88th Annual CASCWA State Conference

The student discipline pendulum in California has swung from the “zero tolerance” days of the 1990s to a persistent mantra of interventions and other means of correction. And for good reason. Exclusionary discipline has been shown to negatively impact students and families in a variety of ways and can even rise to the level of civil rights violations. At the same time, school safety is still paramount, and schools must have the legal tools to exercise a continuum of discipline options (including expulsion) when appropriate. This presentation will provide an overview of student discipline fundamentals (i.e., the legal nuts and bolts), while highlighting best practices to avoid civil rights violations along the way.

Through this workshop, participants will gain knowledge to guide them in assisting students from various underserved backgrounds (i.e. military families, immigrant and undocumented youth, homeless and foster youth, pregnant teens, etc.). This knowledge will include strategies for helping these students, resources to provide, agencies to collaborate with, and other information relevant to student success. Participants will learn effective collaboration and consultation skills to facilitate support of these specialized populations. In addition, they will examine methods to procure out-of-district supports when necessary.

This workshop will focus on the basic parameters of the suspension and expulsion process, with an emphasis on how to conduct a thorough investigation. Participants will have the opportunity to practice implementation of the different steps in the investigative process, including identifying the appropriate statutory offense(s) and secondary finding and collecting evidence to support a decision to suspend and recommend expulsion.

In a business where identification and information are key, Child Find in an information gold mine and can be the segway to your Multi-Tiered System of Supports for all students!
Child Find is a law that all educators have heard of, but is viewed through a singular lens, as a Special Education function. Where District Office Special Education personnel are tasked with managing referrals from outside agencies and the schools, but the law requires so much more. The Kern High School District is taking Child Find to a new level where all students will benefit.

"Legal Issues Impacting Student Services."   In this presentation, topics will include:

• Pupil records confidentiality and access—which third parties can access pupil records, including review of custody and restraining orders;
• Dealing with threats in the school community--threat assessments and threat management, the new homicidal threat reporting provisions, and disruptive person letters
• Nondiscrimination complaints--UCP complaints, California Attorney General's guidance on educational rights of students impacted by immigration status, and recent developments regarding OCR complaints

Prevention plays a critical role in equipping teens with the skills and mindset to resist substance use. By fostering resilience, students can be empowered to navigate peer pressure and make healthier choices. This session introduces evidence-based methods to support high schools and middle schools in integrating powerful prevention strategies. Then move beyond theoretical frameworks and dive into actionable steps you can implement. Convenient digital follow up materials are included, making it easy to share your key take-aways from this session after the conference.

Is the idea of all students succeeding truly believed, or is it just a cliché? If we genuinely believe it, we must be willing to do whatever it takes, even if it’s unconventional. The "crack slipper" is a student who doesn't fit into the existing structures and slips through the cracks. This presentation will explore strategies for supporting at-risk and at-promise students, focusing on identifying root causes and customizing support. We will address issues of misplacement and open discussion on best practices. Ultimately, the goal is to inspire educators to better support marginalized students at risk of falling into the "black hole."

Canva Presentation Link

In this session, participants will engage in meaningful discussions around vital collaboration with sites, district office departments, COEs, and state and federal agencies in order to make systemic impactful change as it pertains to at-promise youth. Victor Valley Union High School District will share our story of resiliency where intentionality is key to creating and sustaining transformational results in a growing district and community.

THIS SESSION WILL PROVIDE INSIGHT INTO STREET SOCIALIZED YOUTH AND WHY RELATIONSHIPS CAN DEFLECT THEIR TRAJECTORY INTO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. THROUGH HIS EXPERIENCE WORKING IN COURT AND ALTERNATIVE SCHOOLS, ALONG WITH EXTENSIVE RESEARCH AND INTERVIEWS OF THE LIVED EXPERIENCES OF INCARCERATED MALES ABOUT THEIR EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE, HE WILL SHARE WHY INCREASED AWARENESS INTO THE LIVES OF STREET SOCIALIZED STUDENTS FROM MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES CAN IMPROVE STUDENT ENGAGEMENT AND RELATIONSHIPS, REDUCE THE DROPOUT RATE, AND IMPEDE FUTURE INCARCERATION. ATTENDEES WILL UNDERSTAND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF DEVELOPING POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH AT-PROMISE YOUTH, AND HOW THESE INTERACTIONS CAN BENEFIT THEM THROUGHOUT THEIR EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE.

Home and Hospital Instruction is a program all districts are required to offer; however, how do you ensure your program is compliant, well thought out and implemented, and supporting the needs of our at-promise youth? This presentation will provide participants with: legal mandates; roles and responsibilities and best practices; step-by-step program implementation; and sample handbook, applications, and documents. Throughout this presentation, participants will explore traditional home and hospital instruction, extension of services, blended services, and re-entry to the regular school program from home and hospital instruction. Additionally, participants will learn about Home Instruction, as well as out-of-district services. Learn from a veteran administrator with over 13 years overseeing Home and Hospital Instruction and as a participant, you will walk away with tools to immediately utilize upon your return to your site and/or district.

This presentation will focus on the legal requirements under Section 504 and the nuances in evaluations, writing Section 504 plans, supporting students with unique needs, and ensuring equal access for students with disabilities. This presentation will propose student-driven hypothetical scenarios to test your knowledge in applying Section 504 requirements in practical situations.