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Nearly a year and a half after a shooting at Denver’s East High School sparked a societal debate about student discipline, Denver Public Schools on Thursday released new guidelines on when students can be suspended or expelled from school.
The district’s new discipline matrix is a sort of flow chart that lists potential consequences for student behavior ranging from fighting to bringing a weapon to school. District leaders have said the new matrix is less subjective and more specific than the last one, which was introduced in 2021 with the goal of reducing student contact with police.
The new matrix goes into effect this school year. Monday is the first day of school for most DPS students, although some charter and innovation schools have started earlier.
The disciplinary matrix came under scrutiny after a March 2023 shooting in East because the 17-year-old shooter had previously been expelled from a neighboring school district. Although the matrix does not address whether previously expelled students can be enrolled in a new school, some parents and community members called for the district to implement stricter disciplinary measures.
The new matrix is not necessarily stricter. Even students who commit the most serious offenses – including bringing a weapon to school, attempted murder and manslaughter – are not automatically expelled under the new matrix. Instead, such offenses result in a mandatory petition for expulsion of the student, which may or may not result in expulsion.
The new disciplinary matrix includes seven levels of offenses instead of six. DPS Deputy Chief of Staff Deborah Staten told Chalkbeat earlier this year that the district added the seventh level, which includes murder and attempted murder, because “these behaviors occur in schools, so when we talked about it, we said, ‘Let’s call a spade a spade.'”
Level 1 violations include, but are not limited to, behaviors such as rude fooling around, refusing to follow a staff member’s instructions, or disrupting the learning environment. Students cannot be suspended or expelled for Level 1 violations. Instead, the school’s Disciplinary Matrix recommends implementing interventions and using restorative methods when possible.
Level two violations include behavior such as bringing nicotine products to school, stealing or destroying property valued at less than $499, or making threats in the heat of the moment. A student can receive a one-day suspension for a level two violation.
Level three violations include behavior such as possession of alcohol or marijuana at school or verbally bullying or harassing a person. Younger students – preschool through third grade – can receive a two-day suspension for level three violations. Older students in fourth through twelfth grades can be suspended for one day.
Level four offenses include behavior such as physically bullying or harassing a person, indecent exposure, or agreeing to fight with another student. Younger students may be excluded from school for one day, while older students may be excluded from school for two days.
Level five offenses include behavior such as bringing a dangerous weapon to school, threatening to commit a shooting, selling drugs, stealing a vehicle, or arson. Younger students could be suspended from school for one day, but likely would not be expelled from school because the matrix states that “attending school is not the best course of action.” Older students could be suspended for up to three days. Older students could also be recommended to attend school.
Level six offenses include displaying a dangerous weapon in school or threatening to use one, as well as aggravated assault or sexual assault. Younger students can be suspended from school for up to three days but are unlikely to be expelled. Older students can be suspended from school for up to five days. The matrix requires that older students also undergo a review of their expulsion.
Level seven offenses include bringing a weapon to school, attempted murder, and murder. All students, regardless of age, who commit a level seven offense will be subject to an exclusion review. The matrix notes that bringing a toy weapon to school is not considered a level seven offense.
Melanie Asmar is the office manager for Chalkbeat Colorado. Contact Melanie at [email protected] .
