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We reviewed the upcoming agenda for Central Bucks SD and found 5 items with policy significance ahead of the vote.
| PRIORITY (LEVEL 8) |
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District Adopting ‘Restorative Practices’ in Student Discipline Code
The committee is conducting a first read of Policy 218, a new student discipline code based on a PSBA model. The draft explicitly states, ‘The Board shall approve the inclusion of restorative practices in the Code of Student Conduct to address violations where applicable,’ and an accompanying discipline matrix confirms restorative responses may be used at all levels.
Policy Use
TRACK AND DOCUMENT: For Item 4.F, document the adoption of restorative practices language in Policy 218. Add this district to the state tracker for restorative discipline implementation and calendar the second reading.
Policy Lever: Discipline Policy Shift
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| PRIORITY (LEVEL 7) |
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Policy Revisions May Weaken Student Promotion and Retention Standards
On first read, proposed changes to Policy 215 shift promotion and retention decisions to the Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) process. The associated regulation states that retention should be considered ‘only after all remedies available through the MTSS process have been exhausted,’ potentially codifying a practice of social promotion over academic retention.
Policy Use
TRACK AND DOCUMENT: For Item 4.D, analyze the redlines in Policy 215 and the language in AR 215-AR-1. Document the shift toward MTSS-based promotion decisions and monitor for the second reading.
Policy Lever: Academic Standards
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| WATCH (LEVEL 6) |
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District Moves to Eliminate Standard Use of Class Rank
The committee will hold a first read of Policy 214, which is being revised to state the Board ‘no longer acknowledges the usefulness of a system of computing class rank.’ The policy would eliminate the standard practice of calculating and publishing class rank, providing it only when explicitly required by an external institution like a university.
Policy Use
WATCH: For Item 4.B, note the district’s move away from traditional academic recognition. Track this policy through its second reading as an example of de-emphasizing academic competition.
Policy Lever: Academic Competition
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| WATCH (LEVEL 5) |
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Committee Discussed Vague Restrictions on Student Speech
The October 8 meeting report reveals a discussion on Policy 220 (Student Expression) where committee members asked to add language restricting speech that interferes with a student’s ‘right to dignity and personal safety.’ This introduces a subjective standard for speech restrictions that could be used to limit protected speech.
Policy Use
WATCH: The discussion on Policy 220 is noted in the minutes under Item 3. Monitor future policy committee agendas for the return of this policy with the proposed new language.
Policy Lever: First Amendment
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✅ Models to Replicate
Local actions worth capturing as model policy.
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| Model Policy (LEVEL 7) |
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District Considers Parental Notification for Police Interviews
Meeting minutes from October 8 indicate the policy committee discussed adding language to require parental notification before law enforcement can contact or interview students. This topic was discussed in relation to Policy 224, which is now on the agenda for a second reading, suggesting the new language may be included in the current draft.
How to Capture It
PULL THE DOCUMENT: Item 5.B, Policy 224, is on its second read, but the text is not in the agenda packet. Retrieve the full policy draft from the district to confirm if it includes the parental notification language discussed on October 8. If confirmed, this is a model policy to capture for the state file.
✅ Why It Matters: Parental Rights
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America First Policy Institute |