Code of Conduct Definitions

Glossary of Terms

For the purpose of this code, the following definitions apply:

Academic Dishonesty

Plagiarism, copying another’s work, altering records and cheating by providing, receiving or viewing answers to quiz or test items or independent assignments, using text, documents, notes, or notebooks during tests without permission from a staff member.

Arson

Starting a fire or destruction of property as a result of starting a fire.

Physical Attack on Students

A student or students set upon another student in a forceful, hostile or aggressive way with or without provocation.

Behavior Violations

Student behaviors that are inappropriate in school, unacceptable or that warrant response, interventions and consequences.

Bomb Threat

The making of threats or providing false information, in writing, in person, on the phone, including text message or other means, about the presence of explosive materials or devices on school property, without cause.

Bullying

Repeated intentional acts done willfully, knowingly and with deliberation, by an individual(s), that targets and harms another person physically or emotionally. Bullying is characterized by an imbalance of power between two students.

Child Pornography

Sexually explicit images of children younger than 17 years of age.

Consequence

A result or response that follows an action

Criminal Behavior

Any behavior that is considered a violation against municipal, state or federal laws.

Cyber Bullying

Means “harassment” or “bullying” where such harassment or bullying, where such harassment or bullying occurs through any form of electronic communications

Damage to Property

Damage, destruction of defacement of property belonging to the school or others.

Dignity Act Coordinator

An employee designated by the board who ensures full compliance with the Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) and is trained to address issues in areas protected by the law. Dignity Act Coordinators manage documentation, processing, actions and interventions enforcing DASA.

Discrimination

Unjust or prejudicial treatment toward any student by a student(s) and/or employee(s) on school property or at a school function including, but not limited to, discrimination based on a person’s actual or perceived race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, sexual orientation, gender, sex, or any other protected class.

Electronic Technology

Devices and equipment such as cell phones, computer, tablets.

Employee

Any person receiving compensation from a school district or employee of a contracted service provider or worker placed within the school under a public assistance program, pursuant to title nine-B of article five of the Social Services Law, and consistent with the provisions of such title for the provision of services to such district, its students or employees, directly or through contract, whereby such services performed by such person involve direct student contact.

Ethnic Group

A group of people who identify with each other through a common heritage including language, culture, and often a shared or common religion and/or ideology that stresses ancestry

Gender

Actual or perceived sex and includes a person’s gender identity or expression.

Gender Expression

The way in which we express gender identity to others through behavior, clothing, hairstyle, activities, voice or mannerisms.

Gender Identity

The way in which people self-identify as being male or female. Gender identity is internal and not necessarily visible to others.

Harassment

The creation of a hostile environment by conduct or by verbal threats, intimidation or abuse that has or would interfere with a student’s educational performance, opportunities or benefits or mental, emotional or physical well-being or threats, intimidation or abuse that cause or would be expected to cause a student to fear for his or her physical safety.

Hazing

A specific form of harassment among students defined as any humiliating or dangerous activity expected of a student in order to join a group or be accepted by a formal or informal group, regardless of the student’s willingness to participate. Hazing includes, but is not limited to, any activity that intimidates or threatens a student with ostracism or adversely affects the health or safety of the student; or any activity that causes or requires the student to perform a task or act that is a violation of state or federal law of district policies/regulations

Illegal Drug

A controlled substance (does not include a controlled substance legally possessed or used under the supervision of a licensed health care professional)

Inciting or Participating in a Disturbance

Causing a large disruption to the atmosphere of order and discipline in the school that is necessary for learning (such as a riot).

Insubordination

The refusal by a student to follow a reasonable directive from any authorized school staff member.

Interventions

Specific programs, strategies, restorative practices, skill-building sessions and individual and group counseling activities, among other things, that enable students to reflect on behavior, attitudes, needs and feeling; learn replacement behaviors and habits, work through personal obstacles, resolve conflict and develop goals and plans to get back on track.

Leveled Consequences and Interventions

There are five levels of behaviors and possible responses. Level one aims at responding with strategies in the classroom to teach and correct behaviors (such as unexcused tardies, caught in hall sweep etc.) The consequences intensify as the levels increase. For example, level five behaviors, ones that are dangerous behaviors and/or create risk of injury, can result in more severe consequences such as suspension.

National Origin

A person’s country of birth or ancestor’s country of birth.

Parent

Biological, adoptive, foster parent, guardian or person of record in parental relation to a student.

Persistent

Repeated over a period of days after interventions have been implemented and given ample time to be effective.

Physical Aggression

Behavior causing or threatening physical harm toward others including, but not limited to, hitting, kicking, biting and shoving.

Physical Altercation Between Two or More Students

Physical aggression (use of physical force) that may or may not result in injury.

Race

Group of persons related by common descent or heredity.

Racial Harassment

A negative opinion or verbal expression toward an individual or group of persons who possess common physical characteristics (color of skin, eyes, hair and facial features genetically transmitted by descent and heredity) that distinguish them as a distinct division of humankind, based on these physical characteristics.

Reckless Endangerment

Conduct that creates a substantial risk of serious physical injury or death to another person.

Religion

Either religious or spiritual belief or preference.

Religious Practice

Attending worship services, praying, wearing religious garb
or symbols, displaying religious objects, adhering to certain dietary rules, proselytizing or other forms of religious expression or refraining from certain activities.

Restorative Practices

An approach to resolving conflict and preventing harm. Restorative approaches enable those who have been harmed to convey the impact of the harm to those responsible, and for those responsible to acknowledge this impact and take steps to make it right.

School Function

Any school-sponsored extracurricular event or activity. This includes any event, occurring on or off school property, sanctioned or approved by the district including, but not limited to, off-site athletic events, school dances, plays, musical productions, field trips or other district-sponsored trips.

School Property

Outside grounds, all structures, and any space within any building, structure, athletic playing field, playground, parking lot or land contained within the real property boundary line of a public elementary or secondary school.

Serious Bodily Injury

Bodily injury which involves a substantial risk of death, extreme physical pain, protracted and obvious disfigurement or protracted loss or impairment of the function of a bodily member, organ or mental faculty.

Sexual Orientation

Actual or perceived heterosexuality, homosexuality, or bisexuality.

Student with a Disability

Means a student with a disability as defined in section 4401(1) of the Education Law, who has not attained the age of 21 prior to September 1st and who is entitled to attend public schools pursuant to section 3202 of the Education Law and who, because of mental, physical or emotional reasons, has been identified as having a disability and who requires special services and programs approved by the department.

Tardiness

Arriving late to school or class.

Theft

Taking or attempting to take property of another person or institution without permission or knowledge of the owner, with the intent to deprive the owner of
its use. Robbery includes obtaining or attempting to obtain money, goods, services or information from another by physical force or violence, coordinated violence or intimidation using a dangerous instrument or weapon. Theft, possession or transfer of stolen goods includes the act of possessing transferring the property of another without the consent of the owner.

Threat Assessment

A process used to evaluate the risk posed by a student or another person, typically as a response to an actual or perceived threat concerning behavior.

Trespassing

Being on school property without permission, including while suspended.

Using or Possessing

Consuming alcohol, drugs or inhalants or in possession of these substances on school property or at school functions.

Violent Student

Means an elementary or secondary student under the age of 21 who: commits an act of violence against any school employee; commits an act of violence on school property against any student or other person lawfully on school property; possesses, on school property, a gun, knife, incendiary bomb, or other dangerous instrument capable of causing physical injury or death; threatens, on school property, to use any instrument that appears capable of causing physical injury or death; knowingly and intentionally damages or destroys the personal property of any person lawfully on school property; or knowingly or intentionally damages or destroys District property.

Weapon

A firearm as defined in 18 USC 921 for purposes of the Gun-Free Schools Act. It also means any other gun, BB gun, pistol, revolver, shotgun, rifle, machine gun disguised gun, dagger, dirk, razor, stiletto, switchblade knife, gravity knife, brass knuckles, slingshot, metal knuckle knife, box cutter, cane sword, electronic dart gun, sandbag or sand club, loaded or blank cartridges, Kung Fu star, electronic stun gun, pepper spray or other noxious spray.