Code of Conduct
WSWHE BOCES - Code of Conduct Summary - 2024
The WSWHE BOCES Code of Conduct was developed in an effort to:
- Clearly define the expectations for acceptable conduct on school property;
- Identify the possible consequences of unacceptable conduct;
- Ensure that discipline and support practices is administered promptly and fairly;
- Support the Dignity For All Students Act.
The complete Code of Conduct has been provided to each student and can be found below.
Student Rights and Responsibilities
Students are guaranteed the right to:
- Be respected as an individual and treated fairly and with dignity by other students and BOCES staff.
- Take part in all BOCES activities on an equal basis regardless of actual or perceived race, weight, color, creed, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, gender (including gender identity and expression), sexual orientation or disability.
- Express one’s opinions in a respectful manner, either verbally or in writing.
- Present their version of relevant events to BOCES personnel authorized to impose consequences.
- Access BOCES policies, regulations and rules and receive an explanation of those rules from BOCES personnel.
- Be provided with clear expectations regarding course objectives, requirements and state standards, grading, assignment requirements and deadlines and of BOCES and classroom rules and expectations on behavior.
Dignity for All Students Act
A state law known as the Dignity for All Students Act focuses on making sure that your school is a safe place and that all students know they are protected from certain types of behavior. Each school has a Dignity for All Students Act Coordinator, who is trained in addressing the issues covered by the law, this includes your building Principal. If anyone is making you or anyone else feel unsafe, threatened or harassed, please talk to your principal or another adult at school. Also if someone has done something outside of school, which makes you feel unsafe in school, report the matter to the Dignity Act Coordinator. You can also use the StopIt app to report instances when you feel unsafe at school, or witness someone making another feel unsafe, threatened or harassed.
Reporting & Retaliation
All students are expected to tell the principal or another adult at school if they see or hear someone breaking the rules. This includes if someone is saying or doing things that is making any student feel unsafe or uncomfortable.
If a teacher or other school staff member sees or hears an incident of harassment or discrimination, they must take action. This should include steps to end the harassment or discrimination and to prevent it from happening again.
Any act of retaliation or trying to “get back” against a person who reports, investigates or participates in the review of a complaint of harassment or discrimination will not be tolerated.
Academic Integrity
Every student should do his or her own work or with an assigned partner. It is often important in school work to give credit to other sources of information like the Internet or books. Teachers will talk to students about how to give credit to other information sources.
All students are expected to:
- Help maintain a safe, supportive and orderly school environment where meaningful learning can happen.
- Show respect to other students, staff and school property and help keep the school environment free of violence, intimidation, bullying, harassment and discrimination.
- Attend school every day unless they are legally excused and be in class on time and prepared to learn.
- Work to the best of their ability in all academic and extracurricular pursuits and strive toward their highest level of achievement possible.
- Use a polite tone of voice and appropriate body language and listen when others are speaking to them.
- Respect personal space.
- React to direction given by teachers, administrators and other BOCES personnel in a respectful, positive manner.
- Ask questions when they do not understand.
- Ask for help in solving problems.
- Dress appropriately for school and BOCES functions.
- Work to develop skills to manage their emotions and reactions and to resolve conflict with others.
- Accept responsibility for their actions and work to build and repair relationships.
Dress Code
A student’s clothing, footwear and appearance should:
- Be safe, appropriate and not disrupt or interfere with the educational process.
- Ensure that underwear is completely covered with outer clothing.
- Include safe footwear at all times.
- Not include hats/headgear in the school, except for medical or religious purpose.
- Not include items that are vulgar, obscene, libelous or denigrate others on account of actual or perceived race, color, religion, religious practice, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, sex, weight or disability.
- Not promote and/or endorse the use of alcohol, tobacco or illegal or violent activities.
- Not denote or represent gang affiliation.
Disciplinary Action/Student Conduct
Every student who does not follow school rules may face disciplinary consequences. These are different depending on which rules students break and other factors.
If teachers or school leaders believe that a student has broken a rule, they will talk to that student. Students will be able to tell their side of the story. The school may also talk to parents or legal guardians when a student has broken a rule.
Students may be subject to a range of disciplinary actions, which are outlined in the Code of Conduct, if they engage in conduct that is disorderly; insubordinate; disruptive; violent; threatening; endangering to the safety, moral, health or welfare of others; or includes academic misconduct.
Possible disciplinary penalties include, but are not limited to warnings, notification to parents, detention, suspension from activities or privileges, in-school suspension, suspension from bus, parent conference, behavior contract, referral to counseling, and short or long-terms suspension from school. Penalties are also paired with supports to help students learn more appropriate skills and ways to handle situations. These include, but are not limited to, mentoring, support plans, conference, conflict resolution and other restorative practices.
In addition, there are certain laws and regulations school leaders must follow when disciplining a student with a disability. These procedures are outlined in the complete Code of Conduct.
Student Searches and Interrogations
If teachers or school leaders believe a rule has been broken they may question/interview a student or students. Officials are not required to call parents/guardians before questioning a student. All students will be told why they are being questioned.
In addition, school property including desks are subject to search by school officials at any time. Officials may also search students and/or their belongings if they have reasonable suspicion that the search will result in evidence that the student violated the law or school rules (which are in the Code of Conduct). More information about student searches and interrogations can be found in the complete Code of Conduct document.
It should be noted that district officials are committed to cooperating with police officials and child protective services to maintain a safe school environment. Specific procedures are detailed in the complete Code of Conduct.
Visitors to the Schools
Anyone at school or attending school events, including visitors, should respect others and follow school rules. Anyone who is on school property when they are not supposed to be will be reported to the school principal and asked to leave.
Definitions
Definitions of the following terms are available in the complete Code of Conduct document: Parent, Disruptive Student, School Property, Violent Student, Harassment, Employee, Weapon, Gender; Disability; School Bus; School Function; Cyberbullying.
School Principals & Dignity for All Students Act Coordinators
For more information about the Code of Conduct:
- The complete Code of Conduct is posted online.
- Copies of the complete Code of Conduct are available in each school’s Main Office and have been distributed to each student.
- Please contact your school principal if you have additional questions or need more information about the Code of Conduct.
- The Code of Conduct is reviewed and updated as necessary each year. It is also approved by the WSWHE Board of Cooperative Education.
- This summary document is being distributed to all students and parents pursuant to New York State Education Law.