SELMA CITY SCHOOLS STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT 2014 – 2015 Dr. Larry DiChiara, Acting Superintendent 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS I. OVERVIEW ................................................................................................................................... 2 II. SCHOOL LISTINGS..................................................................................................................... 5 III. SCHOOL CALENDAR ................................................................................................................. 6 IV. RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF PARENTS OR GUARDIANS ................................ 7 V. RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF STUDENTS ............................................................. 9 VI. RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF SELMA CITY SCHOOLS ................................... 10 VII. RESPONSIBILITIES OF TEACHERS, ATTENDANCE AND TRUANCY OFFICERS ... 12 VIII. CLASSIFICATION OF VIOLATIONS .................................................................................... 13 IX. FORMAL DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS AND PROCEDURES .............................................. 19 X. PROCEDURES FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF SUSPENSION AND EXPULSION . 21 XI. PARENTAL NOTIFICATION OF CIVIL LIABILITIES AND CRIMINAL PENALTIES ....................................................................................................................................................... 26 XII. SCHOOL ENROLLMENT REQUIREMENTS ....................................................................... 27 XIII. ATTENDANCE PROCEDURES ............................................................................................... 30 XIV. SELMA CITY SCHOOLS EARLY WARNING TRUANCY PROGRAM ........................... 33 XV. ATTENDANCE/DRIVER’S LICENSE/LEARNER’S PERMIT............................................ 33 XVI. SAFE SCHOOLS ENVIRONMENT CONDUCIVE TO LEARNING .................................. 36 XVII. LAWS RELATE TO CIVIL LIABILITIES AND CRIMINAL PENALTIES FOR VIOLENCE OR OTHER MISBEHAVIOR BY STUDENTS ON SCHOOL PROPERTY OR AGAINST SCHOOL EMPLOYEES .................................................................................. 39 XVIII. SELMA CITY SCHOOLS POLICIES FOR SAFE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENTS ............. 41 XIX. ANTI-HARASSMENT POLICY……………………………………………………………….46 XX. EQUAL EDUCATION OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT AND GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE .............................................................................................................................. 49 XXI. THE INTERNET ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY .................................................... …………51 XXII. UNIVERSAL DRESS CODE ...................................................................................................... 56 XXIII. GUIDELINES FOR RELEASE OF STUDENT EDUCATION RECORDS AND DIRECTORY INFORMATION ................................................................................................ 59 I. Overview The Selma City School System offers a public education for students in grades pre-kindergarten through twelfth with a rigorous curriculum that includes a gifted/enrichment course for elementary students and an accelerated honors program for middle and high school students. 2 Advanced Placement (AP) courses are offered at Selma High through the distance-learning program. Dual enrollment is available at the local community college, Wallace Community College Selma. The system consists of eight elementary schools, two middle schools, one high school, and one alternative program. Program enrollment is approximately 4,000. The system is accredited by the Alabama Department of Education and by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Notice of Non-discrimination The following notice of non-discrimination meets the minimum requirements of the regulations enforced by OCR [Title IX: 34 CFR 106.9; Section 504:34 CFR 104.8; Title IX: 34 CFR 106.8; Section 504:34 CFR 104.7(a)]. Selma City Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. Vision The Selma City School System will be a world-class learning institution that promotes excellence in education. Mission The Selma City Schools System’s mission is to provide a nurturing environment which promotes academic excellence as we prepare our students to compete in a global society. Goals Devise and teach a challenging, diverse curriculum to enable all students to graduate from high school and achieve high educational and career goals. Provide fair and consistent leadership that is knowledgeable, organized, and accountable and that is marked by steady discipline and clear policies and procedures. Increase active parent support and positive community involvement. Provide the empowerment, support, and incentives that will enable the system to recruit and retain highly qualified teachers and other personnel. 3 Provide the resources, programs, and support to develop good student health, keep students safe, and teach discipline. 4 II. School Listings Elementary Schools Byrd First Class Pre-K 625 Lapsley Street 874-1620 Learning Center Cedar Park Elementary 1101 Woodrow Avenue 874-1625 Clark Elementary 405 Lawrence Street 874-1630 Edgewood Elementary 709 Highland Avenue 874-1640 Sophia P. Kingston Elementary 2224 Selma Avenue 874-1635 Knox Elementary 1002 Mabry Street 874-1650 Meadowview Elementary 1816 Old Orrville Road 874-1655 Payne Elementary 1529 North Franklin Street 874-1660 Middle Schools School of Discovery Genesis Center 400 Washington Street 874-1670 R.B. Hudson Middle School 1701 Summerfield Road 874-1675 Secondary School Selma High School 2180 Broad Street 874-1680 Alternative Program Phoenix Alternative 501 Plant Street 876-4428 Acting Superintendent Dr. Larry DiChiara 2194 Broad Street 874-1600 Board of Education Meetings Parents and interested citizens are invited to attend meetings of the Selma City Board of Education. The work sessions are scheduled the first Thursday of each month and the monthly Board meetings are scheduled on the second Tuesday of each month. Meeting locations and times are publicly announced. 5 III. School Calendar Selma City Schools 2014-2015 School Calendar 2014 July 22 ............................................................. Tuesday………Ten/Eleven-Month Employees Return August 4-5 ....................................................... Monday & Tuesday…….Orientation (New Employees) August 6....................................................... Wednesday……………….Professional Development August 7……………………………………... Thursday……………………………Teacher Institute August 8 ......................................................... Friday............................Teacher Work Day/Registration August 11 ....................................................... Monday…………………………First Day for Students September 1 ................................................. Monday.................................Labor Day (Schools Closed) November 11 ................................................. Tuesday..........................Veteran's Day (Schools Closed) November 26-28 ............................................ Wed.-Friday.....Thanksgiving Holidays (Schools Closed) December 19 .................................................. Friday...............................................End of First Semester 2015 January 6 ........................................................ Tuesday....................................................Schools Reopen January 19 ....................................................... Monday.........Dr. M. L. King's Birthday (Schools Closed) February 16…………………………………… Monday……….President’s Day Holiday (School Closed) March 23-27…………………………………...Monday-Friday................Spring Break (Schools Closed) May 21 ............................................................ Thursday.........................................Last Day for Students May 25 ............................................................ Monday..........................Memorial Day (Schools Closed) May 27 ............................................................ Wednesday....................................Last Day for Teachers First Semester 90 Days Ends December 19, 2014 Second Semester 90 Days Ends May 21, 2015 Student Attendance Days 180 Days Instructional Assistant Duty Days 182 Days Teacher Duty Days 187 Days 6 IV. Rights and Responsibilities of Parents or Guardians Parents or guardians must recognize that under Alabama Law 16-28-2, discipline is primarily their responsibility and that the influence of the home will be reflected in the conduct of the student while attending school. Rights Parents or guardians have a right to the following: to expect quality in the instructional program to expect students to be treated with dignity as individuals to be granted an opportunity for a public education for students to participate in appropriate school programs to be granted access to and explanation/clarification of school records, as appropriate To be granted procedural due process for students. to request and be granted a conference with the teacher and/or principal within a reasonable amount of time to obtain regular official reports of students’ progress to be notified by the principal or a designee when their child has been taken from the school by the Police Department or the Department of Human Resources Responsibilities Parents or guardians have a responsibility to do the following: to help foster an environment in