FILE: JCDA
STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT
The Acadia Parish School Board’s Code of Conduct shall include progressive levels of minor through major infractions and identify corresponding minor through major interventions and consequences. Before an initial referral for a student’s expulsion, the Code of Conduct shall require the prior administration of interventions in accordance with the minor tiers in the Code of Conduct, except in instances where the expulsion referral is the result of accumulated minor infractions in accordance with the Code of Conduct, or the underlying incident threatens the safety and health of students or staff. Expulsions shall be reserved for the major tier of behavioral infractions involving weapons or drugs, or when the safety of students and staff has been put in jeopardy.
ALL STUDENTS
All students shall maintain school attendance as described by the Acadia Parish School Board.
All students shall be obedient and respectful.
All students shall refrain from obscene language and/or expressions.
All students shall refrain from violent and/or threatening behavior.
All students shall be held accountable for their academic performances and behavior.
All students shall respect school property and the property of others.
All students shall abide by the rules and regulations of the classroom teacher, the school, and the Acadia Parish School Board.
| NOTE: | STUDENTS SHALL ABIDE BY THE ABOVE STANDARDS IN SCHOOL, ON THE PLAYGROUNDS OF THE SCHOOL, SCHOOL BUS, ON THE STREET OR WHILE GOING TO OR RETURNING FROM SCHOOL DURING INTERMISSION OR RECESS, OR AT ANY SCHOOL SPONSORED ACTIVITY OR FUNCTION. |
INFRACTIONS AND CONSEQUENCES:
Notes:
For students in grades PreKindergarten-12, the severity of the incident is to be considered by the school administration when determining minor and major infractions.
All schools may have the option of operating a Saturday detention at the school's expense and with the Superintendent's approval.
Schools are to follow Positive Behavior Intervention Systems (PBIS) and/ or Leader In Me as a proactive approach to managing student behavior.
The discipline infractions listed in this student Code of Conduct do not account for every type of misconduct that could possibly occur. Furthermore, the School Board cannot reasonably be expected to develop a Code of Conduct to anticipate every type of misconduct; however, the Code of Conduct shall enumerate the necessary discipline actions to maintain a safe and orderly environment that complies with all existing policies, rules, and regulations of the Louisiana State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and all state laws relative to student discipline.
ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING DISCIPLINARY MEASURES SHALL BE IMPLEMENTED, BAY MAY NOT BE LIMITED TO, PRIOR TO A STUDENT RETURNING TO CLASS:
Verbal/Oral Warning (Removal from Group, Time-Out in Classroom, Conference between Teacher and Student)
Parent Contact (In-Person, Phone, or Virtual)
Removal of Students from Classroom
**Grades K-5: Minimum of 30 minutes out of class requirement
**Grades 6-12: No return during the same class period
Parent Conference
Peer Mediation
Consider Referral to School Building Level Committee (SBLC)
Referral to Administration/Conferencing with Principal or Designee
Recommendation for counseling services/Documented Behavior Intervention
Restorative Justice Practices
Loss of Privileges
Detention
Suspension (In-School or Out-of-School)
Behavior Plan. As documented through SBLC
Initiation of Expulsion Hearings
Referral for Assignment to Alternative Setting (examples: Behavior Clinic, Incentive Clinic, etc.)
Requiring the completion of all assigned school and homework that would have been assigned and completed by the student during the period of out-of-school suspension.
Any other disciplinary measure authorized by the principal with the concurrence of the teacher or the school building level committee pursuant to law and School Board policy.
THE FOLLOWING INFRACTIONS WILL FOLLOW CONSEQUENCES A-Q UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED
|
STATE CODE |
NAME OF INFRACTION |
|
01 |
Willful disobedience |
|
02 |
Treats an authority with disrespect |
|
03 |
Makes an unfounded charge against authority |
|
04 |
Uses profane and/or obscene language |
|
05 |
Commits immoral or vicious practices |
|
06 |
Conduct or habits injurious to his/her associates |
|
07 |
Uses/ possesses any controlled dangerous substances governed by the Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Law, in any form |
|
08 |
Uses/possesses tobacco/lighter |
|
09 |
Uses/ possesses alcoholic beverages |
|
10 |
Disturbs the school and/or habitually violates any rule |
|
11 |
Cuts, defaces, or injures any part of public school buildings/property of school personnel (on or off campus)/vandalism |
|
12 |
Writes profane and/or obscene language or draws obscene pictures |
|
13 |
Possesses weapon(s) as defined in Section 921 of title 18 of the U.S. Code. *Use Code 13 requires additional admission of Weapon Type Code |
|
14 |
Possesses firearms, knives, mace, pepper spray, laser pointers, and other implements not prohibited by Federal law, which may be used as weapons, the careless use of which might inflict harm or injury Excludes pocket knives with a blade length less than 2 ½ inches. Refer to code 31. |
|
15 |
Throws missiles, objects liable to injure others |
|
16 |
Instigates or participates in fights while under school supervision |
|
17 |
Violates traffic and safety regulations |
|
18 |
Leaves school premises or classroom without permission |
|
19 |
Is habitually tardy and/or absent |
|
20 |
Takes another property or possessions without permission |
|
21 |
Commits any other serious offense |
|
22 |
Possesses electronic telecommunication devices. Subject to disciplinary action up to suspension. |
|
23 |
Students K through 8 shall address teachers and administrators using respectful terms such as “yes, ma’am” and “no, ma’am: and using courtesy titles Mr., Mrs, or Miss. The first six weeks shall be an adjustment period for kindergarten students. (Discipline for violators will be handled in each school by teachers and principals, with the principal having final discretion as to enforcement. Violators cannot be suspended or expelled for violation of the respect rule.) |
|
24 |
Consequences for Uniform Violations |
|
25 |
Commits assault/battery |
|
30 |
Discharge or use of weapon(s) prohibited by federal law |
|
31 |
Possesses pocket knife or blade cutter less than 2 ½inches |
|
33 |
Use of OTC medication in a manner other than prescribed or authorized |
|
34 |
Possession of Body Armor |
|
35 |
Bullying/Harassment (Complete bullying form provided by LDOE) |
|
36 |
Cyber Bullying/Cyber Harassment (Complete bullying form provided by LDOE) |
|
37 |
False Alarm / Bomb Threat (Use APSB Threat Assessment Form) |
|
38 |
Forgery |
|
39 |
Gambling |
|
40 |
Public Indecency |
|
41 |
Obscene behavior or Possession of obscene/pornographic Material |
|
42 |
Unauthorized use of Technology |
|
43 |
Improper dress |
|
44 |
Academic dishonesty |
|
45 |
Trespassing Violation |
|
46 |
Failure to Serve Assigned Consequence |
|
47 |
Misusing Internet/ Violates electronic/technology policy |
|
48 |
Sexual harassment |
|
49 |
False Report |
|
50 |
Crime of Violence (per R.S. 14:2B) |
DISCIPLINARY GUIDELINES FOR SCHOOLS
All referrals leading to detention (before or after school), in-school suspension, or out-of-school suspension include parent contact by teachers, bus operators, and/or administrators. Schools shall endeavor to address student behavior with a focus on evidence-based intervention and support to reduce the loss of academic instructional time. Referrals must include documented behavior interventions.
POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES FOR DISCIPLINARY INFRACTIONS, SHALL INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO THE FOLLOWING STEPS: (REFER TO DISCIPLINARY MEASURES LISTED UNDER INFRACTIONS AND CONSEQUENCES (A-J):
1st step: Verbal warning
2nd step: Teacher/student conference
3rd step: Parent contact (one or more of the following)
Phone call/document date/time
Conference before school, teacher prep time, after school
Parent notification form signed by parent, returned to teacher and administrator (Administrator can step in if notification form was not returned after a reasonable length of time.)
4th step: Counseling and/or counselor referral sent by teacher
Student conference
Document date/time
5th step: Referral sent to office/Consider referral to SBLC
**Disciplinary measures and referrals beyond the 5th step listed above shall include Disciplinary Measures I-Q from the “INFRACTIONS AND CONSEQUENCES” section of the CODE OF CONDUCT.
**Out-of-school suspensions and referrals for expulsions shall be reserved for the most significant behaviors (drug possession, weapons, serious bodily injury, threats, bullying, pornography, etc.) at the discretion of principal.
**Principals and/or designee(s) have the authority to assign consequences for disciplinary infractions in accordance with school, local, state, and federal mandates. Refer to the “INFRACTIONS AND CONSEQUENCES” section of the Code of Conduct for possible consequences for disciplinary infractions.
APPEAL PROCESS FOR EXPULSIONS
The parent or legal guardian of the student who has been recommended for expulsion in accordance with state law may, within five (5) days after the decisions to expel has been rendered, submit a request to the School Board to review the findings of the Superintendent or designee at a time set by the School Board; otherwise, the decision of the Superintendent shall be final. If requested, as herein provided, and after reviewing the findings of the Superintendent or his/her designee, the School Board may affirm, modify, or reverse the action previously taken. The parent or legal guardian of the student shall have such right of review even if the recommendation is reduced to a suspension.
The parent or legal guardian of the student who has been recommended for expulsion in accordance with state law may, within ten (10) school days, appeal to the district court for the parish in which the student’s school is located, and adverse ruling of the School Board in upholding the action of the Superintendent or his/her designee. The court may reverse or revise the ruling of the School Board upon a finding that the ruling of the School Board was based on an absence of any relevant evidence in support thereof. The parent or legal guardian of the student shall have such right to appeal to the district court even if the recommendation for expulsion is reduced to a suspension.
Revised: September 8, 2008
Revised: August 2, 2021
Ref: La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §17:416.13
Board minutes, 10-2-95, 7-7-97, 7-2-01, 5-6-02, 9-8-08, 8-2-21
Acadia Parish School Board