Responsible Discipline Process (RDP) One Districts Approach to Improving School Discipline

Mike Booher & Mary Hoyleby Jim Shillinglaw

Mike Booher and Mary Hoyle are school psychologists from the Guilford County, North Carolina Public Schools. Their presentation discussed how they have taken the Responsible Discipline Process (RDP) and implemented it into 16 schools within the district. RDP is based on FOUNDATIONS, which is the work of Dr. Randy Sprick. The focus of this process is on teaching, reviewing and reinforcing behavioral expectations.

RDP is a 3-year process of training, coaching and working to identify the behaviors, reinforcement methods and appropriate consequences that will result in positive teacher and student behavior in the school and in the classroom. The initial RDP focus is on the whole school. Guidelines for Success and policies and procedures for common areas (cafeteria, playground, halls) are developed and implemented. Later the focus shifts to the individual classroom behavior management by training the staff with the CHAMPs materials.

CHAMP stands for:

Conversation - can the students talk and if so, with whom, about what, and for how long.

Help - how do students ask for help.

Activity - what is the outcome of the activity or transition.

Movement - can the students get out of their seat and if so, for what and is permission required.

Participation - what does it look like if students are participating appropriately

In implementing RDP in Guilford there were several beliefs and requirements that were understood.

The program is in its fourth year of implementation. During that time the district has seen a drastic decline in the number of reportable discipline issues and an increase in the understanding that staff has towards discipline and school rules.

For more information contact Mike Booher, Psychological Services, Guilford County Schools, P.O. Box 880, Greensboro, N.C. 27402