- Students have the right to pursue an education in a safe environment that is conducive to learning. They have the responsibility to conduct themselves with respect toward fellow students, teachers, administrators and themselves.
- Students have the right to freedom of speech and expression. The expression of opinions, however, shall not interfere with the freedom of others to express themselves or interfere with a safe and orderly educational environment. This provision includes all applicable statements made electronically.
- Students have the right to participate in school activities free from any form of discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, handicapping conditions, or economic status. Students may not be denied participation in any activity for any reason other than those established by State or school eligibility requirements and those requirements related to the purpose of the activity. Students have the responsibility of demonstrating good sportsmanship at all times.
- Students have the right to procedural due process guaranteed by the Constitutions of the United States and the State of New York and the New York State Education Law prior to disciplinary action being taken against them. Every student has the right to be informed of all the rules of the school that pertain to student conduct. Before any punishment is given, the student will be apprised of the specific rule or regulation that has been violated. Students shall have the opportunity to refute any allegations presented against them. Students are expected to accept responsibility for their own actions.
- Students have the right to enroll in the particular course of study that best meets their needs. They have the responsibility to maintain as high a scholastic average as possible and to ensure that all work is their own work and all sources are properly cited.
- Students have the right to be respected on the basis of their individual attributes and to assume the responsibilities of meeting classroom obligations to teachers and fellow students. Students are responsible for following directions of faculty and administrators and of respecting school property and the property of others.
- Students have the right to dress in a manner that is not distracting or otherwise disruptive of the educational process and does not endanger the health and safety of the student or other students. See Section VI for the District’s Student Dress Code.
- Students have the right to be educated in a safe, clean, and healthy environment. They have the responsibility to help maintain order, to pick up after themselves, and to obey all rules and regulations regarding order and discipline.
- Students have the right to use school books and materials necessary for the furtherance of their education. They have the responsibility to take proper care of books and materials, to sign out books as required, to return borrowed books and materials to the school when due and in good condition, and to bring all appropriate materials for receiving instruction and completing assignments to class as required.
- Students at the middle and high school levels have the right to be represented by an active student government selected by free school elections. They have the responsibility to take an active part in student government by running for office and/or by conscientiously voting for the best candidates and making concerns and problems known to their elected representatives.
- Students have the right to be afforded channels of communication to the Board of Education. They have the responsibility to express their views concerning the operation of the school system and to provide supporting rationale.
- Students have the right to have access to relevant and objective information concerning drug and alcohol abuse as well as access to individuals or agencies capable of providing direct assistance to those students with severe personal problems. Students have the responsibility to be aware of the information and services available and to seek assistance in dealing with personal problems when appropriate.
- Students have the right to have their student records available for inspection by their parents or legal guardian upon request, or by the students themselves if 18 years of age or older. Students have the responsibility to be aware of the right to access and of the guidelines governing such access.
- Students have the right to be free from unreasonable intrusion upon themselves or their property by school personnel and/or police agencies. Students have the responsibility to cooperate with a reasonable legal search and to be aware of actions that constitute serious and dangerous wrongdoing and to refrain from such acts (e.g., possession of controlled substances, weapons, dangerous materials, etc.) that may result in the necessity for such a search. See Section XIII regarding student searches, locker searches, and student interrogations.
- Students have the right of access to computer technology. Students have the responsibility to use computer technology responsibly and only for school-related projects.
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