Students Rights and Responsibilities

The New Castle County Vocational Technical School District Board of Education guarantees students the freedoms allowed by law, provided the freedoms do not endanger the health, safety, and welfare of others. Nowhere is it stated or implied in this document that the school should give up its authority and responsibility.

Philosophical Basis:

One of the basic purposes of school is to prepare students for responsible self-expression in our society. Self-expression is permitted under the 1st and 14th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution. Students may inquire, question, and exchange ideas. Self-expression must not interrupt the orderly educational process of the school or be in violation of the code of conduct. Free expression must not be obscene, libelous, or disruptive. Profanity (cursing) is unacceptable language in the school setting and will not be tolerated. (See Discipline Policy, Section VI).

RIGHTS

Students have the right:

1. To participate in patriotic activities. Students also have the right to be excused from any patriotic act that is against their personal convictions. Students who do not wish to participate in patriotic activities shall not be forced to do so.

2. To be excused from any activity that is against their religious beliefs.

3. To petition and survey students’ opinions by following guidelines established by the Superintendent and the Board.

4. To express their own opinions on issues.

5. To assemble peaceably on school property at a time and place designated by the principal. This right will be denied if it endangers the health or safety of others, damages property, or disrupts the activities of others.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Students have the responsibility:

1. To use appropriate language in the school setting.

2. To act in a dignified manner during patriotic activities and respect the rights of others who wish to participate.

3. To inform the school of activities which are in conflict with their religious beliefs.

4. To make reasonable requests to conduct surveys and petitions. The results obtained must be reported accurately.

5. To be well-informed about issues and to express their opinions in a reasonable manner at a reasonable place and time.

6. To plan, get approval for, and hold activities which are based upon educational objectives.

Philosophical Basis:

The student government is a means for providing students with an opportunity to express themselves and to act on school matters through the democratic process. All members of the school community share the responsibility for helping the student government; students should be given the opportunity to participate in those decisions that affect the learning climate of the school. So that the student government can function as an informed organization, School Board policies and individual school policies should be made available.

RIGHTS - Students have the right:

1. To form and operate a student government within their particular school under the direction of a faculty advisor. This right shall be carried out within the guidelines and practices recommended by the National and State Student Council Associations and within the rules and regulations of the school district.

2. To recommend members of the faculty to serve as advisors for their school’s government organization.

3. To seek office in student government, regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, age, disability, or political beliefs.

4. To attend official government meetings as student government officers and representatives in accordance with school regulations.

RESPONSIBILITIES - Students have the responsibility:

1. To work as members of the student government on the needs and concerns expressed by the student body.

2. To get the prior consent of any faculty member recommended.

3. To conduct election campaigns in a positive, mature manner with all due respect provided.

4. To participate regularly and to conduct themselves in an appropriate manner, to demonstrate positive leadership in school government, and to operate within district and school regulations.

Philosophical Basis:

One of the important roles of the school is to provide effective ways in which students may express themselves on a wide range of subjects. Official school publications, such as school newspapers and websites, should reflect the policy and judgment of the student editors and should include viewpoints representative of the entire school community.

RIGHTS - Students have the right:

1. To possess, post, and distribute literature which will not disrupt the school program and which follows the normal rules for responsible journalism.

2. To be free from censorship of their publications within the guidelines previously agreed upon by students and administrators.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Students have the responsibility:

1. To use only those bulletin boards or wall areas assigned for use by students and student organizations. Students must also accept responsibility for the effect that the posting, publication, or distribution of this literature might have on the normal activities of the school.

2. To refrain from publishing libelous and obscene materials, to seek full information on topics about which they write, to observe acceptable standards of good taste, and to observe the normal rules for responsible journalism.

3. Principals will suppress or recall literature which they consider primarily commercial or religious in nature or material which could disrupt the orderly operation of the school.

Student dress may vary with instructional activity and the physical conditions in the school. Specific clothing, i.e., hard hats, lab aprons, gym attire, Skills USA/BPA jackets, uniforms, and safety attire for various vocational/technical programs for reasons relating to health or safety may be required at the instructor's discretion. It is the goal of the New Castle County Vocational Technical School District to ensure our students practice professional manner of dress; therefore, the following examples of inappropriate dress are based upon administrative judgment and apply to all students.

• Clothing must NOT have inappropriate slogans, words, pictures, alcohol advertisements or references to illegal substances.

• Shoes MUST be worn at all times.

• Tank tops are not allowed during the school year for any student. Sundresses which are fashioned using tank top concept (tube, halter tops, spaghetti straps, strapless or backless dresses) are not permitted. Necklines on shirts/blouses should not be lower than the top of the armpits.

• A student's mid-section may not be exposed at any time during school hours. This rule applies to all students.

• Pants that are constructed or worn in a manner that exposes skin and/or undergarments are not permitted.

• The length of shorts, skirts, and dresses worn by students must be equal to or longer than the wearer's fingertips when standing upright, with arms hanging at the sides. Garments worn over stretch pants or hose such as dresses, shirts, shorts, or tops must be a length reaching at least the wearer's fingertips when standing upright with arms hanging at the sides.

• Overly formfitting garments that are inappropriate and revealing are not permitted. Students are not permitted to wear sleepwear to school.

• Hats, headbands, bandanas, head coverings, and ear coverings are not to be worn by students in the buildings except for religious or health reasons.

• For special events like field trips, dances, commencement, etc., special dress may be prescribed.

• Chains or pointed objects are not to be worn or carried.

If inappropriate dress continues, students will be disciplined using the rules and regulations outlined by the Student Handbook. Students will be required to change clothing to meet appropriate status.

RIGHTS

Students have the right to dress and groom as they choose, provided they do not disrupt the educational environment, endanger the health and safety of themselves or others, or violate established guidelines.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Students have the responsibility to follow established guidelines by dressing and grooming in a manner that shows cleanliness, promotes safety, and respects the rights of others.

Philosophical Basis:

Students shall be free from unreasonable search and seizure of property as guaranteed by the 4th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. This individual right is balanced by the school’s responsibility to protect the health, safety, and welfare of others. Since student lockers are school property, school authorities reserve the right to maintain access to and to search school property at any time with or without suspicion.

RIGHTS - Students have the right:

To privacy in their personal possessions unless the principal or designee has reasonable cause to believe that illegal materials are being concealed by the student.

RESPONSIBILITIES - Students have the responsibility:

To refrain from carrying or concealing any materials which are illegal or may disrupt the educational process.

Philosophical Basis:

A grievance may be filed when a student feels that they have been unfairly treated or has not been afforded due process. Students have the responsibility to discuss and to try to resolve their complaints with the person(s) involved before using the grievance procedure. Schools are responsible for providing a means for students to express and resolve their grievances.

RIGHTS

Students have the right:

1. To a procedure for expressing and resolving their grievances. This procedure specifies lines of communication, timelines, and a method of appeal.

2. To participate in the evaluation and modification of the grievance procedures through their student government.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Students have the responsibility:

1. To discuss and to try to resolve their complaints with the person(s) involved before using the grievance procedure.

2. To state the grievance clearly, to follow the established procedures for resolving the grievance, and to abide by the decision that comes as a result of this process.

Philosophical Basis:

Student records are defined as any materials concerning individual students kept in any form by the School Board or its employees, except for personal notes of teachers and other school personnel intended for their use only. Student records are maintained to provide information contained therein as accurate and appropriate.

RIGHTS

Students have the right:

1. To release, inspect, review, and challenge the information contained in their school records within district guidelines if they are eighteen years of age or older. Parents of students who are under eighteen years of age also have this right. The school personnel shall provide assistance to students and parents to help them understand the material in the record. This access may not be denied because of failure to pay fines or fees.

2. To sign for a release of the information contained in their records to authorized agencies if they are fourteen years of age or older.

3. To be protected from the release of personally identifiable information to unauthorized persons.

RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Eligible students and parents have the responsibility to give school personnel notice that they want to inspect and review their records.

2. Students have the responsibility to sign, without delay, a release of information contained in their records to authorized agencies. Delaware Code: Title 14, Chapter 41, Section 4111

3. Eligible students and parents or guardians have the responsibility to release information to those individuals or agencies who are working in a positive manner for the benefit of the student. The permission to release information, where required, must be in writing.

Students and parents have the responsibility to meet their financial obligations as they relate to school fees or fines. Participation in school-related events and the release of records may be impacted when financial obligations are not met.