my son has never been in trouble at school. in fact all his teachers say how wonderful he is.
he made one poor decision this summer and followed his friends into breaking into the school and spray painting it.
they want to place him into alt school-- by policy.
how do you fight policy?

thats kind of a tough one joyce, i mean if they know he was involved.....

they know he was involved because he gave the information when asked. how many kids get in trouble on a repeated basis and end up in detention etc, until finally someone makes a decision to send them to alt school. yet- one poor decision should be based on the child. anyone can get mixed up in an incident. think they would have the child's best interest at heart and if that is the only way to correct his behavior i could understand.

Contact the school and ask for a an interview, get someone to do a review of your son's behavioral record, everyone deserves a second chance. I don't know about the school laws governing the USA, but here in the UK, matters like this has to go through the relevant channels. An evaluation has to be done, form tutors and subject teachers are consulted as well as the head teacher, then it has to go to the local authorities ( schools department) this can take months.The frequency of a child's "getting into trouble" decides the final outcome.Good luck.

thank you
i am attempting to go up the chain of command

if i have to i will home school him for the 8th grade
then allow him back into the 9th grade

Joyce...

I agree with Bonnie, there has to be something done. If he has never gotten into trouble before they must know that. I think home schooling is also a great idea. I hope it all works out for you...let me know, please.

they do know it...even the principal stated that they never even knew he exsisted until now because he is a good child, however it is policy

here all you can do is go before the school board with his records and statements from teachers, and they make the final judgement for lack of a better word

What would you recommend as a punishment for his actions?

he has already been suspended
i would recommend service to the school-- such as clean up and pick up trash. i am not saying he has always been sweet so let him get away with a poor decision.

I agree with thumper...

Some service to the school too!

Looks like he needs to stop hanging with some of those so called friends!

He should learn from these bad actions and pay the price for
his involvement. But changing schools? I don't know...
That maybe a bit steep.

when go to the school . bring a lawyer. or someone that knows about school policy. dont think its right to pushinish him like that. after all they did supsend him already. (spelling).
have u and ur son in my prayers

they only want to send him for 40 to 180 days

but i heard from the nurses who have worked at alt schools and how the "good" kids get talked into more at the alt school

i dont know what state you are in but there are child advocates out there that will help you. I had to get one for my daughter who is ADHD and was acting out at school. They showed up at school and went to the meeting with me. Back then it was called IPN..Indiana Parent Network, might have one in your state too. Can call Youth and Family services in your area and see if they have something like that, explain the situation. They do not charge.

thank you-- i will do that

http://www.aboutspecialkids.org/Directory.aspx
try this link...you will have to search under your town or county i believe..good luck!

Only cases I have heard win against school policy, involved using an attorney. Would reccommend cking with one, see if any have gone up against the school system before. Usually frst appt. is free.

Sorry to hear this situation with your son but it is a lesson for him to learn and he must understand the punishment for his own good. So this won't happen again. Sure kids will be kids and make foolish decisions based upon peer pressures. I hate to say this but breaking into a school and spray painting it is a criminal offense. I hope the school have not press charges but only to give him the opportunity to walk and attend another school. Sure it is a wise decision to follow the school's policies and regulations so you won't get into more legal issues then what it is. I hope you have punish him for such wrong decision that he have made. If it is possible, but him in another school that he may better himself and excel in his educational endeavor. I wish you the best in this circumstance.

wouldn't they go easier on him since hes the one who ratted out the others?

i would suggest maybe a bit of counciling it would look good for the school and be good for him too!!