Section 8 — Discipline Procedures

General Expectations

Students are expected to behave in a way that supports a positive learning environment for everyone. This means respecting fellow students, staff, and school property, and following all Board of Education policies and individual school rules.

Fighting is not permitted under any circumstances. Students are encouraged to seek help from school staff to resolve conflicts.
Student conduct rules apply at all times on school grounds, on school transportation, and at any school-sponsored activity or event — on or off campus.
Violations of the Code of Conduct that occur outside of school in connection with school activities are subject to consequences. Consequences follow the student — if a student is transitioning to a new school, outstanding consequences transfer with them.
Parents are encouraged to remind their children of the potential consequences — including criminal penalties — of underage sexual conduct and other offenses for which a minor can be tried as an adult.

How Discipline Works

Teachers handle disruptions first. Teachers are expected to address classroom behavior through in-class actions, parent contact, and conferences with school staff. A student should only be referred to the principal when teacher intervention has been ineffective or when the behavior substantially disrupts the class.

Note: Failing to bring required materials to class is not cause for a disciplinary referral. However, defiant behavior toward a teacher regarding materials is cause for referral.

Violations of the Student Code of Conduct are grouped into three classes (I, II, and III). The principal or designee consults with the student and school staff before determining the classification. Once classified, appropriate disciplinary procedures are applied.

Parental Involvement in Discipline

The Code of Conduct works best when parents, guardians, teachers, and administrators work together. Parents are encouraged to:

Participate in PTO, Boosters, and other school activities
Stay actively involved in behavior support processes
Contact the school principal directly with specific questions about the Code of Conduct
Respond promptly when the school requests a conference

Student Support Processes

Every ECS school provides a variety of resources to help address student behavioral concerns before they escalate, including:

Student Support Teams
Chronic disciplinary problem student plans
Peer facilitation and conflict resolution programs

These resources are designed to identify the root cause of behavioral challenges and connect students with the right support before formal discipline becomes necessary.

Corporal Punishment

Corporal punishment will not be administered to a student whose parent or guardian has submitted a written statement to the school requesting that it not be used as a disciplinary option.

Off-Campus Behavior

Off-campus behavior that could result in a felony charge and that poses a danger to the school community or disrupts the educational process will be handled in accordance with the felony admission guidelines in Section 6.

Out-of-School Suspension (OSS)

Out-of-school suspension is a disciplinary tool used to deter rule violations. Before a suspension is imposed, the student has the right to a conference with the principal or designee where:

The charges are explained
If the student denies guilt, the evidence is outlined
The student is given the opportunity to share their side

During OSS:

Days missed count as unexcused absences
A zero is assigned for any graded activity missed during the suspension
Students may make up a test or major project within 5 days of returning
The student may not be on school property for any reason during the suspension (except to attend hearings)
The student may not participate in or attend any school-sponsored extracurricular activities, on or off campus, from the time OSS is assigned through the end of the last day of suspension
The student may not attend or participate in field trips

ECS will make every reasonable effort to notify parents when a student is suspended. After a suspension, a parent conference and behavioral correction plan will be developed when chronic discipline issues are present. Suspensions will generally not be imposed during semester exam periods.

In-School Suspension (ISS)

ISS is an alternative to out-of-school suspension. Students assigned to ISS:

Are not counted absent
Will not receive zeros unless they fail to complete make-up work
Are responsible for completing all missed work
May not participate in or attend any school-sponsored extracurricular activities during the school day of the ISS assignment

When a student in grades 4–12 displays willful and persistent behavior, an administrator may assign long-term ISS for up to 10 days at Crossroads Transitional Academy.

Expulsion

When the principal recommends expulsion, written charges are provided to the student and their parent or guardian. The Board of Education may refer the matter to the System Student Disciplinary Tribunal, which will hold a hearing to determine guilt and appropriate punishment.

The tribunal reviews the student's academic record, disciplinary history, and the specific circumstances of the incident. The maximum punishment is permanent expulsion from the Emanuel County School System.

System Student Disciplinary Tribunal

A hearing before the Tribunal panel is required in the following situations:

The principal recommends a suspension or expulsion longer than 10 school days
A student is alleged to have committed assault or battery on a teacher or other school employee, if that employee requests a hearing

The Tribunal panel will:

Review evidence and determine whether a violation occurred
Consider the student's academic record, disciplinary history, and circumstances of the offense
Determine appropriate punishment, including whether the student may apply to the Alternative Education Program
Determine whether a student on alternative placement may attend or participate in school-sponsored activities
Determine whether transportation to the Alternative school will be provided

A student found guilty of violations involving weapons, drugs, alcohol, sex offenses, assault on school personnel or students, or bullying may not participate in any school activities while assigned to an alternative program.

All Tribunal members must complete initial and ongoing training before serving in that capacity.

Physical Violence Against School Staff

Physical violence against a teacher, school bus driver, or any school official or employee is strictly prohibited under Georgia law.

Type	Definition
Type I — Without Physical Harm	Intentional physical contact of an insulting or provoking nature that does not result in injury
Type II — With Physical Harm	Intentional physical contact that causes physical harm to another person (self-defense as defined in O.C.G.A. § 16-3-21 is an exception)

Consequences:

Situation	Consequence
Any allegation of physical violence against staff	Student is immediately suspended pending a Tribunal hearing
Type I — found guilty	May be disciplined by short-term suspension, long-term suspension, or expulsion. Tribunal recommends whether and when the student may return.
Type II — found guilty	Permanent expulsion from ECS. Board may, at its discretion, allow the student to apply to the Alternative school for the remainder of their school career.
K–8 student, Type I	Board may permit re-enrollment in the regular school program for grades 9–12
K–5 student, Type II (no alternative school for that grade level)	Board may, at its discretion, permit re-enrollment

All students found guilty of physical violence against school staff — Type I or Type II — will be referred to Juvenile Court Services or the District Attorney's Office and reported to law enforcement.

These consequences will not be applied in a way that violates any right provided to students under IDEA, Section 504, or the ADA. No school system in Georgia may enroll a student who has been suspended for physical violence resulting in substantial injury to a teacher during the term of that suspension.

Bullying

Bullying in any form is strictly prohibited. ECS is committed to ensuring every student can learn in a safe environment. This prohibition is included in the Student Code of Conduct for all ECS schools.

Bullying is defined as any act that:

Is a willful attempt or threat to inflict injury on another person with an apparent present ability to carry it out
Is an intentional display of force that gives another person reason to fear or expect immediate bodily harm
Is an intentional written, verbal, or physical act that a reasonable person would perceive as being intended to threaten, harass, or intimidate — and that:
- Causes another person substantial physical harm within the meaning of O.C.G.A. § 16-5-23.1, or visible bodily harm as defined in that section
- Has the effect of substantially interfering with a student's education or otherwise substantially infringing upon the rights of a student
- Is so severe, persistent, or pervasive that it creates an intimidating or threatening educational environment
- Has the effect of substantially disrupting the orderly operation of the school

Where bullying applies:

Bullying applies to acts occurring on school property, on school vehicles, at designated school bus stops, or at school-related functions or activities — including but not limited to extracurricular activities — or through the use of data or software accessed through a school computer system, computer network, or other electronic technology of ECS.

Electronic communication includes any transfer of signs, signals, writings, images, sounds, data, or intelligence of any nature transmitted in whole or in part by wire, radio, electromagnetic, photo electronic, or photo optical system.

Consequences:

Bullying is addressed through the progressive discipline process
A student in grades 6–12 who commits bullying for the third time in a school year must be assigned to an alternative educational program
Each school will provide referrals, as appropriate, to age-appropriate interventions and counseling services for students found to have committed bullying and for targets or suspected victims of bullying
Upon any finding that a student has committed bullying or is a target or suspected victim, the administrator will notify the parent or guardian by phone call or written notice (which may be sent electronically)

Weapons and Dangerous Items

No student may possess, use, handle, or transfer any object that can reasonably be considered a weapon on school property, at school events, or on school transportation.

Category 1 — Firearms and Explosive Devices (minimum 1-year expulsion):

Handguns, rifles, shotguns, or similar firearms
Explosive compounds or incendiary devices
Rocket launchers, bazookas, mortars, hand grenades, or similar weapons as defined in O.C.G.A. § 16-11-121

Category 2 — Other Dangerous Weapons and Hazardous Objects (disciplinary consequences per Code of Conduct):

Knives of any kind (dirk, bowie, switchblade, ballistic, straight-edge razor, razor blade)
Spring sticks, brass/metal knuckles, blackjacks, clubs, bludgeons
Nunchaku/fighting chains, throwing stars, oriental darts
Non-lethal air guns, stun guns, Tasers

Items in Category 2 used for authorized classroom work are excluded from this policy.

Minimum Consequence for Category 1:

Minimum 1 calendar year expulsion
The Superintendent may reduce the expulsion before or after a Tribunal referral if the one-year term appears excessive
The Tribunal and Board of Education may also modify the expulsion on a case-by-case basis

Reporting Requirements: Any school employee who has reasonable cause to believe a student possesses a Category 1 weapon, is involved in an assault with a Category 2 weapon, or commits a second weapon offense must report it to the principal immediately. The principal must then notify the Superintendent, the appropriate law enforcement agency, and the district attorney. The student's parents or guardians will be notified immediately.

Definition of Possession: "Possession" means having a substance or object on one's person — including holding it for even a few seconds — or having it under one's control in any location, including a pocket, book bag, purse, vehicle, or locker.

Vaping and Electronic Smoking Devices

Possession, use, or transfer of any vaping device or electronic smoking device is a violation of the ECS Discipline Code.

Key Definitions:

Term	Definition
Vape / Electronic Smoking Device	Any purpose-made or homemade device that electronically vaporizes liquid for inhalation (e.g., vapes, Juuls, e-cigarettes, dab pens, vape sticks). Includes batteries, reservoirs, vaporizers, and chargers.
Vape Juice	The liquid used in the vaporizer; may contain flavoring, CBD oil, low-THC oil, or THC oil
CBD Oil	Derived from hemp; high CBD content, less than 0.3% THC
Low-THC Oil	No more than 5% THC; legal only with a physician prescription. Possession without a prescription is a felony.
THC Oil	More than 5% THC. Possession is a felony.

When a vaping device contains any form of CBD or THC product, the offense is classified as a drug offense (Code 07) and disciplined accordingly.

Discipline Consequences by School Level

Elementary School Consequences

Class	First Offense	Subsequent Offenses
Class I	In-school conference and parent contact; correction or replacement of damaged property; other appropriate consequences	Probation, detention, after-school detention, discipline contract, time-out, extended time-out, corporal punishment, suspension, or bus suspension up to 10 days
Class II	Extended time-out, before/after school detention, suspension up to 10 days, bus suspension 10+ days for bus offenses	Same range of consequences
Class III	Out-of-school suspension and/or recommendation for expulsion; bus suspension up to remainder of semester or year	Third bullying offense = alternative school assignment

For Class III interim suspensions: if the Tribunal does not expel the student, the interim suspension is considered void. The student will be shown as present and will be allowed to make up all missed work.

Middle and High School Consequences

Class	First Offense	Subsequent Offenses
Class I	In-school conference and parent contact	Probation, detention, corporal punishment, ISS, suspension, bus suspension up to 10 days; may warrant alternative program recommendation
Class II	ISS and/or suspension; bus suspension 10+ days for bus offenses	Long-term suspension and/or alternative program; third bullying offense = alternative school
Class III	OSS, alternative school application, suspension 10+ days, and/or expulsion recommendation; bus suspension remainder of semester or year	Third bullying offense (grades 6–12) = alternative school

Drug and Alcohol — Class III:

The principal will recommend expulsion for the remainder of the semester
A student expelled for drug/alcohol violations may not receive credit for the semester
Expulsion is not effective until the Tribunal acts; the student is suspended pending the hearing (interim suspension not to exceed 10 days)
If the Tribunal does not expel, the interim suspension is void; the student is shown as present and may make up all work

Grades 6–12 Expulsion Protocol — Zero Tolerance Offenses

The following Class III offenses may result in expulsion from ECS for a minimum of 180 school days with no option to apply to the Alternative Education Program:

Terroristic threats against students or ECS personnel
Violation of the drug and alcohol policy
Fighting that results in substantial injury or requires medical attention
Possession or use of any weapon, or use of another object as a weapon, with intent to cause harm
Committing a sexual offense as defined in the Code of Conduct
Assault against any staff member, or misuse of electronic devices to defame a staff member, use racist remarks, or use sexually provocative language that interferes with the safe operation of a class, school, or school system

These offenses are enforced with a No Tolerance standard. Based on the severity of the incident, any of these violations could result in permanent expulsion. Other serious offenses not listed above may also warrant permanent expulsion depending on circumstances.

Alternative Education Program — Crossroads Transitional Academy

The Crossroads Transitional Academy serves students in grades 6–12 who have been referred to an alternative education setting due to disciplinary reasons or by choice.

The program is technology-driven, individualized, and competency-based
Primary curriculum is delivered through Edgenuity
Students and parents/guardians complete an intake interview and must agree to the structured terms of the program before enrollment
Students attend a non-traditional school day schedule

Important: Graduating seniors who attend the Alternative Education Program due to disciplinary reasons are not permitted to participate in Board of Education graduation activities. This restriction does not apply to students who choose to attend voluntarily.