Behavior & Discipline

When dressing for school or school-sponsored events, all students are expected to observe the basic standards of cleanliness, modesty, and good grooming. Articles of clothing should be worn in the manner for which they were designed. Student attire must not disrupt the educational process, interfere with the maintenance of a positive teaching and learning climate or compromise reasonable standards of health, safety and decency. If a student’s dress is deemed inappropriate, the student will be instructed to change into his/ her P.E. uniform or appropriate clothing. Failure to do so may result in appropriate disciplinary consequences including confiscation of prohibited items of apparel. Students should always dress appropriately for the weather, especially in elementary school because they often have recess outside. Below are guidelines for student dress and appearance:
• Students must remove their head coverings upon entering the building. Hats, head coverings, jackets, coats, gloves, or sunglasses may not be worn in class (religious head coverings are exempt). Any medical exceptions must be cleared through the office.
• Students must wear shoes. Metal, plastic, or rubber cleats, shoes with wheels, or other shoes that may damage the floors may not be worn.
• Students may not wear garments or jewelry with messages, graphics, or symbols depicting weapons or which are derogatory, inflammatory, obscene, sexual, or discriminatory. Students may not wear spiked or dangerous jewelry (such as handcuffs, chains, etc.).
• Students may not wear clothing or accessories with alcohol, tobacco, drugs, gang symbols, or controlled substances, decorations or references.
• Students may not wear masks or headgear which obscure identity or create a safety concern, costume paraphernalia, such as theatrical props, imitation weapons, gruesome or bloody articles, and costumes and/or make up which are considered threatening or otherwise inappropriate.
• Students may not wear clothing that is excessively revealing. Skirts/shorts must be at or near mid-thigh. No underwear should be showing. Students may not wear pajamas and beachwear to school.
• Exceptions to the dress code may be allowed on special school-sanctioned days. The dress code does not apply to hairstyles, including hairstyles historically associated with race or ethnicity, or hair texture, including but not limited to protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists.

Personal property which creates a hazard or causes disruptions may not be brought to school. Bringing dangerous items to school (e.g., weapons, cigarettes, drugs, etc.) will result in disciplinary action. Students should not bring items to school that are not related to the learning process and should be aware that inappropriate items may be confiscated. Students may not bring their own play equipment or electronic devices such as games or iPods. The school is not responsible for students’ personal property when brought to school for any reason, including if the property is lost, damaged, stolen, or confiscated.

The goals and objectives of the Student Behavior policy are to provide effective discipline practices that: • ensure the safety and dignity of students and staff;
• maintain a positive, weapons-free, and drug-free learning environment;
• keep school property and the property of others secure;
• address the causes of a student’s misbehavior and provide opportunities for all individuals involved in an incident to participate in resolution;
• teach students positive behavioral skills to become independent, self-disciplined citizens in the school community and society.

All students who ride the bus are expected to follow the District’s School Bus Safety Rules outlined in the student handbook. Students who do not follow the rules are subject to a bus suspension. A student suspended from riding the bus who does not have alternate transportation to school shall have the opportunity to complete or make up work for equivalent academic credit. It shall be the responsibility of the student’s parent or guardian to notify the school that the student does not have alternate transportation. (7:220)

Behavioral interventions shall be used for all students to promote and strengthen desirable behaviors and reduce identified inappropriate behaviors. The Board will establish and maintain a committee to develop, implement, and monitor procedures on the use of behavioral interventions for children with disabilities. (2:150)

Bullying, intimidation, and harassment diminish a student’s ability to learn and a school’s ability to educate. Preventing students from engaging in these disruptive behaviors and providing all students equal access to a safe, non-hostile learning environment are important district goals. Bullying on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, nationality, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender-related identity or expression, ancestry, age, religion, physical or mental disability, order of protection status, status of being homeless, or actual or potential marital or parental status, including pregnancy, association with a person or group with one or more of the aforementioned actual or perceived characteristics, or any other distinguishing characteristic is prohibited in each of the following situations:
1. During any school-sponsored education program or activity.
2. While in school, on school property, on school buses or other school vehicles, at designated school bus stops waiting for the school bus, or at school-sponsored or school-sanctioned events or activities.
3. Through the transmission of information from a school computer, a school computer network, or other similar electronic school equipment.
4. Through the transmission of information from a computer that is accessed at a non-school-related location, activity, function, or program or from the use of technology or an electronic device that is not owned, leased, or used by the district or school if the bullying causes a substantial disruption to the educational process or orderly operation of a school. This paragraph applies only when a school administrator or teacher receives a report that bullying through this means has occurred; it does not require staff members to monitor any non-school-related activity, function, or program.

Bullying Definition:

Artificial intelligence means a machine-based system that, for explicit or implicit objectives, infers, from the input it receives, how to generate outputs such as predictions, content, recommendations, or decisions that can influence physical or virtual environments. Artificial intelligence includes generative artificial intelligence.

Bullying includes cyberbullying and means any severe or pervasive physical or verbal act or conduct, including communications made in writing or electronically, directed toward a student or students that has or can be reasonably predicted to have the effect of one or more of the following:

1. Placing the student or students in reasonable fear of harm to the student’s or students’ person or property;
2. Causing a substantially detrimental effect on the student’s or students’ physical or mental health;
3. Substantially interfering with the student’s or students’ academic performance; or
4. Substantially interfering with the student’s or students’ ability to participate in or benefit from the services, activities, or privileges provided by a school.

Bullying may take various forms, including without limitation one or more of the following: harassment, threats, intimidation, stalking, physical violence, sexual harassment, sexual violence, posting or distributing sexually explicit images, theft, public humiliation, destruction of property, or retaliation for asserting or alleging an act of bullying. This list is meant to be illustrative and non-exhaustive.

Cyberbullying means bullying through the use of technology or any electronic communication, including without limitation any transfer of signs, signals, writing, images, sounds, data, or intelligence of any nature transmitted in whole or in part by a wire, radio, electromagnetic system, photo-electronic system, or photo-optical system, including without limitation electronic mail, Internet communications, instant messages, or facsimile communications.

Cyberbullying includes the creation of a webpage or weblog in which the creator assumes the identity of another person or the knowing impersonation of another person as the author of posted content or messages if the creation or impersonation creates any of the effects enumerated in the definition of bullying. Cyberbullying also includes the distribution by electronic means of a communication to more than one person or the posting of material on an electronic medium that may be accessed by one or more persons if the distribution or posting creates any of the effects enumerated in the definition of bullying. Cyberbullying also includes the posting or distribution of an unauthorized digital replica by electronic means if the posting or distribution creates any of the effects enumerated in the definition of bullying.

Digital replica means a newly created, electronic representation of the identity of an actual individual created using a computer, algorithm, software, tool, artificial intelligence, or other technology that is fixed in a sound recording or audiovisual work in which that individual did not actually perform or appear and that is so realistic that a reasonable observer would believe it is a performance by the individual being portrayed and no other individual.

Restorative measures means a continuum of school-based alternatives to exclusionary discipline, such as suspensions and expulsions, that: (i) are adapted to the particular needs of the school and community, (ii) contribute to maintaining school safety, (iii) protect the integrity of a positive and productive learning climate, (iv) teach students the personal and interpersonal skills they will need to be successful in school and society, (v) serve to build and restore relationships among students, families, schools, and communities, (vi) reduce the likelihood of future disruption by balancing accountability with an understanding of students’ behavioral health needs in order to keep students in school, and (vii) increase student accountability if the incident of bullying is based on religion, race, ethnicity, or any other category that is identified in the Ill. Human Rights Act.

School personnel means persons employed by, on contract with, or who volunteer in a school district, including without limitation school and school district administrators, teachers, school social workers, school counselors, school psychologists, school nurses, cafeteria workers, custodians, bus drivers, school resource officers, and security guards.

Unauthorized digital replica means the use of a digital replica of an individual without the consent of the depicted individual.

The Superintendent has developed and maintains a bullying prevention and response plan that advances the District’s goal of providing all students with a safe learning environment free of bullying and harassment. This plan must be consistent with the requirements listed below.

1. The District uses the definition of bullying as provided in policy.

2. Bullying is contrary to State law and the policy of the District. However, nothing in the District’s bullying prevention and response plan is intended to infringe upon any right to exercise free expression or the free exercise of religion or religiously based views protected under the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution or under Section 3 of Article I of the Illinois Constitution.

3. Students are encouraged to immediately report bullying. A report may be made orally or in writing to the District Complaint Manager or any staff member with whom the student is comfortable speaking. Anyone, including staff members and parents/ guardians, who has information about actual or threatened bullying is encouraged to report it to the District Complaint Manager or any staff member. Anonymous reports are also accepted.

Nondiscrimination Manager
Dr. David Bruno, Asst. Superintendent for Human Resources, dbruno@d41.org
Complaint Managers
Dr. Kristin Williams, Asst. Superintendent of Teaching, Learning & Accountability, kwilliams@d41.org
Mr. Eric DePorter, Asst. Superintendent of Finance, Facilities and Operations, edeporter@d41.org

4. Consistent with Federal and State laws and rules governing student privacy rights, the parents/guardians of all students involved in an alleged incident of bullying will be notified of such, along with threats, suggestions, or instances of self-harm determined to be the result of bullying, within 24 hours after the school’s administration is made aware of the student’s involvement in the incident. As appropriate, the school’s administration shall also discuss the availability of social work services, counseling, school psychological services, other interventions, and restorative measures. The school shall make diligent efforts to notify a parent or legal guardian, utilizing all contact information the school has available or that can be reasonably obtained within the 24-hour period.

5. The Superintendent or designee shall promptly investigate and address reports of bullying, by, among other things:
a. Making all reasonable efforts to complete the investigation within 10 school days after the date the report of a bullying incident was received and taking into consideration additional relevant information received during the course of the investigation about the reported bullying incident.
b. Involving appropriate school support personnel and other staff persons with knowledge, experience, and training on bullying prevention, as deemed appropriate, in the investigation process.
c. Notifying the Building Principal or school administrator or designee of the reported incident of bullying as soon as possible after the report is received.
d. Consistent with federal and State laws and rules governing student privacy rights, providing parents/guardians of the students who are parties to the investigation information about the investigation and an opportunity to meet with the Building Principal or school administrator or his or her designee to discuss the investigation, the findings of the investigation, and the actions taken to address the reported incident of bullying. The Superintendent or designee shall investigate whether a reported incident of bullying is within the permissible scope of the District’s jurisdiction and shall require that the District provide the victim with information regarding services that are available within the District and community, such as counseling, support services, and other programs.

6. The Superintendent or designee shall use interventions to address bullying, that may include, but are not limited to, school social work services, restorative measures, social-emotional skill building, counseling, school psychological services, and communitybased services

7. A reprisal or retaliation against any person who reports an act of bullying is prohibited. Any person’s act of reprisal or retaliation will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including discharge with regard to employees, or suspension and/or expulsion with regard to students.

8. A student will not be punished for reporting bullying or supplying information, even if the District’s investigation concludes that no bullying occurred. However, a person who is found to have falsely accused another of bullying, as a means of retaliation, as a means of bullying, provided false information will be treated as either: (a) bullying, (b) student discipline up to and including suspension and/or expulsion, and/or (c) both (a) and (b)for purposes of determining any consequences or other appropriate remedial actions.

9. The District’s bullying prevention and response plan is based on the engagement of a range of school stakeholders, including no more than two students, with at least one at the 8th grade level, identified by school administration and parents/guardians.

10. The Superintendent or designee shall post this policy on the District’s website, if any, and include it in the student handbook, and, where applicable, post it where other policies, rules, and standards of conduct are currently posted. The policy must be distributed annually to parents/guardians, students, and school personnel, including new employees when hired and must also be provided periodically throughout the school year to students and faculty.

11. Pursuant to State law and policy 2:240, Board Policy Development, the Board monitors this policy every two years by conducting a review and re-evaluation of this policy to make any necessary and appropriate revisions. The Superintendent or designee shall assist the Board with its evaluation and assessment of this policy’s outcomes and effectiveness. Updates to this policy will reflect any necessary and appropriate revisions. This process shall include, without limitation:
a. The frequency of victimization;
b. Student, staff, and family observations of safety at a school;
c. Identification of areas of a school where bullying occurs;
d. The types of bullying utilized; and e. Bystander intervention or participation. The evaluation process may use relevant data and information that the District already collects for other purposes. Acceptable documentation to satisfy the re-evaluated policy submission include one of the following:
1) An updated version of the policy with the amendment/modification date included in the reference portion of the policy;
2) If no revisions are deemed necessary, a copy of board minutes indicating that the policy was re-evaluated, and no changes were deemed to be necessary; or
3) A signed statement from the Board President indicating that the Board re-evaluated the policy and no changes to it were necessary. The Superintendent or designee must post the information developed as a result of the policy re-evaluation on the District’s website, or if a website is not available, the information must be provided to school administrators, Board members, school personnel, parents/ guardians, and students. Reviews and re-evaluations in years they are due must be submitted to ISBE by September 30.

12. The District’s bullying prevention plan must be consistent with other Board policies. (7:180) Cyberbullying: Cyberbullying means bullying through the use of technology or any electronic communication, including without limitation: any transfer of signs, signals, writing, images, sounds, data, or intelligence of any nature transmitted in whole or in part by a wire, radio, electromagnetic system, photo-electronic system, or photo-optical system, including without limitation: email, Internet communications, instant messages, or facsimile communications. Cyberbullying includes the creation of a webpage, social media account, or weblog in which the creator assumes the identity of another person or the knowing impersonation of another person as the author of posted content or messages if the creation or impersonation creates any of the effects enumerated in the definition of bullying. Cyberbullying also includes the distribution by electronic means of a communication to more than one person or the posting of material on an electronic medium that may be accessed by one or more persons if the distribution or posting creates any of the effects enumerated in the definition of bullying. These rules also apply during remote or e-learning. Students who want to report cyberbullying can submit tips to the “Safe2Help” tip line at (844) 4-SAFE-IL or help@Safe2HelpIL.com. Students can submit tips anonymously. (7:180)

Regular school attendance is essential to student success. A student is considered chronically absent when they miss 10% or more of the school year, whether absences are excused or unexcused. Chronic absenteeism can negatively impact academic success and, if attendance concerns persist, may lead to truancy as defined by state law. The district monitors student attendance and partners with families to address attendance concerns by identifying barriers and developing strategies that support improved attendance habits. Families are encouraged to schedule vacations outside of the school year whenever possible, ensure students arrive on time, and avoid early dismissals, as every minute of instruction contributes to student success. If you have questions or need support with your child's attendance, please contact your school administrator. We are committed to working together to help every student attend, learn, and succeed. (7:70)

Corporal punishment is prohibited. Corporal punishment is defined as a discipline method in which a person deliberately inflicts pain upon a student in response to the student's unacceptable behavior or inappropriate language, with an aim to halt an offense, prevent its recurrence, or set an example for others. It includes slapping, paddling, or prolonged maintenance of students in physically painful positions, or intentional infliction of bodily harm. (7:190)

Each teacher, and any other school personnel when students are under his or her charge, is authorized to impose any disciplinary measure, other than suspension, expulsion, corporal punishment, or in-school suspension, that is appropriate and in accordance with the policies and rules on student discipline. Teachers, other certificated [licensed] educational employees and other persons providing a related service for or with respect to a student, may use reasonable force as needed to maintain safety for other students, school personnel, or other persons, or for the purpose of self-defense or defense of property. Teachers may temporarily remove students from a classroom for disruptive behavior. The Superintendent or District level designee, Building Principal, or Building Assistant Principal is authorized to impose the same disciplinary measures as teachers and may suspend students guilty of gross disobedience or misconduct from school (including all school functions) and from riding the school bus, up to 10 consecutive school days, provided the appropriate procedures are followed. The Board may suspend a student from riding the bus in excess of 10 school days for safety reasons. (7:190)

School officials shall limit the number and duration of expulsions and out-of-school suspensions to the greatest extent practicable, and, where practicable and reasonable, shall consider forms of non-exclusionary discipline before using out-of-school suspensions or expulsions. Potential disciplinary measures include, without limitation, any of the following:
1. Notifying parent(s)/guardian(s).
2. Disciplinary conference.
3. Withholding of privileges.
4. Temporary removal from the classroom.
5. Return of property or consideration of restitution for lost, stolen, or damaged property.
6. In-school suspension. The Building Principal or designee shall ensure that the student is properly supervised.
7. After-school study or alternative study provided the student’s parent/guardian has been notified. If transportation arrangements cannot be agreed upon, an alternative disciplinary measure must be used. The student must be supervised by the detaining teacher or the Building Principal or designee.
8. Community service with local public and nonprofit agencies that enhances community efforts to meet human, educational, environmental, or public safety needs. The District will not provide transportation. School administration shall use this option only as an alternative to another disciplinary measure, giving the student and/or parent/guardian the choice.
9. Seizure of contraband; confiscation and temporary retention of personal property that was used to violate this policy or school disciplinary rules.
10. Suspension of bus riding privileges in accordance with Board policy 7:220, Bus Conduct.
11. Out-of-school suspension from school and all school activities in accordance with Board policy 7:200, Suspension Procedures. A student who has been suspended may also be restricted from being on school grounds and at school activities.
12. Expulsion from school and all school activities for a definite time period not to exceed two calendar years in accordance with Board policy 7:210, Expulsion Procedures. A student who has been expelled may also be restricted from being on school grounds and at school activities.
13. Transfer to an alternative program if the student is expelled or otherwise qualifies for the transfer under State law. The transfer shall be in the manner provided in Article 13A or 13B of the School Code.
14. Notifying juvenile authorities or other law enforcement whenever the conduct involves criminal activity, including but not limited to, illegal drugs (controlled substances), “look-alikes,” alcohol, or weapons or in other circumstances as authorized by the reciprocal reporting agreement between the District and local law enforcement agencies.

The above list of disciplinary measures is a range of options that will not always be applicable in every case. In some circumstances, it may not be possible to avoid suspending or expelling a student because behavioral interventions, other than a suspension and expulsion, will not be appropriate and available, and the only reasonable and practical way to resolve the threat and/or address the disruption is a suspension or expulsion. (7:190)

The district shall comply with the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Illinois State Board of Education’s Regulations when disciplining students with disabilities. No student with a disability shall be expelled if the student’s particular act of gross disobedience or misconduct is a manifestation of his or her disability. (7:185)

The Superintendent or designee shall implement expulsion procedures (kindergarten - 8th grade) that provide, at a minimum, for the following:
1. Before a student may be expelled, the student and his or her parent(s)/guardian(s) shall be provided a written request to appear at a hearing to determine whether the student should be expelled. The request shall be sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested.
2. The request shall:
a. Include the time, date, and place for the hearing.
b. Briefly describe what will happen during the hearing.
c. Detail the specific act of gross disobedience or misconduct resulting in the decision to recommend expulsion.
d. List the student’s prior suspension(s).
e. State that the School Code allows the School Board to expel a student for a definite period of time not to exceed 2 calendar years, as determined on a case-by-case basis.
f. Ask that the student or parent(s)/guardian(s) or attorney inform the Superintendent or Board Attorney if the student will be represented by an attorney and, if so, the attorney’s name and contact information.
3. Unless the student and parent(s)/guardian(s) indicate that they do not want a hearing or fail to appear at the designated time and place, the hearing will proceed. It shall be conducted by the Board or a hearing officer appointed by it. If a hearing officer is appointed, he or she shall report to the Board the evidence presented at the hearing and the Board shall take such final action as it finds appropriate. Whenever there is evidence that mental illness may be the cause for the recommended expulsion, the Superintendent or designee shall invite a representative from the local mental health agency to consult with the Board.
4. During the expulsion hearing, the Board or hearing officer shall hear evidence concerning whether the student is guilty of the gross disobedience or misconduct as charged. School officials must provide: (1) testimony of any other interventions attempted and exhausted or of their determination that no other appropriate and available interventions were available for the student, and (2) evidence of the threat or disruption posed by the student. The student and his or her parent(s)/guardian(s) may be represented by counsel, offer evidence, present witnesses, cross-examine witnesses who testified, and otherwise present reasons why the student should not be expelled. After presentation of the evidence or receipt of the hearing officer’s report, the Board shall decide the issue of guilt and take such action as it finds appropriate.
a. If the Board acts to expel the student, its written expulsion decision shall:
b. Detail the specific reason why removing the student from his or her learning environment is in the best interest of the school.
c. Provide a rationale for the specific duration of the recommended expulsion.
d. Document how school officials determined that all behavioral and disciplinary interventions have been exhausted by specifying which interventions were attempted or whether school officials determined that no other appropriate and available interventions existed for the student.
5. Document how the student’s continuing presence in school would (1) pose a threat to the safety of other students, staff, or members of the school community, or (2) substantially disrupt, impede, or interfere with the operation of the school. Upon expulsion, the District may refer the student to appropriate and available support services. (7:210)

Students are prohibited from engaging in gang activity. A gang is any group of two or more persons whose purpose includes the commission of illegal acts. No student shall engage in any gang activity, including but not limited to:
1. Wearing, using, distributing, displaying, or selling any clothing, jewelry, emblem, badge, symbol, sign, or other thing that are evidence of membership or affiliation in any gang;
2. Committing any act or omission, or using any speech, either verbal or non-verbal (such as gestures or handshakes) showing membership or affiliation in a gang;
3. Using any speech or committing any act or omission in furtherance of any gang or gang activity, including but not limited to:
(a) soliciting others for membership in any gangs,
(b) requesting any person to pay protection or otherwise intimidating or threatening any person,
(c) committing any other illegal act or other violation of school district policies,
(d) inciting other students to act with physical violence upon any other person. Students engaging in any gang-related activity may be subject to one or more disciplinary actions.

Soliciting, encouraging, aiding, or engaging in hazing, no matter when or where it occurs, is prohibited. Hazing means any intentional, knowing, or reckless act directed to or required of a student for the purpose of being initiated into, affiliating with, holding office in, or maintaining membership in any group, organization, club, or athletic team whose members are or include other students. Students engaging in hazing will be subject to one or more of the following disciplinary actions:
1. Removal from the extracurricular activities,
2. Conference with parents/guardians, and/or
3. Referral to appropriate law enforcement agency. 26 Glen Ellyn School District 41 Students engaging in hazing that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of another person may also be subject to:
1. Suspension for up to 10 days, and/or
2. Expulsion for the remainder of the school term.

The Superintendent or designee shall implement suspension procedures that provide, at a minimum, for each of the following:
1. A conference during which the charges will be explained and the student will be given an opportunity to respond to the charges before he or she may be suspended.
2. A pre-suspension conference is not required, and the student can be immediately suspended when the student’s presence poses a continuing danger to persons or property or an ongoing threat of disruption to the educational process. In such cases, the notice and conference shall follow as soon as practicable.
3. An attempted phone call to the student’s parent(s)/guardian(s).
4. A written notice of the suspension to the parent(s)/guardian(s) which shall:
a. Provide notice to the parent(s)/guardian(s) of their child’s right to a review of the suspension.
b. Include information about an opportunity to make up work missed during the suspension for equivalent academic credit;
c. Detail the specific act of gross disobedience or misconduct resulting in the decision to suspend;
d. Provide rationale or an explanation of how the chosen number of suspension days will address the threat or disruption posed by the student or his or her act of gross disobedience or misconduct; and
e. Depending upon the length of the out-of-school suspension, include the following applicable information:
i. For a suspension of 3 school days (short-term) or less, an explanation that the student’s continuing presence in school would either pose:
a) A threat to school safety, or
b) A disruption to other students’ learning opportunities.
ii. For a suspension of 4 or more school days (long-term), an explanation:
a) That other appropriate and available behavioral and disciplinary interventions have been exhausted,
b) As to whether school officials attempted other interventions or determined that no other interventions were available for the student, and
c) That the student’s continuing presence in school would either:
i) Pose a threat to the safety of other students, staff, or members of the school community, or
ii) Substantially disrupt, impede, or interfere with the operation of the school.
iii. Students will be expected to complete assigned work during the suspension period. If the suspension is long-term (4 or more days), students will have access to supports and special education services (if applicable) during the suspension.
5. A summary of suspensions, including the reason for the suspension and the suspension length, must be given to the Board by the Superintendent or designee. (7:200)

The school administration is authorized to discipline students for gross disobedience or misconduct, including but not limited to:

1. Using, possessing, distributing, purchasing, or selling tobacco or nicotine materials, including without limitation, electronic cigarettes.
2. Using, possessing, distributing, purchasing, or selling alcoholic beverages. Students who are under the influence of an alcoholic beverage are not permitted to attend school or school functions and are treated as though they had alcohol in their possession.
3. Using, possessing, distributing, purchasing, selling, or offering for sale:
   1. Any illegal drug or controlled substance, or cannabis (including marijuana, hashish, and medical cannabis unless the student is authorized to be administered a medical cannabis infused product under Ashley's Law).
   2. Any anabolic steroid unless it is being administered in accordance with a physician's or licensed practitioner's prescription.
   3. Any performance-enhancing substance on the Illinois High School Association's most current banned substance list unless administered in accordance with a physician's or licensed practitioner's prescription.
   4. Any prescription drug when not prescribed for the student by a physician or licensed practitioner, or when used in a manner inconsistent with the prescription or prescribing physician's or licensed practitioner's instructions. The use or possession of medical cannabis, even by a student for whom medical cannabis has been prescribed, is prohibited unless the student is authorized to be administered a medical cannabis infused product under Ashley's Law.
   5. Any inhalant, regardless of whether it contains an illegal drug or controlled substance: (a) that a student believes is, or represents to be capable of, causing intoxication, hallucination, excitement, or dulling of the brain or nervous system; or (b) about which the student engaged in behavior that would lead a reasonable person to believe that the student intended the inhalant to cause intoxication, hallucination, excitement, or dulling of the brain or nervous system. The prohibition in this section does not apply to a student's use of asthma or other legally prescribed inhalant medications.
   6. Any substance inhaled, injected, smoked, consumed, or otherwise ingested or absorbed with the intention of causing a physiological or psychological change in the body, including without limitation, pure caffeine in tablet or powdered form.
   7. Look-alike or counterfeit drugs, including a substance that is not prohibited by this policy, but one: (a) that a student believes to be, or represents to be, an illegal drug, controlled substance, or other substance that is prohibited by this policy; or (b) about which a student engaged in behavior that would lead a reasonable person to believe that the student expressly or impliedly represented to be an illegal drug, controlled substance, or other substance that is prohibited by this policy.
   8. Drug paraphernalia, including devices that are or can be used to: (a) ingest, inhale, or inject cannabis or controlled substances into the body; and (b) grow, process, store, or conceal cannabis or controlled substances.

Students who are under the influence of any prohibited substance are not permitted to attend school or school functions and are treated as though they had the prohibited substance, as applicable, in their possession.

4. Using, possessing, controlling, or transferring a weapon as that term is defined in the Weapons section of this policy, or violating the Weapons section of this policy.
5. Using or possessing an electronic paging device.
6. Using or possessing a cellular telephone, two-way radio, video recording device, and/or other telecommunication device, unless authorized and approved by the Building Principal.
7. Sexting, which, for purposes of this policy, is the act of creating, sending, sharing, viewing, receiving, or possessing sexually explicit messages, images, or videos electronically, regardless of whether they are authentic or computer-generated, through the use of a computer, electronic communication device, or cellular phone. Sexting also includes creating, sending, sharing, viewing, receiving, or possessing indecent visual depictions, non-consensual dissemination of private sexual images, and non-consensual dissemination of sexually explicit digitized depictions, as defined in State law.
8. Using or possessing a laser pointer unless under a staff member's direct supervision and in the context of instruction.
9. Disobeying rules of student conduct or directives from staff members or school officials. Examples of disobeying staff directives include refusing a District staff member's request to stop, present school identification, or submit to a search.
10. Engaging in academic dishonesty, including cheating, intentionally plagiarizing, using a writing service and/or generative artificial intelligence technology in place of original work unless specifically authorized by staff, wrongfully giving or receiving help during an academic examination, altering report cards, and wrongfully obtaining test copies or scores.
11. Engaging in hazing or any kind of bullying or aggressive behavior that does physical or psychological harm to a staff person or another student, or urging other students to engage in such conduct. Prohibited conduct specifically includes, without limitation, any use of violence, intimidation, force, noise, coercion, threats, stalking, harassment, sexual harassment, public humiliation, theft or destruction of property, retaliation, hazing, bullying, bullying using a school computer or a school computer network, or other comparable conduct.
12. Engaging in any sexual activity, including without limitation, offensive touching, sexual harassment, indecent exposure (including mooning), and sexual assault. This does not include the non-disruptive: (a) expression of gender or sexual orientation or preference, or (b) display of affection during non-instructional time.
13. Teen dating violence, as described in Board policy 7:185, Teen Dating Violence Prohibited.
14. Causing or attempting to cause damage to, or stealing or attempting to steal, school property or another person's personal property.
15. Entering school property or a school facility without proper authorization.
16. In the absence of a reasonable belief that an emergency exists, calling emergency responders (such as calling 911); signaling or setting off alarms or signals indicating the presence of an emergency; or indicating the presence of a bomb or explosive device on school grounds, school bus, or at any school activity.
17. Being absent without a recognized excuse; State law and Board of Education policy regarding truancy control will be used with chronic and habitual truants.
18. Being involved with any public school fraternity, sorority, or secret society, by: (a) being a member; (b) promising to join; (c) pledging to become a member; or (d) soliciting any other person to join, promise to join, or be pledged to become a member.
19. Being involved in gangs or gang-related activities, including displaying gang symbols or paraphernalia.
20. Violating any criminal law, including but not limited to, assault, battery, arson, theft, gambling, eavesdropping, vandalism, and hazing.
21. Making an explicit threat on an Internet website against a school employee, a student, or any school-related personnel if the Internet website through which the threat was made is a site that was accessible within the school at the time the threat was made or was available to third parties who worked or studied within the school grounds at the time the threat was made, and the threat could be reasonably interpreted as threatening to the safety and security of the threatened individual because of his or her duties or employment status or status as a student inside the school.
22. Operating an unmanned aircraft system (UAS) or drone for any purpose on school grounds or at any school event unless granted permission by the Superintendent or designee.
23. Engaging in any activity, on or off campus, that interferes with, disrupts, or adversely affects the school environment, school operations, or an educational function, including but not limited to, conduct that may reasonably be considered to: (a) be a threat or an attempted intimidation of a staff member; or (b) endanger the health or safety of students, staff, or school property.

For purposes of this policy, the term possession includes having control, custody, or care, currently or in the past, of an object or substance, including situations in which the item is: (a) on the student's person; (b) contained in another item belonging to, or under the control of, the student, such as in the student's clothing, backpack, or automobile; (c) in a school's student locker, desk, or other school property; or (d) at any location on school property or at a school-sponsored event.

Efforts, including the use of positive interventions and supports, shall be made to deter students, while at school or a school-related event, from engaging in aggressive behavior that may reasonably produce physical or psychological harm to someone else. The Superintendent or designee shall ensure that the parent/guardian of a student who engages in aggressive behavior is notified of the incident. The failure to provide such notification does not limit the Board's authority to impose discipline, including suspension or expulsion, for such behavior.

No disciplinary action shall be taken against any student that is based totally or in part on the refusal of the student's parent/guardian to administer or consent to the administration of psychotropic or psychostimulant medication to the student. (7:190)

The Superintendent or designee shall maintain a process to facilitate the re-engagement of students who are returning from an out-of-school suspension, expulsion, or an alternative school setting. The goal of re-engagement shall be to support the student's ability to be successful in school following a period of exclusionary discipline and shall include the opportunity for students who have been suspended to complete or make up work for equivalent academic credit. (7:190)

A school staff member shall immediately notify the office of the Building Principal in the event that he or she:
(1) observes any person in possession of a firearm on or around school grounds; however, such action may be delayed if immediate notice would endanger students under his or her supervision,
(2) observes or has reason to suspect that any person on school grounds is or was involved in a drug-related incident, or
(3) observes a battery committed against any staff member or is subject to a battery. School grounds includes modes of transportation to school activities and any public way within 1000 feet of the school, as well as school property itself.

Upon receiving a report of
(1), above, the Building Principal or designee shall immediately notify local law enforcement. In addition, upon receiving a report on any of the above (1)-(3), the Building Principal or designee shall notify the Superintendent or designee and any involved student's parent/guardian.

Upon receiving a report on any of the above (1)-(3), the Superintendent or designee shall immediately notify local law enforcement. The Superintendent or designee shall also report these incidents to ISBE through its web-based School Incident Reporting System as they occur during the year and no later than July 31 for the preceding school year.

(7:190)

Restorative measures means a continuum of school-based alternatives to exclusionary discipline, such as suspensions and expulsions, that: (i) are adapted to the particular needs of the school and community, (ii) contribute to maintaining school safety, (iii) protect the integrity of a positive and productive learning climate, (iv) teach students the personal and interpersonal skills they will need to be successful in school and society, (v) serve to build and restore relationships among students, families, schools, and communities, (vi) reduce the likelihood of future disruption by balancing accountability with an understanding of students' behavioral health needs in order to keep students in school, and (vii) increase student accountability if the incident of bullying is based on religion, race, ethnicity, or any other category that is identified in the Ill. Human Rights Act. (7:180)

In order to maintain order and security in the schools, school authorities are authorized to conduct reasonable searches of school property and equipment, as well as of students and their personal effects. "School authorities" includes school liaison police officers.

School Property and Equipment as well as Personal Effects Left On School Property by Students

School authorities may inspect and search school property and equipment owned or controlled by the school (such as, lockers, desks, and parking lots), as well as personal effects left there by a student, without notice to or the consent of the student. Students have no reasonable expectation of privacy in these places or areas or in their personal effects left there.

The Superintendent may request the assistance of law enforcement officials to conduct inspections and searches of lockers, desks, parking lots, and other school property and equipment for illegal drugs, weapons, or other illegal or dangerous substances or materials, including searches conducted through the use of specially trained dogs.

Students

School authorities may search a student and/or the student's personal effects in the student's possession (such as, purses, wallets, knapsacks, book bags, lunch boxes, etc.) when there is a reasonable ground for suspecting that the search will produce evidence the particular student has violated or is violating either the law or the District's student conduct rules. The search itself must be conducted in a manner that is reasonably related to its objective and not excessively intrusive in light of the student's age and sex, and the nature of the infraction.

When feasible, the search should be conducted as follows:

1. Outside the view of others, including students,
2. In the presence of a school administrator or adult witness, and
3. By a licensed employee or liaison police officer of the same sex as the student.

Immediately following a search, a written report shall be made by the school authority who conducted the search, and given to the Superintendent.

Seizure of Property

If a search produces evidence that the student has violated or is violating either the law or the District's policies or rules, such evidence may be seized and impounded by school authorities, and disciplinary action may be taken. When appropriate, such evidence may be transferred to law enforcement authorities.

Notification Regarding Student Accounts or Profiles on Social Networking Websites

The Superintendent or designee shall notify students and their parents/guardians of each of the following in accordance with the Right to Privacy in the School Setting Act, 105 ILCS 75/:

1. School officials may not request or require a student or his or her parent/guardian to provide a password or other related account information to gain access to the student's account or profile on a social networking website.
2. School officials may conduct an investigation or require a student to cooperate in an investigation if there is specific information about activity on the student's account on a social networking website that violates a school disciplinary rule or policy. In the course of an investigation, the student may be required to share the content that is reported in order to allow school officials to make a factual determination.

(7:140)

Engaging in teen dating violence that takes place at school, on school property, at school-sponsored activities, or in vehicles used for school-provided transportation is prohibited. For purposes of this policy, the term teen dating violence occurs whenever a student uses or threatens to use physical, mental, or emotional abuse to control an individual in the dating relationship; or uses or threatens to use sexual violence in the dating relationship.

Anyone with information about incidents of teen dating violence should report them to any of the following individuals: any school staff member, the Nondiscrimination Coordinator, Building Principal, Assistant Building Principal, or a Complaint Manager identified in policy 7:20, Harassment of Students Prohibited. (7:20, 7:180, 7:185)

Isolated time out, time out, and physical restraint shall only be used if the student’s behavior presents an imminent danger of serious physical harm to the student or others, and other less restrictive and intrusive measures were tried and proven ineffective in stopping it. The District may not use isolated time out, time out, or physical restraint as discipline or punishment, convenience for staff, retaliation, a substitute for appropriate educational or behavioral support, a routine safety matter, or to prevent property damage in the absence of imminent danger of serious physical harm to the student or others. Any use of isolated time out, time out, or physical restraint by any staff member shall comply with the Ill. State Board of Education (ISBE) rules, Section 1.285, “Requirements for the Use of Isolated Time Out, Time Out, and Physical Restraint.” Guardians of the affected student will be notified within 24 hours if time out or physical restraint occurs. Isolated time out and physical restraint are defined as follows:

• “Physical restraint” or “restraint” means holding a student or otherwise restricting the student’s movements and includes only the use of specific, planned techniques. Physical restraint or restraint does not include momentary periods of physical restriction by direct person-to-person contact without the aid of material or mechanical devices that are accomplished with limited force and that are designed to prevent a student from completing an act that would result in potential physical harm to himself, herself, or another person or damage to property. “Momentary periods of physical restriction” are considered physical escorts under the definition provided by the U.S. Department of Education. Physical escort means a temporary touching or holding of the hand, wrist, arm, shoulder, or back for the purpose of inducing a student who is acting out to walk to a safe location.

• “Time out” means a behavior management technique for the purpose of calming or de-escalation that involves the involuntary monitored separation of a student from classmates with a trained adult for part of the school day, only for a brief time, in a nonlocked setting. Time out does not include a student-initiated or student-requested break; a student- initiated or teacher-initiated sensory break, including a sensory room containing sensory tools to assist a student to calm and de-escalate; an in-school suspension or detention; or any other appropriate disciplinary measure, including a student’s brief removal to the hallway or similar environment.

• “Isolated time out” means the involuntary confinement of a student alone in a time out room or other enclosure outside the classroom without a supervising adult in the time out room or enclosure. Isolated time out is allowed only under limited circumstances when the adult in the time out room or enclosure is in imminent danger of serious physical harm because the student is unable to cease actively engaging in extreme physical aggression. Isolated time out does not include a student-initiated or student-requested break; a student-initiated or teacher-initiated sensory break, including a sensory room containing sensory tools to assist a student to calm and de-escalate; an in-school suspension or detention; or any other appropriate disciplinary measure, including a student’s brief removal to the hallway or similar environment.

A student who is determined to have brought one of the following objects to school, any school-sponsored activity or event, or any activity or event that bears a reasonable relationship to school could be expelled for a period of at least one calendar year but not more than 2 calendar years:
1. A firearm, meaning any gun, rifle, shotgun, or weapon as defined by Section 921 of Title 18 of the United States Code (18 U.S.C. § 921), firearm as defined in Section 1.1 of the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act (430 ILCS 65/), or firearm as defined in Section 24-1 of the Criminal Code of 2012 (720 ILCS 5/241).
2. A knife, brass knuckles, or other knuckle weapon regardless of its composition, a billy club, or any other object if used or attempted to be used to cause bodily harm, including “look-alikes” of any firearm as defined above. The expulsion requirement under either paragraph 1 or 2 above may be modified by the Superintendent, and the Superintendent’s determination may be modified by the Board on a case-by-case basis. The Superintendent or designee may grant an exception to this policy, upon the prior request of an adult supervisor, for students in theater, cooking, ROTC, martial arts, and similar programs, whether or not school-sponsored, provided the item is not equipped, nor intended, to do bodily harm. This policy’s prohibitions concerning weapons apply regardless of whether the Board permits visitors, who are licensed to carry a concealed firearm, to store a firearm in a locked vehicle in a school parking area. (7:190)

A student is subject to disciplinary action for engaging in prohibited student conduct, as described in the section with that name below, whenever the student’s conduct is reasonably related to school or school activities, including, but not limited to:
• On, or within sight of, school grounds before, during, or after school hours or at any time;
• Off school grounds at a school-sponsored activity or event, or any activity or event that bears a reasonable relationship to school;
• Traveling to or from school or a school activity, function, or event; or
• Anywhere, if the conduct interferes with, disrupts, or adversely affects the school environment, school operations, or an educational function, including, but not limited to, conduct that may reasonably be considered to:
(a) be a threat or an attempted intimidation of a staff member; or
(b) endanger the health or safety of students, staff, or school property.
(7:190)