Parent Handbook - Harford County Public Schools

Penalties
Suspension and Expulsion
A. Suspension for not longer than 10 school days.
1. In accordance with the rules and regulations of the county board, each principal of a public school may suspend
for cause, for not more than 10 school days, any student in the school who is under the direction of the
principal.
2. The student or his parent/guardian promptly shall be given a conference with the principal and any other
appropriate personnel during the suspension period.
B. Suspension for more than 10 school days or expulsion. At the request of a principal, a county superintendent may
suspend a student for more than 10 school days or expel him/her.
C. Procedure for more than 10 day suspension or expulsion.
1. If a principal finds that a suspension of more than10 school days or expulsion is warranted, he immediately shall
report the matter in writing to the county superintendent.
2. The county superintendent or his/her designated representative promptly shall make a thorough investigation of
the matter.
3. If after the investigation the county superintendent finds that a longer suspension or expulsion is warranted,
he/she or his/her designated representative promptly shall arrange a conference with the student and his/her
parent/ guardian.
4. If after the conference the county superintendent or his/her designated representative finds that a suspension
of more than10 school days or expulsion is warranted, the student or his/her parent/guardian may (i) appeal to
the county board within 10 days after the determination; (ii) be heard before the county board or its designated
committee; and (iii) bring counsel and witness to the hearing.
5. Unless a public hearing is requested by the parent/ guardian of the student, a hearing shall be held out of the
presence of all individuals except those whose presence is considered necessary or desirable by the board.
6. The appeal to the county board does not stay the decision of the county superintendent.
7. The decision of the county board is final.
Discrimination/Harassment Policy
Harford County Public Schools is committed to providing an educational environment for all students that is safe, optimal for
academic achievement, and free from any form of discrimination or harassment including sexual harassment. Members of the
school community are expected to treat each other with mutual respect.Visit www.hcps.org for specific policy.
Harrassment Reporting Form - If you are the student victim, the parent/guardian of a student victim, or a close adult relative
of a student victim, and wish to report an incident of alleged harassment or intimidation (bullying) on school property, the school
bus, school event or on the way to or from school, you are asked to complete a harassment or intimidation reporting form and
return it to the principal at the student victim’s school. The form is available on the HCPS website
(www.hcps.org) or at any school. Contact the school for additional information or assistance at any time.
Harassment, Sexual Harassment, Intimidation, Bullying, and Retaliation
Harassment, intimidation, bullying, and retaliation are prohibited and not tolerated by the students, volunteers or employees of
the Harford County Public Schools.
If you believe your child has been the victim of bullying, harassment, or intimidation, you are asked to complete a Bullying,
Harassment, or Intimidation Reporting Form and return it to the principal at the student victim’s school. The form is available on
the HCPS website (www.hcps.org) or at any school.
Prohibition of Gang Related Activities
Definition - Gang means any ongoing organization, association or group of three or more students, whether formal or informal,
having as one of its primary activities the commission of criminal acts or violations of school discipline policies and having a
common name or common identifying signs, colors, or symbols.
Students shall not engage in any act furthering the interest of any gang or gang activity including but not limited to the following:
• soliciting, with or without coercion, membership in or affiliation with any
gang;
• painting, writing, or otherwise inscribing gang related graffiti,
messages, symbols, or signs on school property;
• engaging in violence, extortion, or any other illegal act or other
violation of school discipline policies in furtherance of gang activity;
• soliciting any person to engage in physical violence against another
person in furtherance of gang activity;
• wearing, possessing, using, distributing, displaying, or selling any
clothing, jewelry, emblem, badge, symbol, or items which evidence
membership in, identification with or affiliation with any gang and/or is
representative of any gang;
• engaging in any act, either verbal or nonverbal, including gestures or
handshakes which demonstrate membership or affiliation in any gang
and/or is representative of any gang.
Students who violate this policy are subject to disciplinary actions including
suspension pursuant to Section 7-305 of the Education Article.
Portable Communication Policy
Portable communication devices provide the ability to send and receive
information utilizing radio frequencies.
Such devices include, but are not limited to, cell phones, pagers, personal
data assistants (PDA), laptop computers with cellular/phone capability, and
two-way radios.
Instructional use of wireless communication devices in Harford County Public
Schools shall be determined in accordance with the needs of students as
jointly agreed upon by the child’s parent/guardian and school. The parent and
school shall, in accordance with the student’s individual education plan or as
jointly established, agree upon the use of a wireless communication device
by a student with specific educational concerns or disabilities.
The Board of Education prohibits the use of certain wireless communication
devices, which in its opinion, have limited or no educational value or their use
creates learner distraction and learning environment disruption.
In light of this concern, the Board of Education prohibits student possession
of pagers on school property at all times.
The Board of Education permits high school students to possess cell
phones during the regular school day (as noted below); however, students
are prohibited from using cell phones during the regular school day for any
reason. Student possession of cell phones shall conform to the following
restrictions:
• students shall not use cell phones or otherwise be capable of
receiving an activation signal at any time while riding any form of
Harford County Public Schools provided transportation
• during the course of the regular school day for students, cell
phones shall not be used to transmit or receive calls and shall be
turned off or rendered incapable of activation
9