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Student Conduct 5-34

School Board of the City of Virginia Beach
Policy 5-34

STUDENTS

Student Conduct

  1. Generally

    The School Division is committed to providing an educational environment that is safe, conducive to teaching and learning, and free from unnecessary disruption. All students will benefit from an educational experience that fosters their social and emotional development. Accordingly, the School Division will develop a plan to systematically integrate developmentally appropriate social-emotional learning strategies into the curriculum to promote the development of interpersonal skills, responsible decision making and resilience.

    It is the policy of the School Board that the discipline and control of students shall be the responsibility of the teachers, staff, and principals of the respective schools. The supervision and control of students should be maintained during the entire period of time that they are in school, during school or school sponsored activities, on the school grounds before and after school, and on the way to and from school, including school bus stops, and while on school buses. Students may be disciplined for conduct outside of the educational environment when such conduct substantially and materially disrupts or has the potential to disrupt the educational or work environment.

  2. Code of Student Conduct

    To ensure an optimum learning environment the Superintendent, or designee, will develop a Code of Student Conduct that is consistent with School Board Policies and Regulations that serves as a guideline for parents, families, students, and staff. The Code of Student Conduct will outline major categories of behavior and list disciplinary actions that may occur as a result of student misconduct. Regulations for passengers riding school buses will be included in the Code of Student Conduct. Each student will receive a copy of the Code of Student Conduct during the first week of the school year. Each student and a parent or legal guardian shall date and sign an acknowledgement of receipt of the Code of Student Conduct.

  3. Discipline Guidelines

    The Superintendent, or designee, will develop Discipline Guidelines to be used by teachers and administrators in enforcing the Code of Student Conduct. The Discipline Guidelines will be based on limits established by Federal and/or State laws and regulations and consistent with School Board policies, and school division regulations related to student discipline. The Discipline Guidelines will provide school administrators with a comprehensive description of discipline offenses, clear definitions of the criteria for discipline offense categories, specific levels of disciplinary action based on objective criteria, and a range of disciplinary actions for specific offenses.

    The levels of disciplinary action will provide teachers and administrators with a range of options that will provide consistency across the School Division in dealing with individual students who exhibit inappropriate behavior. The guidelines will be progressive in nature; that is, the level of disciplinary action increases as the number of similar incidents increases.

    Principals may deviate from the established levels of disciplinary action only if there is appropriate justification. The reasons justifying the action must be specified in writing to the Director, Office of Student Leadership.

  4. Conduct on School Buses, School Vehicles or Vehicles used for School Purposes

    Students are under the authority of the bus driver while on the school bus or other school vehicle. Students are under the authority of the school staff member or assigned adults when travelling on other vehicles used for school purposes The driver is to control student conduct and report behavior problems to the principal or designee. The principal or designee shall be responsible for all disciplinary action.

    Failure on the part of any student to follow the rules and regulations dealing with school bus/vehicle operation may result in termination of privilege to ride the school bus/vehicle in addition to other appropriate disciplinary measures.

Editor's Note

See Also: School Board Policy 5-35 Discipline and Corporal/Academic/Group Punishment/Detention.
School Board Policy 5-36 Conduct Invoking Punitive Action.
School Board Policy 5-37 Reporting Data About School Violence and Crime.

Code of Virginia § 22.1-253.13:7, as amended. Standard 7. School board policies.

Code of Virginia § 22.1-78, as amended. Bylaws and regulations.

Code of Virginia §22.1-79.4, as amended. Threat assessment teams and oversight committees.

Virginia Board of Education Regulations, Establishing Standards for Accrediting Schools in Virginia, 8VAC 20-131-210 B, as amended.

School Board Policy 5-35
School Board Policy 5-36
School Board Policy 5-37

Adopted by School Board: October 21, 1969
Amended by School Board: February 16, 1971
Amended by School Board: August 21, 1990
Amended by School Board: July 16, 1991
Amended by School Board: June 15, 1993 (Effective August 14, 1993)
Amended by School Board: May 19, 1998
Amended by School Board: July 17, 2001
Amended by School Board: August 5, 2003
Amended by School Board: April 4, 2006
Amended by School Board: August 20, 2013
Amended by School Board: November 27, 2018
Reviewed by School Board: December 12, 2023