Skip To Main Content

DISTRICT CODE OF CONDUCT

Printable AR-JICDA-R 

JICDA-R Code Of Conduct

Issued 6/23

It is the opinion of the board that acceptable student behavior, including the following criteria, is to be expected from all students:

  • respect to peers, faculty, and staff exhibited through actions and speech
  • pride in personal and school property exhibited by taking care of the physical building and respecting the property rights of others
  • desire and effort toward educational achievement are to be priorities as exhibited by following teacher/staff direction; reporting to class promptly and consistently; and being prepared to work without interfering with instruction
  • obedience to all laws, discipline code, rules, and community norms

The board believes that all students should receive fair and consistent discipline when school rules are violated. Therefore, this definitive code on student discipline was developed with the assistance of parents/legal guardians, students, teachers, and administrators from Sumter School District.

This code will be in effect at bus stops, en route to and from school or school activities, on school buses or in any other school vehicles, on school grounds, at school and all school-sponsored activities, both on and off campus, and any time or any place where the conduct has a direct and immediate effect on maintaining order and discipline in the district’s schools, buildings, or grounds.

Copies of this code, or a summary thereof, will be transmitted at the beginning of the school year to the parents/legal guardians of each student attending schools in the district. School staff, students, and bus drivers will be trained in this discipline system each year.

Students in grades kindergarten through 12 will participate in code of conduct instructional sessions. Teachers and students will document that instruction has occurred. After instruction has been completed, principals will sign and submit an attestation form to the discipline office.

Each school will provide intervention strategies that address or redirect maladaptive behaviors.

Student Conduct Away from School Grounds or School Activities

The Board expects administrators to take appropriate action when information becomes available about student misconduct away from school grounds or school activities that may have a direct and detrimental effect on or seriously threaten the discipline, educational environment, safety, or general welfare of students, faculty, staff, and/or administrators of the district. When assessing the impact of out-of-school behavior on a school, the administrator will take into consideration the seriousness of the alleged out-of-district offense and the protection of students, faculty, staff, and administrators from the effects of violence, drugs, and/or disruptions.

Administrators are directed to evaluate each situation on a case-by-case basis. At a minimum, administrators or their designees should meet with the student upon his/her arrival at school, give the student notice of the concerns based on the reported out-of- district behavior, and allow the student an opportunity to present his/her side of the story. Based upon all of the circumstances, including a finding that the alleged conduct will have a direct and immediate effect on the school will or threatens the discipline, educational environment, safety, or general welfare of students, faculty, staff, and/or administrators of the school, the administration may either permit the student to attend classes as usual or may take appropriate disciplinary action including, but not limited to, in-school suspension or out-of-school suspension in order to conduct an investigation into the matter. The parents/legal guardians of students will be notified of any action taken by the administration and offered the opportunity for a conference.

In the event the student is arrested or incarcerated based on his/her out-of-district conduct, the principal or his/her designee will notify the student that he/she is to meet with the administration prior to returning to school.

At the conclusion of the inquiries to obtain more information on the matter, the administrator or his/her designee will take appropriate action, which may include, but not limited to, one or more of the following:

  • returning the student to his/her normal class schedule and removing all evidence of suspension
  • placing the student on probation and allowing the student to resume his/her normal class schedule
  • placing the student on probation, allowing the student to continue class work, but restricting the student’s participation in extracurricular activities and/or designated school activities (e.g. clubs, study halls, pep rallies, student government, etc.)
  • suspending the student
  • recommending expulsion of the student from regular school and placement in the district’s alternative program
  • recommending expulsion but allowing access to virtual school programs through the district’s alternative school (These students are only allowed on campus for exams that require a proctor in a virtual school accessed through the district’s alternative program, and students not able to successfully enroll will be expelled for the remainder of the school year.)
  • recommending expulsion of the student for the remainder of the year

The disciplinary action must be supported by the evidence and take into full consideration the impact of the student’s presence at school on the discipline, educational environment, safety, or general welfare of other students, faculty, staff, and/or administrators.

Note regarding special education students: Administrators must ensure that all procedural safeguards afforded to special education students are also implemented in such circumstances.

Level of Offenses

Listed below are the three discipline categories for offenses with Category I as the least serious offenses and Category III as the most serious offenses. Each category also has a listing of corresponding administrative actions.

Category I disorderly conduct offenses

Activities engaged in by student(s) which tend to impede orderly classroom procedure or instructional activities, orderly operation of school, or the frequency or seriousness of which disturb the classroom or school.

  • aiding others
  • bus violation (refer to the transportation policy)
  • cheating
  • confrontation/altercation
  • cutting activity
  • cutting class
  • detention violation
  • dishonesty
  • disrupting class
  • dress code violation
  • driving violation (grades nine-12)
  • forgery
  • gambling
  • horseplay (grades K-eight)
  • ID violation inappropriate affection
  • inappropriate behavior
  • inappropriate language (toward student)
  • larceny/theft (less than $50)
  • littering
  • loitering
  • obscene gesture (toward student)
  • off limits
  • property misuse
  • refusal to obey/defiant
  • running
  • tardy
  • unauthorized use of electronic device

Violations in this category may result in, but not exceed, the following administrative actions:

Please click here 

Category II – disruptive conduct offenses

Activities engaged in by student(s) which are directed against persons or property, and the consequence of which tends to endanger the health or safety of oneself or others in the school.

  • bite/pinch/spit
  • bullying*
  • computer violation
  • cutting school (grades six-12)
  • cyberbullying*
  • failure to comply with disciplinary action
  • fighting*
  • forgery (adult signature)
  • harassment*
  • hit/kick/push
  • horseplay (grades nine-12)
  • inappropriate language toward adult
  • inappropriate physical contact
  • intimidation*
  • larceny/theft (over $50)
  • leaving school
  • major disruption
  • obscene gesture (toward adult)
  • other offense (minor)
  • profanity (toward student)
  • profanity (toward adult)
  • threat*
  • throwing objects (without injuries)
  • tobacco violation
  • trespassing
  • vandalism

Category II disruptive conduct actions

Violations in this category may result in, but not exceed, the following administrative actions:

Please click here 

Note regarding special education students: Administrators must ensure that all procedural safeguards afforded to special education students are also implemented in such circumstances and procedural safeguards are given to the parent at the time the decision is made.

The following aggressive offenses may result in a recommendation for expulsion with the second offense:

  • bullying*
  • cyberbullying
  • fighting
  • harassment
  • intimidation
  • threat
  • any combination of these six offenses

Note regarding special education students: Administrators must ensure that all procedural safeguards afforded to special education students are also implemented in such circumstances and procedural safe guards are given to the parent at the time the decision is made.

Category III – Criminal Conduct Offenses

Activities engaged in by student(s) which result in violence to oneself or another’s person or property or which pose a direct and serious threat to the safety of oneself or other in the school.

  • aggravated assault
  • alcohol/liquor violation
  • arson
  • bomb threat bribery
  • burglary
  • contraband
  • contract violation
  • drug distribution
  • drug possession
  • drug usage
  • embezzlement
  • extortion
  • fire alarm
  • fireworks
  • forced sexual offense
  • fraud
  • gang activity
  • homicide
  • indecent exposure
  • kidnap/abduction
  • non-forced sex offense
  • other offense (criminal)
  • pornography
  • prostitution
  • robbery
  • sex violation
  • sexual harassment
  • simple assault
  • vehicle theft
  • weapons (refer to policy JICI, Weapons in School Category III criminal conduct actions)

Offenses in this category require a suspension and a referral for disciplinary transfer or referral to the hearing officer which may result in expulsion from school. Decisions will be based upon the maturity level and age of the student.

Grades K through 12

  • referral to the hearing officer
  • suspension until the hearing before the hearing officer which will take place within 15 days of the written notification at a time and place designated by the hearing officer

Note regarding special education students: Administrators must ensure that all procedural safeguards afforded to special education students are also implemented in such circumstances and procedural safe guards are given to the parent at the time the decision is made.

See administration actions addendum

Please click here 

Students with identified disabilities – notify school psychologist; see discipline for students with identified disabilities addendum.

Administrative Actions – Categories I – III

The board of trustees and its administration will treat all students with fairness during the resolution of disciplinary matters. Administrative actions may vary based upon the seriousness of behavior and developmental age of the student. The board directs the administration to adhere to due process requirements when making decisions directly affecting students’ protected rights under federal and state law in accordance with policy JIA (Students’ Due Process Rights). Actions may range from in- school suspension to permanent expulsion.

Administrator must do the following:

  • give rudimentary hearing
  • oral notice of charges to student
  • explanation of evidence against student
  • student given opportunity to tell his/her version require notification to parent/legal guardian
  • require classroom interventions for Category I offense in accordance with the school discipline plan, when applicable
  • require payment for damages, if applicable
  • will confer with staff on the extent of the consequence
  • make referral to school counselor or counseling program (required for Category I, and Category I)
  • consider a possible referral to outside agency, as required consider a possible referral to law enforcement agency

Issued 5/23/11; Revised 9/26/11, 5/14/12, 6/26/14, 5/5/15, 6/1/15, 1/29/18, 7/8/19, 6/5/23

Sumter School District