STUDENT AFFAIRS OFFICE
Presented by:
Roxanne Archibald, M.ED
Director of Student Affairs
Providence School Department
August 15, 2012
OVERVIEW OF STUDENT AFFAIRS OFFICE (SAO)
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Falls under the Division of Teaching and Learning
Located at 182 Thurbers Avenue, Providence- Juanita Sanchez Educational
Complex First Floor
Provides student support services for all Providence students in grades K-12
Student disciplinary hearings/Code of Conduct Level 2 & 3 student
violations
Student Truancy
Oversees Rhode Island Family Truancy Court Within the Schools Program
Home School
Residency Verification,
Student Work Permits (Ages 13-17)
Alternative Education Programs
Central Records Office
Student Affairs Office Personnel:
For the 2012-2013 academic year, The Student Affairs Office employs the
following certified personnel:
 One (1) Home Visitor & four (4) Social Workers/Truancy Officers
 One Guidance Counselor/Hearing Officer
 One School Psychologist
 Two (2) Bilingual Paraprofessionals who translate and interpret
Spanish and Cambodian for non-English speaking families and
students 100%
 Truancy Officer Assignments:
 Rhode Island Family Court / Elementary Schools
 Schools with Truancy Courts
 A-8 Investigations @ Middle & High Schools
 SAO clerical Staff – 3
CRO Clerical Staff- 2
STUDENT AFFAIRS OFFICE MISSION
The Student Affairs Office works closely with all
Providence Public School employees, community
agencies, Providence Police, RI Family Court, and
parents to assist in educating Providence children
to become productive members of society.
All Student Affairs proceedings are conducted in a
legal and positive manner adhering to the civil and
due process rights of all parties.
Rhode Island Education Law: Title 16 that apply in
Discipline/Truancy Cases
 Title 16-21
 16-21-21
 16-21-21.1
 16-21-27
Health & Safety of Pupils
Student Discipline Codes
Zero Tolerance Offenses
Alternative Education Programs
 RIDE Discipline Procedures & Requirements for All
Students
 Title 16-19-5 Work Certificates
 Title 16-19-1 Compulsory Attendance
RI ATTENDANCE LAW: Title 16-19-1
 16-19-1 Compulsory Attendance:
Every child who has completed 6 years of
life on or before Sept.1 and has not
completed 18 years of life shall regularly
attend school
 This law fails to recognize 5 year olds who
are in Kindergarten and have excessive
absenteeism
 16 to 18 year olds can now be referred for
truancy
New Law Relating to Compulsory Attendance
 16-19-1 Compulsory Attendance
 No school shall use a student’s truancy or
absenteeism as the sole basis for using an out of
school suspension as a disciplinary action.
 State law now forbids out-of-school suspensions for
attendance-related infractions.
 RIDE is working on sending new procedures to
school districts with a list of all the infraction codes
to be in place.
STUDENT DISCIPLINE
 SAO prepares the Annual RIDE Suspension Report for the
district Schools must record into REG. a student disciplinary
infraction for out of school & in school suspensions as they
occur
 SAO prepares and emails a Monthly Student Suspension
Report to the schools
 School administrators can use this report to track and
monitor student discipline
Student Discipline Definitions
 Out of School Suspension- In accordance with the
Code of Conduct Policy and at the discretion of the
school principal, a student may be denied to attend
school classes or school functions not to exceed ten
(10) school days. The student will continue to do
assigned work during the suspension.
 Exclusion – In accordance with the Code of
Conduct and at the discretion of the Providence
School Board, a student may be denied to attend
school classes or functions for a period of ten (10)
to one hundred eighty (180) school days.
Suspension Guidelines
 A principal and/or SAO Director may
suspend a student for an out of school
suspension up to and including 10 school
days for one incident
 A student with a disability cannot be
suspended for more than 10 school days
without a Manifestation Meeting
 A student may be disciplined by the school
for misconduct that has a direct and
significant impact on school operations
SAO DISCIPLINE PROCEDURES
 Building Principal thoroughly investigates alleged
offense against the student
 The allegation will be explained to the student
 The student has the right to provide a written
statement
 School administration interviews witnesses
 Notify parent/guardian of alleged offense
 Notify parent and/or student of the date, time and
place of fact-finding conference in writing
 Suspend student
 Submit Behavior Referral Packet to Student Affairs
Office 2 days prior to the hearing date
SAO DISCIPLINE PROCEDURES
 Discipline Behavior Referral Packet includes:
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Behavior Referral Form
Grades and Attendance Sheet
SAO Student Report/Teacher Comments
Statement of Problem
School Administration Recommended Corrective Action
School Suspension Letter
Discipline Referral Form
Witness Statements
Student Statement
Police Report (if applicable)
Weapon Seizure Report (if applicable)
SAO Director’s Recommendations
 Return student to school under a contract
 Student transfer
 Alternative education placement
 Provide support services to the student and
family- i.e. counseling referrals
 Conduct a FBA
 Develop intervention plan/safety plan
School Strategies for Truancy & Chronic
Absenteeism
 Rhode Island Family Court should be the last
resort
 Intervention should include meeting with the
student, parent meetings, contacting the parent
through a telephone call, making a home visit, and
sending student absentee letters to the home
 Referrals to community agencies
 Attendance incentives
Student Residency Verification
 Student who moves out of Providence district
during first two quarters of school has the right to
attend school until the end of First Semester.
 Student who moves out of Providence district
during 3rd & 4th Quarter has the right to attend
school until the last day of school.
 Seniors may complete their senior year regardless
if they move out of Providence
 Homeless students are exempt from this law
Questions & Answers Session
 Please feel free to contact me @ the
Student Affairs Office
182 Thurbers Avenue
Providence, RI 02905
 Phone Numbers: (401) 456-9293/94/95
 Email address: Roxanne.Archibald@ppsd.org
THANK YOU!!!