The staff of Birmingham High School is committed to providing its students the best academic and social education possible. Because this goal can be best achieved in a safe and orderly school environment, the Student Code of Conduct has been developed to inform students of acceptable and appropriate behavior within the school community.

1. Show, respect for all persons (their physical being, gender, property, opinions, and their culture) and should disputes occur, will maintain open communication with students and staff in order to resolve such differences.
   
2. Dress appropriately for school. A student's manner of dress must not be disruptive to the educational process in the classroom or on the campus. Therefore, the following items are prohibited: obscene, profane, gang identifiable clothing, bare midriff tops, and extremely oversized baggy pants. No hats are allowed on campus.
   
3. Attend all assigned classes each day, arrive on time, with the necessary materials and/or books, and be prepared for class.
   
4. Be responsible for his/her actions and be willing to accept the consequences for these actions (e.g. disrespectful language, inappropriate grooming, faulty attendance, and disruptive behavior).
   
5. Do not bring beepers, cellular phones, dice, playing cards or other gambling devices on campus. The use of personal tape players or radios and electronic games is not allowed in classrooms. Hats, beepers, phones, etc. will be confiscated and held in the Student Store. They will be returned to the student at the end of the day for a handling charge of $1 per hat and/or $5 for any other items. Parents may pick up a confiscated article between 7:45 - 3:30 for no charge.
   
6. Do not alter or forge any school documents and/or parent/guardian communications. Likewise, cheating on class assignments/test will not be tolerated. Such behavior may result in a failing grade on the assignment and/or test, and may result in disciplinary action, as prescribed by school policy.
   
7. Carry school identification cards at all times, and present it upon request of a school employee.
   
8. Remain on campus at all times unless officially released by an appropriate BHS office.
   
9. Drive and park in accordance with the traffic laws and school regulations. School speed limit is 8 miles per hour.
   
10. The following actions may result in suspension from school or disciplinary action as stated by school policy.
    a) threatening, attempting to cause, or causing physical injury to another person
    b) possessing, selling, or furnishing any firearm, knifes, explosive, or other dangerous object.
    c) possessing, using, selling, or furnishing or being under the influence of any controlled substance, any alcoholic beverage, or intoxicant of any kind
    d) offering, furnishing or selling any substitute substance represented as a controlled substance or intoxicant of any kind
    e) committing robbery or extortion
    f) causing or attempting to cause damage to school or private property
    g) stealing or attempting to steal school or private property
    h) possessing or using tobacco
    i) committing an obscene act or engaging in habitual profanity or vulgarity.
    j) offering, furnishing, or selling any drug paraphernalia
    k) disrupting school activities or willfully defying the authority of school personnel
    l) knowingly receiving stolen school or private property

The police may be immediately notified when a student is found to be in violations of Number 10. All of the above items refer to school activities and athletics. Students also remain under school supervision on their way to and form school, whether on campus or not.

1. STUDENT CONTRACT: Any violation and/or at the request of any school personnel.
   
2. PARENT CONTRACT: Any violation and/or at the request of any school personnel.
   
3. PARENT/STUDENT CONTRACT: Depending on the violations.
   
4. SUSPENSION: Fighting on school grounds (both parties), vandalism, extortion, repeated violation of any school rules. NOTE: Principal or his/her designee revokes the right of a student period not to exceed five days and requires a parent conference.
   
5. SUSPENDED EXTRACURRICULAR PRIVILEGES: For any or all of the above.
   
6. DETENTION: Depending on the violation
   
7. TRANSFER TO ANOTHER SCHOOL: Use of possession of narcotics, thefts of school or personal property, continued willful disobedience, fighting, extortion.
   
8. EXPULSION: (Los Angeles Board of Education revokes the right of a student to attend any Los Angeles City School).
   

REVISED 9/3/97
DISCIPLINE OF STUDENTS

A. DEFINITION - Discipline is controlled behavior calculated to develop within an individual responsibility for his/her own action in accordance with specially accepted conduct. External control or adult direction maintains the initial stages of discipline. The degree to which the individual progresses in self-control determines the need for external controls. The ultimate goal is a mature individual capable of self-control.

B. DISTRICT POLICY: "Under no circumstances will violence on campus be tolerated; acts of intimidation, extortion, harassment, or physical attacks on students, school personnel, or other authorized persons on campus will not be condoned nor excused." Immediate and appropriate action will be taken with any persons involved in such behavior.

C. A record of student/parent conferences or any correspondence with counselor or Dean's Office should be kept in roll book and recorded on referral form when the student is sent to the office.

D. Serious problems should be referred to the dean. A student should never be sent to their dean or counselor without a referral form. The form may be brought to the office simultaneously by another student.