located on Grounds of Juvenile Services Center in Portable Classroom

• Joint Effort Schools and Circuit Court, Juvenile Services Center

• First Students - April 26, 2004

Staff

• One Youth Specialist Worker

• One Certified Teacher

– Working in conjunction with Juvenile Services Center educational staff

• Resources of Juvenile Services Center

Cooperative VenturesThe Key to Success…

Courts and Schools Working Together

Cooperative Programs

Alternative to Expulsion(Day Reporting – Grades 6-8)

Alternative to Expulsion(Day Reporting – Grades 6-8)

Alternative to Suspension(Project ED – Grades 7-12 LPCSC)(Project MAP – Grades 6-8 MCAS)

Alternative to Suspension(Project ED – Grades 7-12 LPCSC)(Project MAP – Grades 6-8 MCAS)

Project Attend(Truancy Prevention Grades 1-5)(Truancy Prevention Grades 1-5)

Project Attend(Truancy Prevention Grades 1-5)(Truancy Prevention Grades 1-5)

Goal: Keeping Kids In School

Computerized Information SharingPart of a Commputerized Court Docketing

System

Schools, Courts, Office of Family and Children, Probation, Law Enforcement, Juvenile Services Center

Pilot Program• Communities in Schools • LaPorte Community Schools

• Michigan City Area Schools

• Office of Family and Children

Serious Habitual Juvenile Comprehensive Action Program

Comprehensive and Cooperative case management system that enables the

juvenile justice system to focus informed attention on youth who repeatedly commit

serious crimes.

Courts Can Help

• Keep Kids in School• Keep Kids Off the Street• Decrease likelihood of Contact

With Criminal Justice System

Joan McCormickDirector of Special Education

jmccormick@mcas.k12.in.usAdministration Building

408 South Carroll AvenueMichigan City, IN

219-873-2000

Kathleen LangLaPorte Circuit Court

813 Lincolnway, Suite 303

LaPorte, IN 46350

219-362-8610 ext. 512

klang@laportecounty.org

Educational Services Center1921 A Street

LaPorte, Indiana 46350

Phone: 219-362-7056

Superintendent: Dr. Kenneth Bladkblad@lpcsc.k12.in.us

Assistant Superintendent :Dr. Dennis Shawverdshawver@lpcsc.k12.in.us