Students

FREE AND PUBLIC SCHOOL EDUCATION

• Attend school and receive a free public school education until age 21 or receipt of the high school diploma, whichever comes first as provided by law. 
• Be in a safe and supportive learning environment, free from discrimination, harassment, and bigotry. 
• Receive courtesy and respect from others regardless of age, race, creed, color, gender, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, marital status and political beliefs. 
• Receive a written copy of the school’s policies and procedures, and the discipline code. 
• Be informed about diploma requirements, courses, exams, and information related to assistance to meet requirements.
• Be informed about required health, cognitive, and language screening. 
• Be informed about courses and programs that are available, and participate in the selection of electives. 
• Receive high quality instruction from highly qualified and licensed professionals.
• Know the grading criteria for each subject area and/or course offered by the school, and to receive grades based on established criteria. 
• Be informed of educational progress, and receive periodic evaluations both informally and through formal progress reports. 
• Be notified in a timely manner of the possibility of failing a course, and the possible delay of graduation that may result. 
• Be notified of the right to appeal failing grades.
• Be able to review, with parent/guardian if under 18, student records. 
• Confidentiality in the handling of student records maintained by the school.
• Receive guidance, counseling, and advisement for personal, social, educational, career, and vocational development.

FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION

• Participate in a representative form of student government. 
• Participate in student organizations, social and educational clubs or teams, and political, religious, philosophical groups before or after school, consistent with the Equal Access Act. 
• Representation on school wide committees that impact the educational process. 
• Publish school newspapers and newsletters reflecting the life of the school, expressing concerns and points of view consistent with responsible journalistic methods. Circulation or posting of publications is subject to reasonable guidelines regarding time and place of distribution, and content when such material is libelous, obscene, commercial, or materially disrupts the school, causes disorder, or invades the rights of others. 
• Be secure in their persons, papers and effects, and to carry in the building personal possessions that are appropriate for use on the premises. 
• Be free from unreasonable and indiscriminate search and seizure, including body searches, unless there is a suspicion of the illegal possession of drugs, drug paraphernalia, weapons, or any other object that may compromise the health or safety of any individual of the school community.

THE RIGHT TO DUE PROCESS

• Be provided with the discipline code and rules and regulations of the school. 
• Know what appropriate behaviors are, and what behaviors may result disciplinary action. 
• Be counseled by members of the professional staff in matters related to their behavior as it effects their education and welfare within the school.
• Know possible disposition and outcomes for specific offenses. 
• Receive written notice in a timely manner of the reasons for disciplinary action for the violations of school code for which they may be suspended.
• Due process of law, when disciplinary action such as suspension is a result of a violation of school code.
• Know the procedures for appealing decisions of the school.
• Be accompanied by a parent or guardian, or representative designated by the parent or guardian for conferences and hearings.
• The presence of school administrator when there may need to be police involvement. 

Student Responsibilities

Responsible behavior by each student is the only way in which rights set forth in this document can be preserved. Violation of the Discipline Code of Behavior will result in disciplinary action, ranging from warnings, detention, and in-school suspension to out of school suspension and possible recommendation for expulsion. Full acceptance of responsibility for appropriate behavior will assure the student a greater chance for success. 

Students have the responsibility to:

• Attend school regularly and punctually.
• Be prepared for class with the appropriate materials, books, and other supplies. Complete assignments on time. 
• Take care of textbooks, and maintain the condition by covering the books and not writing in them.
• Follow school regulations regarding entering and exiting the building and classrooms. 
• Keep the school free of weapons, illegal drugs, controlled substances, and alcohol. 
• Behave in a manner that contributes to the safe and positive learning environment, and does not violate other students’ right to learn. 
• Share information with school officials regarding matters which may endanger the health and safety of others. 
• Respect the right to dignity and equality of others, and refrain from any behavior which impinges on those rights. 
• Respect the property of the school and of other students. 
• Avoid any language that is offensive or is biased in regards to race, religion, age, creed, color, national origin, sexual orientation, physical, social, or emotional condition, or political beliefs. 
• Build bridges of understanding among all members of the school community. 
• Use non-confrontational and non-aggressive methods to solve conflicts.
• Refrain from obscene and defamatory communication in speech, writing, and other modes of expression. 
• Express themselves in a manner which promotes cooperation and does not interfere with the educational process. 
• Assemble in a peaceful manner that does not infringe upon the rights of others. 
• Adhere to the established dress code.
• Keep parents informed of school related matters. 
• Student Work Ethic
• Preparation and Study

It is hoped that every student comes to school each day with the understanding that work will have to be completed in each class and most work will not be fun, and may be challenging. 

All students must come to school prepared to work, with the attitude and supplies necessary to complete any and all assigned tasks. In order to be prepared to work, students must have notebooks or sections in a binder for each subject, pens and pencils or other tools required of a specific subject. 

Homework assignments need to be completed at home, and turned in on time. Reading assignments should be completed. Students that study for tests generally do better on them. 

All students need to understand that each course is required for graduation, that credits are not awarded for the courses unless the student earns a 70 (C-) or better, that failed courses will have to be repeated, and that the Grade Point Average (GPA) is cumulative from the freshmen year through the senior year. 

Unlike middle school where students that fail can still be promoted, in high school it is the number of credits earned, required courses passed, and passing the HSPA test that determines when a High School Diploma is received. 

Some students may finish in less than four years, most students take four years, and some students that do not pass their required courses may take six years to earn enough credits to graduate. 

Speaking to Staff
If a student does not understand an assignment, it is up to the student to ask for help. Speak to the teacher either before or after class, and ask for clarification of the assignment or individualized re-teaching.

Sitting in a class, not doing the work because it is either “boring” or not understood is a waste of time. 

It is the student’s responsibility to let the teacher know if there is a problem. 

Likewise, if work is too easy and not challenging enough, the student also has the right to ask the teacher for more challenging work or additional assignments. Sitting in a class and doing nothing is not acceptable, no matter what the reason. 

If difficulties continue, the student may request to speak to a staff member. There may be a need to adjust schedules, assignments, or possibly determine reasons for the difficulty through other interventions. Either way, teachers have a right to teach and students have a right to learn. 

Students having difficulty have the right to seek help, but not the right to interfere with the learning of others. It is okay to ask for help, but in a way that does not disrupt the learning of others. 

Attendance
Students are expected to attend school every day. 

If a student is absent, a note signed by the parent or guardian explaining the reasons for absence must be submitted on the day of return. 

Students are responsible for obtaining missed work and assignments from their teachers, and will be given time to make up the work. Excessive absence may lead to failure of a course. 

With block scheduling, each marking period represents a large body of work each day. Students that are absent without legal or medical documentation more than 7 days in a marking period may not be able to receive credit for the courses. 

When students are absent, a staff member will call home to determine the reason for absence. Parents and guardians will also be contacted for cutting class and arriving late. Letters will be sent home from the administration notifying parents and students when there are excessive absences. 

If a student is in jeopardy of not receiving credit due to poor attendance, both the student and the parent must attend an attendance hearing with the school administration. 

Arrival Time
When a student enters a class late, not only does the student miss valuable instruction, but he/she also disrupts the class. For this reason, student tardiness is taken very seriously. 

Students should arrive at school by 8:10, and should report to homeroom by 8:15 AM. Students that will be participating in the school breakfast program should report to the cafeteria by 7:45. Food may not be brought up to the locker areas or homerooms. 

Students arriving after 8:15 but before 8:30, will be admitted to their homeroom class, and will be marked late. After school detention may be the consequence for repeated late arrivals. 

Chronic lateness will require a parent conference. 

Students arriving after 8:40 AM must report to the office to receive a late pass. Parents will be notified by phone and the student will have to serve up to one hour detention that same day. Any student not serving detention as required will be placed in in-school suspension until a parent conference can be held. 

If a student arrives late to any other class, the teacher will determine the appropriate consequence. If a student is more than 30 minutes late to any class, he or she will not be permitted to enter so the class will not be disrupted. The student will then have to meet with the teacher after dismissal to discuss makeup work. Detention will also be assigned. 


Dress Code
CREATE Charter High School requires that all students wear the following uniform:

• CREATE Shirt with school emblem in navy blue, long or short sleeved. 
  Tee shirt underneath must be either white or navy blue. Tee shirts must be tucked in. 
• Khaki pants, or shorts at least fingertip length. 
• Girls may wear khaki skirts, at least at fingertip length. 
• Sweaters may be worn if they are navy blue, and should have the CREATE logo if possible. 
• All coats, hoodies, sweatshirts, or outer garments must be placed in the student lockers and may not be worn to class. 
• Hair should be well groomed and consistent with what is appropriate in a professional business environment. Hairstyle and color should not be distracting, or of an unnatural color such as pink, purple, green or blue. 
• No hats, scarves, or “do-rags” may be worn. 
• Oversized jewelry, earrings, and necklaces should not be worn. 
• Black shoes, black sneakers, and black boots may be worn. Shoes and sneakers in colors other than black, slippers, flip-flops, or any shoes which may be a hazard to the wearer should not be worn. 
• Students may “dress down” on their birthdays, but must obtain a “birthday pass” from their homeroom teacher. 
• Gym attire: clean tee-shirt, gym shorts, gym pants, sweatshirt in cool weather. . 

Any exception to the dress code will be made by the school administrators. 

Any “DRESS DOWN” days will be announced in writing by the building principal. Violation of the dress code is a Level 2 violation for the first offense, with possible consequences of detention, community service, or in-school suspension. Subsequent violations result in more serious consequences. 

Cell Phones
CREATE Charter High School prohibits the use of cell phones in school. 

Cell phones create a disruption to the learning environment, and are no longer permitted in the school. If a cell phone is found in the possession of a student during school hours, the cell phone will be seized and returned only to a parent. They may not be kept in pockets, pocketbooks, book bags, under shirts, in lockers, or on belts. If parents need to need to contact a student while he/she is at school, they may call the office. If it is an emergency, the student will be brought to the office to answer the call. 

Electronic Devices
Personal electronic devices such as CD players, tape players, boom boxes, or portable game devices (such as Game Boy) are prohibited from the cafeteria, classrooms and hallways during school time. No headphones may be brought into the computer labs. They will be seized, and returned only to a parent. 

Textbooks and Materials
Textbooks and other materials are distributed to all students in each course. Most of the textbooks are given to the students, and may be taken home for studying and completion of assignments. The student will be issued a numbered textbook, and will be responsible for keeping the book in good condition. All books are examined before distribution, and the condition is recorded. If a textbook is lost or is damaged due to student negligence, the parent or guardian will need to pay the cost of replacing the book. It is worthwhile to note that most high school textbooks cost in excess of $75.00. 

Student Lockers
Lockers will be assigned at the beginning of the year. Combination locks will be provided by the school. Students may not share lockers or switch lockers with other students. In this way, students can keep their belongings secure during the school day. No prohibited objects or substances should be stored in the lockers. The administration has the right to examine the contents of student lockers when there is reasonable cause. 

Chewing Gum and Food in Classrooms
Chewing gum at CREATE is not permitted. Unfortunately, a large number of students have thrown gum on the floors, carpets, and furniture, and have cost the school both time and money to clean it up. Eating or drinking in class is also prohibited. Breakfast and lunch programs are available, and food consumption will be permitted in the cafeteria only. 

Participation in Extra-Curricular Activities
Participation in extra-curricular activities such as athletic teams and clubs are encouraged. They enrich student learning experiences and are based on student interests and goals. Colleges look favorably on students that actively participate in extra-curricular activities. We encourage all students to get involved in one or more of the many extras CREATE has to offer. However, in order to be eligible to participate in these extras, students must have good attendance and good behavior. In addition, members of the athletic teams must pass all of their classes, and maintain a “C” average. If a team member is absent on the day of a game or practice, he/she may not play in that game. 

Student Code of Conduct
All students of CREATE Charter High School are expected to conduct themselves in a manner appropriate for their age and grade. As high school students, self-discipline and not teacher discipline should guide student behavior. Whenever behavior becomes an impediment to learning or a barrier to student or school success, consequences will result. Below is a list of the consequences which will result when the code of conduct is not followed, and violations occur. The violations are categorized by levels of severity: Level 1 are the least severe, and Level 5 are the most serious. The Code of Conduct extends to all school-related activities including school-sponsored activities outside of school property and incidents that occur while the student is in uniform and is on the way to school or on the way home from school.

Code of Conduct
Repeated, flagrant, or habitual violations of the Student Code of Conduct may be treated at a more serious level. Items confiscated will be turned over to the dean of students and will be returned only to the student’s parent/guardian. Food, drink, gum, and tobacco products confiscated will not be returned to students, nor will any item that may be needed as evidence in a Board hearing or criminal investigation. Cheating or academic dishonesty may carry an additional academic penalty, usually equal to a grade of 0 on the assignment involved (at the teacher’s discretion). The school may assign additional consequences for any infraction as warranted and appropriate. These may include, but are not limited to requirements for a verbal, public, or written apology, as well as requirements for counseling or referral to child study team. “Zero-tolerance” relates to all level five offenses which may result in expulsion. Students that continually disrupt class, disrespect teachers, and/or have repeated involvement in fights and after other interventions have been attempted, may be recommended for expulsion. 

In accordance with N.J. A.C. 18A:36A-9, a student may be expelled from a charter school based on criteria determined by the board of trustees, which are consistent with the provisions of N.J.S.18A:37-2, and approved by the commissioner as part of the school's charter. Any expulsion shall be made upon the recommendation of the charter school principal, in consultation with the student's teachers.