Behavior System Changes & Recognition (Commendation) Point System

Background

This implementation addressed previous challenges where commendations (positive behaviors) were managed together with conduct logs (violations) without distinction. Schools struggled to:

Track total commendation points.
Assign structured rewards.
Notify parents/students of positive achievements.

Issues Identified

Commendations lacked point assignments.
No structured rewards system.
Run periods only processed violations.
No parent/student notifications for recognitions.
Confusing differentiation between positive and negative behaviors.

Objectives and Outcomes

Create clear separation between violations and recognitions.
Allow commendations to carry Recognition Points.
Ability to implement predefined reward levels based on points.
Enable run periods to process violations and recognitions separately.
Update system terminology for clarity.
Enable parent/student notifications for recognitions.

System-Wide Terminology Changes

Old Term	New Term	Definition
Referral - Add/Approve/Assign/Print	Referral Actions	Page for managing referral workflows such as creating, approving, assigning, and printing referrals.
Conduct Logs	Behavior Entries	Includes both violations and recognitions. Tracks all student behavior entries such as Behavior Category, Type, Steps, Process status and Admin Decision.
Violations	Behavior Categories	Primary behavior classification for violations and positive behavior.
Other Minor Violations	Behavior Types	An optional specific sub-types within each Behavior Category. Used to group related behavior under a category.
Warning Steps	Behavior Steps	Steps used to measure repeated or escalating behavior. Helps to indicate if a direct point will be assigned or a warning will be given.
Consequences	Behavior Outcomes	Broad term for assigned negative or positive outcomes such as detention/suspension or reward/recognition. System will automatically assign these outcomes based on the point brackets.
(New)	Rewards	Positive outcome assigned for accumulated recognition points. Examples: praise note, digital badge, privilege pass, certificates,
Administrative Decisions	Admin Decisions	Final review and assignment by administrator of an outcome (reward or consequence).
Discipline Forms Settings	Behavior Configuration	Settings for all behavior forms; behavior categories, types, outcomes, steps, major offenses and locations etc.
Discipline Entry Processing	Behavior Entry Management	Pages for running/resetting entries, processing resolutions, taking actions on referrals, and assigning outcomes and rewards.
Discipline Plugin Settings	Behavior Plugin Settings	System-wide settings for behavior entry logic, permissions, templates and integrations. Such as automatic tardy points, allowing teachers to see admin decisions or setting default signatures.
Office Referral Form	Major Incident Referral	Referral form to document serious behavior incidents submitted to the office.
Referral Steps	Discipline Matrix	Structured major offense ladder based on behavior severity and repetition.
Intervention Steps	Interventions	Used to document and escalate positive guidance or behavior support plans.
Offenses	Major Offenses	List of incidents that qualify for admin referral such as fighting, threats, or major defiance.
Step Columns	Matrix Columns	Columns in the Discipline Matrix that represent escalating levels.
Reset Entries	Reset Behavior Entries	Admin tool to deactivate submitted behavior records by type or date.
Reset History	Past Resets	Log of prior behavior resets showing who did what and when.
Dispositions	Behavior Resolutions	The process of automatically or manually assigning consequences or rewards based on a run period and accumulated points.

Key Functional Improvements

Behavior Form Enhancements

Recognitions are determined with a checkbox: "Is this a Recognition (Positive Behavior Entry)?" when adding a behavior category
Recognitions and violations flagged differently but showed in same tables.
Behavior outcomes includes “Reward” as a third type: Minor, Major and Reward

Run Period Enhancements

Options to process:
- Violations only
- Recognitions only
- Both together
"Included Entries" column added (Violations / Recognitions / Both)

Behavior Resolution Enhancements

Behavior Resolutions will include the Rewards as the outcomes.
Students may appear twice if they receive both a reward and a consequence.

Reset Enhancements

Reset Behavior Entries for violations, recognitions, or both.
Past Resets log displays all previous reset actions.

Student/Parent Dashboard Updates

New "Rewards" tab.
Updated labels:
- Minor Violations
- Major Violations
- Recognitions
- Rewards

Reporting Enhancements

Updated Behavior Overview and Single Student Reports.
New fields:
- Total Violation Points
- Total Recognition Points
- List of Rewards Earned

Notifications and Letters (sample letter template below)

Separate letter for rewards with dynamic data field like in the admin decisions for violations.
We will continue to use the same notification template for any Resolutions (positive or negative)
Instant notification of behavior entries in the same template for both violations and rewards

Recognition/Positive behavior configurations

Behavior category and types (optional) added
Please note that points can be added at the category level with a limit (progressive point system) which does not assign a direct point.
Behavior steps with or without points added
Steps can be added here if the school wants to assign direct points to behaviors. (do not add points to both at the category and step level)
Behavior outcomes with point brackets added
Behavior outcomes are minor/major consequences or rewards based on the point brackets. They are automatically assigned by the system when dean runs the period.
Admin decisions with letter templates added
- Admin decisions
- Letter Templates (see sample below)

Behavior Management Workflow (Overview)

Behavior Entry Created by the teachers
- Violation (Negative) or Recognition (Positive)
Run Period added
- Entries evaluated separately or together
Resolutions processed and Admin Decisions assigned
- Minor/Major Consequences (based on violation points)
- Rewards (based on Recognition Points)
Notification Sent
- Parents and/or students informed via resolution processing form
Reporting and Tracking
- Via Behavior Overview Report
Behavior Entries Managed
- Reset Behavior Entries if need a fresh start
- View Past Resets for audit trail

Sample Configuration: Recognition Category

Behavior Category: Recognition/Positive Behavior

├── Optional Behavior Types
│ ├── Helping Others
│ ├── Following Directions
│ ├── Class Participation
│ ├── Neat Work Habits
│ └── Positive Attitude
│
├── Behavior Steps
│ ├── Verbal Recognition (0 points)
│ |── Reward Point (+1 point)
│ └── Reward Point (+3 point)
│
├── Weekly Outcome Levels (based on total points)
│ ├── Bronze Level (2–5 points)
│ ├── Silver Level (6–10 points)
│ ├── Gold Level (11–15 points)
│ └── Platinum Level (16+ points)
│
└── Admin Decisions (linked to outcomes)
├── Shout-Out Granted
│ └── Used for any outcome
│ └── Message: “Thank you for contributing positively this week. Keep it up!”
│
├── Parent Notified
│ └── Used for Silver or any outcome
│ └── Message: “Your child has shown strong positive behavior in class this week. We're proud of their efforts.”
│
├── Weekly Star Certificate
│ └── Used for Gold or any outcome
│ └── Message: “Excellent work this week! Your attitude and actions made a real difference.”
│
└── Principal Recognition
└── Used for Platinum any or any outcome
└── Message: “You've been a true leader and example to your peers. Congratulations on your achievement!”

✅ Use this setup as a reference for structuring positive behavior recognition that works with weekly run periods and flexible outcomes.

Sample letter template for rewards

Date: [[today]]

Dear Parent:

We are pleased to share that [[firstname]] [[lastname]] has earned a recognition for their positive behavior during the most recent review period, which ended on [[runenddate]]. Based on the total of [[totalpoint]] recognition points earned, your child has received the following acknowledgment:

[[behavioroutcome]] – [[administrativedecision]]

[[resolutioncomment]]

This recognition reflects [[firstname]]'s continued efforts to uphold the values and expectations of [[schoolname]]. Positive behaviors such as these are key in promoting a respectful, focused, and supportive school environment.

We encourage you to celebrate this achievement with your child and reinforce the importance of their contribution to our school community.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or would like more details about this recognition.

Sincerely,