06: Student Conduct, Responsibility, and Discipline
Students are expected to help maintain a safe, respectful, and productive learning environment. This includes treating others with dignity, following staff directions, using appropriate language, respecting school property, and avoiding conduct that interferes with learning or safety.
Our schools aim to help students learn from mistakes, repair harm when appropriate, and remain connected to the school community while maintaining safe and orderly learning environments.
Responses to student conduct may include redirection, reteaching, parent/guardian contact, restorative or corrective interventions, loss of privileges, detention, suspension, expulsion, or other responses authorized by Board policy and law.
Discipline is generally progressive, but principals and school staff may respond more seriously when conduct threatens safety, substantially disrupts school, violates the rights of others, involves repeated misconduct, or violates law or Board policy.
Students are expected to:
- Follow reasonable directions from staff.
- Treat classmates, staff, visitors, and school property with respect.
- Use language and behavior appropriate for school.
- Participate in learning without disrupting others.
- Resolve conflict without threats, intimidation, harassment, or violence.
- Use school technology, personal devices, and online spaces responsibly.
- Comply with school expectations during the school day, on school transportation, at school-sponsored events, and when conduct has a school connection.
Restorative and Corrective Practices
When appropriate, schools may use restorative, instructional, or corrective practices to help students understand the impact of their conduct, repair harm, restore relationships, and re-engage in the school community.
Restorative or corrective practices do not prevent school officials from using discipline or safety-related responses when required by Board policy, law, or the circumstances.
Substantial Disruption and School-Sponsored Activities
Student expression, advocacy, and civic engagement are subject to the same standards that apply to other student conduct. Schools may respond when conduct substantially disrupts the educational environment, interferes with the rights of others, creates safety concerns, involves unauthorized absence from class or school, or violates Board policy.
Students who leave class, leave school grounds, block access to school operations, interfere with instruction, or disregard staff directions may be subject to attendance consequences, disciplinary consequences, or safety interventions, depending on the circumstances.
Discipline and Due Process
Schools may respond to student misconduct through non-exclusionary interventions, disciplinary consequences, or safety-related responses, depending on the conduct and circumstances.
Responses may include:
- redirection or reteaching;
- parent/guardian contact;
- restorative or corrective interventions;
- loss of privileges;
- detention;
- removal from an activity, setting, or privilege;
- suspension;
- recommendation for expulsion;
- other responses authorized by Board policy and law.
When suspension or expulsion is considered, students will receive the due process required by law and Board policy. Before a suspension, the student will be informed of the alleged misconduct and given an opportunity to respond. Parents/guardians will be notified as required by law and Board policy. Expulsion requires Board action.
Students returning from suspension may receive support to re-engage in school, address missed work, and reduce the likelihood of repeated misconduct.
Students with disabilities are subject to the same general behavioral expectations as other students. Discipline involving students with IEPs or Section 504 Plans will be administered consistent with IDEA, Section 504, Board policy, and applicable procedural protections.
References
- Board Policy 7:190 – Student Behavior
- Board Policy 7:200 – Suspension Procedures
- Board Policy 7:210 – Expulsion Procedures
- Board Policy 7:230 – Misconduct by Students with Disabilities
- Illinois School Code, 105 ILCS 5/10-22.6