DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
P.O.
SUPTS. MEMO NO. 220
October 13, 2006
INFORMATIONAL
|
TO: |
Division
Superintendents |
|
FROM: |
Billy
K. Cannaday, Jr. Superintendent
of Public Instruction |
|
SUBJECT: |
2006
Revision: Student Conduct Policy Guidelines |
The Board of Educations Student
Conduct Policy Guidelines were first developed in 1994 in response to
action by the 1993 General Assembly that required the Board to establish such
guidelines, as reflected in 22.1-279.6 of the Code. The guidelines were revised in 2001 and again in 2004 and
2005 to reflect changes in federal and state laws, regulations, and relevant
case law. The guidelines are intended to aid school boards in developing and
implementing student conduct standards and policies. School boards are required to adopt and
revise regulations for codes of student conduct that are consistent with, but
may be more stringent than, these guidelines.
The 2006 General Assembly
made various changes to the Code of
Virginia by adopting HB 58 (Fralin
prior to substitute) HB 347 (Hamilton), HB 1279 (Barlow), HB 1516 (Tata),
SB183/HB588 Puller/Watts), SB 561 (Stolle), and SB 656/HB 95 (Rerras/Lewis). These
amendments address internet safety, exclusions from age requirements for
compulsory school attendance, notification to principals from law-enforcement
authorities of commitment by students of certain crimes, possession of firearms, use of a weapon with
an exposed blade on school property or within school buildings, or within 1,000
feet of school property, access to juvenile records held by the Department of
Juvenile Justice, and provision of information to school personnel about
student criminal convictions and delinquency adjudications at enrollment.
In response to the legislation, the Virginia Student Conduct Policy Guidelines
have been revised and were adopted by the Board of Education on September 27,
2006. The guidelines may be downloaded
from the Department of Educations website:
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/VDOE/Instruction/Sped/stu_conduct.pdf
Questions may be directed to Arlene Cundiff,
coordinator of the safe and drug-free schools program at 804-225-2871, Arlene.Cundiff@doe.virginia.gov
or to
BKCJr/ADC/fta