3241.1P: Behavioral Violations

Having sought the participation of school personnel, students, parents, families, and the community, the District has developed definitions for the following behavioral violations, which clearly state the types of behaviors for which discipline—including other forms of discipline, classroom exclusion, suspension, and expulsion—may be administered:

When considering extenuating circumstances for a consequence greater then recommended, administrators will discuss the details with the Director of Pupil Management or their Executive Director of Schools prior to issuing such discipline.

1. Abusing (Physical or emotional) while carrying out their official duties.
2. The Aiding and Abetting of Others in the commission of any of the acts prohibited under the exceptional misconduct section, as well as the attempt to commit any of these acts, may also be subject to the same disciplinary consequences as the person who committed the act.
3. Arson meaning intentionally setting a fire or causing an explosion.
4. Assault meaning being physically violent or using unwarranted force toward another person(s) resulting in physical harm or injury.
   1. Assault I: refers to behavioral violations involving assault upon another person that do not meet the definition of an offense under RCW 9A.36.011 or RCW 9A.36.021
   2. Assault II: refers to the behavioral violations that meet the definition of an offense under RCW 9A.36.011 or RCW 9A.36.021- which may include behavioral violations under WAC 392.172A.05149(1)(c) involving “serious bodily injury as defined under section 1365(h)(3) of Title 18, U.S.C.
5. Cheating including copying the work of other persons, or turning in another person’s papers, projects, computer programs, etc., as your own or having someone else write your paper, program, or project, including asking friends, paying someone, using a paper writing service, or other methods as determined by the teacher or administrator etc. Cheating also includes the aiding and abetting of cheating by others including but not limited to, stealing or providing questions and/or answers to one or more persons prior to any type of assessment (meaning any work that is used to determine a student’s grade or progress).
6. Computer Misuse (minor) meaning any use of Bellevue School District computers or network for non- academic use.
7. Computer Misuse (major) of a substantial nature, including but not limited to, use of Bellevue School District networking system that violates any part of the act prohibited under this policy, intentionally violating a school or Bellevue School District computer system or database including but not limited to:
   1. Stealing, hacking, deleting, interfering with, or copying software, systems, or programs.
   2. Intentionally transmitting a virus or other material that is wholly inconsistent with the fundamental values of public school education.
   3. Changing of school, District, or student records without authorization.
   4. Accessing a district or teacher’s computer without authorization.
   5. Using a proxy site or other Internet site from a District computer to deliberately evade District filters.
8. Dangerous Activities meaning any intentional or unintentional act that could potentially harm oneself or others (horseplay, throwing objects that could cause harm, climbing a roof, driving at excessive speed through a school parking lot, etc.).
9. Disruptive Conduct meaning substantially interfering with teaching, learning, and/or school operations.
10. Drug and Alcohol-related Conduct: the following is prohibited at school or in the immediate vicinity of school property, in school vehicles, at school bus stops (including metro stops used for school transportation) and at school-sponsored activities:
    1. Possess, use, or be under the influence of any drug or look alike drug, except as authorized by valid prescription.
    2. Possess, use, or be under the influence of alcohol.
    3. Use or be under the influence of any other intoxicant.
    4. Sell, purchase, barter, trade, exchange, give, or transmit any drug, alcohol, or intoxicant, look alike drug or offer to do so.
    5. Possess or use of drug paraphernalia including but not limited to electronic cigarettes (also known as E-devices, E-pens, E-hookahs, hookah pens, vape-pipes, vape-pens and vaporizers)
    6. In addition, students shall not use any drug (except as authorized by valid prescription), alcohol, or intoxicant before attending school or any mandatory school sponsored activity, and they shall not attend any optional school-sponsored activity after using any drug (except as authorized by valid prescription), alcohol, or intoxicant.
    7. Specific corrective measures and definitions for violations of drug and alcohol-related conduct are found in section III of procedure 3241.
11. Extortion/Blackmail/Coercion meaning obtaining or attempting to extort obtain money, property, or other consideration by violence or threat of violence, or forcing someone to do something against his or her will by force or threat of violence.
12. Failure to Attend any required activity or disciplinary consequence assigned by a teacher, counselor, administrator, or designee
13. Failure to Comply in a passive manner with the instructions of teachers and other school staff. This includes breaking a specific, published school or District rule.
14. False Reporting meaning knowingly and maliciously falsely reporting or falsely corroborating misbehavior of others that did not occur, including spreading a false rumor maliciously at school, or school grounds, on school-provided transportation, or at a school-sponsored function, that resulted in a disciplinary and/or legal action for the student(s) who was falsely accused.
15. Fighting with and without Major Injury includes, but is not limited to, the following:
    • Engaging in mutual physical contact involving anger or hostility.
    • Teasing, harassing, threatening or intimidating others resulting in physical contact involving anger or hostility.
    • Retaliating physically for teasing, harassing, threatening, or intimidating behavior.
    • Verbally inciting or physically supporting a fight by one’s encouragement or presence, including, but not limited to, posturing, making verbal accusations or threats, or drawing spectator attention to a fight or recording and or broadcasting (See Aiding and Abetting).
    1. Fighting with Major Injury refers to behavioral violations involving mutual participation in physical violence where there is injury that meets the definition of “substantial bodily harm” or “great bodily harm” under RCW 9A.04.110(4) – which may include behavioral violations under WAC 392-172A-05149(1)(c) involving “serious bodily injury” as defined under Section 1365 (h)(3) of Title 18, U.S.C.
    2. Fighting without Major Injury refers to behavior violations involving mutual participation in physical violence where there is not injury meeting the definition of “substantial bodily harm” or “great bodily harm” under RCW 9A.04.110(4).
16. Fireworks/Explosives including the possession, handling or transmission of any form of firework and/or explosive, chemical or incendiary device. These devices include, but are not limited to, firecrackers, sparklers, smoke bomb or stink bomb, cherry bomb, M80, bottle rocket, other explosive, incendiary or poison gas, or gas pen/gas pencil.
17. Forging of any non-District or District Personnel Signature (including electronic) or Making of any False Entry or the Alteration of any Document used or intended to be used in connection with the operation of the school.
18. Gambling such as playing cards, dice, or games of chance for money or other things of value.
19. “Harassment, Intimidation or Bullying” means any intentional written message or image, including those that are electronically transmitted, verbal, or physical act, including but not limited to one shown to be motivated by race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, culture, gender, socio-economic status, sexual orientation including gender expression or identity, mental or physical disability, or other distinguishing characteristics, when the intentional written, verbal, or physical act:
    1. Physically harms any person or damages the person’s property.
    2. Has the effect of substantially interfering with a student’s education.
    3. Is so severe, persistent, or pervasive that it creates an intimidating or threatening educational environment.
    4. Has the effect of substantially disrupting the orderly operation of the school.
20. Hazing of any students or persons. “Hazing” includes initiating students into a school, group, grade level, or office through persecuting, harassing, or coercive behaviors that cause or are likely to cause social, emotional, or physical harm. Evidence of hazing may include but is not limited to, activities with any of the following components: degrading, disgraceful, or humiliating behaviors or treatment. The term “hazing” does not include school-authorized athletic events, contests, competitions or other activities that have express administrative approval.
21. Leaving Campus during regular school hours without written or verbal permission from a parent or school official.
22. Lewd/Obscene Behavior (minor) including inappropriate sexual expressions or behavior.
23. Lewd/Obscene Behavior (major) including engaging in inappropriate sexual behavior, including sexual intercourse, oral sex, sexual touching, indecent exposure, or voyeurism, and/or sexual behavior that has the potential to substantially disrupt or obstruct any school function or operation.
24. X. Look-Alike Weapons (minor) including possessing a toy gun or other toy weapon whether or not appearing to be a real gun or weapon, or any item that can reasonably be considered a firearm, airsoft gun, compress air gun, or dangerous weapon that is not used in the commission of an exceptional misconduct act.
25. Y. Look-Alike Weapons (major) that can reasonably be considered a firearm, air soft gun, compressed air gun, or dangerous weapon and used for the commission of another exceptional misconduct act.
26. Z. Lying means knowingly not telling the truth to a staff member or volunteer in response to a question related to the safety of the school or the investigation of a disciplinary matter.
27. Malicious Harassment is committing malicious and intentional acts because of one’s perception of the victim’s race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or mental, physical or sensory disability which:
    1. Causes physical injury to the victim or another person;
    2. Causes physical damage to or destruction of the property of the victim or another person; or
    3. Threatens a specific person or group of persons and places that person, or members of the specific group of persons, in reasonable fear of harm to the person or property.
28. Misuse of School Property including writing on desks, walls, etc. or using school property in a way that it was not intended and did or can do damage to the property.
29. Out-of-School Boundary meaning places that are off limits during the day that is defined by the school such as parking lots, sidewalks around school, parks and open fields etc.
30. Plagiarism including using another writer’s words or ideas without proper citation, or merely rearranging or changing a few of the author’s words and presenting the result as your own work, or not using quotation marks when citing a source.
31. Physical Aggression: refers to behavioral violations involving a student engaging in physical contact when a minor injury may occur (e.g. hitting, kicking, slapping, hair pulling, scratching etc.).
32. Possession, Handling, or Transmission of a Dangerous Weapon. “Dangerous Weapon” means a weapon, device, instrument, material, or substance, animate or inanimate, that is used for, or is readily capable of, causing death or serious bodily injury, except that such term does not include a pocket knife with a blade of less than two and one-half inches in length. Exceptions may be outlined in RCW 9.41.280 Dangerous Weapons include but are not limited to the following:
    1. Any device commonly known as “nun-Chu-ka sticks”, consisting of two or more lengths of wood, metal, plastic, or similar substance connected with wire, rope, or other means.
    2. Any device, commonly known as "throwing stars", which are multi-pointed, metal objects designed to embed upon impact from any aspect.
    3. Any air gun, including any air pistol or air rifle, designed to propel a BB, pellet, or other projectile by the discharge of compressed air, carbon dioxide, or other gas.
    4. Any portable device manufactured to function as a weapon and which is commonly known as a stun gun, including a projectile stun gun which projects wired probes that are attached to the device that emit an electrical charge designed to administer to a person or an animal an electric shock, charge, or impulse.
    5. Any device, object, or instrument which is used or intended to be used as a weapon with the intent to injure a person by an electric shock, charge, or impulse.
    6. Slingshot device consisting of a weight, or “shot,” affixed to the end of a long cord.
    7. Sand club such as a bag of sand, which is used as a weapon.
    8. Metal knuckles.
    9. Spring blade knife, or any knife the blade of which is automatically released by a spring mechanism or other mechanical device, or any knife having a blade which opens, or falls, or is ejected into position by the force of gravity, or by an outward, downward, or centrifugal thrust or movement, or locks into an open position.
33. Possession, Handling or Transmission of Firearms on school property. This will result in a one-year mandatory expulsion, subject to appeal, with notification to parents and law enforcement.
34. Possession, Handling, or Transmission of any Object with intent to carry out another exceptional misconduct act, which can reasonably be considered a Weapon.
35. Possession, Transmission, or Use of Personal Protection Spray Devices without prior written parental/guardian permission is prohibited. Students over 18 years of age and students between 14 and 18 years of age with written parental/guardian permission may possess personal protection spray devices. No one less than 18 years of age may transmit such devices nor may they be used other than in self-defense as defined by state law.
36. Possession, Handling, or Transmission of a Small Folding Knife—a small folding knife is defined as a blade length of 2-1/2 inches or less with a blade width of ½-inch or less.
37. Retaliation means any act of revenge against a person for reporting any violation of the acts prohibited under this policy, as well as any attempted act of revenge.
38. Profanity/Obscenity including using vulgar or abusive language and/or cursing or swearing or slurs that do not rise to the level of harassment, intimidation and/or bullying or are not deemed to violate the District’s nondiscrimination policy.
39. School Dress that possesses a health or safety hazard or may disrupt, interfere with, disturb, or detract from the school environment or activity and/or educational objectives, including, but not limited to, apparel or items depicting lewd, sexual, drug, tobacco, marijuana (cannabis) or alcohol-related messages.
40. Teasing and/or Taunting such as making fun of individuals and/or groups, calling people names, and/or directing insults toward another individual and/or groups that do not rise to the level of harassment, intimidation and/or bullying or are not deemed to violate the District’s nondiscrimination policy.
41. Theft meaning stealing District or personal property
42. Threat to Cause Bodily Harm by any means that causes a person to believe his or her or another person’s life, safety, or property is in danger.
43. Trespass/Unauthorized Entry onto another school other than student’s own school during the school day without administrative permission or the wrongful or unauthorized entry onto District property or facility
44. Use of Personal Telecommunication Devices including, but not limited to, pagers, beepers and cellular phones in a manner that poses a threat to academic integrity, disrupts the learning environment or violates the privacy rights of others. Students shall not send, share, view or possess pictures, text messages, emails or other material of a sexually explicit nature or that contributes to harassment, intimidation and/or bullying in electronic or any other form on a cell phone or other electronic device.
45. Vandalizing and/or Damaging any School or Personal Property (minor), including writing, painting, drawing, or otherwise marking graffiti on any school or personal property resulting in less than $50 of damage TT. Vandalism/Property Damage, (major) meaning intentionally causing damage to any district or personal property, including writing, painting, drawing, or otherwise marking graffiti on any district or personal property that is $50 of damage or more.
46. Visible Use or Possession of any Tobacco Product or Tobacco Paraphernalia (including, but not limited to, lighters or rolling papers) on or in the immediate vicinity of school property is prohibited. School property includes all buildings, grounds and vehicles owned and used by the District. E-cigarettes are dealt with above in the Drug and Alcohol Conduct.
47. Wearing, Carrying, Possessing and/or Displaying Gang-Related Apparel, Grooming, or Exhibiting or Implying Behavior or Gesture which Symbolizes Gang Membership or Affiliation by written communication, marks, drawing, painting, design, emblem, etc. upon any school or personal property or one’s persons or causing and/or participating in activities which intimidate or affect the attendance of another student or staff member.
48. Any action, event or group of events, which constitutes a Violation of Federal, State or Local Law.

The district reserves the right to refer to the appropriate non-school agency any act or conduct of its students which may constitute a crime under federal, state, county or local law