No.  The official calendar day during a snow day is removed from the record and can be moved to the end of the year or included in the extended school day.  If a student is suspended in conjunction with a snow day, the suspension end date will be moved back to correspond with the days missed.  The number of days suspended will not change, just the end date.  

Example:  Student is suspended for two days.  The student serves one day of suspension and the second day is declared a snow day.  The student would then serve the second day of suspension on the first day back into session following the snow day.  The return to school date would then be moved back the number of days that were missed due to the snow day(s).  

    Absolutely!  We actually encourage it! 

Student Assistance Referrals are beneficial to the students and the schools in order to support our students and their individual needs and challenges. The Student Assistance Referral is the most effective method, that we have, of notifying the central office support departments of a student need or situation.  In addition, it allows for running documentation on the student, a communication path among all parties who may not be housed together, and accountability of the central office support departments in providing assistance to the student and the school. 

     You have heard that a Student Assistance Referral in TIPS reports reflect poorly on a school? 

This is not the case.  Oklahoma City Public Schools is a very large organization and utilizes the Student Assistance Referral to increase teamwork, communication, and results.  With the volume of assistance calls received, this platform is the best method we currently have to communicate and document our efforts. 

     Assistance cannot be provided to students and/or situations that are not communicated to us!  

It should be known that the Student Assistance Referral can be reported anonymously.  We believe it is beneficial to have a contact that can provide us with additional details about the student, but it is far more beneficial to be aware of the situation regardless. 

If you have questions or comments about the Student Assistance Referral, please contact Chuck Tompkins. 

You can access the TIPS platform here.

You may call Brian Perry at 405-587-0889.  If you would like training for your staff, contact Brian and he can arrange a day and time to visit with the staff.

Yes.  The Office of School Climate and Student Discipline conducts the evidentiary hearing to determine the appropriateness of the suspension and ensure the student receives Due Process.  The hearing officer may uphold the suspension, modify the suspension, or overrule the suspension based on the hearing and then evidence presented at the hearing.  In all cases, we work to provide resources to the student and the family to address any challenges that they may be having.  We believe there is always a "root cause" of the behavior.  Our challenge is to help the student and family address those causes.  As a parent, you do have the right to waive the hearing upon meeting with the principal during the suspension conference.  

Short term suspensions, 10 days or less, do not need approval, unless the suspension will put the student over 10 cumulative days.  In this case, we give you approval, and then put the student on a Student Assistance Referral hoping to assist in reducing repeat suspensions for that student. Our office does not determine whether you can suspend or not.  As stated in the Administrators’ Guide, you are in charge of discipline at the site level.  We want to help when and where we can.  Long term suspension must come to our office for approval and a hearing date/time.  For LTS approvals, call Brian Perry at 587-0889. 

A principal may suspend students, if needed.  We always need to be looking at better ways to support our students, but the district is not telling building administrators they cannot suspend.  Building safety and security should be our priority.

We have been charged for disproportionately suspending minority students across the district, and that means we have to work towards correcting this.  The thought of doing something different is often uncomfortable for all of us, our teachers included.  It is also very clear that suspensions are not a deterrent for students to follow the rules and often does nothing to help the student change their behavior.  We are working on strategies for improving classroom management and PBIS implementation, however, this will take time.  Our office is doing what we can to provide support to the schools in regards to providing support for severe behavior issues through the Student Assistance Referral.   We also have to understand that this is a district issue that will require us (the district and building administrators), the teachers, and support employees working together to make the needed change.

You may call Chuck Tompkins at (405) 587-0886 or e-mail 

Let us know by e-mailing Chuck Tompkins.