Caring Safe Schools Ontario

5 AddressingBehavioural IssuesThrough a Progressive DisciplineApproachThe use of progressive discipline in addressing issues of student behaviourflows from and supports the principles and practices of caring and safeschools. Its goal is to enable students to discard inappropriate behaviourin favour of behaviour that represents a constructive response to the challengesthey face. As stated in Chapter 1, Policy/Program Memorandum No. 145 describesprogressive discipline as the use of “a continuum of prevention programs, interventions,supports and consequences to address inappropriate student behaviour andto build upon strategies that foster positive behaviours. When inappropriate behaviouroccurs, disciplinary measures should be applied within a framework thatshifts the focus from one that is solely punitive to one that is both correctiveand supportive. Schools should utilize a range of interventions, supports,and consequences that are developmentally appropriate and include learningopportunities for reinforcing positive behaviour while helping students to makegood choices” (Ontario Ministry of Education, 2009g, p. 3).As the policy makes clear, a progressive discipline approach has two aspects –promoting positive behaviour and addressing inappropriate behaviour – both ofwhich are discussed in detail in Chapters 2, 3, and 4. In order to implement thisapproach, boards and schools need to develop policies on progressive disciplinethat meet the requirements in PPM 145 and that reflect local conditions and theavailability of internal and external resources. (School policies must be consistentwith board policies.) These policies should provide guidelines and identifyprocedures to help school leaders and staff:✦✦assess student behaviour and the effectiveness of existing supports and interventions;✦✦develop a response that takes account of mitigating circumstances and other factorsthat may have influenced the behaviour.47