Transforming School Discipline Collaborative

TSDC served as a collaborative of organizations working to ensure that Illinois' schools are safe and supportive for all students.

While TSDC is no longer active, it was dedicated to supporting districts and schools to implement equitable and non-exclusionary discipline practices. Made up of an interdisciplinary team of attorneys, school psychologists, restorative justice practitioners, school-based professionals, policy advocates and community partners, TSDC aimed to meaningfully reduce the high numbers of school days that students lose due to exclusionary discipline policies and to eradicate inequities in the administration of discipline.

Below is an archive of resources from the Transforming School Discipline Collaborative.

TSDC'S TOOLKIT FOR TRANSFORMATION

TSDC toolkits were designed to give practitioners guidance, strategies and models that will support their work to change school policies and practices around student discipline. Please note that all content was created several years ago but remains up-to-date except for some resource links may be broken.

Executive Summary: Discipline in Remote and Blended Learning During COVID-19
Toolkit for Transforming School Discipline in Remote and Blended Learning During COVID-19
A Toolkit for Educators and School Administrators Implementing Trauma Supports in Schools
Police in Schools: Guide to Alternatives and Improved Approaches
Guide for Illinois Charter School Student Discipline
Strategies for Parent Engagement
Functional Behavioral Assessments and Behavioral Intervention Plans
The Restorative Approach and its Strategies

TSDC'S MODEL CODE OF CONDUCT

TSDC's Model Code of Conduct (Model Code) is offered as a best practice of how school administrators can develop a student code of conduct that (1) is compliant with recent changes to Illinois law (see Public Act 98-1102 and Public Act 99-0456) and (2) advances the goal of fairness and equity in the discipline process. Please note this information was created in 2016 and may no longer be current.

In some places, the Model Code goes beyond the strict requirements of current law to encompass the intent behind legislative reforms. Reducing the use of exclusionary school discipline requires a fundamental shift in school climate. Therefore, the Model Code embraces prevention-oriented policies coupled with a student-centered approach. Our strategies are designed to keep students in school, fully engaged and on track to graduate.

This Code is not intended to be adopted in isolation from other necessary school culture changes. Schools are encouraged to continue developing practices to prevent school violence and build a positive school climate. Examples of such practices include developing an inclusive and supportive curriculum, providing effective and culturally-relevant behavior supports, implementing restorative practices, offering classroom consultation and support, providing ongoing professional development and examining the role of implicit biases in the classroom and school community. We recognize that this is a challenging and ongoing process. 

We hope that this model code supports your efforts as we all continue to make sure that our schools provide the very best education to all students in Illinois.

Download the Code of Conduct Below:

TSDC'S MODEL CODE OF CONDUCT

Working on making changes to your student code of conduct? Use this TEMPLATE version of the Model Code of Conduct to help you get started.  

TSDC'S SELF-ASSESSMENT CHECKLIST

This checklist details PA 99-0546's (aka SB100) new requirements, along with providing “Implementation Tips” that your district can utilize when working to implement the Act.

ADDITIONAL ARTICLES