Student Code of Conduct

This document supports the enforcement of Board of Education J Students Policies. The application of the policies and practices are intended to maintain a safe and healthy school climate and to support the academic and social‐emotional growth of students.

Building administrators have the authority to use discretion and common sense in enforcing the Blue Valley Code of Student Conduct. In addition to referencing the practices, administrators should consult with other building and/or district office administrators as they determine appropriate consequences in order to promote respect for others, student responsibility, and assist in providing for the safe and orderly operation of district schools. No Code of Conduct can list each and every offense which may result in review and potential disciplinary action; however, it is the purpose of this policy to list certain offenses, if committed by a student, will result in disciplinary action. Building-level administrators are authorized to more narrowly tailor potential consequences as appropriate for the age level of students in the building along with consideration of the context and details associated with the specific student discipline incident. While discipline is typically progressive in nature, administrators are able to use significantly higher levels of consequence for serious violations.

Non-Discrimination Policy

Board Policy JCE -Complaints of Discrimination states “The district is committed to maintaining a working and learning environment free from discrimination, insult, intimidation, and harassment due to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, or disability. Discrimination against any student on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or religion in the admission or access to, or treatment in the district’s programs and activities is prohibited. Melissa Hillman, Chief Legal Officer, 15020 Metcalf Ave., Overland Park, KS 66623, 913-239-4000, mhillman@bluevalleyk12.org has been designated to coordinate compliance with nondiscrimination requirements contained in Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Any incident of discrimination, including acts of harassment, shall promptly be reported for investigation and corrective action by the building principal or district compliance coordinator. Any student or employee who engages in discriminatory conduct shall be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination from employment or expulsion from school.

The District’s complete JCE -Complaints of Discrimination can be found on the Board of Education web page.

Notification

The Student Code of Conduct may be revised annually and shall be applicable through the current regular and summer school term(s). The notification will be available on the district website under Board of Education policies the Student Code of Conduct. A print copy may be made available to families via request of the district’s main office.

The Blue Valley School District seeks to foster a strong home-school partnership as this is a critical variable to a quality educational experience. Students benefit when families and teachers are engaged in communication and shared expectations for academic success, student behavior, and emotional wellness. Individual students and the school ecosystem benefit from adherence to the Blue Valley Student Code of Conduct. Administrative actions taken as a result of a violation of the code of conduct are determined following proper investigation, review, and/or consideration of the age/grade of the student, context, and situation in which the behavior in question occurred.

The scope of authority of the Blue Valley Student Code of Conduct applies at all times when students are on school buses or other vehicles used by the district to transport students, school district property, or engaged in official school activities. Additionally, this code of conduct applies to any student whose conduct at any time or place has a direct and immediate effect causing substantial disruption impacting the order of school operations and/or the sense of student and staff safety that exists in the school or school- related environment.

Attendance

The building principal or designee, school counselor, or school nurse shall report students who are inexcusably absent from school to the appropriate authority unless reporting would violate the terms of any memorandum of understanding between the district and the authority to which reports would be made. Truancy is defined as any three consecutive unexcused absences, any five unexcused absences in a semester, or seven unexcused absences in a school year, whichever comes first. School year means the period from July 1 to June 30. Students who are absent without a valid excuse for a significant part of any school day shall be given an unexcused absence for truancy accounting purposes considered truant.

Prior to reporting to either the Department for Children and Families (if the student is under 13) or the county or district attorney (if the student is 13 or more years of age but less than 18 years of age), a letter shall be sent to the student’s parent(s) or guardian notifying them that the student’s failure to attend school without a valid excuse shall result in the student being reported truant.

Excused Absences

When a student is absent from school, an attempt shall be made to contact the parent or guardian to determine the reason for the absence. The principal has been designated to determine the acceptability and validity of excuses presented by the parent(s) or the student.

Procedures for notifying parents on the day of a student’s absence shall be communicated annually to families.

Excused/Unexcused Absences

The definition of “excused absence” includes the following:

Personal illness;
Health-related treatment, examination, or recuperation;
Serious illness or death of a member of the family;
Obligatory religious observances;
Participation in a district-approved or school sponsored activity or course;
Absences prearranged by parents and approved by the principal; or designee and
Students of active-duty military personnel may have additional excused absences at the discretion of the principal for visitations relative to leave or deployment.

All absences which do not fit into one of the above categories would be considered an unexcused absence. A student serving a period of suspension or expulsion from the district shall not be considered inexcusably absent. A parent or legal guardian must excuse all student absences, even if a student is 18 years old.

Make-Up Work

It is the student’s responsibility to obtain make-up assignments from teachers following an excused or unexcused absence.

Disciplinary Action

No disciplinary action required.

Unexcused Absences

A student who is absent from class or school without an excusable reason can be considered unexcused. A student with an unexcused absence for one or more classes will receive disciplinary consequences. Some examples of unexcused reasons may include:

● Oversleeping

● Missing ride to school/car not starting

● Shopping/errands

● Paying fines

● Studying

● Skip Days

Disciplinary Action

Parent notification and student conference
Progressive detention
In school suspension (ISS)

More than 3 unexcused absences are to be referred to administration. In cases of excessive absenteeism, administration, parents and student may agree upon an individualized attendance contract.

Tardies

Students are to be in the appropriate learning areas at assigned times. When this does not occur a student is considered tardy.

Disciplinary Action

Sample Discipline Sequence

1st offense ‐ warning and discussion with student
2nd and 3rd offense ‐ parent contact and school tracking system warning
4th offense ‐ detention

Excessive tardiness may be treated in the same manner as unexcused absences.

Academic Integrity

Academic Integrity violations include obtaining, attempting to obtain, or aiding another to obtain, credit for work, or any improvement of evaluation of performance by any dishonest or deceptive means including misuse of artificial intelligence, cheating or plagiarism. Violations of building honor codes or academic integrity policies are included in this code of conduct.

Note: Academic Probation is the time in which students may be restricted from membership in honor societies and must not commit any further infractions of the honor code. After a one‐year probation, a Faculty Honor Committee may consider the student for reinstatement or admittance into honor societies.

Artificial Intelligence

The District recognizes that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is an emerging technology that may support learning when used appropriately. Students are expected to use AI responsibly, ethically, and in accordance with teacher directions, district policies, academic integrity standards, and privacy requirements. Misuse of AI may result in academic and/or disciplinary consequences.

Disciplinary Action

Consequences may include but are not limited to:

Warning and/or review of AI expectations
Reduced or lost credit
Student conference
Parent contact
Loss of access to district technology resources and/or approved AI tools
Restorative actions
Referral to administrator
Referral to Faculty Honor Committee
Detention
In-School Suspension
Out of School Suspension
Academic consequences consistent with the district's academic integrity policy (e.g., assignment redo, reduced grade, or loss of credit).
Referral to law enforcement when misuse violates local, state, or federal laws.

Cheating

Cheating includes, but is not limited to:

Lying
Copying another’s work
Allowing another person to copy work
Using unauthorized technological devices
Using unauthorized notes, aids, or written material
Giving or receiving unauthorized information by signs or gestures
Having anyone, including parents or tutors, complete work and submitting it as one’s own work

Disciplinary Action

Consequences may include but are not limited to:

Reduced or lost credit
Student conference
Parent contact
Restorative actions
Referral to administrator
Referral to Faculty Honor Committee
Detention
In-School Suspension
Academic Probation*

Plagiarism

Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to:

Presenting someone else’s work as your own, in whole or in part, whether intentional or not
Using another’s ideas and/or written work without proper citations
Using another’s graphics, charts, diagrams, illustrations, etc. without proper citations
Resubmitting substantially the same work that was produced for another assignment or course without authorization

Disciplinary Action

Consequences may include but are not limited to:

Reduced or lost credit
Student Conference
Parent contact
Restorative Actions
Referral to administrator
Detention
In‐school suspension (ISS)
Academic Probation*

Behavior

The standard and expectation of student behavior expectation for all school levels translates to those age appropriate actions or choices which maintain a safe and healthy school climate. Such choices or actions ensure the best possible academic success and social‐emotional growth for the individual child and others around them.

These behavioral expectations foster positive school citizenship. Students will interact with other students and adults in a civil, fair, and respectful manner. Students will have the opportunity to attend school and receive an education without fear of harm or injury to a person or property. No person will be allowed to endanger the safety of students or district staff, damage property, interfere with the educational process, or attempt to close the schools.

Disciplinary Action

Discipline according to the seriousness of the act

Student Conference
Parent contact
Restorative Actions
Detention
In‐school suspension (ISS)
Out‐of‐school suspension (OSS)
Report to School Resource Officer (SRO)
Referral to the school district’s Long‐term Suspension and Expulsion Committee

Arson

Intentional lighting of fire or use of explosives.

Disciplinary Action

Discipline will be according to seriousness of the act

Student Conference
Loss of privilege
Parent contact
Restorative Actions
Detention
In-school suspension (ISS)
Out-of-school suspension (OSS)
Referral to the school district’s Long‐term Suspension and Expulsion Committee
Referral to School Resource Officer (SRO) or Law Enforcement

Bullying & Cyberbullying

Bullying is aggressive behavior that is intentional and involves an imbalance of power or strength. Typically, the behavior is repeated over time. A child who is being bullied has a hard time defending himself or herself. Bullying can take many forms, such as:

Physical (Ex: Hitting or punching)
Cyber (Ex: Sending or posting insulting messages)
Verbal (Ex: Teasing or name-calling)
Nonverbal or Emotional (Ex: Intimidation using gestures or social exclusion)

Disciplinary Action

Discipline will be according to the seriousness of the act

Student Conference
Loss of privilege
Parent contact
Restorative Actions
Detention
In-school suspension (ISS)
Out-of- school suspension (OSS)
Referral to School Resource Officer (SRO) or Law Enforcement

Controlled Substances

Students shall not manufacture, sell, distribute, dispense, possess, use, and/or be under the influence of illicit drugs, controlled substances, or alcoholic beverages at school, on or in school district property, or at any school activity, program, or event. Any student violating the terms of this policy will be reported to the appropriate law enforcement officials, and will be subject to suspension or expulsion per the school code of conduct.

Controlled substances include, but are not limited to:

Alcohol/Cereal Malt Beverages: The use, possession, or transfer of any alcoholic or cereal malt beverage, including being under the influence of such a beverage, on school property or at school‐sponsored activities, either within or outside the school district, is expressly prohibited.
Drug Paraphernalia: The use, possession, or transfer of drug paraphernalia on school property or at school‐sponsored events, either within or outside the school district, is expressly prohibited.
Inhalants: The inhaling of products such as solvents, aerosols, nitrates, or anesthetics, which are not manufactured for the purpose of inhalation, are expressly prohibited.
Illicit drugs: The use, possession, or transfer of a substance that is highly illegal to produce, possess, or sell, or a legally manufactured prescription medication that is obtained or used unlawfully.
Non-prescription Medications: The use of non‐prescription (over-the-counter) medication in a manner or for a purpose other than described on the product label is expressly prohibited. The transfer of a prescription medication to any person other than the person for whom the prescription is written is expressly prohibited.
Tobacco and Tobacco Products: The use, possession, or transfer of any tobacco or tobacco product on school property or at school‐sponsored activities, either within or outside the school district, is expressly prohibited. This includes lighters, e‐cigarettes, vapes, vape juice, and other paraphernalia.

Disciplinary Action

Consequences for possession and use of the substances included in this policy may include, but are not limited to:

Parent contact
Restorative Actions
Referral to School Resource Officer (SRO)
In‐school suspension (ISS)
Out‐of‐school suspension (OSS)

Transfers or intent to transfer controlled substances shall result in a suspension of no more than ten (10) school days by the school principal and in addition, may result in referral to the school district’s Long‐term Suspension and Expulsion Committee.

During out‐of‐school suspensions, the student is prohibited from participating in school activities or being on district property. It is the student’s responsibility to obtain make-up assignments from teachers following an out-of-school suspension.

The length of suspension may be reduced if the student seeks professional substance assessment and provides evidence of having done so.

Additional consequences apply for students who are participants in high school activities and athletic programs.

Disruptive Conduct or Speech

Disruptive conduct or speech occurs when someone directs verbal, written, pictorial or symbolic language or gesture(s) at a person(s) that is otherwise rude, vulgar, defiant, considered inappropriate in the educational setting or that substantially disrupts learning, school operations or activities. Disruptive conduct or speech can occur when someone intentionally offends, attacks, violates, or assaults someone regarding their race, religion, ethnic group, disability, gender or sexual orientation.

Disciplinary Action

Students will not be disciplined where it is protected by law.

Discipline will be according to the seriousness of the act

Student Conference
Loss of privilege
Parent contact
Restorative Actions
Detention
In-school suspension (ISS)
Out-of- school suspension (OSS)
Referral to School Resource Officer (SRO) or Law Enforcement

False Alarm

Reporting of false fire, bomb threat, or other actions endangering the safety of students, staff, and the public.

Disciplinary Action

Discipline according to the seriousness of the act

Student Conference
Parent contact
Restorative Actions
Detention
In‐school suspension (ISS)
Out‐of‐school suspension (OSS)
Report to School Resource Officer (SRO)
Referral to the school district’s Long‐term Suspension and Expulsion Committee

Insubordination

Disrespect, failure to comply with reasonable requests, defiance, use of profanity, obscenity, indecency, threats, and other violations of school or district property.

Disciplinary Action

Discipline will be according to seriousness of the act

Student Conference
Loss of privilege
Parent contact
Restorative Actions
Detention
In-school suspension (ISS)
Out-of-school suspension (OSS)
Referral to the school district’s Long‐term Suspension and Expulsion Committee
Referral to School Resource Officer (SRO) or Law Enforcement

(Personal) Electronic Devices

Personal electronic communication devices include cell phones, smart watches, smart glasses, ear buds, headphones and laptops. Students are prohibited from using or accessing personal electronic communication devices during the school day while on district-owned or operated property, except as expressly permitted by this policy or by law. Failure to comply with classroom/school expectations will result in disciplinary actions.

Disciplinary Action

Discipline will be according to seriousness of the act

Student Conference
Parent contact
Device confiscation with parent/guardian pick up
Restorative Actions
Detention
In-school suspension (ISS)
Out-of-school suspension (OSS)
Referral to the school district’s Long‐term Suspension and Expulsion Committee
Referral to School Resource Officer (SRO) or Law Enforcement

Physical Altercations, Fighting, Hitting

Physical altercation includes hitting, assaulting, striking, or pushing in an attempt to cause physical injury to another person who knowingly will regard as offensive, harmful, or provocative.

Disciplinary Action

Discipline will be according to seriousness of the act

Student Conference
Loss of privilege
Parent contact
Restorative Actions
Detention
In-school suspension (ISS)
Out-of-school suspension (OSS)
Referral to the school district’s Long‐term Suspension and Expulsion Committee
Referral to School Resource Officer (SRO) or Law Enforcement

Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment shall include conduct on the basis of sex involving one or more of the following: (1) A district employee conditioning the provision of an aid, benefit, or service of the district on an individual’s participation in unwelcomed sexual conduct; (2) unwelcomed conduct determined by a reasonable person to be so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive that it effectively denies a person equal access to the district’s educational program or activity; or (3) sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, or stalking.

Sexual harassment may result from verbal or physical conduct or written or graphic material. Sexual harassment may include, but not limited to:

verbal, written or graphic harassment or abuse of a sexual nature
pressure for sexual activity
repeated remarks to a person with sexual or demeaning implication
unwelcome touching

Disciplinary Action

If a school employee receives a complaint from a student or parent, he/she will notify a building administrator as soon as possible.

Discipline according to the seriousness of the act

Student Conference
Parent contact
Detention
In‐school suspension (ISS)
Out‐of‐school suspension (OSS)
Report to School Resource Officer (SRO)
Referral to the school district’s Long‐term Suspension and Expulsion Committee

Threats

Threat is someone communicating a statement or indication of an intention to inflict pain, injury, or other hostile action. Threats can occur via social media or other written or verbal means.

Disciplinary Action

Based on a Threat Assessment discipline will be issued according to the seriousness of the act

Student Conference
Parent contact
Detention
In‐school suspension (ISS)
Out‐of‐school suspension (OSS)
Report to School Resource Officer (SRO)
Referral to the school district’s Long‐term Suspension and Expulsion Committee

Immediate Removal: Building or district administration may require immediate removal of a student upon a report or a finding that that student poses a threat of harm to self or others. Any such removal and return to the school environment is subject to appropriate due process procedures and will occur in accordance with the law.

Possible referral to the district’s Long‐term Suspension and Expulsion Committee

Vandalism

Purposeful destruction of school property or of staff or student property including epithets, obscene language, drawings, gang related graffiti, offensive language, writings, hateful representations, etc.

Disciplinary Action

Discipline will be according to seriousness of the act

Student Conference
Loss of privilege
Parent contact
Restorative Actions
Detention
In-school suspension (ISS)
Out-of-school suspension (OSS)
Referral to the school district’s Long‐term Suspension and Expulsion Committee
Referral to School Resource Officer (SRO) or Law Enforcement

Weapons & Destructive Devices

The term weapon and destructive device is defined by Blue Valley Board of Education Policy JCBDD Weapons. The possession of a weapon, weapon-like devices, items resembling a firearm, or explosive devices on school premises or at a school‐sponsored activity is prohibited. Intentional lighting of fire or the use of explosives is also prohibited.

Disciplinary Action

Out‐of‐school suspension (OSS) for no more than ten (10) school days by the school administrator; and
Referral to the district safety and security officer; and
Report made to the School Resource Officer (SRO); and
Referral to the school district’s Long‐term Suspension and Expulsion Committee

Any student found to be in possession of a weapon on district property or at a district‐supervised activity shall be expelled from school for one calendar year and may be subject to other appropriate disciplinary action.

Other Acts

Discipline according to the seriousness of the act

Student Conference
Parent contact
Restorative Actions