Prohibited Student Conduct

Disruptive Conduct

A student shall not:

  • Engage, or attempt to engage, in any conduct that is reasonably likely to disrupt, or that does disrupt, any school function, process or activity.
  • Violate any federal, state or local law.
  • Violate any Governing Board policy, administrative regulation or school rule.
  • Ignore reasonable orders of teachers, administrators, and other school district employees and shall respond to requests for information from these persons in a truthful manner.
  • Speak or refer to teachers, administrators, and other school district employees in a vulgar or profane manner.

Dress and Appearance

A student’s dress and appearance shall not present health or safety problems or cause disruption of educational activities. Items of attire with obscene words, slogans or graphics shall not be worn or displayed. Immodest or indecent attire is not acceptable. Footwear must be worn. Certain JTED programs require a uniform or additional PPE requirements. Please refer to your program handbook or syllabus.

Tobacco, Cigarettes, E-cigarettes (vapor)

A student is not permitted to possess or use tobacco in any form, cigarettes, e-cigarettes or vapor products.

Alcohol, Drugs, and Drug Paraphernalia

A student shall not possess, sell, offer to sell, use, transfer or be under the influence of alcohol, drugs or medication (except that use of medication is allowed if it is prescribed by a physician and used in accordance with the prescription Governing Board policies). For the purpose of this policy, drugs include any narcotic or dangerous drug, vapor releasing toxic substance enumerated in A.R.S. § 13-3401, as well as any imitation controlled substance listed in A.R.S. § 13-3451. The term medication means patent or proprietary medicines as defined in A.R.S. § 32-1901(39). Medication also means substances that are available legally by prescription only. A student shall not possess, sell, offer to sell, transfer or use drug paraphernalia as defined by A.R.S. § 13-3451. A student shall not violate Policy JFCI (Substance Abuse).

Gambling

A student shall not engage in any game or activity that involves the element of risk or chance with the intention that property will be exchanged based on the outcome of the game or activity.

Vandalism, Littering and Destruction of Property

A student shall not damage, destroy or deface any school property or property belonging to any other person and shall not litter on school property or at a school event.

Unauthorized Entry

A student shall not gain, or attempt to gain, forceful or unauthorized entry to, or occupation of, school buildings or grounds.

Emergency Alarms and Fire Control Devices

A student shall not activate or use any fire alarm or emergency control device unless the student reasonably believes that an emergency exists justifying use of the device.

Arson

A student shall not start, attempt to start, or promote the continuation of any fire or explosion. This does not preclude teacher approved class activities such as an approved and supervised experiment in a science class.

Traffic and School Bus Rules

When operating a motor vehicle on campus or at a school event, a student shall follow all school and other traffic rules and shall operate the motor vehicle in a safe and prudent manner. A student shall abide by all school rules regulating the student’s conduct while in a school bus or other vehicle, and shall obey the directives of school bus drivers.

Forgery and Cheating

A student shall not use, or attempt to use, the identity, signature, academic work or research of another person and represent that it is his or her own. A student shall not share his or her knowledge or work with another student during an examination. A student shall not bring into an examination any materials or notes unless approved by the teacher.

Endangering the Health and Safety of Others

A student shall not engage in conduct that endangers, or reasonably appears to endanger, the health or safety of other students, school employees, or other persons.

Initiation or Hazing

Unless the activity is properly supervised and has received the express approval of the Superintendent or Superintendent designee, a student shall not participate in an initiation. Initiations or hazing that involved actual or threatened verbal, physical or sexual abuse are absolutely prohibited. Initiations related to any school club or other groups are subject to the above prohibitions whether or not the conduct occurs on school grounds.

Defamation

A student shall not use defamatory words or phrases or distribute defamatory materials. Defamatory words or materials are those that are false and expose a person to hatred, contempt, ridicule, disgust or an equivalent reaction or are false and have a tendency to impugn a person’s occupation, business or office.

Obscenity and Vulgarity

A student shall not use obscene or vulgar language or gestures or distribute obscene or vulgar materials. Obscene materials, language or gestures are those that an average person, applying contemporary standards of the school community, would find; taken as a whole, appeal to prurient interests and lack serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value. The standard to be used is that of the school community, in recognition of the fact the students are, as a group, younger and more sensitive than the general adult population. Vulgar language, materials or gestures include language, materials or gestures that depict sexual and/or excretory activities in a patently offensive manner.

Misrepresentation, Extortion and Theft

A student shall not take, use or borrow any property by misrepresentation, deception or by expressed or implied threat. A student shall not take, use or borrow property belonging to another person without that person’s permission to use or take the property.

Possession of Weapons and Dangerous Items

A student shall not possess or use firearms, weapons, explosives, fireworks, or any other instrument capable of harming any person or property or reasonably susceptible of creating the impression of such harm.

Threats, Assaults and Fighting

A student shall not verbally or physically threaten, abuse, assault or engage in a fight with any student, school employee or any other person.

Student Violence, Harassment, Intimidation & Bullying

The Governing Board of the Pima County Joint Technical Education District believes it is the right of every student to be educated in a positive, safe, caring, and respectful learning environment. The Governing Board further believes a school environment that is inclusive of these traits maximizes student achievement, fosters student personal growth, and helps a student build a sense of community that promotes positive participation as citizens in society.

To assist in achieving a school environment based on the beliefs of the Governing Board, bullying in any form will not be tolerated.

Bullying may occur when a student or group of students engages in any form of behavior that includes such acts as intimidation and/or harassment that has the effect of physically harming a student, damaging a student’s property, or placing a student in reasonable fear of harm or damage to property; is sufficiently severe, persistent or pervasive that the action, behavior, or threat creates an intimidating, threatening, or abusive environment in the form of physical or emotional harm; occurs when there is a real or perceived imbalance of power or strength: or may constitute a violation of law.

Bullying of a student or group of students can be manifested through written, verbal, physical, or emotional means and may occur in a variety of forms including, but not limited to, the following:

  • Verbal, written/printed or graphic exposure to derogatory comments
  • Extortion
  • Name calling, or rumor spreading either directly though another person or group or through cyberbullying
  • Exploitation
  • Exposure to social exclusion or ostracism
  • Physical contact including but not limited to pushing, hitting, kicking, shoving, or spitting
  • Damage to or theft of personal property

Cyberbullying is, but not limited to, any act of bullying committed by use of electronic technology or electronic communication devices, including telephonic devices, social networking and other internet communications, on school computers, networks, forums and mailing lists, or other District-owned property, and by means of an individual’s personal electronic media and equipment.

Harassment is intentional behavior by a student or group of students that is disturbing or threatening to another student or group of students. Intentional behaviors that characterize harassment include, but are not limited to, stalking, hazing, social exclusion, name calling, unwanted physical contact and unwelcome verbal or written comments, photographs and graphics. Harassment may be related, but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or marital status or any other reason not related to the students individual capabilities. Harassing behaviors can be direct or indirect and by use of social media.

Intimidation is intentional behavior by a student or group of students that places another student or group of students in fear of harm of person or property. Intimidation can be manifested emotionally or physically, either directly or indirectly, and by use of social media.

Students are prohibited from bullying on school grounds, school property, school buses, at school bus stops, at school sponsored events and activities, and through the use of electronic technology or electronic communication equipment on school computers, networks, forums, or mailing lists.

Disciplinary action may result for bullying which occurs outside of the school and the school day when such acts result in a substantial physical, mental, or emotional negative effect on the victim physically, while on school grounds, school property, school buses, at school bus stops, or at school sponsored events and activities, or when such act(s) interfere with the authority of the school system to maintain order. All suspected violations of law will be reported to local law enforcement.

Students who believe they are experiencing being bullied or suspect another student is bullied should report their concern to any staff member of the School District. School personnel are to maintain appropriate confidentiality of the reported information.

Reprisal by any student directed toward a student or employee related to the reporting of a case or a suspected case of bullying shall not be tolerated, and the individual(s) will be subject to the disciplines set out in applicable District policies and administrative regulations.

Students found to be bullying others will be disciplined up to and including suspension or expulsion from school.

Knowingly submitting a false report under this policy shall subject the student to discipline up to and including suspension or expulsion. Where disciplinary action is necessary pursuant to any part of this policy, relevant District policies shall be followed.

Law enforcement authorities shall be notified anytime District officials have a reasonable belief that an incidence of bullying is a violation of the law.

Gang Activity and Association

A student shall not wear, carry, or display gang paraphernalia and/or exhibit behavior or gestures that symbolize gang membership or cause and participate in activities that intimidate or adversely affect the educational activities of another student or the orderly operation of the school. A student shall not engage in any activity involving an initiation, hazing, intimidation, assault, or other activity related to group affiliation that is likely to cause or does cause bodily danger, physical harm, or personal degradation or disgrace resulting in physical or mental harm to students or others. Gangs that initiate, advocate, or promote activities that threaten the safety or well-being of persons or property on school grounds or disrupt the school environment are harmful to the educational process. The use of hand signals, graffiti, or the presence of any apparel, jewelry, accessory, or manner of dress or grooming that by virtue of its color, arrangement, trademark, symbol, or any other attribute indicates or implies membership or affiliation, in such a group, is prohibited because of the disruption to the educational activities that result from such activities addressed. It is the District’s position that such activities and dress also present a clear and present danger to other district students, to district staff members and to the community.

For the purpose of this policy, a “gang” is defined as a group of individuals

  1. Who refer to themselves as a group by a group name or moniker.
  2. Whose primary group activities, whether conducted individually or in a group setting, involve activities that are unlawful or contrary to Governing Board Policy, including, but not limited to, the following: intimidation of others, acts of assault and similar acts of unjustified physical violence against others, and/or activities that damage real property such as graffiti.

Gangs also often claim a territory or area and have similar groups that are deemed rivals or enemies.