DAEP Placement Defense in the Killeen Independent School District

Texas students accused of misbehavior or misconduct are much closer to significant discipline than they and their parents may realize. In the Killeen Independent School District (KISD), district and school officials can recommend placement in the Disciplinary Alternative Education Program (DAEP), meaning students leave their home campus and enroll in a new specialized school. KISD's DAEP schools have strict rules and less tolerance for misbehavior. Regardless of why they entered the DAEP school in the first place, students will have a more challenging time learning and growing up in such an environment.

The Lento Law Firm maintains a nearby Austin law office and has direct experience helping many KISD students avoid DAEP placement and remain enrolled in their home campus. Call our Student Defense Team today at 888.535.3686 or contact us through our website to get started on your student's DAEP defense.

The Killeen Independent School District

Killeen ISD is the fourth most diverse district in the state, serving over 44,000 students across 52 campuses. KISD provides education to more than just the city of Killeen; it covers much of Bell County and even educates students living at Fort Cavazos Army post, formerly Fort Hood.

Some of the most prominent high schools in the district include:

  • Early College High School
  • Shoemaker High School
  • Killeen High School
  • Ellison High School
  • Harker Heights High School

Killeen ISD middle and elementary schools include:

  • Audie Murphy Middle School
  • Liberty Hill Middle School
  • Palo Alto Middle School
  • Roy J. Smith Middle School
  • Brookhaven Elementary School
  • Hay Branch Elementary School
  • Montague Village Elementary School
  • Nolanville Elementary School

Students residing in KISD have the opportunity to learn and grow at some of the best schools in Texas. However, high standards and student expectations can also lead to student issues and behavioral concerns. Disciplinary actions, such as DAEP placements, are sometimes necessary for KISD schools to maintain the integrity of their educational programs and reputation. Although these placements intend to address behavior issues, they can create significant challenges for students who are removed from their familiar local environment.

If your student is dealing with disciplinary concerns in the Killeen Independent School District, the Lento Law Firm can help. DAEP placement should never be a school's initial reaction to disciplinary concerns or mistakes. Our Student Defense Team will work to keep your student within their school system to foster continued growth and success.

Offenses That Can Lead to DAEP Placement in Killeen ISD

Texas's Disciplinary Alternative Education Program is a legally mandated program that local school districts must follow when addressing serious student disciplinary issues among their student populations. Local DAEPs educate and support students who have been removed from their home campuses, hoping to successfully reintegrate them once their behavior improves. Initial placements are intended to be temporary, typically lasting 30 to 40 days. However, district officials can extend this time as needed to protect the student's home campus from further disruptions.

The Killeen Independent School District contains two schools for students in grades 6-12 who face disciplinary actions requiring removal from their home campuses: Gateway Middle School and Gateway High School. Removing students from their home campus and enrolling them in Gateway is a significant decision, and district officials must have good reason to do so. Certain offenses automatically result in DAEP placement under Texas law and KISD's Code of Conduct. These include instances where students:

  • Issue terroristic threats or false alarms that endanger the safety of students and staff of their home campus.
  • Commit sexual assault against another student.
  • Engage in conduct punishable as aggravated robbery or Title 5 felonies, such as assault or homicide.

However, many kids enter KISD's DAEP program due to discretionary decisions made by school officials to correct less severe but still concerning disciplinary behaviors.

These include situations where students:

  • Possess, use, or distribute marijuana, THC, alcohol, or other substances on school property or at school-related events.
  • Engage in persistent misbehavior that disrupts their classrooms or poses a threat to the safety of students and staff.
  • Engage in acts of violence or physical altercations that schools cannot control or discipline within their normal disciplinary processes.

If some decisions are discretionary, the question remains: how do Killeen ISD district officials decide whether to issue DAEP placement as a punishment for certain offenses? One of the most critical aspects of this decision-making process is the consideration of six mitigating factors:

  1. Did the student intend to commit the misconduct offense?
  2. Was the student acting in self-defense at the time of the offense?
  3. What is the student's disciplinary history in KISD?
  4. Does the student have a disability that is affecting their ability to understand or comprehend their actions and impacts?
  5. Is the student homeless?
  6. Is the student in foster care?

A district official will review the student's history and actions to determine if DAEP placement is warranted. Since KISD's Gateway Middle School and Gateway High School focus on rehabilitating students and helping them return to their home schools, DAEP placement may not be warranted for students with a clean discipline history. Misconduct at school might result from external factors or simple mistakes—things that school officials can address without removing the student from their school.

The Lento Law Firm has extensively worked with students and their families throughout the Killeen Independent School District due to our nearby office in Austin. Our Student Defense Team understands the local DAEP system and can help your student avoid DAEP placement by arguing one or more mitigating factors. Call the Lento Law Firm today to learn more about how we can help students in KISD.

Student Expectations at Gateway DAEP

The Killeen Independent School District operates two campuses solely to serve students grades 6-12 in the DAEP system. Both Gateway Middle School and Gateway High School are located on Zephyr Road in Killeen. This central location allows the campuses to serve students across the district entering the program, whether they reside in Nolanville, Fort Cavazos, or anywhere in between.

Daily school life at Gateway Schools differs from many other KISD schools. Students enter Gateway when they have behavioral issues that need correcting, and the expectations of students reflect this purpose. Some of the policies that students of Gateway must abide by include:

  • Dress Code: Students must wear plain black Dockers-style pants, plain black shirts, and black or brown belts. Students may get in trouble for torn or frayed clothing, as well as accessories like jewelry and hats.
  • Prohibited Items: Backpacks, cell phones, and electronic devices are prohibited on campus. Confiscated items may be returned only at the end of the placement or upon parental request. Gateway school officials search every student when they arrive at the beginning of the day.
  • Behavioral Restrictions: Students have limited freedoms during the school day, including scheduled restroom breaks and escorted lunch periods.

In essence, students enrolled at Gateway Middle School or Gateway High School are less free than students back at their home campuses. It's even possible for students to face harsh disciplinary punishment for repeated minor violations, such as the wrong type of water bottle or earring. The purpose of this structured DAEP environment is to improve and grow from their previous mistakes, but it can be extremely challenging for students to adjust to this new set of expectations.

In addition, DAEP placement causes many students to struggle to academically keep pace with their peers at their home campuses, particularly if they cannot participate in extracurricular activities or advanced coursework. KISD Gateway schools do not stifle students' academic success, but that doesn't mean all students easily adjust and focus on their studies as well as they would in a familiar environment.

If you want your child to avoid DAEP placement and enrollment at Gateway Middle School or Gateway High School in Killeen ISD, you must defend your student's actions when meeting with school officials. The Lento Law Firm has direct experience representing many Killeen ISD students and their families when accusations of misconduct or unsafe behavior come their way. Call our Student Defense Team today to get started on your student's defense and help keep them enrolled in their home campus.

Killeen Independent School District DAEP Placement Process

When school officials believe a student committed an offense that may warrant DAEP placement in Killeen ISD, it's tough for most students and their families to know what to do next. DAEP placement isn't guaranteed, but it is an ever-present risk. The typical DAEP disciplinary process for most schools in the Killeen ISD includes the following steps:

  1. Removal and Notification: School officials remove students from the classroom following actions that may pose a danger to others or disrupt the learning environment. Then, a district hearing officer schedules a hearing within five school days. Soon after, parents will receive notice of the removal, the reasons for the decision, and the date and time of the upcoming hearing.
  2. Hearing: During the hearing, the district explains the reasons for the DAEP placement, while the student and their parents can present mitigating factors that impact the situation. The Lento Law Firm can review your student's case and identify potential areas of defense before your KISD hearing.
  3. Placement Order: If the hearing officer determines that DAEP placement is warranted, they issue a formal placement order. Importantly, this document will specify the duration of placement and any other restrictions on the student.
  4. Capacity Considerations: If KISD DAEP schools are at full capacity, students often remain in in-school suspension. Once a position becomes available at their Gateway school, they transfer and complete the remainder of their assigned term.
  5. Periodic Review: The district conducts periodic reviews for placements exceeding 60 days to assess the student's overall performance and improvement. District officials may determine that a longer enrollment in DAEP is needed to address ongoing behavioral concerns.
  6. Appeals Process: Parents can appeal a DAEP placement decision to the district hearing officer, and if the outcome is unsatisfactory, they can escalate to higher authorities within the district. The Lento Law Firm understands KISD's appeal processes and can streamline your attempts to appeal a DAEP placement order.

Even a short, 30-day placement in Killeen ISD's DAEP system can significantly impact a young student's future. Not only can their grades suffer due to a sudden and unexpected environmental change, but their social life can take a hit. This is on top of additional behavioral requirements and expectations at Gateway Middle School and Gateway High School, such as strict dress codes and contraband policies, that can lead to further disciplinary issues.

As a parent in KISD, you should do everything in your power to prevent DAEP placement for your student. Whether you need assistance defending in initial hearings or appealing DAEP placement after the fact, the Lento Law Firm can help. Our Student Defense Team operates a local Austin, Texas office and has direct experience in the Killeen Independent School District, helping kids of all ages avoid punishment.

DAEP Defense in Killeen Independent School District

Many schools in the Killeen Independent School District, such as Ellison High School, Killeen High School, and Union Grove Middle School, provide students with fantastic educational opportunities. However, their continued enrollment is not guaranteed, especially if they continually break the rules or are accused of misbehavior. DAEP placements in KISD are one option for district and school officials if students engage in certain types of misbehavior, and if your student is at risk, the Lento Law Firm can help.

The Lento Law Firm operates a nearby office in Austin in order to assist KISD students when DAEP placement is on the table. Our Student Defense Team understands the risks and will coordinate with KISD officials to help your student avoid the DAEP system. Call the Lento Law Firm today at 888.535.3686 or contact us online to provide information to our team and get started.

Contact Us Today!

If you, or your student, are facing any kind of disciplinary action, or other negative academic sanction, and are having feelings of uncertainty and anxiety for what the future may hold, contact the Lento Law Firm today, and let us help secure your academic career.

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