Knowledge and Observation of Rules of Conduct
Effective learning takes place in an environment where students, families, faculty, and staff know and understand the rules for all students and the consequences for violations of the Code of Student Conduct.
Rights
- To have access to a copy of the Code of Student Conduct and an explanation of the rules regarding student conduct.
- To expect the Code of Student Conduct, school rules, and classroom rules to be enforced fairly and without discrimination.
Responsibilities
- To know and observe school rules, policies, and procedures which govern student conduct.
- To become familiar with the Code of Student Conduct, school rules, and classroom rules.
Right to Learn and Participate
Students have the right to be involved in their education. Age, grade, and maturity are factors which determine the level of a student’s involvement. Course selection and participation in school activities are an integral part of learning.
Rights
- To receive instruction under competent teachers.
- To receive school course descriptions to help make informed choices.
Responsibilities
- To request participation in academic programs and extracurricular activities that align with the student’s abilities.
- To cooperate fully and strive to achieve mastery of academic standards.
- To ask for assistance from school personnel in selecting courses.
- To cooperate with teachers and help create a safe environment.
- To treat others equitably and fairly.
- To act in a way as to not harass others and to immediately report any harassment or discriminatory incidents to school administrators.
Respect for Persons and Property
The safety and security of both people and property are important. Students, their families, and school faculty and staff should work together to preserve these ideals. Members of the P.K. Yonge community are expected to respect other people and their property.
Remember: If you see something, say something to a responsible adult – teacher, staff member, administrator.
Rights
- To be treated with respect by other students, school personnel, and campus visitors.
- To expect that personal property will be respected by other students and school personnel.
- To have a safe and orderly school.
- To learn in a safe environment and to take reasonable, non-violent actions to protect themselves and their personal property against injury or damage attempted by another. (Please Note: violence is never an acceptable response. If faced with harm, threat, or property damage, students are strongly encouraged and expected to immediately remove themselves from the situation and report the incident to their teacher or school administrator.)
Responsibilities
- To treat other students, school personnel, and campus visitors with respect.
- To respect others’ property by not damaging or taking it without permission.
- To treat school property with respect.
- To act in a way that does not interfere with the rights of others and in a way that is not harmful to the health and/or safety of others.
- To avoid conflict and to report and seek adult help first, before conflict arises.
Attendance
Parents are responsible for student attendance as defined by Florida’s Compulsory School Attendance laws. [F. S.1003.24]. As a Developmental Research School, P.K. Yonge’s mission is to design, test, and disseminate innovations in K-12 education by serving a diverse student community. In order for P.K. Yonge to carry out its mission, students must attend school regularly. If a student does not comply with P.K. Yonge’s Attendance Policy, P.K. Yonge has the right to dismiss the student from further attendance at P.K. Yonge.
Rights
- To be informed of school policies and rules regarding absences, tardies, and attendance as they pertain to the classroom and virtual environment.
- To appeal a decision pertaining to the coding of an absence that the parent believes is wrongfully applied.
- To make up work and tests that are missed due to excused absences within the time required by the school.
- To make up exams when there is an unexcused absence, in accordance with the Attendance Policy.
- To make up work when suspended from school, in accordance with the Attendance Policy.
Responsibilities
- To attend and be on time for school and classes daily.
- To make adequate progress in virtual school courses as defined by the Virtual Instruction Agreement and the Virtual School Policy.
- To provide P.K. Yonge with an adequate explanation of absences (e.g., a dated, signed doctor’s note confirming that the absence from school is medically necessary) within two (2) school days of the student’s return to school.
- To request and complete make-up assignments as required by P.K. Yonge.
- To complete make-up work with honesty and integrity.
- To understand and comply with the Attendance Policy.
Tardiness
It is important to be at school on time. If students arrive late, they miss instructional time and may disrupt the learning of others. Students are tardy if they come to school after the beginning of the school day or if they are not in their classrooms when the bell rings.
If students are tardy to school, they or their parent/guardian must sign in at the attendance kiosks.
A student’s tardiness may be excused at the discretion of P.K. Yonge’s administration. The following reasons will not be accepted as reasons to excuse tardiness: heavy traffic; oversleeping; returning home for forgotten items; and non-educational appointments other than documented medical appointments.
Parents or guardians will be notified if a student is habitually tardy/absent.
For elementary students, tardiness or early check-outs that result in a student missing more than 50% of the school day will be counted as one absence. For secondary students, tardiness or early checkouts that result in a student missing more than 50% of a class period will be counted as one absence for that class period. Whether these absences qualify as excused or unexcused is determined based on guidelines outlined below.
Four (4) unexcused tardies to school/class or unexcused early releases from school/class will be counted as one unexcused absence.
Excused Absences
Students must be in school unless they have an excused absence for one of the reasons listed below. It is the responsibility of parents to explain a student’s absence from school in a manner acceptable to school administration and outlined in this policy. Documentation of absence must be provided to P.K. Yonge within two (2) school days of a student’s return. If documentation is not received within that timeframe, the absence will be considered unexcused.
Acceptable reasons for excused absences include:
- Sickness, injury, death in the family, or some other insurmountable condition [up to six (6) absences for illness per semester with a parental note are excused].
- Documented appointments with health care professionals – documentation must include signature, date, and confirmation that the duration of the absence from school is medically necessary.
- Documented absence for religious instruction or for religious holidays.
- Participation in an academic class or a school-sponsored activity approved by the Principal.
- Court appearances (court documentation is required)
Absences for students due to other individual circumstances may be excused by the Principal. All other absences are considered unexcused.
High school students who have more than six (6) unexcused absences in a semester may be
required to demonstrate mastery of student performance standards in order to receive course credit.
Pre-Arranged Absences
Parents planning ahead for a student’s absence from school may apply for pre-arranged absence approval from the Principal. Likewise, parents may request approval for an absence of a student for religious instruction or religious holidays.
Pre-Arranged Absence Applications must be submitted to the Main Office at least seven (7) days in advance of the absence. Applications turned in late may NOT be approved and may result in unexcused absence(s). Application forms are available in the Main Office and on the Attendance page. Pre-arranged absences may be requested for medical procedures and significant family events, including weddings or funerals. Pre-arranged absences will not be granted for family vacations or leisure activities. Parents will be notified if a pre-arranged absence is not approved.
Unexcused Absences / Habitual Nonattendance
A hearing with the members of the Student Services Team may occur for students who are demonstrating a pattern of nonattendance, or who have fifteen (15) or more unexcused absences in a period of ninety (90) calendar days. [F.S. 1003.27]
Student attendance is critical to P.K. Yonge’s educational research mission. Enrollment at P.K. Yonge is a choice. Attendance is a requirement. A student may be dismissed from P.K. Yonge, not permitted to re-enroll at P.K. Yonge, or have limited or denied participation in special activities or extracurriculars if minimum attendance requirements outlined in the Attendance Policy are not met.
Students are required to attend school from age 6 through age 16. A student may withdraw from school at age 16 only if a parent/guardian gives written permission to the school. [F.S. 1003.21] When a student withdraws from P.K. Yonge, they are required to enroll in Florida Virtual School (FLVS) or their home zoned school.
Early Checkouts
To be excused, early check-outs must meet the same requirements as Excused Absences.
- No early check-outs will occur during the last thirty (30) minutes of the school day.
- Checkouts during lunch must be requested at least one (1) hour prior to the scheduled lunch time.
Habitual early check-outs will result in administrative action and consideration of the student’s removal from the school.
Free Speech, Student Publication, Assembly, Off-Campus Behavior
Citizens are guaranteed self-expression under the First and Fourteenth Amendments of the United States Constitution and Article One, Section Four of the Florida Constitution. One of the basic purposes of education is to prepare students for responsible self-expression and the free exchange of ideas.
Students’ off-campus speech, social media activity, digital communications or other conduct which occurs outside of school time that violates the Code of Student Conduct may also be the basis for discipline, up to dismissal, if it has the potential to disrupt the process of education, impact the safe and efficient operation of the school or school-sponsored activities, or interferes with the rights, safety, or welfare of others.
Rights
- To express viewpoints responsibly without jeopardizing relations with teachers or the school.
- To print and distribute publications only under the supervision of the Principal/designee.
- To conduct meetings on school grounds or in school buildings in accordance with school rules and the scheduled use of facilities.
- Upon written request from a parent/guardian, students have the right to not participate in the reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance, including standing & placing their right hand over their heart [F.S. 1003.44].
Responsibilities
- To recognize the rights of others by expressing oneself in a manner which does not disrupt the process of education, violate school rules, or interfere with the rights, safety, and/or welfare of others.
- To observe guidelines provided by school administrators and follow the rules of responsible journalism so as not to slander or libel against others.
Privacy
Federal and state laws provide persons with reasonable expectation of privacy in addition to freedom from unreasonable search and seizure of person and property. Such guarantees are not unlimited and must be balanced by the school’s need to protect the health, safety, and welfare of all.
Rights
- To keep personal possessions private unless appropriate school personnel have reasonable cause to believe that a student may have an object or material which is prohibited by law
- To expect that the school will keep student records safe and private
Responsibilities
- To refrain from carrying or concealing any prohibited material, items, or objects.
- To learn how information in a student’s school records is gathered, used, and what it means.
Restrooms
Single-occupant restrooms are available for students. One person at a time is allowed in a single-stall restroom at once. In elementary multi-stall restrooms, there shall be no more than one student per stall at one time.
There is an expectation of privacy within restrooms. Students who infringe on the privacy of another student will be referred for appropriate disciplinary measures.
Inappropriate use of the restroom facilities, including but not limited to, smoking/vaping, sexual misconduct, destruction of property, vandalism, intentional damage, excessive untidiness, and behavior in violation of applicable provisions of Section 553.865, F.S. (“Safety in Private Spaces”) will result in disciplinary action in accordance with procedures herein.
Student Records
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law pertaining to maintenance and disclosure of student records. The “Notice for Directory Information” in Appendix A explains families’ rights and obligations regarding the disclosure of personal information in student records, including the release of information to military recruiters.
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) Notification