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Philosophy
Behavior expectations at STEP Academy are based on individual responsibility and mutual respect. All students are entitled to learn in a setting which promotes respect of oneself, others and property. Our Positive Behavioral Intervention System (PBIS) is based on CARE- Community, Academics, Respect and Excellence. Our discipline philosophy is designed to help students meet these expectations and exhibit these characteristics.

Policy Statement
This section of the Parent/Student handbook constitutes the discipline policy of STEP Academy.

Discipline
It is the general policy of STEP Academy to utilize progressive discipline to the extent reasonable and appropriate based upon the specific facts and circumstances of student misconduct. Students may be disciplined for conduct that interferes with or obstructs the mission or operations of the school district or the safety or welfare of the student, other students, or employees.

Each classroom teacher develops a discipline plan in collaboration with the students. The plan outlines clear expectations, logical consequences and contains a parent notification/conference component.

When children choose to behave inappropriately, it is our responsibility to intervene. The following list outlines the types of incidents and their responses.

STEP Academy Discipline Code
Bomb Threats
Whoever threatens, directly or indirectly, to commit a crime of violence to terrorize an individual or individuals, and/or to cause an evacuation of the school will receive

  1. First Offense: Immediate suspension for up to five (5) days, authorities will be notified and a recommendation of expulsion will be made.

Weapons
No weapons are allowed on or around school grounds except those carried by an official police officer

  1. First Offense: Confiscation and immediate notification to the police. Immediate suspension for (5) days, expulsion recommended

Fire Alarms
Intentional act of setting off the school’s fire alarm system

  1. First Offense: Immediate suspension for up to two (2) days and authorities will be notified
  2. Second Offense: Up to three (3) days out of school suspension, notification to authorities and a conference with a parent and/or guardian, expulsion recommended

Sexual Harassment
Students are not to harass any student or staff

  1. First Offense: Out of school suspension for up to 3 days and authorities may be notified
  2. Second Offense: 3 to 5 day suspension and expulsion will be recommended

Threats
Students are not to threaten any student or staff member verbally or otherwise for any reason

  1. First Offense: Immediate suspension of up to five (5) days and conference with parent and/or guardian before student is readmitted back to the school
  2. Second Offense: Up to five (5) days out of school suspension and notification to authorities
  3. Third Offense: Out of school suspension up to 5 days and notification to parent and authorities, Expulsion recommended

Assault
Direct attack on another person either physically (hitting, pushing, biting) and/or sexually.

  1. First Offense: Immediate out of school suspension for up to (5) days based on severity of act
  2. Second Offense: Immediate out of school suspension for up to (5) days based on severity of act, possible notification to the authorities, Expulsion recommended

Bullying
Bullying is the willful, conscious desire to hurt another verbally or harassingly and/or put under stress or threaten violence another individual or individuals.

  1. First Offense: Written warning, conference with reflection room staff and/or an administrator
  2. Second Offense: In-school detention and written warning parent notification
  3. Third Offense: In-school or out of school suspension with a parent conference

Fighting
Fighting in an aggressive act by two or more individuals

  1. First Offense: Written warning and automatic suspension for up to 3 days, notification to the proper authorities at a Director’s discretion
  2. Second Offense: Long term out-of-school suspension, a conference with the student’s parent and/or guardian, notification to the proper authorities at the discretion of a school Director
  3. Third Offense: Immediate suspension of between 5-15 days, notification of the authorities at the discretion of the Director, recommendation for expulsion

Theft or Vandalism
Stealing or ruining the property of another student, the school or a staff person

  1. First Offense: 1 to 2 days out of school suspension and possible notification to the authorities, Notification to a parent and/or guardian
  2. Second Offense: 3-5 days out of school suspension and notification to the authorities
  3. Third Offense: Suspension and notification to the authorities, Expulsion recommended

Possession of a Controlled Substance
Possession and or use of alcohol or other controlled substances or being under the influence are prohibited in or around school grounds, as well as at any school sponsored events.

  1. First Offense: Up to a three (3) day out of school suspension, parent notification, authorities will be notified and referral to chemical awareness program may be made.
  2. Second Offense: Up to a five (5) day out-of-school suspension with referral to chemical awareness program.

Insubordination
Students are not to refuse a request from any teacher or other staff member that complies with this policy and/or any policies of the school.

  1. First Offense: Witten Warning and sent to reflection room
  2. Second Offense: Written Warning and conference with a parent and/or guardian
  3. Third Offense: Written warning, conference with parent, detention and/or suspension.

Inappropriate Language
Students are not to use profane, vulgar, discriminatory, or intimidating language while in school and/or at any school sponsored events

  1. First Offense: Written Warning and sent to reflection room and a parent or guardian will be notified
  2. Second Offense: Written Warning, notification to a parent or guardian and in-school detention
  3. Third Offense: Written Warning and out of school suspension and a conference with a parent or guardian

Disruptive Behavior
Students are not to behave in any way that prevents normal school activities. This includes but is not limited to the use of lazar pointers, fireworks, and other devices that disrupt learning and pose a safety threat.

  1. First Offense: Written Warning, sent to the reflection room and notification to an administrator.
  2. Second Offense: Written Warning and notification to a parent and/or guardian.
  3. Third Offense: Written Warning, conference with school administrator and parent or guardian, in-school suspension at an administrator’s discretion. If the disruptive behavior continues, out of school suspension will be initiated.

Cheating/Plagiarism
Any form of cheating, copying on daily assignments, tests or projects, presenting the writing of another as one’s own without proper consent, or false footnoting and/or documentation is prohibited.

  1. First Offense: Written Warning, loss of grade on the assignment, test, or project and an administrator will be notified
  2. Second Offense: Documented Offense, Loss of Grade on the assignment, Meeting with an administrator and parent notification
  3. Third Offense: Documented Offense, Failing Grade, and withdrawal from the class where the offense took place at an administrator’s discretion

Tobacco
Use of any tobacco product within the school building is prohibited

  1. First Offense: Written Warning and parent or guardian will be notified
  2. Second Offense: Written Warning, parent will be notified and up to one complete day (1) of suspension
  3. Third Offense: Up to three days (3) out of school suspension and referral to a chemical awareness program may be made

Cell Phone Use
Students are not to use cell phones during the school day, anywhere in the school except in the front office with the permission of office staff

  1. First Offense: Verbal Warning
  2. Second Offense: Verbal Warning and confiscation of the cell phone by staff to be returned at the end of the school day
  3. Third Offense: Written Warning and Confiscation of phone, conference with an administrator and parent. Device will be returned to parent only.

Food and Drink
Students are not to consume food and/or drink outside of the school cafeteria/lunch room

  1. First Offense: Verbal Warning and confiscation of food or drinks
  2. Second Offense: Verbal warning or written warning, sent to the reflection room
  3. Third Offense: Possible detention/suspension depending on the nature of the offense. This will be at the discretion of an administrator.

Wearing Headphones and/or use of other electronic devices
Students are not to have headphones and/or use other electronic devices during in school during school hours

  1. First Offense: Verbal Warning
  2. Second Offense: Written Warning and Confiscation of the electronic device which will be returned after school
  3. Third Offense: Written Warning, In-school detention, Confiscation of the electronic device which will be returned after school only to parent, and meeting with a parent or guardian

Violation of Closed Campus Policy
Students are not to leave the school building after arriving to school and before the appropriate dismissal time. Students leaving for PSEO classes must check in the office.

  1. First Offense: Written Warning, conference with a parent and or guardian
  2. Second Offense: One day in-school detention at the discretion of an administrator, conference with a parent
  3. Third Offense: Three days (3) out of school suspension, conference with a parent and behavioral contract to work to address conduct

School Director’s Authority on Discipline Matters
It is the policy of STEP Academy that on matters concerning discipline, the School Director has the ultimate authority and discretion over decision making concerning discipline incidents, as well as properly addressing those who have committed offenses.