Policy 5300 Code of Conduct

This policy outlines the code of conduct for the Syosset Central School District, emphasizing a safe, supportive, and respectful learning environment. It details student rights and responsibilities, prohibited behaviors, disciplinary procedures, and the roles of all stakeholders in maintaining positive school culture.

SYOSSET CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

DISTRICT CODE OF CHARACTER, CONDUCT AND SUPPORT Policy 5300

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction

Student Rights and Responsibilities

Essential Partners

Student Dress Code

Prohibited Student Conduct

Expectations for Student Participation in Interscholastic Athletics and Extra-Curricular Activities

Reporting Violations

Disciplinary Penalties, Procedures and Referrals

Alternative Instruction

Discipline of Students with Disabilities

Corporal Punishment

Student Searches and Interrogations

Visitors to Schools

Public Conduct on School Property

Notices

Dissemination and Review

Definitions SYOSSET CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

DISTRICT CODE OF CHARACTER, CONDUCT AND SUPPORT Policy 5300

Introduction

The Board of Education is committed to providing a safe and supportive school environment where all individuals are treated with respect and students may receive and School District personnel may deliver quality educational services without disruption or interference. Responsible behavior by students, teachers, other School District personnel, parents and visitors is essential to achieving this goal.

The goal of the Code of Character, Conduct and Support (hereinafter “Code of Character, Conduct and Support” or “Code”) is to ensure each student’s right to an education in a safe, civil, caring, and supportive learning environment. It is based upon the laws, regulations, and policies that create access to education for all while protecting the due process rights of the individual. The Code recognizes that schools are public places that must balance individual rights with civic obligations and the responsibilities that make it possible to live in a free, open and democratic society. The Code of Character, Conduct and Support serves as a guide to good conduct and provides the tools for helping students to understand and appreciate the norms of behavior within the school culture.

Effective and engaging instruction and positive behavioral support are the foundations of a positive school climate. School teachers, administrators, and other staff are encouraged to set high expectations for student success, build positive relationships with students, as well as teach and model appropriate behaviors for success. Modeling respectful, positive behavior is especially critical during disciplinary interventions. All adults—teachers, principals, administrators, school staff, parents, and the larger community—have an obligation to help students become individuals who lead productive lives by modeling positive behaviors and cultivating those behaviors in students.

Student discipline and support policies and practices will be implemented in a manner which is fair and equitable, respectful, and based on trust among administration, staff, students, and families. In addition, student discipline and support policies and practices will hold all individuals accountable and, wherever possible, be restorative and solutions based. This will help students:

• Learn from their mistakes; • Understand why their behavior was unacceptable; • Acknowledge the harm they caused or the negative impact of their actions; • Understand what they could have done differently; • Take responsibility for their actions; • Learn strategies that promote positive interactions; and • Understand that further consequences and/or interventions will be implemented if their unacceptable behavior persists.

Page 1 of 57 SYOSSET CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

DISTRICT CODE OF CHARACTER, CONDUCT AND SUPPORT Policy 5300

Core Principles That Guide Character, Conduct and Support

The following principles form the foundation for creating safe, civil, caring, supportive and accomplished learning environments.

• The School District’s social and emotional learning vision aims to create collaborative school environments built on positive and supportive relationships and a Growth Mindset, where individuals and staff feel safe, valued, respected, and students are encouraged to be curious, take risks, and learn from their mistakes. The School District will foster a community of self-aware, compassionate, critical thinkers who are motivated to pursue their passions. Social and emotional competencies contribute to improved academic and personal outcomes and enable students to learn and practice how to:

o Communicate effectively; o manage their emotions, o set goals, o feel and show empathy for others, o create positive relationships, and o make good choices.

• All students are capable of achieving their personal best and, when necessary, improving their behavior with guidance, instruction, support, and coaching.

• Students need different kinds and amounts of time, attention, instruction, and support to behave responsibly and succeed academically.

• Clear, fair, and timely consequences signal that a student’s actions are deemed to be inappropriate or unacceptable. Restorative Interventions require students to take responsibility for what they have said and done, reflect on the impact of their behavior, modify their behavior, problem solve, make amends to repair the harm they have caused, and learn new skills.

• Effective discipline helps students become more self-managed and teaches students to become more socially and academically skillful.

• Teachers, principals, administrators, school staff, parents, and the larger community have an obligation to help students learn to be good individuals and lead productive lives by:

o enabling them to discern right from wrong, o fostering in them the desire to do what is right, and o requiring them to take responsibility for their words and actions.

Page 2 of 57 SYOSSET CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

DISTRICT CODE OF CHARACTER, CONDUCT AND SUPPORT Policy 5300

• Student discipline and support policies and practices must be implemented in ways that are perceived to be respectful. Interactions between and among the School District and School District staff, students, and parents/persons in parental relation must protect the dignity of each individual and ensure a tone of decency.

• Every reasonable effort should be made to correct student behavior through interventions that are restorative and promote taking accountability for such behavior. Interventions are essential when inappropriate behavior or infractions of the Code may be symptomatic of more serious problems that students are experiencing. Appropriate disciplinary responses should emphasize prevention and effective intervention, prevent disruption to students’ education, and promote the development of a positive School District culture.

The School District has a long-standing set of expectations for conduct on School Property and at School Functions. These expectations are based on the principles of dignity, empathy, mutual respect, character, honesty, and integrity.

The Board of Education deems it a priority to clearly define these expectations for acceptable conduct on School Property, identify the possible consequences of unacceptable conduct, and to ensure that discipline, when necessary, is administered promptly and fairly. To this end, the Board of Education adopts this Code of Character, Conduct and Support.

Unless otherwise indicated, this Code applies to all students, school personnel, parents/persons in parental relation and other visitors when on School Property or attending a School Function.

The Code of Character, Conduct and Support has incorporated the Dignity for All Students Act which was created to give students an educational environment free of Discrimination, Bullying and Harassment.

Student Rights and Responsibilities

A. Student Rights

The School District is committed to safeguarding the rights given to all students under state and federal law. In addition, to promote a safe, healthy, orderly, and supportive school environment, all School District students have the right to:

1. participate in all School District act