Students may be assigned detention by individual teachers for certain classroom infractions as outlined in the classroom management plan. Teacher detention is used at the discretion of the individual teachers and students are expected to serve the "X" period either that afternoon or the following afternoon. Transportation, work, and extra-curricular events are not an acceptable excuse for missing an assigned teacher detention. Students who skip teacher detentions are automatically referred to the Dean. 

Students may be assigned a lunch detention for displaying inappropriate behaviors in the cafeteria. These inappropriate behaviors may include, but are not limited to, throwing food, refusal to clean up after oneself, cutting the lunch line, leaving the lunch room prior to dismissal, arriving at lunch more than five minutes past the start of lunch without a valid pass.  This consequence would require the student to eat lunch in a quiet location, away from their peers for a prescribed amount of time.

Students are assigned detention through the Dean's office.  Transportation, work, and extra-curricular events are not acceptable excuses for missing an assigned detention. Detention begins at 1:45pm and ends at 2:30pm. Detention is scheduled in Room 212 on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, but may be assigned on additional days depending on the Dean's availability and demonstrated need. Students are expected to serve the detention on the next available detention day. Students will be prohibited from participating in ANY extra-curricular activities or school sponsored events until the consequence has been served. 

Students may be assigned to ISS for certain infractions at the discretion of the Dean or MHS administration. The ISS program will operate during the regular school day in a location separate from the student's regular classroom setting. Students who refuse to report to ISS will be suspended out of school for the same amount of time. The student's accountability will end at the close of the school day.

For attendance-related infractions and/or infractions involving the improper use of motor vehicles on campus, students who have applied for the opportunity to park on campus may have their parking privilege suspended. Parking suspension revokes the student's right to drive/park in any of the Middletown High School campus lots. Parking suspensions can be assigned by the Dean and MHS Administration for a variable amount of time with the most common time frames include one week, multiple weeks, one semester, or, in extreme/repeat circumstances, the entire school year.  

Students may lose the privilege of participation in and attendance at any after school extra-curricular activity scheduled outside the regular school day, except after school detention or extra academic help. Social suspension is assigned at the discretion of the Dean in tandem with MHS Administration. 

Suspension is the temporary exclusion of a student from regular school programs and activities; not to exceed ten days for a single suspension. All suspension decisions will provide for procedural due process. Students who are suspended from school will not be allowed to participate in extra-curricular activities during the duration of the suspension and the social probation period that applies. Parents/guardians will be notified of a suspension, the reason, and the duration. A written notice will also be sent home. Parents may need to accompany their student to school upon the end of a period of suspension to discuss the conditions of return.  

Suspensions for 10 Days or Less: 

The student will be given oral or written notice of the charge(s) against them and an explanation of the evidence the school possesses. The student will be given the opportunity to present their version, along with presenting evidence or witnesses that mitigate the charges. In most cases, these steps will occur prior to the student’s removal from school since the process will usually occur immediately after the incident. However, if prior notice and hearing are not feasible, as in instances where the student’s presence endangers persons or property or threatens disruption of the academic process, thus justifying immediate removal from school, the necessary notice or hearing shall follow as soon as possible. Parents/guardians will be notified of a suspension, the reason, and the duration. A written notice will also be sent home. Parents may need to accompany their student to school upon the end of a period of suspension to discuss the conditions of return. 

A limited number of offenses may constitute the basis for a recommendation to exclude a student from the school for a period that exceeds 10 days. The school administrator, finding the student has committed, attempted to commit, aided or abetted in the commission of, conspired to commit, or participated in any manner, even though unaccomplished, in the commission of any of the following offenses, may submit a recommendation for long term suspension/exclusion. The administration will notify the police when an offense in this category is committed and will make all reasonable efforts to contact a parent/guardian of the student. 

In instances of Long Term Suspension/Exclusion:

• All the requirements for suspensions of less than ten days will apply. (Refer to MPS policy #7114) 

• Requests for expulsion and long-term suspensions are directed to the School Committee through the Superintendent of Schools.  

• The Superintendent will conduct an inquiry and if sustained, shall so notify the School Committee Except in an emergency requiring the student's immediate removal, the School Committee shall, prior to expelling the student, conduct a hearing.  

• When the School Committee excludes or expels a student, it shall offer an alternative educational program.  

• Modifications to this document may be necessary to promote a healthy learning environment, and thus the school administration reserves the right to make such changes when warranted. 

Academic consequences may take a variety of formats including, but not limited to, receiving a "0" on an associated assignment/assessment, receiving partial credit on an assignment/assessment, and receiving additional work to complete on top of pre-assigned coursework. Academic consequences are most often assigned by the classroom teacher but may be assigned by the Dean or MHS Administration based on the circumstance. Academic consequences may be assigned in addition to other disciplinary consequences based on the specific situation.

Any and all incidents of expected or verified criminal misbehavior either on or off campus are brought to the attention of the Middletown High School Administration, the Middletown Police Department are contacted and provided with all available and appropriate details. The Middletown High School Administration commits itself to full and thorough cooperation within the scope of its position to assist in police investigations aimed at keeping our school, students, and community safe. 

In incidents where Middletown Public Schools' property is damaged, destroyed, misplaced, or stolen students will be required to provide restitution to the school based on the cost of the associated damage/item that has been lost. These circumstances will be addressed on a case by case basis by the Dean and MHS Administration. Restitution may be assigned in addition to other disciplinary consequences based on the specific situation.

Students may be assigned restorative community service by the Dean for a wide variety of infractions. Community service may be assigned in two manners: (a) Hours to be completed by a specified deadline or (b) Hours to be completed by the close of one's Senior graduation. Accepted hours for community service will coincide with Middletown High School's current Community Service Graduation Requirement. Additionally, the Dean of Students, in partnership with the Community Service coordinator, will be responsible for recording these hours and monitoring progress towards completion.

In certain instances, students may be asked to complete a "Stay-Away" Agreement in order to minimize the risk of future issues with one or more peers. This agreement is designed to clearly outline the expectations that neither student involved in the situation is to attempt to contact, approach, intimidate, or address the other student(s) at the risk of in so doing, receiving immediate, escalated consequences. A copy of a sample MHS "Stay-Away" agreement can be found by visiting this link.