Student Discipline Policy

SUSPENSION AND EXPULSION / DUE PROCESS 5114(a)  

I. Definitions  

A. Emergency means a situation in which the continued presence of the student in school poses such a danger to persons or property or such a disruption of the educational process that a hearing may be delayed until a time as soon after the exclusion of such student as possible.  

B. Exclusion means any denial of public school privileges to a student for disciplinary purposes.  

C. Expulsion is defined as an exclusion from school privileges for any student in grades three through twelve, inclusive for more than ten (10) consecutive school days and shall be deemed to include, but not be limited to, exclusion from the school to which such student was assigned at the time such disciplinary action was taken, provided such exclusion shall not extend beyond a period of one (1) calendar year. Such a period of exclusion may extend to the school year following the school year in which such exclusion was imposed.  

D. Removal is the exclusion of a student for a class period of ninety (90) minutes or less.  

E. School Days shall mean days when school is in session for students.  

F. School-Sponsored Activity means any activity sponsored, recognized, or authorized  

G. Seriously Disruptive of the Educational Process means any conduct that markedly interrupts or severely impedes the day-to-day operation of a school.  

H. Suspension means the exclusion of a student from school arid/or transportation services for not more than ten (10) consecutive school days, provided such suspension shall not extend beyond the end of the school year in which such suspension is imposed;  and further provided no student shall be suspended more than ten (10) times or a total of fifty (50) days in one school year, whichever results in fewer days of exclusion, unless such student is granted a formal hearing as provided below. All suspensions pursuant to this Policy shall be in-school suspensions unless during the hearing held pursuant to Section V of this Policy, (1) the administration determines that the student in grades three through twelve, inclusive being suspended poses such a danger to persons or property or such a disruption of the educational process that the student shall be excluded from school during the period of suspension, or (2) the administration determines that an out-of-school suspension is appropriate for such student based on evidence of (A) previous disciplinary problems that have led to suspensions or expulsion of such student, and (B) efforts by the administration to address such disciplinary problems through means other than out-of-school suspension or expulsion, including positive behavioral support strategies. An in-school suspension may be served in the school that the student attends, or in any school building under the jurisdiction of the board of education.  

A student in grades preschool to two, inclusive, may be given an out-of-school suspension if it is determined by the administration that such suspension is appropriate based on evidence that the student’s conduct on school grounds is of a violent or sexual nature that endangers persons. In addition, a person’s duty as a mandated reporter to report suspected child abuse or neglect is not limited by this provision.

I. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the reassignment of a student from one regular education classroom program in the district to another regular education classroom program in the district shall not constitute a suspension or expulsion. 

J. In-School Suspension is defined as an exclusion from regular classroom activity for not more than ten consecutive school days,  but not an exclusion from school, provided such exclusion shall not extend beyond the end of the school year in which such in-school suspension was imposed. An in-school suspension may include reassignment to a regular classroom. Program in a different school in the school district; such reassignment shall not constitute a “suspension” or “expulsion” under this policy.  In-school suspensions shall be served in the school attended by the student.  

II. Scope of the Student Discipline Policy  

A. Conduct on School Grounds or at a School-Sponsored Activity:  

Students may be disciplined for conduct on school grounds or at any school-sponsored activity that endangers persons or property,  is seriously disruptive of the educational process, or violates a publicized policy of the Board.  

B. Conduct off School Grounds:  

1. Students may be disciplined for conduct off school grounds if such conduct is seriously disruptive of the educational process and violative of a publicized policy of the Board. In making a determination as to whether such conduct is seriously disruptive of the educational process, the Administration and the Board of Education may consider, but such consideration shall not be limited to, the following factors: (1) whether the incident occurred within close proximity of a school; (2) whether other students from the school were involved or whether there was any gang involvement; (3) whether the conduct involved violence, threats of violence, or the unlawful use of a weapon, as defined in section Conn. Gen. Stat. §29-38, and whether any injuries occurred; and (4) whether the conduct involved the use of alcohol.  

In making a determination as to whether such conduct is seriously disruptive of the educational process, the Administration and/or the Board of Education may also consider whether such off-campus conduct involved the use of drugs.  

2. When considering whether conduct off school grounds is seriously disruptive of the educational process, the term “weapon”  means any pistol or revolver, any dirk knife or switch knife, any knife having an automatic spring release devise by which a blade is released from the handle, having a blade of over one and one-half inches in length, and any other dangerous or deadly weapon or instrument, including any BB gun, sling shot, blackjack, sand bag, metal or brass knuckles, stiletto, knife, the edged portion of the blade of which is four inches and over in length, or any martial arts weapon as defined below at section VI.B.  

III. Actions Leading to Disciplinary Action, Including Removal from Class, Suspension, and/or Expulsion. 

Conduct which may lead to disciplinary action (including, but not limited to, suspension and/or expulsion) includes conduct on school grounds or at a school-sponsored activity, and conduct off school grounds, as set forth above. Such conduct includes, but is not  limited to, the following:  

1. Striking or assaulting a student, members of the school staff or other persons.  

2. Theft 

3. The use of obscene or profane language or gestures.  

4. Violation of smoking, dress, transportation regulations, or other regulations and/or policies governing student conduct.  5. Refusal to obey a member of the school staff, law enforcement authorities, or school volunteers, or disruptive classroom behavior.  6. Any act of harassment based on an individual’s sex, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, disability, national origin or ancestry.  7. Refusal by a student to identify himself/herself to a staff member when asked, or misidentification of oneself to such person(s).  8. A walk-out from or sit-in within a classroom or school building or school grounds.  

9. Blackmailing, threatening or intimidating school staff or students (or acting in a manner that could be construed to constitute blackmail, a threat, or intimidation, regardless of whether intended as a joke).  

10. Possession of any weapon, weapon facsimile, deadly weapon, pistol, knife, blackjack, bludgeon, box cutter, metal knuckles,  pellet gun, explosive device, firearm, whether loaded or ‘unloaded, whether functional or not, or any other dangerous object. 11. Unauthorized entrance into any school facility or portion of a school facility or aiding or abetting an unauthorized entrance.  12. Possession or ignition of any fireworks or other explosive materials, or ignition of any material causing a fire.  13. Unauthorized possession, sale, distribution, use or consumption of tobacco, drugs, narcotics, or alcoholic beverages (or any facsimile of tobacco, drugs, narcotics or alcoholic beverages, or any item represented to be tobacco, drugs, or alcoholic beverages).  For the purposes of this Paragraph 13, the term “drugs” shall include, but shall not be limited to, any medicinal preparation  (prescription and non-prescription) and any controlled substance whose possession, sale, distribution, use or consumption is illegal under state and/or federal law.  

14. Possession of paraphernalia used or designed to be used in the consumption, sale or distribution of drugs, alcohol or tobacco,  as described in subparagraph (13) above.  

15. The destruction of real, personal or school property, such as, cutting, defacing or otherwise damaging property in any way.  16. Accumulation of offenses such as school and class tardiness, class or study hall cutting, or failure to attend detention.  17. Trespassing on school grounds while on out-of-school suspension or expulsion.  

18. Making false bomb threats or other threats to the safety of students, staff members, and/or other persons.  

19. Defiance of school rules and the valid authority of teachers, supervisors, administrators, other staff members and/or law enforcement authorities.  

20. Throwing snowballs, rocks, sticks and/or similar objects, except as specifically authorized by school staff.  21. Unauthorized and/or reckless and/or improper operation of a motor vehicle on school grounds or at any school-sponsored  activity.  

22. Leaving school grounds, school transportation or a school-sponsored activity without authorization.  23. Use of or copying of the academic work of another individual and presenting it as the student’s own work, without proper attribution.  

24. Possession and/or use of a radio, walkman, beeper, paging device, cellular telephone, walkie-talkie, or similar electronic device on school grounds or at a school-sponsored activity without the written permission of the principal or his/her designee. 

25. Unauthorized use of any school computer, computer system, computer software, Internet connection, or similar school property or system, or the use of such property or system for unauthorized purposes.  

26. Possession and/or use of a laser pointer.  

27. Hazing.  

28. Bullying is defined under Sec. 10-222d. as amended by PA 08-160 as: any overt acts by a student or a group of students directed against another student with the intent to ridicule, humiliate, or intimidate the other student while on school grounds or at a school-sponsored activity, which acts are repeated against the same student over time.  

29. Any other violation of school rules or regulations or a series of violations that makes the presence of the student in school seriously disruptive of the educational process and/or a danger to persons or property.  

30. Any action prohibited by any Federal or State law that would indicate that the student presents a danger to any person in the school community or school property.