General Guidelines

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Notification and Communication

District-Wide Implementation

Parents and students are encouraged to thoroughly read the Student Code of Conduct. Families are provided a link to the Student Code of Conduct at registration and/or at the beginning of the school year. In addition, a link to the Student Code of Conduct is always on the district website and will be included as a standing item on newsletters. School staff will also work to inform students of the behavioral expectations and discipline policies in an age-appropriate manner through class discussions/assemblies/PBIS and/or ACS expectations, etc. Parents acknowledge receipt of the Code of Conduct as part of the registration and/or re-enrollment process each year.

Parent-Teacher Advisory/Behavioral Interventions Committee

The Parent-Teacher Advisory/Behavioral Interventions Committee, co-lead by the Asst. Superintendent of Student Services and Director of Social-Emotional Learning (SEL), is a collaborative group that reviews the Student Code of Conduct. The advisory committee convenes annually and works collaboratively on the following tasks:

Reviews and recommends changes to the Student Code of Conduct, including the use of behavioral interventions per Board policy 7:230, Misconduct by Students with Disabilities.
Collaborates to include provisions in the Student Code of Conduct to address the safety and support of students who have demonstrated behaviors that put them at risk for aggressive behavior, including bullying.
Recommends revisions and/or maintenance of policies and procedures that reflect the district’s commitment to a positive, prevention-oriented discipline philosophy.

Discipline Philosophy

District 47 uses a restorative discipline approach that emphasizes building social and emotional skills to help reduce future discipline incidents. This approach allows students to learn from mistakes and practice skills necessary to avoid future discipline. A restorative approach also allows students to repair relationships that may have been damaged as a result of their behavior while being held accountable for their actions.

This Student Code of Conduct sets forth the behavioral expectations and discipline policy of District 47 and is designed to clarify the rights and responsibilities of students, staff, and parents. All stakeholders of the district are encouraged to read and discuss the contents of the Student Code of Conduct.

Rights and Responsibilities

Supporting positive student behavior requires a high level of commitment from the entire District 47 community, including students, parents/guardians, staff, and administrators. These stakeholder groups have the following rights and responsibilities, which are designed to reflect the mutual respect and accountability required for all individuals involved in supporting student behavior.

Students

Have the right to
- Be treated with courtesy, respect, and dignity
- Attend school and be valued members of the school community
- Learn in a safe environment that is free of bullying, harassment, and discrimination and without being hindered by the actions, or disruptions of others
- Receive instruction to learn school behavior expectations and develop social and emotional skills
- To be given the opportunities to be heard as well as have witnesses and/or an advocate speak on one’s behalf.
- Access appropriate supports and services to succeed in school, including when experiencing behavioral incidents in the classroom or school environment or when being the target of peer misconduct
- Consistent implementation of the District policies
- Due process related to exclusionary discipline (e.g., out-of-school suspension)
- A parent/guardian’s support in the student’s re-entry from out-of-school suspension, expulsion, or an alternative school placement
- Make up work missed due to out-of-school suspension for full academic credit
Have a responsibility to
- Show respect and courtesy to all students, staff, administrators, and school visitors; this includes respecting individual differences, cultural diversity, and the property of others
- Attend school daily and on-time, be prepared for class, engage in classroom activities, and complete coursework
- Contribute to a safe learning environment by managing their own behavior and reporting harmful or dangerous situations to an adult
- Act in a courteous and responsible manner in all school-related activities.
- Review the Student Handbook and Student Code of Conduct
- Understand and follow all school rules and instructions given by all school staff
- Inform parents/guardians of school-related issues and give them any materials sent home by the school or district

Parents

Have the right to
- Be treated with courtesy, respect, and dignity and be allowed to express feelings without being intimidated or intimidating others.
- Feel welcomed, valued, and connected to school staff and the school community
- Be informed and receive explanations of attendance, academic progress, and behavior.
- Work in partnership with school staff to support their child’s learning and healthy development at home and at school
- Work in partnership with school staff to problem-solve related to their child’s behavior and social and emotional needs
- Advocate for their child and report any unfair treatment to school staff
Have the responsibility to
- Show respect and courtesy to all students, staff, and school visitors
- Act in a courteous, respectful, and responsible manner at all school-related activities.
- Review the content and understand the district’s expectations, as outlined in the Student Handbook and Student Code of Conduct
- Be a collaborative partner with school staff to maximize their child’s strengths
- Assure their child brings to school only those things that are appropriate in a school setting.
- Be engaged in meaningful two-way communication with school staff, as soon as possible, regarding their child’s academic and behavioral progress.
- Assist their child in learning how to make choices and deal with the consequences of their actions/choices.
- Support their child to resolve problems in a restorative manner in order to contribute to a safe and positive school climate.
- Inform school officials about concerns in a timely and respectful manner
- Provide the school with accurate phone numbers and updates, including those of emergency contacts, as needed.

Staff

Have the right to
- Be treated with courtesy, respect, and dignity
- Work in a safe environment, free from verbal or physical threats and abuse.
- Access opportunities for professional development and training to assist in creating and maintaining a thriving classroom and school environment that is respectful, engaging, and culturally responsive
- Access support from colleagues and administration for addressing student behavior when such conduct cannot be handled within the classroom environment (See Response Level 2 and above in matrix).
- Seek and receive support in preventing and responding to student behaviors in a supportive manner, including classroom and behavioral management strategies.
Have the responsibility to
- Show respect and courtesy to all students, staff, and school visitors
- Respect the rights, dignity, and confidentiality of students, parents/guardians, and other staff.
- Establish a sense of community in the classroom and school that maximizes student learning and staff performance, using culturally responsive classroom management strategies
- Work in partnership with all students and families to problem-solve related to student needs and behavior
- Collaborate and participate in restorative processes to support student learning and the school environment
- Enforce the policies, rules, and regulations of the district, school, classroom, and code of conduct, including preventive and positive disciplinary policies in cooperation with students, parents/guardians, and administrators.
- Respond to complaints or concerns from students and parents/guardians in a timely manner (typically within 2 school days) and in a language they understand.
- Explicitly teach, acknowledge, and reinforce behavior expectations as outlined by the Student Handbook, Student Code of Conduct, PBIS and/or ACS expectations, as well as other building expectations
- Intervene promptly when inappropriate behavior occurs; this includes re-teaching behavioral expectations, following Individualized Education Plans, Individual Problem Solving Plans, 504 Plans, Behavior Intervention Plans and other district support plans.
- Follow procedures for student removals from the learning environment
- Work in partnership with parents/guardians to develop and implement behavior intervention that support students
- Accurately record inappropriate student behavior and refer reports of serious concerns regarding students to the appropriate support personnel promptly
- Follow up promptly on reports of bullying and sexual harassment as required by Board of Education policies 7:180 - Prevention of and Response to Bullying, Intimidation, and Harassment, 7:20 - Harassment of Students and 2:265 - Title IX Sexual Harassment Griveance Procedure.

Administrators

Have the right to
- Be treated with courtesy, respect, and dignity
- Work in a safe environment, free from verbal or physical threats and abuse.
- Access support from district level administration to create and maintain a thriving school environment that is respectful, engaging, and culturally responsive to the needs of students and staff
Have the responsibility to
- Show respect and courtesy to all students, staff, and school visitors
- Foster on-going, positive relationships with all students and families by working in true partnership to problem solve related student needs and behavior
- Create a safe and caring school climate that maximizes learning
- Create, monitor, and assess a school-wide management system
- Welcome parents/guardians as valued partners in their child’s learning, including creating consistent, two-way communication and active partnership at problem-solving meetings
- Guide all stakeholders in using and reviewing school-wide behavior data and evaluate the effectiveness of behavioral interventions
- Monitor behavior data to identify and address disparities
- Ensure that all staff meet the expectations outlined in the section entitled “Teacher/Staff Responsibilities”
- Support staff in implementing appropriate behavior interventions
- Apply the Student Code of Conduct in a consistent manner and accurately record inappropriate student behavior and interventions and disciplinary responses following the established protocol
- Follow procedures for student removals from the learning environment
- Notify parents/guardians promptly if a student’s misconduct results in an out-of-school suspension or other exclusionary measures

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