ATTENDANCE (Citizenship/Responsibility): A student must attend every class every day unless there is an excused reason for the abence.

A. Tardy and skipping class UB: Excessive Tardiness, UB: Leaving School without permission, UB: Leaving Class without permission, UB: Truancy, UB: Skipping School, UB: Skipping Class, UB: Cutting Class, UB: Late to Class: Students who are tardy, cut school or class or have excessive unexcused absences (more than 10) are in violation of this rule and are subjected to adjudication as an undisciplined youth in Juvenile Court. In addition to any administrative response, students with excessive absences may be required to comply with the district’s recovery procedures.

RESPONSES:
Minimum: Level I Response(s)
Maximum: Level I Response(s)

B. Leaving campus without permission UB: Leaving school without permission, UB: Skipping school: Students cannot leave the school campus during school hours.

RESPONSES:
Minimum: Level I Response(s)
Maximum: Level I Response(s)
OSS 1-2 days to include documented responses by the administration team.

FOOD/BEVERAGES (Responsibility/Honesty) UB: Inappropriate items on school property, UB: Insubordination:
A student will eat and drink only in authorized areas of the school. No outside food delivery services are allowed.

RESPONSES:
Minimum: Level I Response(s)
Maximum: Level I Response(s)

MEDICATION (Responsibility/Honesty) UB: Inappropriate Item on School Property: All medication will be provided to the school nurse and properly stored. Without proper medical authorization, students shall not transport or consume prescription or non-prescription medications, supplements, chemical compounds, or over the counter herbal supplements to or from school or have these substances in their possession at any time without meeting conditions prescribed by the Board of Education including appropriate documentation and storage with the school nurse. Students are not permitted to sell or distribute such substances; the distribution, sale or consumption of such substances may be a violation of Rule 28.

RESPONSES:
Minimum: Level I Response(s) 
Maximum: Level II Response(s)

STUDENT DRESS AND GROOMING (Respect/Responsibility) UB: Dress Code Violation: A student will maintain personal attire and grooming standards that promote safety, health, and are not disruptive to the educational environment. This includes student clothing that materially and substantially disrupts classes or other school activities. Students cannot wear clothing/accessories that block the ability to able to make a positive identification of a student, such as a ski mask. The dress and grooming of students shall contribute to the health and safety of the individual and promote an orderly educational environment. Please see the dress code at your school. These standards apply to all students unless a specific exception is made by the school administrator. All students have a right to wear their hair in a way that reflects their racial, ethnic, or cultural identity without being discriminated against or disciplined.

RESPONSES:
Minimum: Level I Response(s)
Maximum: Level I Response(s)

PERSONAL PROPERTY (Responsibility): A student is permitted to bring or possess only objects that have an educational purpose or will not distract from teaching or learning. Students are permitted to sell items on campus only as part of an approved school activity. All other items will be confiscated and returned to the parent at a mutually agreed upon time, not to exceed one calendar week. In some cases this may be a violation of Rule 21B, 22, or 28.

A. Personal Technology Devices UB: Cell Phone Use: A personal technology device (PTD) is a portable Internet accessing device that is not the property of the district that can be used to transmit communications by voice, written characters, words or images, share information, record sounds, process words, and/or capture images, such as a laptop computer, tablet, smart phone, cell phone, smart watch, personal digital assistant or E-Reader. A student may possess and use a PTD on school property, at after-school activities and at school-related functions, provided that during school hours, the PTD remains off and put away. With the approval of the superintendent, a principal may permit students to possess and use PTDs during the school day for educational purposes. “Educational purposes” include student education, research and career development. A principal may put additional rules in place permitting student use of cell phones during noninstructional times of the school day. The principal must assure that these rules are publicized to students and parents. Possession of a PTD by a student is a privilege, which may be revoked for violations of the Code of Student Conduct. Violations may result in the confiscation of the PTD (to be returned only to a parent) and/or other disciplinary actions. The district is not responsible (monetary value or replacement) for theft, loss, or damage to PTDs or other electronic devices brought onto CMS property. Students permitted to use PTDs during the school day must follow all rules set forth in Policy S-SINT and Regulation S-SINT/R, and sign the Student Internet Use Agreement.

B. Toys, games (electronic or other), lighters and other electronic equipment UB: Inappropriate Item on School Property: Possession of these or any similar devices without permission of the administration is prohibited. Possession of a toy gun that could be mistaken for an actual weapon is a violation of Rule 29, Weapons and Dangerous Objects.

RESPONSES:
Minimum: Level I Response(s)
Maximum: Level II Response(s) for repeated violations

MISREPRESENTATION (Honesty): A student will be honest and submit his/her own work.

A. Altering Report Cards or notes UB: Honor Code Violation: Tampering with report cards, official passes, notes or other school documents in any manner, including changing grades or forging names to excuses, is prohibited.

B. False information UB: Falsification of Information: Making false statements, written or oral, to anyone in authority is prohibited.

C. Cheating UB: Honor Code Violation: Violating rules of honesty and Honor Codes, including but not limited to plagiarism, submission of work not authored exclusively by the student or copying another student’s test or assignment, are prohibited. The superintendent has the discretion to punish violations of this rule as Level III if the student’s actions have a serious detrimental effect on other students or staff.

RESPONSES:
Minimum: Level I Response(s)
Maximum: Level II Response(s) OSS 1-5 days

INSUBORDINATION (Responsibility/Respect) UB: Insubordination: A student will comply with the lawful direction of any authorized staff member while in school, participating in a school activity or on school property. All students are expected to behave in a respectful manner. This includes, but is not limited to, complying with the direction or instruction of a staff member, not walking away from a staff member while being spoken to, and speaking to staff in an appropriate manner.

RESPONSES:
Minimum: Level I Response(s)
Maximum: Level II Response(s)
                  OSS 1-5 days to include documented responses by the administration team

A. BULLYING, PROFANITY, OBSCENITY AND/OR DEROGATORY LANGUAGE (Respect/Caring) UB: Bullying, UB: Harassment-Racial, UB: Harassment-Disability, UB: Inappropriate Language/Disrespect, UB: Inappropriate Language-Racial, UB: Harassment- Sexual Orientation, UB: Harassment- Religious Affiliation: Bullying and/or harassing behavior are strictly prohibited in CMS. It is the policy of the Board of Education to maintain learning environments that are free from harassment or bullying (Policy S-BULY). Students are expected to use appropriate language and conduct at school and school functions and possess only appropriate materials.

B. Cyberbullying UB: Cyberbullying: This rule applies to cursing, possessing, sending, social media posts, or receiving written materials or electronic text and/or images that convey an offensive, racial, derogatory, bullying or obscene message to another person. This includes but is not limited to references to race, color, ancestry, national origin, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, religion, physical or sensory disability, physical appearance that includes hair styles, or making offensive statements or gestures. Bullying is defined in CMS Regulation S-BULY/R and can be located on page 25.

In addition, as with other disciplinary violations, any manner of bullying that occurs off campus may violate the Code of Student Conduct if it has a direct and immediate impact to the orderly and efficient operation of the school or the safety of individuals in the school environment.

Students who feel bullied, harassed or intimidated on school property by an adult or another student or who witness such conduct may report it in one of two ways: 1. Go to www.cms.k12.nc.us or your school’s website and click on the “Report Bullying Anonymously” button; 2. Use the Say Something Anonymous Reporting App or https://www.sandyhookpromise.org/say-something-tips/

RESPONSES:
Minimum: Level I Response(s)
Maximum: Level III Response(s) to include documented responses by the administration team

GENERALLY DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR (Responsibility/Respect/Citizenship) UB: Excessive Display of Affection, UB: Disruptive Behavior, UB: Repeat Offender: A student will maintain appropriate behavior so as to refrain from disrupting class, school or bus activity and be prepared for instruction at all times. A student shall not talk out in class or move from his/ her assigned seat/area without permission, throw objects (except as directed by staff for an instructional purpose), horseplay, harass, tease or make rude noises or participate in excessive displays of affection.

Repeated Violations: Repeated incidents of generally disruptive behavior require documentation of the student being supported within the Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) framework.

RESPONSES:
Minimum: Level I Response(s)
Maximum: Level III Response with required Rule 9 paperwork completed (available in Canvas)

TRESPASSING (Citizenship) UB: Being in an unauthorized area: A student will not enter school property or a school facility without proper authority. This rule includes entering any school or participating in any CMS event (with principal permission) during a period of suspension or expulsion.

RESPONSES:
Minimum: Level I Response(s)
Maximum: Level II Response(s) OSS 1-5 days

UNSAFE ACTION (Citizenship/Caring): Harm’s Way UB: Being in an Unauthorized Area, UB: Disruptive

Behavior, UB: Insubordination: This rule will apply only when the unsafe behavior does not meet the standards of any other violation. A student shall not commit any action that has the potential to cause danger or physical harm to himself or to others, to include but not limited to: exiting a moving school bus, exiting a school bus by way of the emergency exit absent an emergency, attempting to elude school officials by running through an active vehicle traffic area, climbing on the roof of buildings, being in construction areas, boiler rooms, attics or elevator.

RESPONSES:
Minimum: Level I Response(s)
Maximum: Long-Term Suspension or Expulsion

VEHICLE USE (Responsibility/Citizenship):

A. Reckless Vehicle Use UB: Other school defined offense, UB: Disruptive Behavior: A student will not operate any motorized or self-propelled vehicle on school grounds in a manner that is a threat to health and/ or safety, or a disruption to the educational process. Driving to school is a privilege, which may be limited or revoked at any time by the school principal. Student must have a valid driver’s license to drive/park on school grounds.

RESPONSES:
Minimum: Level I Response(s)
Maximum: Long-Term Suspension

B. Vehicle Parking on Campus UB: Inappropriate item on school property: A student will not park a motor vehicle on school premises unless he/she has been issued a parking permit and has a valid driver’s license. Parking permits must be visibly displayed and vehicles must be parked only in assigned spaces. Unauthorized vehicles may be towed.

RESPONSES:
Minimum: Level I Response(s)
Maximum: Level I Response(s)

GAMBLING (Responsibility) UB: Gambling: A student will not play games of skill or chance for money or property.

RESPONSES:
Minimum: Level I Response(s)
Maximum: Level II Response(s)

VANDALISM (Responsibility/Respect/Citizenship) UB: Property Damage: A student will not willfully, with or without malice, damage or destroy property of another, including property belonging to the school or district, staff, students or other adults on campus or at a school-sponsored or school-related activity on or off school property or participate with others to do so. Vandalism may include but is not limited to stickers on the walls, writing on desks, graffiti and permanent markings. A student or parent/guardian may be held financially responsible by the judicial system.

RESPONSES:
Minimum: Level I Response(s)
Maximum: Long-Term Suspension

USE OF FIRE (Responsibility/Respect/Citizenship) *RO: Burning of a School Building, UB: Unlawfully setting a fire: A student will neither set fire nor attempt to set fire to anything on school property or participate with others to damage or destroy school property through the use of fire. This includes striking matches, flicking cigarette lighters or using any instrument capable of producing fire on school property or at a school-sponsored or school-related activity that is on or off school property. (This violation does not include any smoking violations. For smoking violations, refer to Rule 28)

RESPONSES:
Minimum: Level I Response(s)
Maximum: Long Term Suspension or Expulsion