CHESTER COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION
Discipline Code
Grades 7-12
Adopted May 17, 2007
The Chester County Board of Education has established this code of behavior and discipline in order to facilitate an atmosphere conducive to learning in all schools. This code provides a fair and adequate means of enforcing the rules of expected behaviors. The principal has the authority to make judgments on any conduct that is beyond the scope of good behavior and not included in this document.
* For any infraction of the rules the principal may require a session with a school counselor to address behavior issues. This is not considered as a punishment for a rules infraction but as a proactive approach to prevent further misconduct.
Abbreviations used in this code:
ISS = In-school Suspension
OSS = Out-of-School Suspension
AS = Alternative School
DET = After/Before School Detention
JC = Juvenile Court
DHA = Disciplinary Hearing Authority
Rule 1. Unexcused Absences
The principal of each school determines whether an absence is excused or unexcused based on application of Board Policy # 6.200. Excused absences shall include: personal illness; illness of the immediate family; death in the family; legal court summons not as a result of the students misconduct; extreme weather conditions; religious observances; and extenuating circumstances as determined by the principal.
* Unexcused absences Students will not be allowed to make up work missed due to an unexcused absence.
3 days A warning letter will be sent home.
5 days The parents will be referred to the truancy board.
10 days The parents will be referred to juvenile court.
Rule 2. Tardiness and Early Checkouts
* Tardiness to school or early checkouts during a 6-weeks period
1 2 No penalty
3 Warning letter or call to parent
4 Loss of privileges
5 ISS 1 day
6 ISS 2 days and parent conference
7 + ISS 3 days
* Tardiness to individual classes will be handled separately from tardiness to school. Each school will develop procedures to address this infraction.
Rule 3. Skipping School or Leaving Campus without Proper Authorization
Students may not leave campus until school is dismissed without checking out through the school office. Students may not leave school or be absent without parental consent.
1st Offense ISS 2 days
2nd Offense ISS 3 days
Multiple ISS 3 days and possible referral to the DHA
Rule 4. Skipping Class or Leaving Class without Proper Authorization
1st Offense ISS 1 day
2nd Offense ISS 2 days
Multiple ISS 2 days and possible referral to the DHA
Rule 5. False Calls/Notes or Forged Statements
Students who have someone misrepresent their parents in phone calls or forge notes from parents or medical personnel shall be in violation of this code. The absence, tardy, or checkout shall be considered as unexcused.
1st Offense ISS 2 days
2nd Offense ISS 3 days
Multiple ISS 3 days and possible referral to the DHA
Rule 6. Dress and Grooming
Students shall dress and groom in a clean, neat and modest manner so as not to distract or interfere with the operation of the school. The principal will publish a list of guidelines that may change from year to year. This list will be posted at the school and be placed in the school handbook for distribution to all students.
1st Offense Warning and required to change clothes
2nd Offense Required to change clothes and ISS for 1 day
3rd Offense Parent conference, change clothes, and ISS for 2 days
Rule 7. Misbehavior on Bus
Students are provided with a copy of the bus rules at the beginning of each school year. Bus drivers may enact discipline measures (warnings, assignment of seating, etc) before referring the student to the principal. Punishment for violations will vary according to severity. Bus issues referred to the principal will be handled according to the following schedule:
Minor Violations 1st Offense Warning
2nd Offense Bus suspension - 3 days
3rd Offense Bus suspension 5 to 9 days
Multiple Increased loss of riding privileges
@ Failure to obey drivers legitimate requests, not staying seated, talking too loud, etc.
Major Violations 1st Offense Bus suspension 5 to 9 days,
ISS - 5 days, or
OSS - 3 days
2nd Offense Bus suspension 10 to 20 days and
OSS - 5 days
Multiple Increased loss of riding privileges and/or refer to AS
@ Fighting, threatening bodily harm, cursing angrily, lewd gestures, etc.
Rule 8. Tobacco Offenses
The use or possession of tobacco by students is prohibited on school grounds or while under school supervision. State law requires that violators be issued a citation to juvenile court.
1st Offense Citation and ISS 2 days
2nd Offense Citation and ISS 3 days
Multiple Citation and ISS 3 to 5 days
Rule 9. Cheating
Cheating on tests or examinations will not be tolerated. No student shall cheat on any exam, project, or report.
1st Offense Zero grade for the assignment
2nd Offense Zero grade and ISS 2 days
Multiple Zero grade and ISS 3 days
Rule 10. Gambling on School Property or at School Function
Gambling in any form will not be tolerated.
1st Offense ISS 2 days
2nd Offense ISS 3 days
Multiple ISS 3 days and possible referral to DHA
Rule 11. Disregard of Directions or Commands/Failure to Accept Disciplinary Action of the Teacher
A student shall not fail to comply with reasonable directions or commands of teachers, substitute teachers, teacher aides, principals, school bus drivers, or other authorized school personnel when on the school grounds or while under school supervision.
1st Offense Assessment of severity, warning, DET or ISS 1 to 5 days
2nd Offense DET or ISS 3 to 5 days
Multiple DET or ISS 5 days and possible referral to DHA
Rule 12. Extortion, Harassment, Bullying
Extortion, harassment, or bullying will not be tolerated. Incidents will be investigated according to board policy. Punishments will vary according to the situation and may range from warnings to referral to AS or JC.
Rule 13. Pagers, Cellular Phones, Two-Way Radios
Students may bring pagers, cell phones, or two-way radios to school but must keep them turned off between 7:30 and 2:55 unless given specific permission by the principal.
1st Offense Warning and confiscate phone for 3 days
2nd Offense Confiscate for 5 days and have parent pick up the phone
Multiple Confiscate for 10 days and have parent pick up the phone
Rule 14. Use of Profane, Vulgar or Obscene Words, Gestures, or Other Actions That Disrupt School System Operations
Use of profane, vulgar, or obscene words, gestures, or other actions that disrupt school system operations will not be tolerated.
Minor - Casual cursing and/or obscene gestures, racial slurs
1st Offense ISS 2 days
2nd Offense ISS 3 days
Multiple ISS 5 days
Major Extreme anger and uncontrollable behavior
1st Offense OSS 3 days and possible referral to JC
2nd Offense OSS 5 days and possible referral to JC
Multiple AS or expulsion
Rule 15. Rude and Disrespectful Behavior
No student shall curse or intentionally argue in a demanding or disruptive
manner with any school employee, or otherwise show disrespect for school
personnel.
Arguing with school employee
1st Offense DET or ISS 1 - 5 days
2nd Offense DET or ISS 5 to 9 days
Multiple OSS 1 to 5 days
Cursing a school employee
1st Offense OSS 3 to 9 days
2nd Offense OSS 10 days or refer to AS
Rule 16. Assault on a School Employee
A student shall not threaten to harm or cause mental anguish to a school employee.
1st Offense OSS 5 to 9 days or AS
2nd Offense AS or expulsion
Rule 17. Battery on a School Employee
*Zero Tolerance
State regulations govern this violation. A student shall be expelled or remanded to AS for 180 school days. The superintendent may adjust this penalty as circumstances dictate.
Rule 18. Fighting, Assault and/or Battery to a Student
A student shall not cause or threaten to cause bodily harm or mental anguish to any person, student, or guest, or personal property of another on the school grounds or while under school supervision.
1st Offense OSS 3 days
2nd Offense OSS 5 days
Multiple OSS 5 to 9 days, AS, JC, or expulsion
* Unprovoked Attack
1st Offense OSS 5 days and possible remand to AS
2nd Offense Remand to AS or expulsion
* Self Defense The concept of self-defense shall be considered using the following criteria:
1. Leading up to the conflict no challenging behavior or words have been issued by the defending party.
2. During the conflict the self-defense was reasonable.
Rule 19. Disruption and Interference with School
No student shall:
A. Block any entrance, occupy any school building, prevent any class or function from taking place, prevent any student, guest, or employee from using any facilities, or block any normal pedestrian or vehicular traffic or otherwise deprive others of free access to or use of any facility, program or activity associated with Chester County Schools.
The violation will be assessed and a penalty ranging from a warning to OSS.
B. Set fire to or in any school building or property.
The violation will be referred to juvenile authorities and the punishment will range from AS to expulsion.
C. Cause false fire alarm
1st Offense OSS 1 to 3 days
2nd Offense OSS 3 to 5 days
Multiple AS, JC, or expulsion
D. Bomb Threat
Students delivering a bomb threat will be placed in AS or expelled along with a referral to JC.
Rule 20. Sexual Misconduct or Offense
No student shall be guilty of molesting another student, indecent exposure, rape or any other overt heterosexual or homosexual act on school property, during school functions, or under school supervision. Any incident will be investigated according to board policy.
A. Intentional inappropriate touching of another student or sexual harassment - Violations will result in penalties ranging from warnings to AS.
B. Indecent exposure OSS - 3 to 9 days
C. Rape or any other overt heterosexual or homosexual act - Aggravated acts will be referred to JC and result in AS or expulsion.
Rule 21. Narcotics, Stimulant Drugs, or any other Controlled Substance
*Zero Tolerance
A student shall not possess, sell, use, transmit, or be under the influence of any narcotic drug, hallucinogenic drug, amphetamine, barbiturate, marijuana, or any drug requiring a prescription controlled by the Tennessee State Board of Pharmacy. (See Board Policy)
State regulations govern this violation. A student shall be expelled or remanded to AS for 180 school days and referred to JC. The superintendent may adjust this penalty as circumstances dictate.
Rule 22. Damage or Destruction of School Property
A student shall not cause damage to school property or steal or attempt to steal school property to include lunch items, library books, reference materials, or any other school property.
Violations may require restitution and penalties ranging from ISS to expulsion.
Rule 23. Damage, Destruction or Theft to Private Property
A student shall not cause or attempt to cause damage, to private property or steal or attempt to steal private property either on the school grounds or during a school activity, function, or event off school grounds or while under school supervision.
Violations may require restitution and penalties ranging from ISS to expulsion.
Rule 24. Alcoholic Beverage or Intoxicant of any Kind on the School Grounds or During a School Activity, Function, or Event off School Grounds, or While under School Supervision
Alcoholic beverages shall not be permitted on school-owned property, school buses, or at school-sponsored activities. Students shall not possess or be under the influence of intoxicating beverages while at school or in attendance at school-sponsored activities.
Penalties may range from OSS to AS with referral to JC.
Rule 25. Possession and/or use of Weapons and Dangerous Instruments
Students shall not possess, handle, transmit, use or attempt to use any dangerous weapon in school buildings or on school grounds at any time, or in school vehicles and/or buses or off the school grounds at a school-sponsored activity, function or event. Dangerous weapons for the purposes of this policy shall include, but are not limited to any firearm, explosive, explosive weapon, bowie knife, hawk-bill knife, ice pick, dagger, sling-shot, switchblade knife, blackjack, knuckles Objects that are not normally prohibited may be deemed as weapons when used to threaten or physically harm another person (pocket knife, fork, pencil, etc).
A. Firearms or explosive devices are Zero Tolerance offenses.
State regulations govern this violation. A student shall be expelled or remanded to AS for 180 school days and referred to JC. The superintendent may adjust this penalty as circumstances dictate.
B. Other weapons described above Penalties may range from OSS to expulsion.
Rule 26. Gang-Related Behaviors
Any type of gang-related behavior, dress, conduct, mannerisms, paraphernalia, and symbols will not be tolerated.
Penalties may range from warnings to expulsion.
Rule 27. Multiple or Accumulated Offenses
Multiple infractions of the same rule or accumulated infractions of different rules will not be tolerated. The principal will evaluate these situations and recommend a placement in AS or expulsion.
Rule 28. Traffic or Parking Violations
Student drivers shall be instructed as to the rules pertaining to driving and parking on campus. Students shall not return to their vehicle during the school day without permission from the administration. Students should observe all safety regulations while driving on campus. The campus speed limit is 15 MPH.
Parking Violations Traffic Violations
1st Offense Warning 1st Offense 1 hour Thursday School
2nd Offense I hour Thursday School 2nd Offense 2 hour Thursday School
3rd Offense 2 hour Thursday School 3rd Offense ISS 3 days
Multiple Lose driving privileges Multiple Lose driving privileges
Chester County School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, age, national origin, or handicapping condition in the investigation, assessment, or implementing of its discipline policies.