Student Guide

A Student’s Guide to

Rights &

Responsibilities

Working Together Can Make a Difference

People Working Together Can Make a Difference

All students in the Kellogg School District have rights and responsibilities. Most of these rights and responsibilities concern fairness, safety and respect. Before you start reading about your rights and responsibilities, make sure you understand the terms listed on this page.

School– The term “school” includes these places:

All the buildings and grounds that make up your school, including the playground, the playing fields and the parking lot;

The school bus and the bus stops;

Any location where a school-sponsored event is occurring, such as a field trip or a basketball game at another school.

Remember, your rights and responsibilities mentioned in this guide apply to all the places listed above.

School Official– The Term “school official” includes teachers, school counselors, the principal, and district administrators. The principal can also assign other adults to act as school officials such as secretaries, teaching assistants, and custodians.

Responsibilities– Responsibilities include things you should do (such as arriving at school on time) and things you should not do (such as bringing guns to school). Students who do not meet their responsibilities may be disciplined.

Discipline– Students are disciplined for conduct that (1) disrupts the educational process (2) infringes upon the rights, property and safety of others or (3) violates policy. Students are subject to school discipline for their actions that hurt or threaten people at school or at school-sponsored events– even if the offensive actions were initiated off school grounds. Discipline that includes being removed from school is called “suspension” or “expulsion” (see page 7). Also, keep in mind that students who break the law may be reported to the police.

Rights

Responsibilities

You have the right to attend school.

Your responsibility: You must arrive at school on time and attend school regularly—at least 85 percent of the time school is in session for grades 1 through 8 and 90 percent of the time school is in session for grades 9 through 12.

Otherwise: If you are late for school, you may be disciplined. If you don’t attend school regularly, you may be denied (1) promotion to the next grade; (2) class credit; (3) the issuance of a driver’s license or instruction permit from the Idaho Department of Transportation.

You should also know: Students absent without parent approval will be counted as truant.

You have the right to learn at school in an orderly environment.

Your responsibility: You must conduct yourself in such a manner as to not interfere with the orderly operation of the educational program and other students’ right to learn.

Otherwise: If you conduct yourself in a disruptive manner, you will be disciplined. Discipline for disruptive behavior may include suspension and/or expulsion depending on the severity of the infraction.

You should also know: Your building principal may establish any reasonable rules deemed necessary for the school’s student population

You have the right to choose what you wear to school, within limits.

Your responsibility: You must be clothed and groomed appropriately. Clothes, tattoos and accessories that are immodest, disruptive or gang-related are not appropriate. You may not wear a hat in school buildings during school hours, except as authorized by the principal. Shoes are required at all times unless a school official tells you otherwise.

Otherwise: If you are not clothed and groomed appropriately, you may be disciplined, including being suspended and/or expelled.

You have the right to be safe at school.

Your responsibility: You may not possess, use, or store guns, knives, explosives or any other weapons. You may not use or threaten to use anything as a weapon, including your hands, your feet or any other part of your body. You may not possess, use, or store look-alike weapons, such as toy guns or smoke bombs.

Otherwise: If you possess, carry, use or threaten to use anything as a weapon, you may be severely disciplined. Discipline may include suspension and/or expulsion.

You have the right to attend a drug-free, alcohol-free and tobacco-free school.

Your responsibility: You may not be under the influence of, possess, use, buy, sell or give away alcohol or unauthorized drugs, including non-prescription drugs¹, cigarettes or tobacco in any form.

Otherwise: If school officials reasonably suspect you are involved with drugs or alcohol, you will be identified and examined. Both you and your belongings may be searched. Your parents and the police will be notified. Discipline for involvement with drugs, alcohol or tobacco may include suspension and/or expulsion.

You have the right to be free from gang participation and gang harassment.

Your responsibility: You may not create or participate in a secret organization. You may not possess, use, distribute, display, sell or wear gang-related clothing, emblems or objects. You may not use symbols, signs, gestures, codes or anything that is gang related.

Otherwise: If you are involved in gang activity, you may be disciplined. Discipline may include suspension and/or expulsion.

You have the right to be free from unnecessary physical contact.

Your responsibility: You must avoid these kinds of physical contact: (1) excessive physical contact, such as fighting; (2) inappropriate displays of affection; (3) any type of physical contact that is against the law.

Otherwise: You may be disciplined according to your age and the circumstances. Discipline may include suspension and/or expulsion.

You should also know: School officials may not discipline you by spanking or hitting you. But, school officials may use reasonable force to preserve order or to stop you from damaging property or hurting people.

You have the right to be free from sexual harassment.

Your responsibility: If you or someone you know is being sexually harassed—either by another student or an adult—tell a school official immediately.

You should also know: School officials will take steps to stop the harassment and to protect your privacy. However, if you lie about being harassed or if you sexually harass someone, you will face immediate disciplinary action.

You have the right to be free from any type of harassment.

Your responsibility: You must not persistently tease or annoy another student at school, at school sponsored events, or on the school bus. If you or someone you know is being harassed or intimidated you should tell a school official.

You should also know: School officials will investigate and take the necessary steps to stop harassment. Disciplinary action up to and including expulsion may be taken.

You have the right to use school property

Your responsibility: You must use all school district property carefully and only as instructed by school officials. You must not take school district property home or elsewhere unless a school official gives you permission. It’s important to remember that school district property includes computer technology and networking capabilities. Use all computer technology and networking capabilities only as instructed by school officials.

Otherwise: If you destroy, steal, deface or misuse school property, you will be disciplined. Discipline for computer/Internet misuse may include loss of all computer privileges, termination of your Network account, removal from class, a failing grade, suspension and/or expulsion. Also, you may be billed for damages.

You have the right to take the bus if you live more than 1 1/2 miles from school. ²

Your responsibility: You must follow all the rules in this guide, including those listed below (A-L), while you are at the bus stop, loading, riding or unloading.

	Obey the bus driver.
	Board and leave the bus at your assigned bus stop each day.
	Use safe pedestrian practices while traveling to and from the bus stop. Be at the bus stop between 5 and 10 minutes before the bus is scheduled to arrive.
	Enter the bus in an orderly manner, go directly to an available or assigned seat, and remain seated until the bus stops to unload.
	If you must cross the road before boarding or after leaving the bus, wait at least 15 feet in front of the bus and cross after the driver has signaled that it is safe for you to do so.
	Talk quietly and don’t make loud or distracting noises on the bus. Avoid unnecessary conversations with the driver and be absolutely quiet when the bus stops at a railroad crossing.
	Don’t tamper with the emergency doors or equipment.
	Keep all parts of your body inside the bus.
	Don’t eat or drink anything inside the bus.
	Don’t throw anything inside, from or into the bus.
	Don’t bring or use drugs, alcohol, tobacco, controlled substances or weapons on the bus.
	Don’t bring breakable containers, skateboards, hazardous materials, cigarette lighters, matches, shop projects, items that are too large to fit on your lap or animals (other than assistive animals) on the bus.

Otherwise: If you do not obey the rules, you may not be allowed to ride the bus—either for a few days or permanently. If this happens, you must still attend school. If you steal or destroy bus property, you will have to pay for the damage, and you will not be allowed to ride the bus for one year.

You have the right to be free from unreasonable searches.

Your responsibility: You must not possess items that are illegal, dangerous or against school rules—such as guns or drugs.

Otherwise: If a school official reasonably suspects that you possess something illegal, dangerous or against school rules, a search may be conducted. The search may include you, your personal belongings, your desk, your locker and your car. The extent of the search depends on the situation, including your age, your conduct and the welfare of other students.

You have the right to know what could happen to you if you are accused of misbehavior.

You should know: The bottom of page 7 tells you about two kinds of school discipline: suspension and expulsion.

You should also know: The principal of any school in the Kellogg School District or the superintendent (or their designees) may temporarily suspend you for conduct that violates policy, infringes upon the rights, property and safety of others, or disrupts the educational process.

You have the right to additional disciplinary procedures if you have a disability

You should know: The disciplinary procedures below (A-F) apply to students with disabilities:

	The number of days you can be temporarily suspended may differ from that of a nondisabled student;
	All notice and due process rights for students on Individualized Education Programs and facing expulsion are listed in the Kellogg Joint School District Special Education Implementation Manual;
	If your behavior is the result of your disability or an inappropriate placement or educational program, you cannot be expelled;
	If you are expelled or suspended for more than 10 school days, you may be entitled to continue receiving educational services;
	If you are expelled, you may be entitled to continue in your current school placement while your parents request a due process hearing under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act;
	You may be placed in an interim alternative setting for up to 45 days if you (1) bring a weapon to school or (2) possess, use, sell, buy or attempt to buy illegal drugs or controlled substances at school.

You have the right to be free from unlawful discrimination.

Your responsibility: You must treat people with fairness and respect.

Otherwise: If you do not treat other people with fairness and respect, you may be disciplined.

YIf you believe you have been unlawfully discriminated against by the school district or by any of the school district’s staff, you may file a student grievance. Consult the Kellogg Joint School District Policy Manual for information on how to initiate a civil rights grievance and/or Section 504 hearing.

You have the right to be informed of school rules

Your responsibility: Make sure you and your parents read the handbook that your school provides you with each year. This handbook is your guide to your school’s rules, schedules, grading policies and other important information.

¹For all pre-kindergarten through 8th grade students, trained school employees will administer all medications, both prescription and nonprescription.

9th through 12th grade students may keep and administer their own nonprescription medication if they have their parents’ written permission. However, they may bring only one day’s supply of medication to school. 9th through 12th grade students may not keep their own prescription medication . It must be brought to school in its original container and secured in the school office with the directions clearly set forth on the container.

²Certain areas located more than 1 1/2 miles from school are designated as “non-transportation zones,” primarily because of bus safety issues and cost effectiveness. Students who live more than 1 1/2 miles from school and who also live in non-transportation zones are not entitled to take the bus, but they may be entitled to reimbursement for transportation in lieu of busing.

What is a Gang?

A “gang” is a group of people who willfully do some or all of these things: break the law, disobey school rules, hurt or threaten other people. Sometimes gangs operate in secret. Gang members may wear a particular color or use a particular symbol to show loyalty to their gang. If you are being bullied by a gang, or if you are asked to join a gang, tell your teacher or another school official.

What is Sexual Harassment?

Sexual harassment is defined as any unwelcome sexual conduct that limits a student’s ability to participate in or benefit from his or her education or a pattern of such conduct that creates a hostile environment. Sexual harassment may include (1) unnecessary touching, including patting, pinching and repeated brushing against another person’s body; (2) cornering or blocking of normal movements; (3) unwanted sexual comments, gestures and jokes; (4) displaying, wearing or distributing sexually suggestive pictures or written materials; (5) unwanted teasing about an individual’s ability to succeed in a certain class because of gender.

Basic Facts about Suspension and Expulsion

If you are suspended, these two things will happen first: (1) you will be told why you are being suspended; (2) you will be given a chance to tell your side of the story to a school official. If your conduct threatens other people, these actions will be delayed—but not denied. The different kinds of suspension and expulsion are:

In-School Suspension—You attend school, but you are removed from your regular class.

Temporary Suspension—You are removed from school for up to 10 school days.

Extended Suspension—You are removed from school for longer than a temporary

suspension during one semester for a particular infraction.

Expulsion—You are removed from school for longer than the school semester. Expulsion

may be permanent.

More facts about extended suspension and expulsion:

If you are facing extended suspension or expulsion, you will have the chance to tell your side of the story to the board of trustees—if you choose. If you are facing temporary suspension, you will have the chance to tell your side of the story to an in-building hearing panel.
The board of trustees will allow you these options: (1) to be represented by counsel; (2) to produce witnesses; (3) to submit evidence on your own behalf; (4) to cross-examine any adult witnesses who may appear against you. If you are facing temporary suspension, you will have the chance to tell your side of the story to the Superintendent.
It is up to the school to prove that you violated school rules and that extended suspension or expulsion is warranted.
The school will write to your parents and tell them necessary information about your due process rights, including the time and place they may go to contest your extended suspension or expulsion.

A Summary of

School District Rules

Be at school on time. Attend school regularly.
Conduct yourself in an orderly manner as to not disrupt other students’ right to learn..
Wear appropriate and modest clothes and shoes to school.
Don’t bring guns, knives or anything that could hurt someone to school.
Don’t bring drugs or alcohol to school. Don’t use, buy, sell or give away drugs or alcohol.
Don’t participate in "gangs” in any way.
Avoid fights and inappropriate displays of affection.
If you believe you have been sexually harassed, tell a school official immediately. Don’t sexually harass others.
Do not persistently tease or annoy anyone. If you are being harassed, report it to a school official.
Use all school property carefully. Do not take school property home.
When you are on the school bus, remain in your seat and avoid loud talking. Be absolutely quiet when the bus stops at a railroad crossing.
Don’t bring items to school that are illegal, dangerous or against school rules. Remember, you and your belongings may be searched in some cases.
If you misbehave, you may be removed from school, either for a few days or permanently. You will always be given a chance to tell your side of the story.
If you are a student with a disability, you are entitled to additional disciplinary procedures.
Treat other people with fairness and respect.
Make sure you read the student handbook your school provides you. Be familiar with all rules and your responsibilities.

These rules apply to:

	All the buildings and grounds at your school, including the playground, the playing fields and the parking lot.
	The school bus and bus stops.
	Anyplace a school-sponsored event is occurring, such as a field trip or basketball game at another school.
	You should also know that students are subject to school discipline for their actions that hurt or threaten people at school or at school-sponsored events—even if the offensive actions were initiated off school grounds