Denver’s school board Thursday approved a new discipline policy for the district that leans more toward restorative justice and keeping kids in school instead of suspending them or referring them to law enforcement.
A portion of the policy on student-on-student sexual abuse, however, has been controversial. Denver’s Distict Attorney urged the district to include the section and has offered his office for consultation when cases are not clear.
A Denver principal last year ended up in court when she failed to report an incident to police involving two teen boys who improperly touched a girl. The judge threw out the case.
Critics say the district’s new rule will lead to similar confusion and fear among school officials. They believe officials will overreport incidents, thereby negating the district’s new policy of restorative justice.
