STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT

All students are entitled to enjoy the basic rights of citizenship recognized and protected by law for persons of their age and maturity. The school will foster a climate of mutual respect for the rights of others. Students are expected to respect the rights and privileges of other students, teachers, and district staff. The district’s rules of conduct and discipline are established to achieve and maintain order in the school. Students who violate the rights of others or who violate district or school rules will be subject to disciplinary measures designed to correct the misconduct and to promote adherence by all students to their responsibilities as citizens in the school community. Disciplinary action will draw on the professional judgment of teachers and administrators and on a range of discipline management techniques. Disciplinary action will be based on one or more of the following: the seriousness of the offense, the student’s age and grade level, the effect of the misconduct on the school environment, whether the student acted in self-defense, intent or lack of intent at the time the student engaged in the conduct, the student’s disciplinary history, and/or a disability that substantially impairs the student’s capacity to appreciate the wrongfulness of the student’s conduct.

I. Content of Approved Program

A. The essential ingredients of the student code of conduct are included in the KISD student handbooks. Each year the handbooks are reviewed for possible revisions. Suggestions are obtained from the Campus Instructional Development Council (CIDC) at each of the district’s schools to update the Student Code of Conduct. In addition, advice for the Code of Conduct standards will be solicited from the Klein ISD Districtwide Instructional Development Council. The Student Code of Conduct is submitted to the Board of Trustees for approval on an annual basis.

B. The principal on each campus has the authority to assess and implement the Student Code of Conduct and may remove a student to a disciplinary alternative education program (DAEP) and also temporarily remove a student from campus for reasons other than the assignment to the DAEP.

The superintendent, as the designee of the Board of Trustees, may expel a student for disciplinary infractions and take any other action related to discipline management allowed by laws of the State of Texas.

C. The responsibilities of administrators, teachers, parents, and students are found in the elementary, intermediate, and high school student handbooks.

When a student is found to have violated the student code of conduct and will be subject to suspension, removal to a DAEP, or expulsion, the principal or designee shall attempt, if the parent or guardian can be found, to notify the student’s parent or guardian by telephone, e-mail, or in writing.

II. Discipline Offense Categories

A. Level I – Offenses (Level I offenses include those acts of misbehavior which interfere with an orderly educational environment.) These include but are not limited to the following: Being tardy to class; Running and/or making excessive noise in the halls, building, and/or classroom; Refusing to follow classroom rules; Refusing to participate in classroom activities; Eating or drinking in an undesignated area; Chewing gum; Possessing and/or using nuisance items; Not bringing required classroom materials and/or assigned work to class; Lunchroom misconduct (misuse of food, for example); Posting or distributing unauthorized communicative materials on school grounds; Using profane, obscene, indecent, immoral, or offensive language and/or gestures to other students; Cheating and/or copying the work of another student;