Administrators with the Jefferson Parish School System adopt a new policy extending classroom disciplinary rules to any students participating in virtual learning at home.
The new addition to the school board's interim virtual learning policy will subject students to school disciplinary action if anything deemed ‘inappropriate’ is viewed in the student’s camera during a virtual class session. However, many parents and critics say the school system’s new policy violates student and parent’s privacy rights.
The policy change comes after a Jefferson Parish school suspended 9-year-old Ka’mauri Harrison and 11-year-old Tomie Brown after a BB gun was seen in the student’s bedroom during a virtual classroom session.
Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry is now reviewing the cases.
This prompted Louisiana lawmakers to pass a state law during a recent special session. The new law requires school districts to hold policy meetings and create committees to review such disciplinary actions.
The policy outlined what the school deems inappropriate conduct for students in a virtual classroom:
Following is a non-exclusive list of behaviors that are prohibited in the virtual classroom and that may result in disciplinary action in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct as set forth in the Policies and Procedures for Students and Parents and this Policy:
- Antagonistic, harassing or discriminatory language of any kind with regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, intelligence, age, orientation, disability, socioeconomic status or any other legally protected characteristic or activity
- Bullying and/or cyberbullying
- Use of obscene, degrading or profane language (written, verbal, pictures, drawings, audio, video)
- Displaying pornography, nudity or images of nudity
- Committing lewd or sexual acts
- Handling or displaying weapons, including toy or facsimile weapons*
- Any criminal or other illegal activity encouraging the unlawful use, possession, manufacture or distribution of tobacco, drugs or alcohol*
- Illegal posting, distribution, upload or download of copyrighted work of any kind
- Sharing assignments, questions/answers or any other action that would violate any expectations or rules relative to academic honesty
- Posting personally identifiable information in any format other than via private message
On Thursday, parents were sent a three-page document to sign, outlining the school system’s policy change.
The document says, “Student conduct that occurs in the virtual classroom may be subject to progressive discipline which, depending on the seriousness of the conduct at issue, will include an initial verbal warning and consultation with the student’s parent or guardian, prior to any formal disciplinary action. The seriousness of the conduct at issue will dictate the actions of administrators and the nature of the penalty ultimately imposed. For example, a student may be subject to a severe penalty, even for a first offense, depending on the seriousness of the conduct at issue.”
The Jefferson Parish School System sent a statement on the policy change, which reads:
"The district recognizes that virtual learning is a new experience for students and families.
While the district expressly stated at the start of the 2020-21 school year that the Student Code of Conduct applies in the virtual classroom. It is recommending approval of an Interim Virtual Discipline Policy to ensure that families have a clear understanding of expectations regarding student conduct in the virtual classroom and the consequences for a student's failure to meet those expectations.
Conduct that is unacceptable in the regular classroom is, typically, equally unacceptable in the virtual classroom. However, the Interim Virtual Discipline Policy allows for the location where a student is learning to be taken into consideration when determining discipline. Additionally, this policy calls for an initial consultation with parents, prior to the imposition of discipline, for minor infractions of the Code of Conduct.
The School Board has full authority to approve policies, including discipline policies, that it deems in the best interest of students enrolled in district schools. Under La.
R.S. 17:416.8, the discipline review committee is empowered to "review all school board policies and make recommendations to the school board for appropriate revisions to such policies." Thus, the Interim Virtual Discipline Policy will be subject to review by the discipline review committee which may recommend to the School Board any revisions to the Virtual Discipline Policy that it deems appropriate."
