New: discipline complaint procedure for students, families and staff

A change in state law now allows students, parents/guardians, or staff to file a formal complaint if they think school discipline has been implemented inappropriately or discriminately.

Specifically, the new Robbinsdale Area Schools discipline complaint procedure form allows students, parents/guardians, or staff to seek corrective action if they believe a student’s discipline falls outside of the district’s discipline Policy 506, the Minnesota Pupil Fair Dismissal Act, or if they believe it was based on discrimination. The complaint procedure cannot be used as an appeal to a suspension.

Complaint forms must be completed within three days of the alleged disciplinary action and no more than 10 school days following an expulsion/exclusion decision. From there, the next steps include:

• A school or district investigation will occur within three school days of receiving the complaint.
• A district representative will reach out to the person making the complaint.
• Issuance of findings and conclusions will be shared.
• A corrective action plan will be created and applied if the discipline policy has not been implemented appropriately or is being discriminately applied.

The discipline complaint procedure form (also in Spanish and Somali) can be found on the district’s website under School Board Policies, and the link for 506 Policy: Student Discipline.