School/Court Cooperative Programs Working 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 Suspension Why? 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… YearSchoolTotals YearTotals Boston348 Kesling Boston59 Kesling Boston81 Kesling79160 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 Suspension Michigan 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 LaPorte Who Attends? -Parent and student if in 5 th 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 Ventures The Key to Success… Courts and Schools Working Together

Cooperative Programs Alternative to Expulsion (Day Reporting – Grades 6-8) Alternative to Suspension (Project ED – Grades 7-12 LPCSC) (Project MAP – Grades 6-8 MCAS) Project Attend (Truancy Prevention Grades 1-5) Goal: Keeping Kids In School

Computerized Information Sharing Part 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 McCormick Director of Special Education Administration Building 408 South Carroll Avenue Michigan City, IN

Kathleen Lang LaPorte Circuit Court 813 Lincolnway, Suite 303 LaPorte, IN ext. 512

Educational Services Center 1921 A Street LaPorte, Indiana Phone: Superintendent: Dr. Kenneth Blad Assistant Superintendent :Dr. Dennis Shawver