Modesto City Schools Student Code of Conduct - Pages 27-34
Excerpts Pertaining to Sports Participation
CLASSROOM CITIZENSHIP EXPECTATIONS AND CONSEQUENCES
OVERVIEW
It is one of the school’s duties to assist parents in helping students develop responsible attitudes and behavior. This means preparing students for adult citizenship as well as preparing them for jobs and higher education.
For this reason it is as important for the school to teach and evaluate citizenship as it is to teach and evaluate academic work.
THE CITIZENSHIP MARK
Students will receive a quarterly citizenship mark from each of their classroom teachers.
The mark will be based solely on the citizenship displayed in each teacher’s classroom.
Students will receive a mark of “outstanding”, “satisfactory”, or “unsatisfactory” based on the “Citizenship Guidelines”.
The citizenship mark for each class will be shown on the student’s report card. Citizenship marks will not be shown on the student’s transcript or other permanent records.
CITIZENSHIP GUIDELINES FOR STUDENTS AND PARENTS
The following criteria shall be used in determining a students citizenship mark in his/her class.
1. Attends class daily. Three or more unexcused absences will result in an unsatisfactory citizenship mark.
2. Comes to class on time. Five or more unexcused tardies in a quarter will result in an unsatisfactory citizenship mark.
3. Comes to class with necessary materials.
4. Turns in assignments/homework/projects on time.
5. Does his/her own work when independent work is required; does not cheat.
6. Exercises reasonable care of school property.
7. Shows respect for others.
8. Does not disrupt class; exercises good conduct.
Teachers are required, based on the above “Citizenship Guidelines”, to establish written classroom rules regarding students’ expected classroom behavior. These written expectations, “Citizenship Mark Guidelines,” will be provided to students at the beginning of the year or when new students transfer into the class.
Teachers are also required to discuss these standards with their students and explain their expectations at the beginning of each semester.
If a student’s citizenship mark is unsatisfactory at the time progress reports are issued, the fact WILL be noted on the progress report. However, if a student’s citizenship becomes unsatisfactory after that point, teachers may issue such a mark without a progress report.
APPEAL OF CITIZENSHIP MARK
Students and parents have the right to appeal citizenship marks which they feel are in error or unjustified.
1. The parent/guardian and/or student should first contact the teacher to gain clarification as to the reason the unsatisfactory citizenship mark was given.
2. The parent/guardian may appeal the citizenship mark to a site committee made up of one administrator and at least two teachers. A meeting with the committee must be requested within two weeks after the citizenship marks are released to students. (The committee will meet and make a decision within one week of the parent appeal request.)
3. The parent/guardian may appeal the decision of the committee to the school principal.
4. The parent/guardian may appeal the decision of the principal to the Superintendent’s designee, the Director of Secondary Education.
5. The parent/guardian may request in writing that the Board of Education hear the appeal of the decision of the Director of Secondary Education.
6. A student who has lost privileges remains in the status pending resolution of the appeal.
Note: Because students who receive two or more unsatisfactory citizenship marks are ineligible to participate in extracurricular activities, it is extremely important that any appeal to the next level be made IMMEDIATELY (within two days following a decision at a lower level.
LOSS OF PRIVILEGES/EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
It is the goal of the District to work with parents to assist students in becoming self-directed and responsible for their own behavior.
When students do not meet the clearly defined and communicated expectations outlined in this Student Conduct Code, the student will not be allowed to participate in extra-curricular activities which are limited to:
1. After school recreation (7-8), athletics (9-12)
2. Student clubs (9-12)
3. Student government (7-12)
4. Spirit leaders/Cheerleaders (7-12)
EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVTY ELIGIBLITY
1. ACADEMIC
In order for a pupil to participate in extra-curricular activities as listed on Page 29, the pupil shall achieve a grade point average of 2.0 with no more than one “F” and show maintenance of minimal progress towards meeting the high school graduation requirements prescribed by the governing board in each grading period preceding the quarter of participation in the extra-curricular activities.
Grades 9-12
Initial high school eligibility will be based upon the 8th grade, second semester grades.
Note: Attendance, substance abuse, behavior, and classroom citizenship eligibility consequences shall not carry over from junior high to high school.
The eligibility grading periods shall be the first quarter, first semester, third quarter and second semester.
The grading periods shall be considered consecutive and uninterrupted. Therefore, the second semester grade of the previous year shall be the basis for determining the first quarter eligibility for the following year.
7-12 Summer School Grades--Effect on Eligibility
Summer school grades shall be included to determine eligibility.
In calculating eligibility, a summer school grade will replace the grade of a “like” course taken previously.
Grades/units earned in summer school classes which do replace grades earned previously in “like” courses will be averaged with grades from the previous grading period (quarter in grades 7-8; semester in grades 9-12).
Summer school grades shall impair a student’s academic eligibility achieved in the previous grading period (quarter in grades 7-8; semester in grades 9-12).
NOTE: THIS ACADEMIC REQUIREMENT APPLIES TO EIGHTH GRADE STUDENTS ENTERING THE NINTH GRADE.
2. ATTENDANCE
Truancy
A student may not participate in extra-curricular activities as listed on Page 29 for
nine (9) weeks if the student reaches step 4 of the truancy policy (described on page
21).
If the student reaches step 5, the student is ineligible to participate for nine (9) additional weeks from the date the student reached step 5 of the truancy policy (described on page 22).
If a student reaches step 6 of the truancy policy (described on page 22), the student is ineligible to participate in extra-curricular activities as listed on Page 29 for the remainder of the school year at the regular campus unless the student returns to the regular campus after successfully completing an alternative education program.
A student reaching Step 6 of the truancy policy is also ineligible for 8th grade/ senior trips; 8th grade graduation dance/high school prom; 8th grade/senior graduation ceremonies.
Excessive Absenteeism
Students who are absent fifteen (15) days in one school year may be placed on Attendance Supervision which imposes the requirement that future absences be verified by a licensed medical practitioner.
If a student on Attendance Supervision accumulates five (5) unexcused absences (absences without medical verification), the student will be ineligible to participate in extra-curricular activities as listed on Page 29 the remainder of the school year at the regular campus unless the student returns to the regular campus after successfully completing an alternative education program.
3. SUBSTANCE ABUSE
A. A student who is suspended for:
1. Possession of not more than one ounce of marijuana, or possession, use, or being under the influence of an alcoholic beverage, or intoxicant; or
2. For possession of drug paraphernalia is ineligible to participate in extra curricular activities according to the following guidelines:
1st Offense: Student is ineligible to participate in all extracurricular activities listed on Page 29 as well as 8th grade/senior trips; 8th grade gr dance/high school prom; 8th grade/senior graduation ceremonies for 18 school weeks from the time of the suspension. (Unless the student completes a district-approved intervention program. Completion of the program will reduce the period of ineligibility to nine school weeks.)
2nd Offense: Student is ineligible for the length of the expulsion. If the student receives a suspended expulsion, the student is ineligible to participate in all extracurricular activities listed on Page 29 as well as 8th grade/senior trips; 8th grade graduation dance/high school prom; 8th grade/senior graduation ceremonies for 18 school weeks from the time of the first day of suspension unless the student completes a District approved intervention program. Completion of the program will reduce the period of ineligibility to nine school weeks.
B. A student who possesses a controlled substance (except for the first offense of possession of not more than one ounce of marijuana other than concentrated cannabis) or who sells, furnishes, or unlawfully offers, arranges, or negotiates to sell an alcoholic beverage, controlled substance, drug-paraphernalia, or an in-lieu substance (look-a-like purported to be a controlled substance) is ineligible to participate in extra-curricular activities according to the following guidelines:
1st Offense: Student is ineligible for the length of the expulsion. If the student receives a suspended expulsion, the student is ineligible to participate in all extracurricular activities listed on Page 29 as well as 8th grade/senior trips; 8th grade graduation dance/high school prom; 8th grade/senior graduation ceremonies for 18 school weeks from the date of suspension unless the student completes a District approved intervention program. Completion of the program will reduce the period of the ineligibility to nine school weeks.
4. BEHAVIOR
Students who are suspended (home or in-school) for five days and/or suspended twice within a quarter are to be declared “unsatisfactory” and may not participate in extra-curricular activities as listed on Page 29 as well as 8th grade/senior trips; 8th grade graduation dance/high school prom; 8th grade/senior graduation ceremonies for nine school weeks commencing from the time of the expulsion.
If an additional suspension occurs during the nine school week period, the period of ineligibility is to be extended for nine school weeks effective the date of the subsequent suspension, but will not extend beyond the current school year.
5. CLASSROOM CITIZENSHIP (Consequences for citizenship marks do not carry from junior high to high school.)
Students who receive two or more 8 citizenship marks from teachers may not participate in extra-curricular activities as listed on Page 29 until the next regular reporting period (the following quarter).
Students who receive two or more unsatisfactory marks in the third quarter shall also be ineligible for 8th grade/senior trips; 8th grade graduation dance/high school prom; and 8th grade/senior graduation ceremonies.
For grades (7-8), if a student received two or more “unsatisfactory” citizenship marks, the student may petition the principal to be placed on behavioral probation three weeks after grades are released to students if the student has improved citizenship marks. Once the student is placed on behavioral probation, the student will be eligible to take part in extra-curricular activities if the student maintains a “C” grade and satisfactory citizenship in each of the student’s classes. The reporting periods shall be considered consecutive and uninterrupted. Therefore, the fourth quarter citizenship marks of the previous year shall be the basis for determining first quarter eligibility for the following year. The effective date to determine eligibility shall be the day report cards are released to students.
6. DEBTS OWED FOR LOSS OR DAMAGE TO SCHOOL DISTRICT PROPERTY
Students with outstanding Modesto City School debts (K-12) will not be allowed to participate in extra-curricular activities as listed on Page 29 as well as 8th grade/senior trips; 8th grade graduation dance/high school prom; 8th grade/senior graduation ceremonies until the debt is paid or until the student completes a program of voluntary work as by the Education Code 48904 in lieu of payment.
Notification to the parent/guardian regarding the debt will be made in writing.
The effective date to determine eligibility shall be 3 days after the issuance of the notification letter.