ACE-AP: Violent & Threatening Behavior

THREATENING BEHAVIOR

A true threat is a statement made orally, in writing, or using another medium that would be perceived by a reasonable person to be a serious expression of intent to harm, commit assault, or damage school property.

REPORTING

Any learner or employee who has knowledge of a threat shall report it to the building principal . Failure to report a known threat may result in disciplinary consequences  for learners and  staff in accordance with policy, law, and, when applicable, the negotiated agreement. If there is believed to be imminent risk of harm to self or others, the learner or employee should contact 911.

ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW

Upon receipt of a report of violent or threatening behavior, the building principal or designee shall conduct a preliminary administrative review to determine whether there is enough information to initiate the district’s threat assessment process or if further investigation is needed.  Anonymous reports shall be reviewed to determine whether the reported information can be reasonably substantiated or attributed to an identifiable source.

If, at any time during the administrative review, an imminent risk of harm to self or others is identified, the administrator shall take appropriate protective action, which may include notifying district administration and/or law enforcement.

THREAT ASSESSMENT

If, based on the administrative review, the building principal or designee determines that adequate information is available, the principal shall convene the school-based threat assessment team.

Threat assessment is a multi-disciplinary team-based, structured decision-making process designed to evaluate the context and intent of the reported threat and to determine appropriate next steps to support the safety and wellbeing of both learners and educators.

The team shall use district-adopted protocols, including a threat assessment rubric and assessment tools, and shall exercise professional judgment consistent with applicable law and district procedures. Parents/guardians and the appropriate Assistant Superintendent shall be notified when a threat assessment is initiated.

The threat assessment may involve interviews with district staff, learners, and parents. The team may, in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act and other applicable records laws, release threat assessment findings to law enforcement when deemed necessary.

When law enforcement and/or the team, having considered the totality of the facts obtained through the threat assessment, verifies that a threat is true, the district shall take necessary and timely measures to safeguard learners, staff, and district property.

DISCIPLINARY CONSEQUENCES FOR THREATENING BEHAVIOR

It is important to note that discipline is not contingent on the completion of the threat assessment process. The learner should be disciplined according to the Code of Conduct regardless of what is happening with the threat assessment process.

Regular Education Students

A learner who is found to have made a true threat will be subject to disciplinary measures, including, but not limited to, suspension and/or expulsion. When deemed to be a necessary safety precaution, the district may require alternative placement or appoint supervision during the periods of suspension and/or expulsion for threatening behavior. Interventions and strategies will be documented on the Response for Engagement, Safety, and Effective Transition (RESET) Plan when the learner will be reintegrated into the school setting.

Special Education Students

Special education learners found to have made a true threat will be disciplined in accordance with applicable policies and laws pertaining to the discipline of special education learners.

Staff

Employees found to have made a true threat shall be subject to disciplinary consequences up to and including termination of employment in accordance with policy, law, and, when applicable, the negotiated agreement.

Learners and employees may also be subject to the filing of criminal charges and/or referred to counseling services for treatment.

VIOLENT BEHAVIOR

The district prohibits all acts of violence and aggression, including, but not limited to, possession of a weapon or dangerous instrument, physical assault, vandalism of district property, stalking, gang affiliation and/or activity, or terroristic acts.

Violators of this policy shall be subject to disciplinary consequences, determined by the seriousness of the act, including, but not limited to, expulsion for learners, discharge for employees, and exclusion from school premises in accordance with applicable policy and law. In addition, the district may take legal action against the perpetrator.

Learners and employees may also be subject to the filing of criminal charges and/or referred to counseling services for treatment.

Adopted: 11/24/2015

Reviewed:

Revised:02/24/26