All members of the school community must assume a responsible role in promoting behavior that enhances academic and social success. Courteous respectful and responsible behavior fosters a positive climate and one that promotes learning.
STUDENTS
- Students learn best when adults serve as active positive role models.
- Students learn best when there is unconditional acceptance of differences.
- Students learn best when respect and civility are modeled by all.
- Students learn best when behavioral expectations are clearly defined and consistently enforced.
All students are guaranteed the right to express opinions, support causes, organize and assemble to discuss issues and demonstrate peacefully and responsibly in support of an in accordance with policies and procedures established by the Schenectady City School District Board of Education.
Students have the right to:
- Be afforded a sound, quality education in a school environment that is safe, orderly and promotes learning.
- Be respected as an individual, treated fairly and with dignity by other students and school staff.
- Organize, promote and participate in student activities and clubs as part of the formal education process or as authorized by the school principal.
- Dress in such a way to express one's personality as long as it does not distract or disrupt the learning environment.
- Provide representation of appropriate school-wide committees that influence the educational process designated by school personnel.
- Participate and express opinions through the publication of school newspapers and newsletters with oversight from faculty advisors.
- Exercise freedom of inquiry and expression, written and oral, within appropriate limits under the law and provided that the rights of others are not diminished.
- Be protected from intimidation, harassment or discrimination based on actual or perceived race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion or religious practice, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, or disability, by employees and students on school property or at any school-sponsored event, function or activity.
Students have the responsibility of:
- Owning and being active participants in their learning.
- Attending school daily, arriving on time and being prepared to learn.
- Being truthful about and accountable for words and actions.
- Respecting themselves and others in class, on school grounds, on buses and any school-related activity.
- Respecting the rights and feelings of fellow students, parents, school staff, visitors and guests.
- Knowing and complying with school district rules and policies.
- Making an effort to correct and improve behavior through restorative interventions.
- Expressing thoughts and opinions in ways that are polite, respectful and courteous.
- Respecting others' personal space.
- Participating in learning communities, including helping to formulate rules and procedures in the school, engaging in school-related activities and fostering a culture of respect for learning and for others.
- Seeking help and assistance when needed.
- Taking care of property that belongs to others of the school.
- Helping to make school a community that is free from violence, intimidation, bullying, harassment and discrimination.
PARENTS, GUARDIANS AND CAREGIVERS
Parents , guardians and caregivers have the right to be active participants in the learning process, to express views and to provide input into decisions that affect their children. they are vital to the success of students in school. Parents, guardians and caregivers should have high expectations for their children. they are always welcome into our schools.
Parents, guardians and caregivers have the right to:
- Be actively involved in their children's education.
- Be treated courteously, fairly and respectfully by all school staff.
- Receive timely information about policies and procedures that relates to their children.
- Receive regular reports from school staff regarding academic progress and behavior.
- Receive notification and information of inappropriate or disruptive behaviors by their children and any disciplinary actions taken.
- Receive information about due process procedures for disciplinary matters concerning their children.
- Receive information about ways to improve their children's progress including counseling, tutoring, after-school programs, academic programs and mental health services.
- Receive information about services for students with disabilities and English language learners.
- Be contacted when their child is believed to have committed a crime or when police are called.
- Receive communication through provided translators.
Parents, guardians and caregivers have the responsibility of:
- Providing updated contact information to the Schenectady City School District Student Registration Office and their child's school.
- Making sure that their children attend school regularly and on time.
- Letting school know when and why children are absent.
- Telling school officials about any concerns or complaints.
- Supporting their children by providing an environment suitable for learning and developing good habits.
- Working with school staff to address any academic or behavioral problems their children may be facing.
- Talking with their children about expectations and behavior.
- Teaching and modeling respect.
- Advocating for their children and taking an active role in the school community.
- Attending parent/teacher conference and monitoring their children's grades and progress.
- Being respectful and courteous to staff, other parents, guardians, caregivers and students while on school premises.
- Teaching children that all children have the right to attend school and be treated with respect and dignity regardless of race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, sexual orientation, gender/gender identity or sex.
Schools will ensure that parents, guardians and caregivers have a right to participate in decision-making that affects school policies and procedures including:
- Informing them in a timely and clear manner as to when and how they can participate and to ensure that all parents, guardians and caregivers have equal access to information and opportunities for participation.
- Ensuring they have opportunities to make recommendations to schools about effective methods for participation.
- Giving them opportunities to provide input, receive information and help guide decision-making
Schools will ensure that parents, guardians an caregivers have a right to participate in decisions that affect their child's education including:
- The identification of academic or behavioral challenges as soon as possible and working with parents, guardians and caregivers to identify solutions.
- Participation in restorative discipline solutions.
- Protection of due process rights as related to school discipline.
EDUCATORS
Principals, educators and all school staff have the right to:
- Work in a safe and orderly environment.
- Be treated courteously, fairly and respectfully by students, parents or guardians and other school staff.
- Communicate concerns, suggestions and complaints.
- Receive supportive professional development and training.
- Receive necessary resources.
Educators have the responsibility of:
- Fostering and nurturing so that students develop as learners both academically and socially.
- Recognizing that children should be subject to behavior management, support and discipline policies appropriate with their ages and levels of understanding.
- Being respectful and courteous to students, parents, guardians and caregivers.
- Serving as role models for students.
- Cooperating and scheduling conferences with students, parents and others in an effort to understand and resolve academic and behavioral concerns.
- Making every effort accommodate families whose work schedules, access to transportation or distance from school, limits their ability to meet or participate.
- Keeping parents informed of their student's progress, challenges, effort and achievements.
- Encouraging students to participate in classroom, extracurricular and other school-related activities.
- Knowing and enforcing rules, policies and procedures consistently, fairly and equitably.
- Confronting issues of discrimination and harassment in any situation that threatens the emotional, physical health or safety or any student, employee or person who is on school property or at a school function and reporting incidents of discrimination and harassment that are witnessed or otherwise brought to the attention of the teacher, counselor, administrator, staff members or to the dignity act coordinator.
- Striving to ensure that race, economics and disability are never predictors of student achievement.
PRINCIPALS
Principals have the responsibility of:
- Promoting a safe, supportive and orderly school environment for all school community members, regardless of actual or perceived race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, sexual orientation, gender or sex.
- Reviewing the code of conduct and procedures for reporting incidents with all staff at the beginning of the school year.
- Ensuring all staff participate in mandated yearly training such as The Dignity for All Students Act (DASA), school violence prevention and mental health first aid.
- Maintaining confidentiality and respecting student and parent rights to privacy.
- Developing the capacity of staff, students and families to intervene regarding behavioral concerns.
- Ensuring equity and that all students are treated fairly.
- Partnering with parents and caregivers through the facilitation of the SBST process.
SUPERINTENDENT
The superintendent has the responsibility of:
- Promoting a safe, supportive and orderly school environment for all school community members, regardless of actual or perceived race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, sexual orientation, gender or sex.
- Reviewing the policies of the board of education and state and federal laws, relating to school operations and management, with all district administrators.
- Working with district administrators to enforce the code of conduct and ensuring that all incidents are resolved promptly and that students are treated fairly and equitably.
- Addressing issues of discrimination, harassment or any situation that threatens the emotional or physical health or safety of any students, employee or person on school property or at a school function.
- Ensuring that race, economics and disability do not predict student achievement.
BOARD OF EDUCATION
Members of the Board of Education have the responsibility of:
- Promoting a safe, supportive and orderly school environment for all school community members regardless of actual or perceived race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, sexual orientation, gender or sex.
- Approving the Schenectady City School District Code of Conduct annually.
- Addressing issues of discrimination, harassment or any situation that threatens the emotional or physical health or safety of any student, school employee or person who is lawfully on school property.
- Ensuring that policies promote and ensure equity.