• Student Conduct:     Parents' / Guardians' and Students' Responsibilities
     
    It is the belief of the Tuscaloosa County School System that a uniform code of conduct for students is important to the pursuit of academic excellence in order that the students may have meaningful learning experiences.  This can only be accomplished in schools where the environment is free from distraction caused by disruptive behavior.  Creating such an environment requires the cooperation of the parent(s)/guardian(s), students, Board of Education, and all employees of the school system.  It is important that each person connected with the school understands the importance of a consistent set of behavior standards in order that a positive environment can be established and maintained. 
     
    As students progress in our school system, it is reasonable to assume that an increase in age and maturity will result in the students assuming greater responsibilities for their actions.  It is recognized that differences in age and maturity require different types of disciplinary action; however, the procedures identified shall apply to all students in grades K-12.  For effective instruction to occur, there must be a cooperative relationship among student, parent(s)/guardian(s) and educator.
     
     
    PARENTS' / GUARDIANS' RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR CHILDREN'S CONDUCT
    The Board hereby advises parent(s)/guardian(s) of their responsibility for the conduct of their children based on Legislative Act 93-672 which amends Section 16-28-12, Code of Alabama.  The Act has important implications for parents and students of the school system.  Section I Title 16, Code of Alabama, 1975 is amended to read:
     
    (A)   Each parent, guardian, or other person having control or custody of any child required to attend school or receive regular instruction by a private tutor who fails to have the child enrolled in school, or who fails to send the child to school, or to have him or her instructed by a private tutor during the time the child is required to attend a public school, private school, denominational school, or parochial school or be instructed by a private tutor, or fails to require the child to regularly attend the school or tutor, or fails to compel the child to properly conduct himself or herself as a pupil in accordance with a written policy on school behavior adopted by the local Board of Education and documented by the appropriate school official which conduct may result in the suspension of the pupil, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be fined not more than one thousand five-hundred dollars ($1,500) and may also be sentenced to hard labor and/or jail time for up to one year.  The absence of a child without the consent of the principal teacher of the school he or she attends or should attend, or of the tutor who instructs or should instruct the child, shall be prima facie evidence of the violation of this section.
    (B)   Any parent, guardian, or other person having control or custody of any child enrolled in public school who fails to require the child to regularly attend the school or tutor, or fails to compel the child to properly conduct himself or herself as a pupil in accordance with a written policy on school behavior adopted by the local Board and documented by the appropriate school official which conduct may result in the suspension of the pupil, shall be reported by the Principal to the Superintendent of the school system in which the suspected violation occurred.  The Superintendent or his/her designee shall report such suspected violations to the district attorney within 10 days.  Any Principal or Superintendent or his/her designee intentionally failing to report such a suspected violation shall be guilty of a Class C misdemeanor.  The district attorney shall vigorously enforce this section to ensure proper conduct and required attendance by any child enrolled in the public schools.
     
    Basic Principles
    Parents/Guardians:
    • must enroll their child in school (i.e., all children between the ages of 6 and 17 shall be required to attend school);
    • are responsible for the regular attendance of their child;
    • are to compel their child to properly conduct himself or herself in accordance with the policies of the Board related to student behavior;
    • should be informed that inappropriate conduct or behavior on the part of their child may result in suspension from school and such suspensions will be reported to the Superintendent and District Attorney by school administrators;
    • will be subject to prosecution by the District Attorney on the third suspension of their child pursuant to Section 16-28-12, Code of Alabama;
    • may be referred to the District Attorney's office on the first or second suspension if, in the opinion of the Principal, the offense committed by their child warrants such action.
     
     
    STUDENTS' RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THEIR CONDUCT
    Students enrolled in the Tuscaloosa County School System are to obey all school policies, rules, and regulations and become familiar with the contents of the Student-Parent Information Guide.