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Student Code of Conduct

2024 Season

Student Code of Conduct

(taken from the Grant High School Student Handbook)

The Code of Student Conduct sets forth student rights and responsibilities while at school and
school-related activities, and the consequences for violating school rules. It defines behaviors that
undermine the safety and learning opportunities for all members of the school community and
favors actions that encourage positive behavior and learning over actions designed to punish.
When determining the consequences of student misconduct, school officials may use intervention
strategies and/or disciplinary actions. Recognizing the importance of keeping students in school
learning as much as possible, educators will consider the severity or repetition of misconduct, age
and grade level of the student, circumstances surrounding the misconduct, impact of the student’s
misconduct on others in the school community, and any other relevant factors in determining how
they will address misconduct.
The Code of Student Conduct will be administered fairly, without partiality or discrimination.
The Code of Student Conduct does not diminish any rights under federal law (20 U.S.C. 1400 et
seq.) of a student determined to be eligible for special education programs and services.

Scope
The Code of Student Conduct applies before, during, and after school and whenever a student
is engaged in a school-related activity. Each student is expected to follow this code of conduct:

● “At school,” meaning in a classroom, elsewhere on school premises, on a school bus or other
school-related vehicle, or at a school-sponsored activity or event, whether or not it is held on
school premises.
● When a student’s conduct at any other time or place has a direct and immediate effect on
maintaining order and discipline, or on protecting the safety and welfare of students or school
district staff.
● When a student is using school telecommunications networks, accounts, or other district services.
Elastic Clause
The administration of Grant High School reserves the right to amend any provision in this
handbook which it deems to be in the best interest of the educational process. Furthermore, the
principal retains the right to issue penalties for acts of discipline not specifically stated herein and
to alter any penalties, as he considers necessary. You have rights as students. You have the right to
be treated as a responsible adult and with respect by your classmates and your instructors. The
examples of behaviors or possible consequences are for illustrative purposes only, and is not a
comprehensive list.

Serious, Egregious, or Repetitive Cases

Any action that is of a serious nature, egregious, or repetitive may result in a more severe
disciplinary action after considering the 7 Factors of the Restorative Justice protocols.
State law (Act 451, §380.1310(d) of the Revised School Code) mandates that districts consider
the 7 factors, including lesser interventions, for all suspensions and expulsions, except those
involving students knowingly in possession of a gun with an intent to use. In all other cases, it is
presumed that removals over 10 days are not justified unless districts can demonstrate that they
considered the 7 factors, including lesser interventions.
This law adds a section mandating additional factors that must be taken into account when
reviewing student discipline. Schools must consider the following 7 factors before suspending
and/or expelling a student:

1. The student’s age;

2. The student’s disciplinary history;
3. Whether the student has a disability;
4. The seriousness of the violation or behavior committed;
5. Whether the violation or behavior committed threatened the safety of any student or staff
member;
6. Whether restorative practices will be used to address the violation or behavior committed;
7. Whether a lesser intervention would properly address the violation or behavior committed.

Numerous studies have shown that exclusionary discipline often sets the stage for student
disenfranchisement, academic failure, dropout, and the potential for criminalization. Also,
exclusionary discipline is disproportionally applied to students of color, students with disabilities,
and low-income students. This results in staggering costs to students, school districts, and society.
For suspensions of eleven (11) or more days and expulsions, there is a rebuttable presumption
against the suspension or expulsion. For suspension of ten (10) days or less, there is no
presumption against the suspension, but these factors must still be considered.
Public Act 361 adds section 1310c and requires school officials to consider using restorative
practices as an alternative or in addition to suspending or expelling a student. Restorative
practices are defined as “practices that emphasize repairing the harm to the victim and the school
community caused by a pupil’s misconduct.”
School district staff may use intervention strategies including preventative measures such as
social-emotional learning, PBIS, restorative practices, intensive instruction, teacher/student
conferences, auxiliary staff/student intervention, and teacher/parent/guardian contacts for every
type of violation listed here. As required by law, the staff will refer the last group of violations
directly to school administrators due to the serious and/or unlawful nature of the misconduct. At
the option of school administrators, a student accused of any violation of The Code of Student
Conduct may be referred to a school social worker or counselor, in conjunction with or in lieu of
other disciplinary procedures. Where the misconduct is subject to mandatory discipline under
state law, however, the school board or designee will consider any mandatory sanctions as
required by law.

Due Process & Individual Rights

You have rights as students. You have the right to be treated as a responsible young adult and
with respect by your classmates and your instructors.

Due Process
The Board recognizes the importance of safeguarding a student’s constitutional rights,
particularly when subject to the District’s disciplinary procedures. To ensure appropriate due
process is provided a student, the board establishes the following guidelines:

● Students subject to short-term suspension (10 days or less): A student will be given both written
notice of his/her suspension and the reasons therefore, and the opportunity to respond to the
charges against him/her prior to the suspension.
 ● Students subject to long-term suspension and expulsion: A student and his/her parent or guardian
will be given written notice of the intention to suspend or expel and the reasons therefore, and an
opportunity to appear with a representative before the Board to answer the charges. The student
and/or his/her guardian must also be provided a brief description of the student’s rights and of the
hearing procedure, a list of the witnesses who will provide testimony to the Board, and a summary
of the facts to which the witnesses will testify. The hearing may be private, but the Board must act
publicly.

Search & Seizure

Students need to be aware that lockers, desks, backpacks, automobiles, etc. are subject to
searches if there is reason to believe that a school rule, policy or law has been broken. The District
reserves the right, at its discretion, to randomly conduct canine and other searches of automobiles
on District property or at school sponsored activities. The District also reserves the right to
randomly conduct canine sniff searches of student desks, lockers and other student personal
possessions such as backpacks or purses, with or without notice. Students need to be aware that
surveillance cameras are used on school property.
When conducting locker searches, the public school principal or his/her designee may seize
any illegal or unauthorized items, items in violation of board policy or rules, or any other items
reasonably determined by the public school principal or his/her designee to be a potential threat
to the safety or security of others. Such items include, but are not limited to, the following:
firearms, explosives, dangerous weapons, flammable material, illegal controlled substances or
controlled substance analogues or other intoxicants, contraband, poisons, and stolen property.
Law enforcement officials shall be notified immediately upon seizure of such dangerous items or
seizure of items that schools are required to report to law enforcement agencies under the
Statewide School Safety Information Policy. Any items seized by the public school principal or
his/her designee shall be removed from the locker and held by school officials for evidence in
disciplinary proceedings and/or turned over to law enforcement officials. The parent/guardian of a
minor pupil, or a pupil eighteen (18) years of age or older, shall be notified by the public school
principal or his/her designee of items removed from the locker.

Age of Majority
The administration of Grant is fully aware of the Age of Majority Law, which gives an eighteen
(18) year old greater freedoms and responsibilities. We must, however, still be committed to the
process of equal treatment and application of our rules and regulations to all students, regardless
of their age.
With the following exceptions, the students’ rules and regulations, as set forth in this
handbook, will continue to apply to all students. Students’ eighteen years old, living alone and
financially independent may:

● Have the same privileges as parents in relation to their own personal records.
● Represent themselves during disciplinary conferences.
● Be in receipt of their own report card.
● Excuse themselves for absence from school with permission from an Administrator.

However, eighteen-year-old students must sign the “Legal Age Record” form in the principal’s
office, prior to the granting of any of the aforementioned privileges.

Expectations for Suspended Students

A suspension from school is not a “free pass” for days off of school. These are days that
students have been removed from the school classrooms due to specific discipline issues, even
after considering the 7 Factors from the Restorative Justice program. The expectation is that
students who are suspended will communicate with their teachers to arrange for any materials
needed to continue their schooling while suspended. Most teachers have an online learning portal
(most commonly Google Classroom) where students may access this information readily on their
own.
It is expected that students will return to school with the coursework completed. Extra time
for work due to suspensions may be granted at the discretion of the individual teacher. Students
are expected to take any quizzes or tests upon their return.
Students who are suspended from school are not allowed to attend any school functions,
including sporting events, whether home or away. Students who have out-of-school suspension
should not be on school property while suspended. Violators will be assigned an appropriate
consequence based on the severity of the infraction.
A school district may provide alternative education for a student who has been suspended or
expelled. The Michigan Attorney General issued an opinion cited as 1985 OAG 6271 in which he
stated that the board of education of a school district which, in accordance with due process
requirements, suspends for a lengthy period of time or permanently expels a non-disabled student
who is subject to the compulsory education requirements is not required to provide an alternative
education program for a student. Ideally students would be placed in a comprehensive alternative
program that devotes resources to academics and social skills. Students may be enrolled in an
online program, with attention paid on providing proper instructional support.

Student Activities Code of Conduct

If a student violates the Student Code of Conduct while participating in any school activity,
they will be subject to a meeting between a school administrator, the activities supervisor(s), the
student and the student’s parent/guardian. After the meeting the activity supervisor and
administrator shall impose a discipline that may be up to removal from the activity.

● First Offense: After verification of the violation, the student shall lose the privilege of
participation for 25% of the activities scheduled dates in the current activity.
● Second Offense: After verification of the violation, the student shall lose the privilege of
participation for 50% of the activities scheduled dates in the current activity.
● Third Offense: After verification of the violation, the student shall lose the privilege of
participation for the remainder of his/her eligibility.

NOTE: If the student is not currently in an activity, the action will carry over to the next activity. If
the action cannot be completed during the season as a result of available scheduled events, the
suspension will be finished during the next activity.

Self-Reporting Clause (taken from the Grant Public Schools Athletic Handbook)
In an attempt to create a spirit of honesty, any student who self-reports a code of conduct
violation will have their first offense consequence reduced to 20%. This self-reporting must be
made prior to any investigation and may be made to any school administrator.