Code of Conduct: Additional Rights of Students

A. Student Records

The School District collects and maintains student records to report the growth and development of individual students, to provide information to parents and authorized staff, and to establish a basis for the evaluation and improvement of school programs.

Student record information contained in the cumulative record, also know as a permanent record, includes records of subjects and grades, credits, awards, promotions, standardized test information, school attendance records, health data, and other information that serves the educational interest of the student.

According to the “Family Education Rights and Privacy Act,” the following people under the following circumstances may have access to student records without the need for written release.

  1. All school personnel who have a legitimate educational interest in the student;
  2. Parents or legal guardians upon written request. All rights of access, review, and release of records to parents/guardians are relinquished to the student when the student has reached 18 years of age;
  3. Officials of other schools or school districts in which the student enrolls;
  4. Authorized representatives of the United States Government for the purpose of auditing federal projects;
  5. Persons who need the student’s information in connection with the student’s application for or receipt of financial aid;
  6. Organizations or individuals approved by the Superintendent of Schools or his/her designated representative for the purpose of conducting educational studies;
  7. New York State Education Department and Middle States’ Accrediting Organization in order to carry out the accrediting function;
  8. 8. Persons who present court orders and subpoenas requesting access to records.

Requests for student information shall not be released to other third parties without the written authorization from the parent/guardian or the student if he/she is 18 years of age or older.

A person who has the right to access also has the right to copy records or receive copies of the records at his/her expense.

Parents or legal guardians shall have the right to see their child’s records and request deletion of inaccurate, misleading, or inappropriate data. If agreement between the parent and school cannot be reached concerning expunging of material from a student’s record, the parent may request a hearing before a disinterested third party. In each case, the hearing officer will be a certified person designated by the Superintendent of Schools.

B. Release of Directory Information

Directory information relating to a student includes the following: student’s name, address, and telephone listing.

Directory information may be disclosed without the written consent of a parent, person in parental relation, or student 18 years or older unless the District is notified, in writing, that such directory information is not to be released. A form indicating that directory information is not to be released must be completed by the parent, person in parental relation, or eligible student and returned to the student’s principal or guidance counselor.

The District’s policy regarding the release of high school student directory information applies equally to military recruiters, the media, post-secondary educational institutions, and prospective employers. The District’s policy regarding the release of student directory information to the media applies to all students.

The District will not release such directory information to military recruiters if a parent, person in parental relation, or student 18 years or older has submitted a request to the District that the student’s information not be released for such purpose without prior written consent.

C. Title IX

In 1972 Congress passed a law that prohibits discrimination because of sex in federally funded education programs. This amendment is known as “Title IX.” This regulation covers all aspects of sex discrimination in schools with regard to admissions, treatment of students, and employment. Any educational program or activity receiving federal funds is covered by Title IX regulations with certain specific exemptions. The District’s policy and procedures regarding sexual harassment and Title IX are available upon request.

Title IX states that discrimination is prohibited with regard to access to, and participation in courses and extracurricular activities, including clubs and competitive athletics. The regulations further provide that no course may be required on the basis of sex. This means that no course may be offered to only one sex. In addition, preference in admission to courses may not be made on the basis of sex, nor may courses be described as being more appropriate for one sex or the other. The one exception is that separate sessions of otherwise coeducational classes may be allowed when the materials and discussion deal exclusively with the subject of human sexuality.

Schools may not offer separate sections for physical education. The regulations, however, do include the following qualifications to that rule:

  1. Within classes, students may be separated by sex for contact sports such as wrestling, boxing, basketball, or football.
  2. Within classes, students may also be grouped by ability, even if such groupings result in single sex or primarily single sex groups. Sex may not, however, be the sole criteria for such groupings.

In the instance where a single evaluation standard, such as requiring all students to do pushups to get a passing grade, has an adverse impact on one sex, schools may use a different evaluation standard or standards in physical education.

In the area of intramural and extracurricular athletics, the regulations do not require single co-educational teams for all sports. Where selection is based on competitive skill or the activity involved is a contact sport, athletics may be provided either through separate teams for each sex or through a single team open to both sexes. If separate teams are offered, a school may not discriminate on the basis of sex in providing necessary equipment or supplies or in any other way.

In the areas of vocational education, vocational schools may not assist a discriminatory employer by referral of students or in any other manner.

D. Confidentiality of Communication

New York State law has traditionally recognized the concept of privileged information between a physician and a patient, between a lawyer and a client, between a social worker and a client, between a member of the clergy and a parishioner, etc. As a general rule, information received by teachers, guidance counselors, and other school officials is not privileged and may be revealed by the recipient of such knowledge whenever that person feels it appropriate to do so.

E. Student’s Inquiry and Expression

The District affords the opportunity to students and the school community for freedom of inquiry and expression. The expression by students of their attitudes, opinions, and ideas is vital to education in a democratic society. The First Amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees the right of freedom of speech to all Americans, including students. However, this constitutional guarantee does not include license to interfere with the orderly conduct of classes, to force others to participate in particular forms of expression, or to violate the rights of those who disagree with a given point of view.

Student’s speech, posted statements, communications, etc. may be subject to disciplinary action by school officials if such speech/statement is: a) slanderous, i.e., spoken maliciously or without regard to the truth of the assertion; b) clearly and immediately incites others to damage property or physically harm others; or c) materially and substantially interferes with the normal operation of the school, including the use of obscene or profane language.

School authorities may regulate the time, manner, place, and duration for distribution of literature on school grounds. The courts have rules that schools may regulate the content of literature to be distributed on school grounds only to the extent necessary to avoid material and substantial interference with the requirements of appropriate discipline in the operation of the school. The District may also establish procedures for submission of written materials intended to be distributed for prior approval.

F. School Safety

It is the policy of the Board of Education that students are prohibited from wearing overcoats or masks of any kind inside a school building at any time. Students are required to secure their coats in their lockers or at some other designated location upon arrival at school. The purpose of this policy is to foster a safe educational environment for staff and students by limiting the opportunity for weapons or other dangerous instruments to be secretly brought into school and limiting the opportunity for individuals to commit acts of misconduct while disguised. For this reason, clothing that can mask or hide a student’s identity is not allowed. See Section IV. Student Dress Code.

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