Students

5131.2-BP

 

STUDENT DISCIPLINE

 

The Governing board believes that one of the major functions of the public schools is the preparation of youth for responsible citizenship. The district shall foster a learning environment which reinforces the concepts of self-discipline and the acceptance of personal responsibility. Students are expected to progress from being adult-directed to self-directed with minimal application of disciplinary measures.

In order to maintain an environment conducive to attaining the highest quality of education in the district, there must exist certain disciplinary policies and regulations relating to student conduct which delineate acceptable behavior and provide the basis for sound disciplinary practices within each school in the district. These policies and regulations will be enforced fairly, uniformly, and consistently without regard to race, creed, color or sex.

The administration, teachers and classified staff share the mutual responsibility for student conduct and safety and the enforcement of district policies and regulations. The board shall give all reasonable support and assistance to all employees with respect to student discipline (cf. 5142 - Safety).

The board recognizes that not all students will adhere to district rules for appropriate behavior. In instances involving continually disruptive students, all efforts will be made by site and district support services to develop appropriate school behaviors. These efforts, provided in policy, regulation, and law, and specified in school site rules, may include, but not be limited to, advising and counseling students, conferences with parents/guardians, detention during and after school hours, work study programs, alternative educational environments; and, if necessary, suspension, transfer, and expulsion.

In order to ensure that school site rules for student discipline are enforced fairly, uniformly, and consistently, the superintendent shall establish procedures for the development of such rules. All school site rules shall be strictly based on district policy, regulation and existing law.

Special care shall be taken to solicit the views of the school community, including administrators, teachers, school security personnel, parents and students in the development of site level rules.

The adoption of each school's rules on student discipline is the responsibility of the school principal/designee and a designated teacher.

Rewards may be offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of individuals who have committed offenses against students, staff or school property.

All adopted school site rules shall be subject to board review prior to implementation.

School site rules shall be revised periodically as required by any changes in district policy, regulation, or law and shall undergo the site level rule review and adoption process at least every four (4) years.

The principal of each school shall ensure that every student and his/her parent/guardian is notified in writing of all board policies, administrative regulations and individual school rules related to discipline at the beginning of each school year and that transfer students and their parents/guardians are so advised at the time of enrollment in school.

The notice shall include the fact that these rules and regulations are available on request at the principal's office in all district schools.

Corporal Punishment

Corporal punishment shall not be used as a disciplinary measure against any student. School administrators and teachers shall employ other means of disciplining students who violate school rules, district regulations or district policies.

The use of reasonable and necessary force by an employee to protect oneself or students or to prevent damage to district property shall not be considered corporal punishment for purposes of this policy (Education Code 49001, cf. 4158 - Employee Protection).

 

 

Legal Reference:

Education Code

Section 35146

Closed sessions

Cross Reference:

 

Section 35291

Rules

 

 

Section 35291.5

School adopted discipline rules

 

 

Section 35291.7

School adopted discipline rules: additional employees

 

 

Section 44807.5

Restriction from recess for disciplinary purposes

 

 

Section 48650-48677

Adjustment schools

 

 

Section 48630-48644.5

Opportunity schools

 

 

Section 48908

Duties of pupils

 

 

Section 48900-48925

Suspension and expulsion

 

 

Section 48980-48981

Notification of parents or guardians

 

 

Section 49000-49001

Prohibition of corporal punishment

 

 

Section 49330 et seq.

Injurious objects

 

TITLE V

Section 353

Detention after school

Cross Reference:

 

 

Specific legal processes and regulations regarding exclusion, suspension, and expulsion are outlined in Board Policies and Administrative Regulations 5114.1 (Pupil Expulsion), 5114.2 (Pupil Suspension), and 5114.3 (Pupil Expulsion).

 

Policy adopted:

11/23/87

Policy revised:

4/27/93