Supporting Students in a Behavioral Crisis

Chancellor's Regulation A-411

Students in a behavioral crisis are in need of support. Staff should use their relationship skills, de-escalations skills, and strategies for behavioral management in a coordinated response to meet students' emotional needs. Chancellor's Regulation A-411 sets the NYC Public Schools policy and guidelines for responding to and de-escalating situations when students are experiencing behavioral crises. 

The regulation requires for each school to establish a Crisis Team who prepares to assess and respond to the emotional needs of students, staff, and the school community during and after a crisis. This team is required to develop a school de-escalation plan, which is designed to support students in a behavioral crises.

    Support for Schools

    School staff are prepared to manage behavioral crisis situations through professional development on de-escalation strategies and techniques. Schools also receive support for implementing other school-wide strategies and interventions to create a supportive school environment. These strategies may include the following:

    • comprehensive school counseling programs
    • conflict resolution programs
    • partnerships with community based organizations and mental health providers
    • Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports programs
    • social-emotional learning programming
    • student advisories
    • student leadership programs
    • restorative circles and conferencing

    Policies and Procedures - Responding to a Behavioral Crisis Situation

    As per Chancellor's Regulation A-411, the following policies and procedures should be followed with respect to crisis intervention and calling 911:

    • In the event of a crisis situation, staff must make efforts to safely de-escalate the behavior, where possible, using the strategies and interventions for addressing behavioral crises described in the school Crisis De-Escalation Plan.
    • If the classroom teachers/staff are unable to safely de-escalate the behavior, the principal/designee must be notified of the situation.
    • The principal/designee should seek assistance from the Crisis Team.
    • Simultaneously, the principal/designee must make every effort to notify the parent (by telephone or if telephone is unsuccessful, text, email, or voicemail) that the student is in a crisis situation.
    • If the parent cannot be reached, the principal/designee should attempt to notify the emergency contacts identified on the emergency contact card.
    • The parent must be given an opportunity to speak by telephone or in person with their child where safety considerations permit and where it will not interfere with efforts to de-escalate the situation.
    • The principal/designee should also seek assistance from other appropriate staff, such as a school staff member with whom the student has a trusting relationship, a school counselor, or personnel in the School-Based Mental Health Clinic (SBMHC). The principal may also seek assistance from a School-Based Health Center with mental health services (SBHC) if there is one on-site, a CBO at the school, or the Children’s Mobile Crisis Team. 
    • If the crisis has been de-escalated, the student’s parent must be contacted and apprised of the events. The student should be immediately returned to class.
    • If the crisis has not been de-escalated and cannot be safely addressed by school staff or the support services set forth above, and the student’s behavior poses an imminent and substantial risk of serious injury to themselves or others, the principal/designee must be notified. The principal/designee determines whether additional efforts should be attempted and/or whether 911 needs to be contacted for emergency assistance.  911 may only be contacted upon authorization of the principal/designee. 
    • Under no circumstance can 911 be called or employed as a disciplinary response to a student’s behavior.  Furthermore, 911 must not be used in lieu of, or as an alternative to, de-escalation strategies or resources, where such strategies and resources can be safely used to address the crisis as set forth above. 

    Key Resources

    • 988 is New York City’s free, confidential support, crisis intervention, and information and referral service for anyone seeking help for mental health and/or substance misuse concerns, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

     

    Crisis Support Referrals and Resources

    For crisis support referrals and resources, see the Crisis or Traumatic Event page.

    NYCPS staff can visit the Employee InfoHub Crisis Support page for additional guidance and resources for schools.