Discipline

DISCIPLINARY ACTION – STUDENTS - Policy #S5600

5600 PUPIL DISCIPLINE/CODE OF STUDENT CONDUCT

The Board adopts this Pupil Discipline/Code of Student Conduct Policy to establish standards

and procedures for positive pupil development and behavioral expectations on school grounds,

including on a school bus or at school-sponsored functions, and as appropriate, for conduct away

from school grounds. The Code of Student Conduct includes locally determined and accepted

core ethical values.

Every pupil shall observe promulgated rules and regulations and submit to the discipline

imposed for infraction of those rules and regulations. Regulation 5600 shall include a

description of school responses and consequences to violations of the behavioral expectations

established by the Board that, at a minimum, are graded according to the severity of the offenses,

considering the developmental ages of the pupil offenders and any history of inappropriate

behaviors pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:16-7.1(c)5.

The development, annual review, and update of this Policy shall involve parent, pupil, and

community involvement which represents, as best as possible, the composition of the schools

and community to express locally determined and accepted core ethical values.

The Board will review this Policy and Regulation after considering the findings of the annual

reports of pupil conduct, including suspensions and expulsions, pursuant to N.J.A.C.

6A:16-7.1(a)5 and 6, and the incidents reported under the Electronic Violence and Vandalism

Reporting System, in accordance with N.J.A.C. 6A:16-5.3.

The Superintendent shall report annually on the implementation of the Pupil Discipline/Code of

Student Conduct Policy to the Board at a public meeting pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:16-7.1(a)5.

The Superintendent shall submit a report annually to the New Jersey Department of Education on

pupil conduct, including all pupil suspensions and expulsions, and the implementation of the

Pupil Discipline/Code of Student Conduct Policy in accordance with the format prescribed by

the Commissioner of Education and the Electronic Violence and Vandalism Reporting System,

pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:16-5.3(e).

For pupils with disabilities, subject to Individualized Education Programs in accordance with

20 U.S.C. § 1400 et seq., the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act, and

accommodation plans under 29 U.S.C. §§ 794 and 705(20), pupil discipline and the code of

conduct shall be implemented in accordance with the components of the applicable plans.

The Principal or designee shall have the authority to assign appropriate discipline to pupils.

School authorities also have the right to impose a consequence on a pupil for conduct away from

school grounds, including on a school bus or at a school-sponsored function pursuant to N.J.A.C.

6A:16-7.6. This authority shall be exercised only when it is reasonably necessary for the pupil’s

physical or emotional safety, security, and well-being or for reasons relating to the safety,

security, and well-being of other pupils, staff, or school grounds, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:25-2

and 18A:37-2. This authority shall be exercised only when the conduct which is the subject of

the proposed consequence materially and substantially interferes with the requirements of

appropriate discipline in the operation of the school. Consequences shall be handled in

accordance with Policy and Regulation 5600, pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:16-7.1, and as

appropriate, in accordance with N.J.A.C. 6A:16-7-2, 6A:16-7.3, or 6A:16-7.5.

Consequences and appropriate remedial action for a pupil who commits one or more acts of

harassment, intimidation, or bullying may range from positive behavioral interventions up to and

including suspension or expulsion. The factors for determining consequences and remedial

measures and examples of consequences and remedial measures are listed in Policy 5512 –

Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying.

Consequences for a pupil who commits an act of harassment, intimidation, or bullying shall be

varied and graded according to the nature of the behavior, the developmental age of the pupil and

the pupil’s history of problem behaviors and performance, and shall be consistent with this

Policy and the school district’s pupil discipline/code of conduct pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:16-7.1.

Remedial measures shall be designed to correct the problem behavior; prevent another

occurrence of the problem; protect and provide support for the victim of the act; and take

corrective action for documented systemic problems related to harassment, intimidation, or

bullying.

Any pupil subject to discipline shall be provided appropriate due process as set forth in N.J.A.C.

6A:16-7.2 through 7.6.

The District shall endeavor to obtain all information in the pupil’s record related to disciplinary

actions taken against the pupil by the school district and any information the former school

district has obtained pursuant to N.J.S.A. 2A:4A-60, Disclosure of Juvenile Information,

Penalties for Disclosure, shall be provided to the receiving public school district, in accordance

with the provisions of N.J.S.A. 18A:36-19(a), N.J.A.C. 6A:32(e)10.iv., and N.J.A.C. 6A:16-7.10.

Likewise, when a pupil transfers from the District all student discipline records will be

transferred to the pupil’s new school district as required by law.

Regulation 5600 shall include a description of pupil responsibilities that include expectations for

academic achievement and behavior, a description of behaviors that will result in suspension or

expulsion pursuant to N.J.S.A. 37-2, and a description of pupil rights pursuant to N.J.A.C.

6A:16-7.1(c)3.i through vii.

Comprehensive behavioral supports that promote positive pupil development and each pupil’s

ability to fulfill the behavioral expectations established by the Board will include: positive

reinforcement for good conduct and academic success; supportive interventions and referral

services; remediation of problem behaviors that take into account the nature of the behaviors, the

developmental age of each pupil and the pupil’s history of problem behaviors and performance;

and for a pupil with disabilities, the behavior interventions and supports shall be determined and

provided pursuant to the requirements of N.J.A.C. 6A:14.

The Building Principal shall maintain a current list of community-based health and social service

provider agencies available to support a pupil and the pupil’s family, as appropriate, and a list of

legal resources available to serve the community.

Pupil discipline and the Code of Student Conduct will be applied without regard to race, color,

religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, or a

mental, physical or sensory disability or by any other distinguishing characteristic, pursuant to

N.J.S.A. 10:5.

The Pupil Discipline/Code of Conduct Policy and Regulation shall be disseminated annually to

all school staff, pupils, and parent(s) or legal guardian(s). School staff shall be trained annually

on the Pupil Discipline/Code of Conduct Policy and Regulation, which shall include training on

the prevention, intervention, and remediation of pupil conduct in violation of the district’s Policy

and Regulation. Information on this Policy and Regulation shall be incorporated into the

orientation program for new employees.