The Atlantic Highlands Board of Education expects students to conduct themselves in keeping with their level of development, maturity and demonstrated capabilities with a proper regard for the rights and welfare of other students and school staff, the educational purpose underlying all school activities, and the care of school facilities and equipment.

The Board believes that standards for student behavior must be set cooperatively through interaction among the students, parents/guardians, staff, and community members, producing an atmosphere that encourages students to grow in self-discipline. The development of this atmosphere requires respect for self and others, and for district and community property by the students, staff and community members.

The Board believes that the best discipline is self-imposed, and that it is the responsibility of staff to use disciplinary situations as opportunities to help students learn to assume and accept responsibility for their behavior and the consequences of their behavior. Staff members who interact with students shall apply best practices designed to prevent discipline problems and encourage student’s abilities to grow in self-discipline.

Based on broad community involvement (i.e., the use of a process that includes representation of parents/guardians and other community representatives, school employees, volunteers, students and administrators for the purpose of providing input regarding the development and content of the policy that is based on core ethical values), The Board has developed general guidelines for student conduct and shall direct development of detailed regulations suited to the age levels of the students and the mission and physical facilities of the individual schools. Board policy requires all students in the district to adhere to the rules and regulations established by the school and to submit to such disciplinary measures as are appropriately assigned for infraction of these rules.

The Chief School Administrator shall provide annually to students and their parents/guardians the rules of the district regarding student conduct, and the policy shall appear in all publications of the school district’s comprehensive rules, procedures and standards of conduct for schools within the school district, including the student handbook.

The policy shall:

describe student responsibilities, including requirements for students to conform to reasonable standards of socially acceptable behavior; respect for the person, property and rights of others; obey constituted authority; and respond to those who hold that authority;
address appropriate recognition for positive reinforcement for good conduct, self-discipline, good citizenship, and academic success;
explain student rights;
identify disciplinary sanctions and due process.