ANTP: Student Behavior and Safety - English - Page 9

Student Behavior and Safety

All pupils have the right to participate fully in the educational process, free from discrimination, harassment, violence, intimidation, and bullying. Schools have an obligation to combat racism, sexism, and other forms of bias, and a responsibility to provide equal educational opportunity and ensure safe school sites.

• School Rules

You have a right to review school rules regarding student discipline. A chart of discipline consequences can be found online HERE   If you wish to do so, please contact the school office. [EC 35291, 48980, 51101]

• Search of School Lockers

School lockers remain the property of the Arcadia Unified School District even when assigned to students. The lockers are subject to search whenever the District finds a need to do so. The use of the school locker for other than school-related purposes is prohibited. Improper use of school lockers may result in suspension, school discipline, and or loss of locker privileges. [EC 49050] 

• Dress Standard for Students

A student’s appearance may not detract from nor interfere with the learning environment or process, examples include but are not limited to clothing that is overly revealing and pajamas. Any clothing which has a disruptive influence is inappropriate. Head/hair accessories such as wave caps, hair rags, dorags, hairnets, hair curlers and bandanas are not to be worn at any time on campus. In addition, any item of clothing, jewelry, etc. which is considered a danger to the student themselves or others will not be allowed whether on school grounds or at school activities both on and off the campus. The discretion of the school authority will prevail.

1. Clothing, jewelry, and personal items shall be free of writing, pictures, or any other insignia which is vulgar, lewd, obscene, profane, or sexually suggestive or which promotes the use of alcohol, drugs, tobacco, or other illegal activity.
2. Appropriate shoes must be worn at all times. Flip flop style footwear is prohibited unless approved by administration for special events.
3. Hats may be worn for sun protection or warmth. Beanie or knit caps are also permissible. Bandanas, doo rags and some colors and logos on headwear may be prohibited for safety reasons if they are determined by school administration to be gang related apparel. Hats may be requested to be removed in classrooms based on classroom rules or staff request.
4. All clothing should offer free range of motion while not exposing undergarments at all times. All tops must have straps. See-through tops are prohibited.
   

Some of our schools require a dress code uniform. Uniforms will be provided to families at no cost, if requested due to inability to purchase. Parents must sign an agreement if they choose to not have their child participate in the dress code as proposed by the school. For questions regarding dress codes and uniforms, please contact your child’s school. [EC 35183]

• School Bus Safety

Parents or guardians of all students transported from home to school shall receive written information on school bus safety. A copy of the school bus safety plan is available at the Maintenance, Operations and Transportation Department or your child’s school of attendance. Each year, all students pre-kindergarten through grade 8 shall receive instructions in school bus emergency procedures and safe riding practices. [EC 39831.5]

• Cell Phones, Pagers, Electronic Signaling/Recording Devices

Districts may regulate the possession or use of any cellphone, pager or electronic signaling device while pupils are on campus, while attending school-sponsored activities, or while under the supervision and control of school district employees. Use is allowed if essential to student’s health as determined by a licensed physician or surgeon. [EC 48901.5]

The use by any person, including a pupil, of any electronic signaling, listening or recording device in any classroom without the prior consent of the teacher and the principal is prohibited as it disrupts and impairs the teaching process and discipline in the schools. The only allowable use would be acceptable if it is determined by a licensed physician that the pupil must use for the health and safety of a pupil. Any pupil in violation shall be subject to appropriate disciplinary action.

Smartphone use may be prohibited by districts, charter schools, and county schools while a student is at a schoolsite and under the supervision and control of staff. There are health and special education limits or usage that may differ from the general student population, but must be in writing and kept on file in student records for confidential record keeping and reasons.

Any person, other than the pupil, willfully in violation shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.  Any pupil in violation shall be subject to appropriate disciplinary action.[EC 51512]

• Safe Place to Learn Act

AUSD is committed to maintaining a learning environment that is free from discrimination, harassment, violence, intimidation, and bullying based on actual or perceived characteristics set forth in Section 422.55 of the Penal Code and EC 220, and disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics. All school personnel who witness an act of discrimination, harassment, intimidation, or bullying must take immediate steps to intervene when safe to do so.  Any student who engages in acts of discrimination, harassment, violence, intimidation, or bullying related to school activity or school attendance occurring within a school of the school district may be subject to disciplinary action up to and including expulsion.  To report an incidence and/or to receive a copy of the district’s antidiscrimination, antiharassment, anti-intimidation, and antibullying policies, please contact the Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services at (626) 821-6634. [EC 200, 220, 234, 234.1, 234.5, 51101; PC 422, 422.55; 5 CCR 4900]

• Walking or Riding a Bicycle to School

No person under 18 years of age may operate a bicycle, non-motorized scooter, skateboard or wear in-line or roller skates, nor ride as a passenger upon a bicycle, non-motorized scooter, or skateboard upon a street, bikeway, or any other public bicycle path or trail unless that person is wearing a properly fitted and fastened bicycle helmet that meets specified standards. [VC 21212]

 

• Pupil Swimming Safety

 

• School Safety: Bullying

AUSD is committed to the prohibition of discrimination, harassment, intimidation, bullying, and cyberbullying on social media. Annual training will be provided to all staff who work with students, to prevent bullying and cyberbullying. You may find a list of education web pages describing the staff training at:https://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/ss/se/bullyfaq.asp  If you or your child should experience any bullying on campus, at school events, or on the way to or from school, please contact the school principal or our district counseling director available to assist you in identifying and stopping this behavior at: (626) 821-6608.

 

• School Safety: Gun-Free School Zone Act

California prohibits any person from possessing a firearm on, or within 1,000 feet from, the grounds of a public or private school, unless it is with the written permission of the school principal.  This does not apply to law enforcement officers, any active or honorably retired peace officers, members of the military forces of California or the United States, or armored vehicle guards engaged in the performance of, or acting in the scope of, their duties.  A person may also be in possession of a firearm on school grounds if the firearm is unloaded and in a locked container or within the locked trunk of a motor vehicle. A violation of this law is punishable by imprisonment in a county jail for up to six months, a fine of up to $1,000, or both imprisonment and fine. [PC 626.9, 30310]

 

• Gun Safety

This is a reminder that firearms are to be safely stored away from children and teens.  The accidental shooting of children and youth is the third leading cause of death following accidents and suicide.  California public schools are mandated to remind families to keep their home safe from such potential dangers.  If there is a threat or perceived threat, then the public schools will cooperate with local law enforcement to conduct an immediate threat assessment. [EC 32221.5 (9-12) and EC 49390, 48391, and 49392]

• Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting

AUSD is committed to protecting all students in its care. All employees of the District are considered mandated reporters, required by law to report cases of child abuse and neglect whenever there is reasonable suspicion abuse or neglect has occurred. District employees may not investigate to confirm a suspicion. 

All complaints must be filed through a formal report, over the telephone, in person, or in writing, with an appropriate local law enforcement agency (i.e., Police or Sheriff’s Department, County Probation Department, or County Welfare Department/County Child Protective Services).  Both the name of the person filing the complaint and the report itself are confidential and cannot be disclosed except to authorized agencies.

Parents and guardians of students also have a right to file a complaint against a school employee or other person that they suspect has engaged in abuse of a child at a school site.  Complaints may be filed with the local law enforcement agency. [PC 11164]

 

• Marijuana (Cannabis)

A student who unlawfully possessed, used, sold, otherwise furnished, or was under the influence of cannabis is subject to expulsion. Any person 18 or older who possesses, sells, dispenses, distributes, furnishes, administers, gives; or offers to sell, dispense, distribute, furnish, administer, or give; or possesses for sale any, concentrated cannabis, synthetic cannabinoid compound, or any synthetic cannabinoid derivative, to any person, can be imprisoned in a county jail not exceeding six (6) months, or by a fine not exceeding $1,000, or by both. Any person 18 or older possessing marijuana on district property during the school day, depending on the amount and number of offenses, can face consequences including $250 to $500 fine and imprisonment for ten (10) days. Any person younger than 18 possessing marijuana, depending on amount and number of offensives, faces up to forty (40) hours of community service, ten (10) hours of drug education, sixty (60) hours of counseling. [EC 48900; HSC 11357, 11357.5]