4315 - Disruptive Behavior ## Disruptive Behavior
An orderly environment is critical for teachers to be able to teach and students to be able to learn. Students are encouraged to participate in school efforts to create a safe, orderly and inviting environment. Students also are encouraged to exercise their constitutional rights to free speech as a part of a stimulating, inviting educational environment. A student’s right to free speech will not be infringed upon; however, school officials may place reasonable, constitutional restrictions on time, place and manner in order to preserve a safe, orderly environment.
Principals and teachers have full authority as provided by law to establish and enforce standards and rules as are necessary to create orderly schools and classrooms.
Prohibited Behavior
Students are prohibited from disrupting teaching, the orderly conduct of school activities, or any other lawful function of the school or school district. The following conduct is illustrative of disruptive behavior and is prohibited:
Χ intentional verbal or physical acts which result or have the potential to result in blocking access to school functions or facilities or preventing the convening or continuation of school-related functions;
Χ appearance or clothing which (1) violates a reasonable dress code adopted and publicized by the school, (2) is substantially disruptive, (3) is provocative or obscene or (4) endangers the health or safety of the student or others;
Χ possessing or distributing literature or illustrations which significantly disrupt the educational process or which are obscene or unlawful;
Χ engaging in behavior which is immoral, indecent, lewd, disreputable or of an overly sexual nature in the school setting;
Χ failing to observe established safety rules, standards and regulations, including on the bus and in hallways; and
Χ interfering with the operation of school buses, including delaying the bus schedule, getting off at an unauthorized stop, and willfully trespassing upon a school bus.
Consequences
Consequences for engaging in prohibited behavior will be provided in accordance with the school’s student behavior management plan (see board policy 4302, School Plan for Management of Student
Behavior). For repeated or serious violations of this policy, the principal may suspend a student from school for up to ten days.
Legal References: U.S. Const. amend. I; N.C. Const. art. I, §14; G.S. 14-132, -132.2, -288.2, ## -288.4; G.S. 115C-47, -288, -307, -390, -391
Cross References: School Plan for Management of Student Behavior (policy 4302)
Adopted: 2001-12-03