Student Code of Conduct

EAD-513: Shaping School Culture

Hugo Guillen

April 13, 2022

Background

The middle school I teach is a large school that serves a high SES community that is in

a suburban setting. It is a new school that was opened in 2019 and is a school that serves as the

flagship school for the district. The grades taught are grades 6-8 and the school currently has a

student enrollment of approximately 1,300 students. There are approximately 60 teachers and

support personal on staff. The school has a principal, 2 vice-principals, and one dean of

students. The school generally does not have many major behavior issues compared to other

schools, but the sheer number of students for a middle school presents unique challenges for

the school in its desire to create a school culture.

Student Code of Conduct Values Statement:

Sky Ranch Middle Schools vision is to create a positive, engaging and safe

environment for all staff and students. All students have the right to feel happy and safe at

school while receiving a high-quality education that will prepare the to be successful and

responsible citizens in the community. To create a school culture that instills, fosters and

develops these skills and qualities in its students, the student code of conduct has been

developed to be able to layout the clear expectations for student behaviors in school. Students

at Sky Ranch Middle School are expected to understand and implement the norms established

in the Code of Conduct with fidelity and with integrity.

The staff at Sky Ranch Middle school is here to help students understand the Code of

Conduct and to help the students to grow in their awareness of what it means to act in

accordance with the Student Code of Conduct. By demonstrating this interest in the

development of the students, the staff will work to establish a school culture of respect and

safety for all.

Behavior Expectations

1. Show integrity in all you do

2. Show respect to everyone and to oneself

3. Strive for excellence in all you do

4. Always give your full effort

5. Be a positive leader
Student Code of Conduct Topics

1. Student Safety

a. Topics discussed in this section would include bullying, emergency

procedures, “safe space” reporting

2. Classroom Behavior Expectations

a. Topics included in this section would be general classroom norms and

rules that apply to all classrooms regardless of additional teacher

expectations to create a safe and productive learning environment.

3. Student Dress Code

a. The clear dress code guidelines will be explained in accordance to stated

school district policies.

4. Attendance/Tardy Policy

a. An emphasis on being on class and on time will be laid out with pertinent

school district policies.

5. Guest Teacher Expectations

a. Expectations for the treatment of guests in the building will be detailed.

6. Student Interactions

a. Positive student peer interactions will be encouraged and how to handle

properly handle concerning/negative peer interactions when they are

encountered.

7. Academic Expectations

a. High academic expectations will be laid out with a strong emphasis on

having a growth mindset.

Rationale

A successful school culture is only as strong as the foundation on which it stands and the

foundation of the school culture is the Student Code of Conduct. A student code of conduct is the

clear explanation of the positive behaviors and traits that the students are expected to

demonstrate. There is no question that in a middle school setting, students come with good

intentions, but are in a developmental and transition phase of their lives where structure and

guidance is needed on how to behave.

While a behavior discipline plan is intended to provide correction when negative or

undesirable behaviors are demonstrated, it is reactionary by nature and geared towards providing

a negative reinforcement to discourage these behaviors. Discipline plans are an important tool

that schools must develop and implement with fidelity to run a safe and productive school

environment. According to the AASA (2014) “the overuse of suspension and expulsion, are

devastating in the lives of children. The district’s code of conduct should be used as a tool

to communicate principles and practices that go beyond consequences for misconduct and

that establish a clear system for positive conduct and a positive school climate.

A clear and effective code of student conduct clearly establishes and conveys to all

students the standards and rules for their own behavior at school. As noted by the legal writers

and editors of FindLaw (2016), “Student codes of conduct are designed to serve both the

classroom and the individual. They outline students' rights, ensuring that no student will be

penalized or singled out based on anything but a violation of established rules.” By establishing a

clear Student Code of Conduct, school administrators create a level and fair playing field for all

students and take the subjectivity out of behavior expectations.

In creating and successful developing and fostering a student code of conduct teachers also know

where they stand in regard to their expectations of student behaviors and are able to be able to

teach in an environment that provides the structure and support for student behaviors that are

conducive to a successful and rigorous instruction that is free of unnecessary interruptions.

In developing the vision statement and the topics that I would include in a student code

of conduct of a school where I was an administrator, my goal was to focus on the core issues the

establish the important norms for a school. The choices in topics were driven by the desire and

intent to create a learning environment that was safe for the students. Topics such as student

safety and student interactions addressed the inherent need for all individuals to feel safe in order

to be able to engage in their education. Topics such as classroom and guest teacher expectations

were addressed to ensure that positive interactions between students and staff are created and

fostered with a string emphasis on respect. Lastly, topics such as attendance/tardy policy and

academic expectations were designed to create a string learner mindset that is strengthened

through the fostering a strong growth mindset in the students.

In conclusion, this code of conduct that has been presented has the intent of not just

laying out rules and consequences but rather its intent is to create and foster a positive school

culture that helps students and staff to feel happy, safe, and respected in a school that fosters

rigorous academic instruction to achieve academic excellence!

References

Framework for Revising Code of Conduct. AASA. (2014, September 16). Retrieved April 14,

2022, from https://www.aasa.org/uploadedFiles/Childrens_Programs/Code%20of

%20Conduct_9.16.14.pdf

Student codes of conduct: Background. Findlaw. (2016, June 21). Retrieved April 13, 2022, from

https://www.findlaw.com/education/student-conduct-and-discipline/student-codes-of-

conductbackground.html#:~:text=Student%20codes%20of%20conduct%20are,a

%20violation%20of%20established%20rules.