1. Moving Mountains: Changing the way we discipline in Washington State
Jess Lewis, Behavior and Discipline
Program Supervisor

2. ESSB 5946: Strengthening Student Educational Outcomes
Establishes the Discipline Task Force
Discipline Definitions
Data
Changes due process for suspensions and expulsions
Gives OSPI authority to write rules

3. Discipline Task Force Duties
Develop standard definitions for causes of student disciplinary actions taken at the discretion of the school district.
Develop data collection standards for disciplinary actions
Education services provided while a student is subject to a disciplinary action
The status of petitions for readmission to the school district when a student has been excluded from school
Credit retrieval during a period of exclusion
School dropout as a result of disciplinary action

4. Organization/Committee
Members: “shall include representatives from the K-12 data governance group, the educational opportunity gap oversight and accountability committee, the state ethnic commissions, the governor's office of Indian affairs, the office of the education ombudsman, school districts, and other education and advocacy organizations.”
Contact Name
Contact Title
Organization/Committee
Trevor Greene
Professional Development Specialist
Association of Washington School Principals
Mia Williams
Principal, Aki Kurose MS
Edward Prince
Executive Director
Commission on African American Affairs
Matt Vaeena
Za  Vang
Pacific Islander and Asian American Community members
Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs
Lillian Ortiz-Self
Commissioner Chair
Commission on Hispanic American Affairs
Dr. James Smith
Committee member
Educational Opportunity Gap Oversight and Accountability Committee
(no appointee)
(no appointee) 
Governor's Office of Indian Affairs
Tracy Sherman
Policy Analyst
League of Education Voters
Jennifer Harris
Ombudsman & Legal Analyst
Office of the Education Ombudsman
Paul Alig
Staff Attorney (Pierce County)
Team Child
Rosemarie Search
Superintendent Royal School District
Washington Association of School Administrators
Greg Williamson
Director of Student Support
Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction
Dr. Alan Burke
Deputy Superintendent
Myra Johnson
WEA Board Member 
Washington Education Association
Edri Geiger
Vancouver School Director
Washington State School Directors' Association

5. What will happen with revised data?
The office of the superintendent of public instruction and the K-12 data governance group shall revise the statewide student data system to incorporate the student discipline data collection standards recommended by the discipline task force, and begin collecting data based
on the revised standards in the
school year.

6. Due Process Changes
No suspensions or expulsions may be for an indefinite period of time
All emergency expulsions must be converted to another form of discipline within 10 school days of that emergency expulsion
Suspensions and expulsions that last more than 10 days must have an end date no later than 1 calendar year from the time of the suspension or expulsion
Notice and due process rights are provided when the emergency expulsion is converted to another form of corrective action

7. Reengagement Meetings
Schools should make efforts to have suspended or expelled students return to an educational setting as soon as possible Schools should convene a meeting with the student and their parent and/or guardians within 20 days of the student’s long-term suspension or expulsion, but no later than 5 days before the students return/enrollment

8. Reengagement Plans School districts MUST:
Create a reengagement plan that is tailored to the student’s individual circumstances, including the incident that led to their long term suspension or expulsion
The plan should aid the student in taking the necessary steps to remedy the situation that led to the student’s suspension or expulsion
School districts should consider:
Shortening the length of time that the student is
suspended or expelled
Other forms of corrective action
Supportive interventions that aid in
the student’s academic success and
keep the student engaged and on track to graduate