Code of Conduct

  • The Middle Country Board of Education ("Board") is committed to providing a safe and orderly school environment where students may receive and District personnel may deliver quality educational services without disruption or interference. Responsible behavior by students, District personnel, parents and other visitors is essential to achieving this goal.

    The District has a long-standing set of expectations for conduct on school property and at school functions. These expectations are based on the principles of civility, mutual respect, personal responsibility, citizenship, character, tolerance, honesty, courtesy, integrity and observance of laws and rules. The Board recognizes the need to define clearly these expectations for observance of laws, and acceptable conduct on school property, to identify the consequences of unacceptable conduct, and to ensure that discipline when necessary is administered promptly and fairly. To this end, the Board adopts the Code of Conduct ("Code").

    Unless otherwise indicated, this Code applies to all students, school personnel, parents and other visitors when on school property or attending a school function. Further information can be obtained by contacting your child's school.  

    The Code includes:  

    • Provisions regarding conduct, dress and language deemed appropriate and acceptable on school property including school functions, and conduct, dress and language deemed unacceptable and inappropriate on school property, and the range of penalties associated with violating these provisions.
    • Standards regarding acceptable, civil, and respectful treatment of teachers, school administrators, other school personnel, students, and visitors on school property, and include the range of penalties associated with violating these provisions.
    • Provisions defining the roles of teachers, administrators, other school personnel, boards of education and parents.
    • Standards and procedures to assure security and safety of students and school personnel.
    • Provisions for removal from the classroom and from school property, including school functions, of students and other persons who violate provisions of the code.
    • Disciplinary measures to be taken in incidents involving the possession or use of illegal substances or weapons, physical force, vandalism, violation of the civil rights of others, and threats of violence.
    • Provisions for detention, suspension, and removal of students, which are consistent with federal, state, and local laws, including provisions for school authorities to establish policies and procedures to ensure the maintenance of educational programming and activities for students removed from the classroom or suspended from school.
    • Procedures by which violations are to be reported, determined, and by which disciplinary measures are imposed and carried out.
    • Provisions ensuring that the codes, and the enforcement thereof, are in compliance with state and federal laws relating to students with disabilities.
    • Provisions setting forth the procedures by which local law enforcement agencies will be notified of code violations that constitute a crime.
    • Provisions setting forth the circumstances under, and procedures by which, parents will be notified if their child violates the code.
    • Provisions setting forth the circumstances under, and procedures by which, criminal court complaints, juvenile delinquency petitions or person in need of supervision petitions will be filed.
    • Circumstances under and procedures by which referral to appropriate human service agencies shall be made.
    • Procedures by which minimum suspension periods will be set for students who are substantially disruptive of the educational process or substantially interfere with teacher’s authority over the classroom, provided that the suspending authority may reduce such period on a case by case basis to be consistent with any other state or federal law or regulation.
    • Provisions for minimum suspension periods for acts that would qualify the pupil to be defined as a violent pupil, provided that the suspending authority may reduce such period on a case by case basis to be consistent with any other state or federal law or regulation.

    NOTE:  The Code of Conduct, in its entirety, is available on our BoardDocs website under Policies> Policy Manual (Policy 5300) and at your child’s school. Any person wishing to examine the complete document may do so by contacting the school or District Office.