Green Tech High Charter School

Discipline
Green Tech High Charter School holds the highest expectations for students, faculty and parents in personal conduct. Ensuring good conduct is essential to improved student learning and achievement. All school staff is responsible to encourage good behavior and correct unacceptable behavior by consistently enforcing this code.

Similar to other high-performing charter high schools, Green Tech High will reinforce a value system of high expectations beginning with the general requirement that all the students must be gentlemen by behaving responsibly and honestly, focusing on learning and achievement, and showing kindness and respect to adults, other students, themselves, and school property. These “non-negotiables” manifest themselves in the school building in the following typical ways:

Attending class on time, ready to learn;
Studying and reading continuously;
Following the dress code (what to wear and how to wear it);
Knowing and doing all assigned homework;
Turning off and putting away all electronic devices while in school; and
Always having a pass in the hallway if during class-time.

The following code of conduct applies to behaviors in many school settings, including working in class, being a good audience, eating in the cafeteria, traveling in the bus, participating in field trips, doing community service, playing on the playground, and playing school sports.

A short-term suspension refers to and in-school removal or out-of-school removal of a student for disciplinary reasons for a period of five or fewer days. A student who has committed any of the infractions listed below shall be subject minimally to a short-term suspension, unless the principal determines that an exception should be made based on the individual circumstances of the incident and the student’s disciplinary record. The principal reserves the right to adjust the punishment for each infraction per his or her judgment.

Disciplinary Infractions

Attempt to assault any student or staff member;
Vandalize school property causing minor damage;
Endanger the physical safety of another by the use of force of threats of force that reasonably places the victim in fear of imminent bodily injury;
Engage in conduct which disrupts school or classroom activity or endanger or threaten to endanger the health, safety, welfare, or morals of others;
Engage in insubordination;
Fail to complete assignments, carry out directions, or comply with disciplinary sanctions;
Cheat on quizzes, exams, or commit plagiary;
Used forged notes or excuses;
Steal, or attempt to steal, or possess property known by the student to be stolen;
Commit extortion;
Engage in gambling;
Abuse school property or equipment;
Use obscene or abusive language or gestures;
Engage in acts of verbal or physical sexual harassment;
Make a false bomb threat or pull a false emergency alarm;
Possess tobacco or alcohol;
Possess pagers, beepers, or portable/cellular telephones not being used for Instructional purposes;
Wear inappropriate, insufficient, or disruptive clothing or attire, or violate the student dress code;
Commit any other act which school officials reasonably conclude disrupts the learning environment of the school;
Repeatedly commit minor behavioral infractions which, in aggregate, may be considered an infraction subject to formal disciplinary action.

A long-term suspension refers to the removal of a student from school for disciplinary reasons for a period of more than five days. Expulsion refers to the permanent removal of a student from school for disciplinary reasons. A student who is determined to have committed any of the infractions listed below shall be subject minimally to a long-term suspension or expulsion, unless the principal determines that an exception should be made based on the circumstance of the incident and the student’s disciplinary record. Such a student may also be subject to any of the disciplinary measures outlined elsewhere in this document including a referral to the appropriate law enforcement authorities.

Disciplinary Infractions

Possess, use, attempt to use, or transfer of any firearm, knife, razor blade, explosive, mace, tear gas, or other dangerous object of no reasonable use to the student in school;
Commit, or attempt to commit arson on school property;
Assault any other student or staff member;
Intentionally causes physical injury to another person, except when student’s actions are reasonably necessary to protect him or herself from injury;
Vandalize school property causing major damage;
Commit any act which could constitute a crime or is a more egregious infraction described under “short-term suspension”, which school officials reasonably conclude warrants a long-term suspension.

A student who commits any of the acts previously described as causes for short term-suspension may, instead or in addition, be subject to a long-term suspension at the principal’s discretion only if the student has committed the act at least three times in the academic year.

Firearm Violations
Federal and New York law require the expulsion from school for a period of not less than one year of a student who is determined to have brought a firearm to the school, or to have possessed a firearm at school, except that the principal may modify such expulsion requirement for a student on a case-by-case basis, if such modification is in writing, in accordance with the Federal Gun-Free Schools Act of 1994 (as amended). “Weapon,” as used in this law means a “firearm,” as defined by 18 USC § 921, and includes firearms and explosives. (New York Education Law §3214 effectuates this federal law.) The principal shall refer a student under the age of sixteen who has been determined to have brought a weapon or firearm to school to a presentment agency for a juvenile delinquency proceeding consistent with Article 3 of the Family Court Act except a student fourteen or fifteen years of age who qualifies for juvenile offender status under Criminal Procedure Law § 1.20(42). The principal shall refer any pupil sixteen years of age or older or a student fourteen or fifteen years of age who qualifies for juvenile offender status under Criminal Procedure Law § 1.20(42), who has been determined to have brought a weapon or firearm to school to the appropriate law enforcement officials.

Provision of Instruction During Removal
The charter school will ensure that alternative educational services are provided to a child who has been suspended or removed to help that child progress in the school’s general curriculum. For a student who has been suspended, alternative instruction will be provided to the extent required by applicable law. For a student who has been expelled, alternative instruction will be provided in like manner as a suspended student until the student enrolls in another school for a reasonable period thereafter or until the end of the school year.

Alternative instruction will be provided to students suspended or expelled in a way that best suits the needs of the student. Instruction for such students shall be sufficient to enable the student to make adequate academic progress, and shall provide them the opportunity to complete the assignments, learn the curriculum and participate in assessments. Instruction will take place in one of the following locations: the child’s home, a contracted facility (e.g., in the school district of location), or a suspension room or other room at the school. During any removal for drug or weapon offenses, additional services shall include strategies designed to prevent such behavior from recurring. Instruction will be provided by one or more of the following individuals who shall be certified or qualified in accordance with § 2854(3)(a-1) of the Education Law and the federal No Child Left Behind Act: the student’s teacher(s), aides or trained volunteers, individuals within a contracted facility, and/or a tutor hired for this purpose.

The charter school will maintain written records of all suspensions and expulsions including the name of the student, a description of the behavior engaged in, the disciplinary action taken, and a record of the number of days a student has been suspended or removed for disciplinary reasons.