Rochester Student Handbook

Rochester School District

STUDENT HANDBOOK Continued

III. Corrective Actions

In order to insure that order essential to effective teaching and learning is maintained, corrective actions and punishments may be imposed by designated employees for violation of rules of student conduct. Corrective action and punishment will be imposed for good and sufficient cause in a fair and just manner. Prior to the imposition of a corrective action/punishment, the student shall have the right to meet informally with the school principal to hear the charges and to present his/her version of the incident.

The following corrections or punishments may be imposed:

Discipline includes all forms of corrective action other than suspension or expulsion and shall include the exclusion of a student from a class for all or any portion of the period or for the balance of the school day. The student shall be in the custody of a school employee for this period of time. A student may be detained after school, provided that his/her transportation needs are considered.
Suspension means a denial of attendance in a class or any full schedule of classes for a stated period of time. Short term suspensions may be imposed for not more that five consecutive school days. Suspensions in excess of five days shall be defined as long-term suspensions. Suspension is subject to the following limitations and conditions.
- The nature and circumstances of the violation of school rules must reasonably warrant the length of suspension imposed.
- No student in grades kindergarten through four shall be subject to short-term and long-term suspensions for more than a total of (10) school days during any single semester, and no loss of academic grades or credit shall be imposed by reason of the suspension of such a student.
- No student in the grade five and above program shall be subjected to short-term suspensions for more than a total of 15 school days during any single semester or 10 school days during any single trimester. No single long-term suspension shall be imposed which causes the student to lose academic grades or credit in excess of one semester or trimester.
- Any student subject to a short-term suspension shall be provided the opportunity upon his/her return to make up assignments and tests missed by reason of the short-term suspension if: 1) such assignments or tests have a substantial effect upon the student's semester or trimester grade or grades, or 2) failure to complete such assignments or tests would preclude the student from receiving credit for the course or courses.
- All suspensions shall be reported in writing to the superintendent within 24 hours after imposition.
- As a general rule, no student shall be suspended for a short or long term unless other forms of corrective action or punishment reasonably calculated to modify his/her conduct have previously been imposed upon the student as a consequence of misconduct of the same nature. However, a student may be suspended for "exceptional misconduct," other than absenteeism, when such misconduct is of frequent occurrence or is serious in nature and/or is disruptive to the operation of the school.
The following infractions may result in immediate short or long-term suspension or expulsion as indicated in RCW 9.41.250 and RCW 9.41.280, subject to exceptions in cases where school officials feel there are extenuating circumstances:
- Possession of a weapon, weapon facsimile or other dangerous instrument(s).
- Possession of, use of, or participation in the sale or transmission of a prescription drug, drug paraphernalia, or an illegal substance including drugs and alcoholic beverages. (The possession and/or consumption of any medical substance used under a doctor's orders and registered with the main officer per district policy will not constitute violation of the policy).
- Being under the influence of alcohol and/or illegal drugs.
- Assault or causing physical injury to another person or maliciously threatening physical injury to another person.
- Disruption of the school, including:
  - causing false alarms
  - refusal to follow reasonable directions
  - use of racist, harassing, obscene or abusive language
  - stealing school property or the private property of another student or staff
  - vandalizing or defacing school property or the property of other students of staff
  - reckless or dangerous driving on or near school property or at school activities
  - gang-like or gang- related behavior.
No student shall be suspended or expelled because of one or more unexcused absences unless the district has:
- Provided written notice to the student's parent(s) or guardian(s) in their primary language that the student has failed to attend school without valid justification;
- Scheduled a conference(s) with the above party(s) and the student at a convenient time and place to analyze the causes for the student's absence, such analysis to determine by appropriate means whether the student should be made a focus of concern for placement in special education or other special program; and
- Taken steps to reduce the student's absence which include, when agreeable to all parties, adjusting the student's school program, changing schools, or assisting the student to obtain supplementary services that might ameliorate the causes of absence.
Expulsion means a denial of attendance at any single subject or class or any full schedule of classes for an indefinite period of time. A student may be expelled immediately by the school principal, provided that the principal has good and sufficient reason to believe that the student's presence poses an immediate and continuing threat of substantial disruption to the educational process.

An emergency expulsion shall continue until rescinded by the imposing administrator or until modified or reversed pursuant to a hearing.

Expulsion is subject to the same conditions as a suspension, except that an expulsion shall be in effect for an indefinite period of time. All expulsions shall be brought to the attention of the juvenile court.

A student may be removed immediately from a class by a certificated teacher or an administrator without other forms of corrective action (if sent or delivered to the building principal or another designated school authority) provided that the teacher or administrator has good and sufficient reason to believe that the student's presence poses an immediate and continuing danger to the student, other students or school personnel or any immediate and continuing threat of substantial disruption of class, subject, or educational process of the student's school. The removal of students from classes shall continue only until the danger or threat ceases or the principal acts to impose discipline, a short-term suspension, or an emergency expulsion or to initiate a long-term suspension

IV. Appeals

A student shall be given an opportunity to contest the facts leading to corrective action or punishment, to contest the appropriateness of the corrective action or punishment imposed by a disciplinary authority, or to allege prejudice or unfairness on the part of the school district official responsible for the corrective action or punishment. The school principal will advise the student of the procedure to follow if he/she wishes to appeal a disciplinary, corrective, or expulsion action.

V. Application for Readmission

Any student who has been suspended or expelled shall be allowed to make application for readmission at any time. If a student desires to be readmitted to the school from which he/she has been suspended/expelled, the student shall submit a written application to the principal, who instituted the corrective action or punishment. If a student wishes admission to another school, he/she shall submit the written application to the superintendent. The application shall include:

The student's reasons for returning and why the request should be considered,
Evidence, which supports the request;
And a supporting statement from the parent, guardian or others who may have assisted the student.

The superintendent shall, in writing, advise the student and the student's parents or guardians of the principal's or superintendent's decision within seven school days of the receipt of such application.

VI. Rights, Responsibilities, and Authority of Certificated Staff

Certificated staff shall share responsibility for supervising the behavior of students and for maintaining the standards of conduct which have been established.

Certificated staff shall have the right to:

Expect students to comply with school rules.
Develop and/or review building rules relating to student conduct and control at least once each year. Building rules shall be consistent with district rules relating to student conduct and control.
Exclude a student from class for all or any portion of the period or for the balance of the school day or until the teacher has conferred with the principal, whichever occurs first. Prior to excluding a student, the teacher shall have attempted one or more corrective actions. In no case shall an excluded student be returned for the balance of the period without the consent of the teacher.
Receive any complaint or grievance regarding corrective action or punishment of students. They shall be given the opportunity to present their version of the incident and to meet with the complaining party in the event that a conference is arranged.

Certificated staff shall have the responsibility to:

(Principals shall) Distribute to students, parents and staff a publication defining the rights, responsibilities and corrective action or punishment relating to student behavior.
Observe the rights of students.
Enforce the rules of student conduct fairly, consistently, and without discrimination. Any infractions shall be reported orally and in writing to the principal as soon as possible regardless of any corrective actions taken by the teacher.
Maintain good order in the classroom, in the hallways, and on the playgrounds or other common areas of the school, or while riding on school buses (field trip).
Maintain accurate attendance records and report all cases of truancy.
Set an appropriate example of personal conduct and avoid statements which may be demeaning or personally offensive to any student or group of students.
(Principals shall) Notify parents when students are suspended or expelled.
Meet with a parent(s) within five (5) school days upon request to hear a complaint regarding the use of classroom materials and/or teaching strategies that are being employed in the classroom.

Certificated staff shall have the authority to:

Use such reasonable action as is necessary to protect himself/herself, a student, or others from physical abuse or injury.

Remove a student from a class session for sufficient cause.

Detain a student after school with due consideration for bus transportation.

(Principals shall) Impose suspension or expulsion when appropriate.

VII. Annual Notices

A comprehensive policy manual, including detailed student policies, and the annual descriptive guide for the district are available for review at each school office.

Equal opportunity. The school district does not discriminate on the basis or age, race, creed, color, national origin, sex, marital status, Vietnam or other veteran status, or non-job related physical, sensory, or mental handicap in its educational programs, activities, employment procedures and personnel practices as required by state and federal laws. Inquiries or complaints regarding compliance with these laws should be directed to Affirmative Action Officer. Complaint forms for concerns in the regulated areas of Affirmative Action, Title IX (Education Amendments of 1972) and Section 504 (Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973) are available from the Affirmative Action Officer.

Student Records: The school district maintains current, clear, and accurate records for all students in attendance. Uniform procedures govern the collection, maintenance, storage, examination, transmittal, and destruction of all student records and any information included therein.

Only information deemed necessary to the welfare of students and the orderly operation of schools, or that information required by law and regulation, is included in the student's official records. Student records are the property of the school district. Student records are available for inspection and review by parents in an orderly and timely manner and in accordance with district policy and procedures. Parents may challenge inclusion of any information in a student's records which they believe inaccurate, misleading, or in violation of the student's privacy or other rights. Parents may request deletion or modification of records, or enter into the records their own statements of clarification or explanation. All information relating to individual students shall be deemed confidential and be dealt with in a professional manner. Student records will be released upon request to a school in which a student seeks or intends to enroll. Other organizations, agencies, or individuals will receive student records only upon the signed, written, dated request of the parent, except as otherwise provided by law or district policy. A high school student may grant authority to the district permitting prospective employers with the opportunity to review the student's transcript. This policy shall not apply to records required for reports of child abuse or neglect. All rights accorded to, or consent required of, parents shall be accorded to, or required of, legal guardians or students who have attained eighteen years of age or have entered a post-secondary training or education institution.

A student upon request, is entitled to receive a final transcript after graduating from high school. A grades report, transcript or diploma shall not be released until a student has made restitution for damages assessed as a result of losing or damaging school materials or equipment.

The following information may be released by the school district unless a student's parents (or guardian) requests in writing that such information not be released: The student's name, address, telephone number, date and place of birth, major field of study, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of members of athletic teams, dates of attendance, degrees and awards received, the most recent previous educational agency or institution attended by the student, photographs and other similar information.

A parent or guardian, or any student who is 18, has the right to designate any or all of the above as directory information. Students or parents must notify the school district in writing of such refusal within 10 days following publication of this notice, or no later than 10 days following the enrollment of a student in the school district. This written notice should be addressed to the principal of the school(s) involved.

Parental Rights: Parents are advised to contact the school office regarding:

The availability of specialized services for a child who has a suspected handicapping condition that may impair his/her performance in school;
The eligibility standards for a child who wishes to participate in the free or reduced price food services program;
The right to visit their child's classroom;
The right to review classroom materials and to consent to any psychological testing/treatment proposed for their child;
The right to meet with a classroom teacher with five (5) school days after registering a complaint regarding the use of classroom materials and/or teaching strategies that is employed in the classrooom.

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