Student Discipline
Restorative Approach - It is the intent of Hayward Unified School District to provide a safe, supportive and effective learning environment for all students. Recognizing that we serve young people, we share the obligation to teach and reinforce positive, pro-social behaviors with families and the broader community. We are also responsible for ensuring that students and adults build positive relationships and are held accountable to themselves, each other and the community. Exclusionary discipline like suspension and expulsion may occur as provided for by law, but are intended as last resort, after other interventions and supports have failed to result in safe and positive behaviors.
We are committed to a pro-actively teaching skills and behaviors, reinforcing and supporting positive behaviors and intervening with additional support when a student is struggling. This doesn't happen in isolation; we partner with students and their families as well as the school community to assist students to develop skills and make healthy choices that promote safety for all. As part of our Restorative Approach, students will: be educated on community expectations and common practices to ensure safety for all, have the opportunity to reflect, engage in restorative conversations, make reparations through restitution or community service, develop new skills through direct teaching, mediate agreements to address conflict, and be provided supports such as counseling to meet their social emotional needs.
Positive Behavior Intervention & Supports (PBIS) - PBIS is a tiered framework adopted by a whole school community to integrate systems, data and practices to improve outcomes for all students. PBIS includes the development of common expectations and language across school settings, direct instruction of skills and behaviors for all students, regular and ongoing positive reinforcement and recognition of effort and growth, and an ongoing analysis of data to adjust practice in response to challenges or hotspots, target supports for specific students, and determine most effective practices that promote a safe, supportive and effective learning environment for all students.
Coordination of Services Teams (COST) - Each school site has a COST team composed of District staff and Mental Health partners. Students are referred to the COST team for needs assessment and connection to appropriate supportive services by parents and staff. Services can be provided on campus or in the community to meet the needs of the student. If you know a student who needs some support, or you are a student who needs some support, please connect with the academic counselor, site administrator, or family engagement specialist.
Student Discipline Matrix English Spanish
Board Policy: 5144 Discipline; 5144.1 Suspension & Expulsion Due Process; 5144.2 Suspension & Expulsion Due Process for students with disabilities