§ 18A-5-1c — Bill of Rights and Responsibilities for Students and School Personnel

(a) The Legislature finds that:

(1) The mission of public schools is to prepare students for equal and responsible citizenship and productive adulthood;

(2) Democratic citizenship and productive adulthood begin with standards of conduct in schools;

(3) Schools should be safe havens for learning with high standards of conduct for students; and

(4) Rights necessarily carry responsibilities.

(b) In recognition of the findings in this section, the following Bill of Rights and Responsibilities for Students and School Personnel is established:

(1) The right to attend a school and ride a bus that is safe, orderly and drug free;

(2) The right to learn and work in a school that has clear discipline codes with fair and consistently enforced consequences for misbehavior;

(3) The right to learn and work in a school that has alternative educational placements for violent or chronically disruptive students;

(4) The right to be treated with courtesy and respect;

(5) The right to a attend a school and ride on a bus that is free from bullying;

(6) The right to support from school administrators when enforcing discipline policies;

(7) The right to support from parents, the community, public officials and businesses in their efforts to uphold high standards of conduct; and

(8) The responsibility to adhere to the principles in this Bill of Rights and Responsibilities for Students and School Personnel, and to behave in a manner that guarantees that other students and school personnel enjoy the same rights.

Legislative History

2008 Reg. Sess., HB4368; 2008 Reg. Sess., SB594