Edmonton Public Schools
Board Policies and Regulations

1. STUDENT RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
   1. Students shall be treated with dignity, respect, and fairness by other students and staff.

   2. Students shall be provided with a learning environment that is free from physical, emotional, and social abuse.

   3. Students and parents shall be informed of the board's and school's expectations for student behaviour within the school, the school grounds, and during school activities.

   4. In the event of student misbehaviour, students and parents shall have the right to offer an explanation, and to be informed about consequences of misbehaviour.

   5. Students shall exercise their responsibilities to:
      1. use their abilities and talents to gain maximum learning benefits from their school experiences;
      2. contribute to a climate of mutual trust and respect conducive to effective learning, personal development, and social living; and
      3. attend school regularly and punctually.

   6. Appropriate opportunities for student consultation and involvement in student related matters shall be provided.

2. STUDENT BEHAVIOUR AND CONDUCT

   The board supports the endeavours of staff, students, parents, and the community to ensure positive student behaviour and conduct. In addition, the board expects parents and students to recognize their responsibility in developing student self-discipline.

   1. Students shall be responsible and accountable for their behaviour and conduct:
      • while involved in school-sponsored or related activities;
      • while on school property;
      • during any recess or lunch periods on or off school property;
      • while travelling to and from school; and
      • beyond the hours of school operation if the behaviour or conduct detrimentally affects the welfare of individual students or the governance, climate, or efficiency of the school(s) (School Act Sections 24(1)(b) and 24(7)(b)).

   2. Parents play a vital role in developing student behaviour and conduct. It is the district's expectation that parents:
      1. be aware of the board policy and regulations and the school's expectations for student behaviour and conduct;
      2. review the board policy and regulations and the school's expectations for student behaviour and conduct with their child(ren);
      3. work with the school to resolve student behavioural issues when they affect their child(ren); and
      4. co-operate with the school's or district's recommended course of action prior to re-admission of the student following a student suspension.

   3. Students shall show respect for:
      1. school authority;
      2. others and their property;
      3. ethnic, racial, religious, and gender differences;
      4. school attendance and punctuality;
      5. work habits, assignments and homework;
      6. school property;
      7. textbooks and equipment;
      8. fire alarms and safety equipment; and
      9. district policies relating to smoking, alcohol, drugs and inhalants.

   4. Failure to meet the expectations for behaviour and conduct shall result in some or all of the following consequences:
      1. problem solving, monitoring or reviewing behaviour expectation with student and reprimand;
      2. parental involvement;
      3. referral to attendance board;
      4. temporary removal of privileges;
      5. detention of student;
      6. temporary exclusion of student from class;
      7. in-school suspension;
      8. out-of-school suspension;
      9. behaviour contract with student;
      10. restitution for property damage to an individual or board;
      11. assessment of student to develop appropriate programming;
      12. involvement of police; and
      13. expulsion from a school or all district schools.

   5. Grounds for disciplinary action that could lead to suspension or expulsion exist where a student has demonstrated unacceptable behaviour such as:
      1. conduct which threatens the safety of students and-or staff;
      2. possession of a weapon on a student's person, or in a student's locker or desk, that is dangerous to students and staff; A weapon is anything used, designed to be used or intended for use in causing death or injury to any person, or for the purpose of threatening or intimidating any person.
      3. displaying or brandishing a weapon in a threatening or intimidating manner;
      4. assaulting another person;
      5. possession or use of illegal drugs, alcohol, or inhalants in school and on school property;
      6. contravention of district policies and regulations related to student harassment, smoking, student attendance, and student rights and responsibilities;
      7. theft;
      8. wilful disobedience and-or open opposition to authority;
      9. use or display of improper or profane language;
      10. wilful damage to school or others' property;
      11. interfering with the orderly conduct of class(es) or the school; and-or
      12. contravention of the code of conduct as set out in the School Act Section 12.
      13. contravention of the provisions of Section 27 of the School Act related to trespassing, loitering, and causing a disturbance; and-or
      14. use of technology such as computers, cameras, cell phones, and other digital equipment for purposes that are illegal, unethical, immoral, or inappropriate.

   6. Principals shall report to police the names of all persons for whom they have reasonable and probable grounds to believe are trafficking in drugs. The principal shall:
      1. inform the parents of students involved; and-or
      2. proceed with disciplinary measures which may lead to suspensions or expulsions.

   7. Based on the board policy and regulations for student behaviour and conduct, each school shall develop and communicate to parents and students expectations for student behaviour and conduct.

   8. The principal shall communicate annually, to students and parents, the board policy and regulations and the school's expectations for student behaviour and conduct.