Session Eight Actvitiy Six-District Policies
TEXANS CAN!/FORT WORTH CAN!
Student Code of Conduct
Student Conduct:
Fort Worth Can! Academy is committed to providing each student with a quality
educational program. This requires that the school environment must
be free of disruption and distractions that interfere with teaching and learning
activities. The Academy is committed to all your rights recognized
and protected under state and federal laws. In addition, the Academy
sets expectations for appropriate behaviors that contributes in a positive
way to the school and community. A proper balance between rights and
responsibilities is essential if Fort Worth Can! Academy is to provide educational
experiences, which allow you to develop your fullest potential. Fort
Worth Can! Academy’s intent is to set forth-reasonable standards of conduct
that will enhance educational opportunities for you and promotes self-responsibility.
The following five standards are offered to guide the development of self-responsibility
system for our campus.
Maintain self-control:
Speak using appropriate tone of voice, volume, and language.
Resolve conflicts in a mature manner.
Follow the dress code.
Demonstrate a positive attitude:
Be a positive leader.
Be polite.
Be cooperative.
Respect the rights and feelings of others:
Treat others the way you want to be treated. Put yourself in the place
of the other person, whether it is a student, teacher, parent administrator
or any other person on campus.
Take care of your school:
Respect the building, the grounds, property and individuals.
Keep the campus free from trash and graffiti.
Support the learning process:
Be on time.
Work consistently on individual assignments.
Student Responsibilities
Student responsibilities for achieving a positive learning environment at
school or school-related activities include:
1. Attending all classes, regularly and on time.
2. Working consistently on individual assignments.
3. Following the dress code and being properly groomed.
4. Showing courtesy and respect toward others.
5. Behaving in a responsible manner and not disrupting
others.
6. Listening carefully to instructions.
7. Talking in a courteous manner.
8. Avoiding violations of the Student Code of Conduct.
9. Obeying all class and school rules, including eating
in class and wandering around.
10. Seeking change in school policies and regulations in
an orderly and responsible manner, through the appropriate channels.
11. Cooperating with Fort Worth Can! Staff in investigations
of disciplinary cases and volunteering known information relating to serious
offenses.
Fort Worth Can! Has authority over a student during the regular school day.
This jurisdiction includes any activity during the school day on school grounds,
and attendance at any school-related activity, regardless of time or location.
A violation of the law and the Student Code of Conduct involving retaliation
against and employee, even if it occurs off school grounds, and not at a
school-related activity, is also subject to Fort Worth Can! Jurisdiction.
Fort Worth Can! Academy’s Student Code of Conduct applies to all school-sponsored
and school-related activities, on or off campus, and at any time the school
is involved. This jurisdiction includes any activity during the school
day on school grounds, attendance at any school-related activity, regardless
of time or location. A violation of the law and the Student Code of
Conduct involving retaliation against and employee, event thought it occurs
off school grounds, and not at any school-related activity, is also subject
to Fort Worth Can! Academy jurisdiction. Students who violate these
rules will be subject to disciplinary action, and when appropriate, will
be referred to legal authorities for criminal prosecution for violations
of the law.
CODE OF CONDUCT
The Code of Conduct identifies a broad range of behaviors that disrupt learning
and are not acceptable in Fort Worth Can! Academy Charter School. The
behaviors listed are not all inclusive of all behaviors that are subject
to discipline at Fort Worth Can! Academy Charter School.
When and Where the rules apply:
The policies and administrative procedures concerning student conduct apply
to actions of students during school hours, before and after school while
on school property/school transportation, at all school-sponsored events/activities,
field trips, sporting events, stadium assemblies, evening school-related
activities, and when the actions affect the missions operations of FWCACS.
All students, parents and school personnel should understand that, in addition
to taking disciplinary actions at the school level, administrators will report
all illegal acts to the appropriate authorities.
Gang Activity on School Property
Fort Worth Can! Academy Charter School Board of Trustees is committed to
keeping the campus free from threats or harmful influences of groups or gangs
that advocate drug use, violence, or disruptive behaviors while under the
campus supervision. The Board prohibits the presence of apparel, jewelry,
accessory, notebook, or manner of grooming which, by virtue of its color,
arrangement, trademark, or any other attribute, denotes membership in gangs
which advocate drug use, violence, or disruptive behavior. The principal
and /or designee(s) shall maintain visible supervision of school premises
so as to deter gang intimidation of students and confrontations between members
of different gangs. Campus personnel will work closely with students
and local law enforcement agencies in order to remain current in regard to
constantly changing trends of gang activity.
Students are prohibited from gang involvement or gang activities while at
school, at any school facility, at any school-sponsored activity, or on any
school vehicle. Gang activities and gang involvement are described
as:
1. Wearing, possessing using, distributing, displaying,
or selling any clothing, jewelry, emblems, badges, symbols, signs, graffiti,
or other items that are evidence of membership or affiliation in a gang.
2. Committing any act or using any speech, either verbal
or nonverbal, such as gestures, handshakes and the like, that indicates membership
or affiliation in a gang.
3. Promoting interests in a gang or gang activity, including
but not limited to:
a. Soliciting others for membership
b. Requesting any person to pay for protection or otherwise
intimidating or threatening any person.
c. Committing any other illegal act or violation of campus
policies.
d. Inciting other students to act with physical violence
toward any other person.
e. Engaging in concert with others by intimidating, fighting,
assaulting or threatening to assault others.
Sexual Harassment
The philosophy of this district is that every student has the right to attend
the school and school related activities free from all forms of discrimination
on the basis of sex, including sexual harassment. The district considers
sexual harassment to be serious and will consider the full range of disciplinary
options, up to and including expulsion, according to the nature of the offense.
All students are expected to treat one another with courtesy and with respect.
All students are prohibited from engaging in offensive verbal or physical
conduct of a sexual nature directed toward another student or staff member.
This prohibition applies whether the conduct is by word, gesture or any other
intimidating sexual conduct, including requests for sexual favors that the
other student or staff member regards as offensive or provocative.
Students and/or parents are encouraged to discuss their questions or concerns
about the expectations in this area with the princip0al or the principal’s
designee.
A complaint alleging sexual harassment by another student or sexual harassment
or sexual abuse by a staff member may be represented by a student and/or
parent in a conference with the principal. A person who is the same
gender as the student ordinarily will hold the first conference with the
student. The conference will be scheduled and held as soon as possible
within five days of the request. The principal will coordinate an appropriate
investigation, which ordinarily will be completed within 10 days. The
student or parent will be informed if extenuating circumstances delay completion
of the investigation.
The student and/or parent will not be required to present a complaint to
a person who is the subject of the complaint.
If the resolution of the complaint is not satisfactory to the student or
parent, the student or parent, within 10 days, may request a conference with
the superintendent.
GENERAL DISICPLINE GUIDELINES FOR ASSESSING PENALTIES:
When imposing discipline, professional staff shall adhere to the following
guidelines:
1. All professional staff are expected to enforce discipline
and direct students so that they will demonstrate appropriate behavior.
2. Discipline shall be administered when necessary to protect
students, school employees, or property, and to maintain essential order
and discipline.
3. Students shall be treated fairly and equitably.
Discipline shall be based on a careful assessment of the circumstances of
each case:
· Seriousness of offense
· Student’s age
· Frequency of misconduct
· Student’s attitude
· Potential effect of the misconduct on the school
environment
4. Personnel will use their professional judgment in determining
which disciplinary action will be most effective in dealing with specific
acts of student misconduct. Disciplinary actions apply equally to all
students, except as provided under Board Policy and administrative procedures
related to disabled students.
Discipline System
Fort Worth Can! Academy students are serious about their
educational goals, and thus, have very few behavior problems. We are
proud of our students, and committed to showing them respect by: 1) making
our expectations clear and reasonable, 2) addressing all disciplinary concerns
in a private, respectful manner and 3) being consistent in following the
responses designated in our Four-Step Discipline System.
If a student participates in a prohibited activity or
displays a behavior that is not productive to the student or the school,
the Discipline System is a form of communication between parents, teachers,
counselors and students. This serves as a special opportunity for students
to express their personal needs and to enlist the help of their counselor
in solving problems that are preventing them from meeting their goals.
The Four-Step Discipline System works in the following
manner:
Step1: A staff person observes student misconduct and
verbally warns student to refrain from such behavior. At the discretion
of the staff member, the student may be written up in the “Warning Log.”
This signifies the first warning.
Step 2: A staff member observes student misconduct and
verbally warns student to refrain from such behavior. At the discretion
of the staff member, a second written notation of warning may be put in the
“Warning Log.”
Step 3: A staff member observes a student misconduct and
verbally warns the student to refrain from such behavior. A written
notation in made in the “Warning Log.”
Step 4: When a student receives a referral he or she will
be given a consequence by the teacher, counselor, or administrator witnessing
the behavior in addition to a parent or guardian being notified.
The discipline manager may refer students to their assigned counselor on
the first and second referrals. Some consequences for referrals are,
but not limited to the following: behavioral contracts, community service
hours, verbal and or written apologies, essays, sentences, etc.
A student who has received three referrals in a 30 day
period may be scheduled a suspension hearing. After meeting with the
student and or the parent, the Principal or his designee will decide if suspension
is deemed necessary. Fort Worth Can! Academy will honor due process
for all student s in all circumstances. A student’s first suspension
is generally three days, but may be longer depending on the seriousness of
the offense. The length of the second suspension can also vary depending
on the seriousness of the offense. However, a third time through the
discipline system may warrant on Expulsion hearing.
**A student’s expulsion hearing would normally take the form of either 1)
placement in an alternative educational program, 2) a home study arrangement
or 3) termination from the program.
This process is designed to allow the student time and opportunity to change
the behavior, which led to the warning/reminder. The student has the
choice to continue the undesirable behavior, which will result in termination
from the Academy, or the student may choose to change the behavior in order
to continue in the program. Each step of the above process will be conducted
in private. If a student believes that he/she has not been treated
properly, the student should present a complaint in writing to the principal
who will (a) conduct an inquiry on the students’ behalf and (b) schedule
a conference with the parties involved, in order to arrive at a mutually
agreeable resolution.
Listed below are prohibited activities, along with their possible consequences.
The consequence for the offense will be assessed depending on the seriousness
of the violation and frequency of misbehavior.
The listings below are not intended to be inclusive of all possible actions
of misbehavior.
Absenteeism/Tardiness
Bringing a pager/cellular to school
Cheating
Damaging or vandalizing property belonging
to others
Disobeying school rules
Dress code violations
Eating/drinking in non-breaking areas
Engaging in inappropriate physical
or sexual behavior
Excessive/loud talking
Exhibiting and/or soliciting gang membership
Failure to comply with staff directives
Failure to work during class
Gambling
Horse play or verbal fighting
Leaving school grounds without permission
Name calling or racial slurs or derogatory
statements
Possessing or using matches or a lighter
Profanity/offensive language
Refusing to follow instructions
Stealing from students, staff or the
school
Throwing objects that can cause bodily
harm
Wearing headphones/personal radio during
class
Other behaviors that disrupt the educational
efficiency of the school
Comments on the Discipline plan-Tara Hernandez
I was wondering what everyone thinks about a particular situation on our
campus and this code of conduct. There is a group of students who have
begun to call themselves the pink ladies. This group of students always
have something on them that is pink and sometimes they wear additional items
with their uniform that is pink (ex. Pink tie). Although this group
does not have an initiation system, they appear to be accepting only students
who will change their looks. The group of ladies help whoever wants
to join to change their appearance to be the ways they think looks best.
Several students have begun to feel inferior due to this group. Under the
code of conducts category of Gangs, can this group be considered a gang?
Overall, this system has worked. We have had a great success at our
campus with these procedures, but I do think that it may be necessary to
add more specific details in the Four-Step plan. What do you think?