Speakout: Should State Board of Ed Dictate Local Student Code of Conduct?

The Maryland State Board of Education has drafted a Student Code of Conduct and is proposing new student discipline regulations that, if adopted, would apply to every public school system in Maryland. Currently, student conduct policies are decided at the local level.

Carroll County Public School Superintendent Stephen Guthrie sent an email alert to CCPS families saying that "the [Carroll County] Board of Education feels that the draft Student Code of Conduct and the proposed regulations would make our schools less safe and less orderly."

Guthrie said that whenever possible, students should receive their instruction in school, however, chronic disruptive and threatening conduct by students should result in out-of-school suspensions and those students should receive their education in an alternative setting.

Guthrie said the specific concerns of the Carroll County Board of Education are as follows:

• Disciplinary policy should remain under the total authority of the local Board of Education, not the State Board of Education.
• Under the draft Student Code of Conduct and the proposed student discipline regulations, our schools will be less orderly and less safe as repeated disruptive offenders will be more likely to remain in school. 
  

• Repeated and deliberate harassment of a peer – Currently the student could receive a 10-day out-of-school suspension.  Under the draft Student Code of Conduct, possible consequences could be that the offender writes an apology, is offered mediation with the victim, visits the school counselor, or in extreme cases receives in-school suspension up to 4 days.

• Second drug possession offense – Currently the student would receive a 10-day out-of-school suspension with a recommendation to the superintendent for an extended suspension and is ineligible for extra-curricular activities.  Under the draft Student Code of Conduct, a second drug possession offense could receive one of the following consequences: community service, in-school suspension, mentoring program referral, or short term in-school suspension (1-3 days).

• Repeated classroom disruption (harassment, class cutting, insubordination, classroom disruption) – Currently the student could receive a 10-day out-of-school suspension with a possible request to the superintendent for an extended suspension.  Under the draft Student Code of Conduct, this offense could receive one of the following consequences: community service, in-school suspension, mentoring program referral, or short term in-school suspension (1-3 days).

• Repeated verbal threats to staff – Currently the student would receive a 10-day out-of-school suspension with a possible request to the superintendent for an extended suspension.  Under the draft Student Code of Conduct, this offense could receive one of the following consequences: community service, in-school suspension, mentoring program referral, or short term in-school suspension (1-3 days).

• Weapon violations – Currently the student would receive a 10-day out-of-school suspension with a possible request to the superintendent for an extended suspension.  Under the draft Student Code of Conduct, this offense could receive one of the following consequences: community service, in-school suspension, mentoring program referral, or short term in-school suspension (1-3 days).

• Email rmurphy@msde.state.md.us, or

• Write to Robert A. Murphy, M.Ed., Specialist, School Completion, Discipline, and Alternative Programs, at Maryland State Department of Education, Division of Student, Family and School Support, 200 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, or

• Call 410-767-0305 (TTY 410-333-6442).