Student Conduct and Discipline
Filter Handbook Sections
Academic Integrity/Honesty Regulation
Academic integrity speaks to a student’s commitment and responsibility to pursue scholarship honestly. It respects the concept that learning is the primary purpose of education, secondary to grades and credits. Academic dishonesty is defined as any action or intended action that may result in creating an unfair academic advantage for oneself or an unfair academic advantage or disadvantage for any other student. A student shall not attempt to earn credit or receive a grade for coursework (tests, quizzes, assignments, projects, essays) in a manner other than defined as acceptable by each instructor.
Academic integrity violations are tracked throughout a student’s high school career (grades 9-12). Students should use caution and talk with their teacher if they have questions about when it is appropriate to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools. The use of AI to generate schoolwork may violate the District's Academic Integrity/Honesty Regulation. Academic integrity violations include, but are not limited to:
- Plagiarizing or submitting any part of another person’s work as representing one’s own scholarship; this includes generative AI. Students should not submit AI-generated work as their original work.
- The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools should be done responsibly and in an ethical manner. Students should not use AI to cheat, plagiarize, or gain an unfair advantage. Generative AI tools should only be used for school-related creative work (e.g., to generate text or other creative works) when given approval or guidance from classroom teachers.
- Distribution/sharing of class assignments or test information in either written or verbal form to another student without teacher permission.
- Unauthorized Collaboration – working with others without the instructor's permission on assignments submitted for an individual’s grade. This applies to in-class or take-home assignments/homework, projects, tests, or labs.
- Collusion – supporting the lack of integrity/honesty by another student, as in allowing one’s work to be copied or submitted for assessment by another. Collusion also includes the use or sharing of identical or highly similar passages of one’s own work, or the work of another, unless specifically authorized by the teacher.
- Cheating – using notes or other materials without a teacher’s permission on tests and assignments.
- Technology Malpractice – any misuse or abuse of private or public technology in relation to grades or in acquiring an academic advantage, including infractions of the school technology user agreement, language translation websites, cell phone messaging or picture transmission.
Behavior Agreements
The District may enter into behavior agreements with students and parent/guardian/caretakers in response to behavior violations, including agreements to reduce the length of a suspension conditioned on participation in treatment services, agreements in lieu of suspension or expulsion or agreements holding a suspension or expulsion in abeyance. The duration of a behavior agreement may not exceed the length of an academic term.
A behavior agreement may not waive a student’s opportunity to participate in a reengagement meeting or to receive educational services during a suspension, expulsion or emergency expulsion. Entering into a behavior agreement with students and parent/guardian/caretakers does not preclude the District from administering discipline for behavioral violations that occur after the agreement is entered.
Classroom Exclusions
Students may be excluded from their classroom or instructional or activity area in a manner consistent with Procedure 3241P for behavioral violations that disrupt the educational process. At least one other form of discipline to support the student in meeting behavioral expectations will be attempted prior to a classroom exclusion, unless the student’s presence poses an immediate and continuing danger to other students or school personnel, or an immediate and continuing threat of material and substantial disruption of the educational process.
Compliance with Rules
Engaging in, attempting to engage in, and/or conspiring to engage in any of the following list of offenses generally describes conduct for which students may be subject to discipline, but is not intended to be exclusive. Such misconduct may result in other forms of discipline, classroom exclusion, suspension, expulsion or emergency expulsion as set forth in Regulation 3241 and Procedure 3241P.
Arson – Knowingly and/or maliciously causing a fire or explosion is prohibited.
Assault – The threatened or attempted use of force or violence upon the person of another is prohibited.
Bomb Threats – Threatening to bomb or damage any public school facility or property is prohibited.
Cheating or Disclosure of Exams – Intentional deception or the use of unauthorized materials in the preparation or completion of any school assignment, assessment, examination or project, or in the conduct of any school-related activity is prohibited, along with the aiding and abetting of such behavior by others.
Criminal Activity – Commission of any crime on school grounds, or the commission of a crime or other dangerous conduct anywhere that indicates the student’s presence on school grounds poses a danger to other students or staff is prohibited.
Defaming Another Person – Conduct that defames another person is prohibited.
Destruction of Property – Defacing, injuring or damaging school property in any way is prohibited.
Disruptive Conduct – Willful conduct which creates a disturbance on school premises, at school-sponsored activities, or on District-provided transportation, or that interferes with the educational process, is prohibited. Such conduct includes, but is not limited to:
- Occupying a school building or school grounds in order to deprive others of its use;
- Blocking the entrance or exit of any school building or room in order to deprive others of passing through;
- Preventing students from attending a class or school activity;
- Blocking normal pedestrian or vehicular traffic on a school campus; and
- Interfering seriously with the conduct of any class or activity.
Disruptive Dress and Appearance – Dress and appearance must not present health or safety problems, intimidate others, or cause disruption. See Regulation 3224.
Drugs, Alcohol and Mind-Altering Substances – Students shall not illegally use, possess, sell, distribute or be under the influence of drugs, alcohol, mind-altering substances, medication not prescribed to them by a physician and approved in writing by the parent/guardian/caretaker, drug paraphernalia or any item which purports to be such.
Endangering Self, Other Students or Staff
Engaging in Extortion/Blackmail/Coercion – Obtaining money or property by violence or threat of violence, or forcing someone to do something by force or threat of force is prohibited.
Fighting – This includes fighting and instigating, promoting, or escalating a fight, as well as failure to disperse. Engaging in any form of fighting where blows are exchanged is prohibited, regardless of who initiated the fight.
Forgery and Misuse of Documents – The act of fraudulently using in writing the name of another person or falsifying times, dates, grades, addresses or other data is prohibited. A student shall tell the truth, shall present oneself honestly and shall not forge any signature or make any false entry or alteration of any document, either paper or electronic, used or intended to be used in connection with the operation of the school. A student shall not open or alter official school documents and private documents, either paper or electronic.
Gang-Related Activity – Students shall not display, reflect, or participate in dress, apparel, activities, acts, behaviors, or manner of grooming that: (a) lead school officials to reasonably believe that such behavior, apparel, activities, acts or other attributes are gang related and would disrupt or interfere with the school environment, activity or educational objectives; (b) present a physical safety hazard to self, students, staff or others; (c) create an atmosphere in which a student, staff, or other person's well-being is adversely affected by undue pressure, behavior, intimidation, overt gesture or threat of violence; or (d) imply gang membership or affiliation by written communication, marks, drawing, painting, design, emblem upon any school or personal property or on one’s person.
Harassment, Intimidation or Bullying – See Regulation 3207.
Lewd Conduct
Making False Statements – The act of intentionally making an untrue statement or providing false or misleading information to a staff member with the intent to deceive, mislead, or misrepresent the truth.
Misuse of Electronic Information Systems – Students shall comply with the Responsible Use Handbook and Procedure 2022P when using electronic information systems such as e-mail, networks, and the Internet.
Refusal to Cease Misconduct – A student shall not repeatedly fail to comply with District Regulations or school rules or with reasonable directions of school personnel during any period of time when properly under the authority of school personnel.
Sexual Misconduct – Misconduct that could constitute sexual assault or harassment is prohibited.
Theft – The unauthorized carrying away of the personal property of another person or the property of the District is prohibited.
Threats of Violence or to Kill another Person (Including “hit lists”) are prohibited.
Tobacco – Tobacco products and delivery devices include, but are not limited to, cigarettes, cigars, snuff, smoking tobacco, smokeless tobacco, nicotine, electronic smoking/vapor devices and vapor products, non-prescribed inhalers, nicotine delivery devices or chemicals that are not FDA-approved to help people quit using tobacco, devices that produce the same flavor or physical effect of nicotine substances and any other smoking equipment, device, material or innovation.
Any use of such products and delivery devices by staff, students, visitors and community members will be prohibited on all District property, including all District buildings, grounds and district-owned vehicles, and within five hundred feet of schools. Possession by or distribution of tobacco products to minors is prohibited. See Regulation 4215.
Trespassing – Being present in an unauthorized place or refusing to leave when ordered to do so is prohibited.
Use of Motor Vehicles – Using vehicles on school property in a way that jeopardizes safety or property is prohibited.
Verbal Abuse – The use of disrespectful or threatening language to school personnel or other students is prohibited.
Weapons – Possession, transmission or use of any object that is or reasonably appears to be a dangerous weapon or related device is prohibited. Such objects include, but are not limited to: firearms, ammunition, stun guns, air guns, incendiary or explosive devices, clubs, knives with blades of at least three (3) inches in length, or other cutting or stabbing instruments brought or possessed with the intent to cause bodily harm, or to instill fear and/or intimidate by their mere presence on school property or at school sponsored events, chemical inhalants, and look-alike items or replicas displayed or represented as real weapons.
Pursuant to RCW 9.91.160, Persons over eighteen (18) years of age, and persons between fourteen (14) and eighteen (18) years of age who have written parent/guardian/caretaker permission, may possess personal protection spray devices (i.e., mace or pepper spray) on school property.
No one may deliver such a spray device to anyone under fourteen (14), or to anyone between fourteen (14) and eighteen (18) who does not have written parent/guardian/caretaker permission. Personal protection spray devices may only be used in self-defense as defined by state law. Possession, transmission, or use of a spray device under any other circumstances will be treated as a violation of the District’s rule prohibiting weapons.
Violation of Terms of Suspension, Expulsion or Emergency Removal – During the period of any suspension, expulsion or removal from school, students shall not enter upon any real and personal property that is owned, leased, rented, or controlled by the District without the express prior approval of a building principal or designee.
Consequences for Violation of Academic Integrity/Honesty
The degree or level of violation of academic integrity/honesty, including specific circumstances, will be weighed in each case. Depending upon the severity of the violation, consequences may be accelerated even for a first-time offense.
Standard Consequences for 1st violation may include:
- Academic honesty education
- Parent/guardian/caretaker contact
- Failing grade for the assignment/test/project
Standard Consequence for additional violations range from:
- Failing grade for the assignment/test/project
- Parent/guardian/caretaker contact
- School discipline
- Removal from school events (activities/athletics)
Definitions
Behavioral violation: A student’s behavior that violates the District’s discipline policy.
Campus: All areas of any District school (including parking areas and stadium complexes/fields).
Classroom exclusion: The exclusion of a student from a classroom or instructional or activity area for behavior violations. Classroom exclusion does not include actions that result in missed instruction for a brief duration when: (a) a teacher or other school personnel attempts other forms of discipline to support the student in meeting behavioral expectations; and (b) the student remains under the supervision of the teacher or other school personnel during the brief exclusion.
Detention: When a student must report to a designated school area for a specified time period. Detention may be served before school, after school, or during lunch and includes monitored study hall.
Discipline: Any action taken by the District in response to behavioral violations.
Disruption of the educational process: Interrupting classwork, creating disorder, or invading the rights of a student or group of students.
Emergency Removal: The removal of a student from school because the student’s presence poses an immediate and continuing danger to other students or school personnel, or an immediate and continuing threat of material and substantial disruption of the educational process. An emergency removal must end or be converted to another form of discipline within ten (10) school days from the start of the emergency removal.
- For purposes of administering an emergency removal, the term immediate and continuing threat of material and substantial disruption of the educational process means: (1) The student’s behavior results in an extreme disruption of the educational process that creates a substantial barrier to learning for other students across the school day; and (2) School personnel have exhausted reasonable attempts at administering other forms of discipline to support the student in meeting behavioral expectations.
Expulsion: A denial of admission to the student’s current school placement in response to a behavioral violation. An expulsion may not be for an indefinite period and may not exceed an academic term, unless the District’s Superintendent grants a petition for extension of the expulsion. An expulsion may only be administered: (1) for behavioral violations under RCW 28A.600.015(6)(a)-(d); and (2) after the District has determined that if the student returned to school before completing an expulsion, the student would pose an imminent danger to students or school personnel.
Length of an academic term: The total number of school days in a single semester, as defined by the school board.
Other forms of discipline: Actions used in response to behavioral violations, other than classroom exclusion, suspension, expulsion, or emergency removal.
Saturday School: When a student must report to school on a Saturday from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. for monitored study hall or other activities, including campus cleanup.
School Business Day: Any calendar day, except Saturdays, Sundays, or any federal, state, or school holiday, when the office of the District’s Superintendent is open to the public for business.
School Day: Any day or partial students are attending school for instructional purposes.
School District Property: All property of Issaquah School District, including any District school’s campus, parking areas, stadium complex, and other District property.
Suspension: The denial of attendance in response to a behavioral violation from any subject or class, or from any full schedule of subjects or classes, but not including classroom exclusions, expulsions, or emergency removals.
- In-School Suspension: A suspension in which a student is excluded from the student’s regular educational setting but remains in the student’s current school placement for up to ten (10) consecutive school days.
- Short-Term Suspension: A suspension in which the student is excluded from school for up to ten (10) consecutive school days.
- Long-Term Suspension: A suspension in which a student is excluded from school for more than ten (10) consecutive school days. A long-term suspension may not exceed the length of an academic term and may not be administered beyond the school year in which the behavioral violation occurred. A long-term suspension may only be administered: (1) for behavioral violations listed in the section titled “Suspensions and Expulsions” below; and (2) after the District has determined that if the student returned to school before completing a long-term suspension, the student would pose an imminent danger to students or school personnel or an imminent threat of material and substantial disruption of the educational process.
District Authority
All students will obey the written rules and regulations established for the orderly operations of the District and the reasonable requests, instructions, and directives of District personnel. The term "District personnel" includes all adults, including contractors and volunteers, authorized to supervise student activities. Failure to do so will be cause for disciplinary action. All students will submit to reasonable discipline by the District and its representatives for violations of regulations and rules.
Students who engage in, attempt to engage in, and/or conspire to engage in acts that have a detrimental effect on the maintenance and operation of the school or the District, criminal acts, and/or violations of school rules and regulations, may be subject to discipline by the school and prosecution under the law. The rules will be enforced by school officials:
- On school grounds immediately before, during, and immediately after school hours;
- On school grounds at any time when a school is being used by any school group(s) or for a school activity;
- Off school grounds at a school activity, function or event;
- Off school grounds if the actions of the student materially or substantially affect or interferes with the educational process or otherwise has a sufficient nexus to the school; and
- In District-provided transportation, or any other place while under the authority of District personnel.
Emergency Removals
Students may be immediately removed from the student's current school placement if the District has sufficient cause to believe that the student's presence poses:
- An immediate and continuing danger to other students or school personnel; or
- An immediate and continuing threat of material and substantial disruption of the educational process. An immediate and continuing threat of material and substantial disruption of the educational process means:
- The student's behavior results in an extreme disruption of the educational process that creates a substantial barrier to learning for other students across the school day; and
- School personnel have exhausted reasonable attempts at administering other forms of discipline to support the student in meeting behavioral expectations.
An emergency removal may not exceed ten consecutive school days. An emergency removal must end or be converted to another form of discipline within ten school days from the start of the emergency removal.
Student Conduct Expectations
Students, parent/guardian/caretakers, and school personnel are jointly responsible for expecting and demonstrating behavior that ensures a safe, orderly, and healthy environment for all persons. Students may not behave in a way disruptive to the educational process or unsafe for other students, staff, and/or self. The student conduct expectations also pertain to Running Start students, students who are home-based, private school and WANIC students. This handbook will always be read consistent with federal statutes and regulations, state statutes and regulations and common law.
This handbook contains a summary of the District’s general discipline policies. For a complete copy of the Regulation and Procedure related to student discipline, please see Regulation and Procedure 3241 and 3241P available on the district’s website.
Suspensions and Expulsions
Short-term or in-school suspensions may be imposed as appropriate for the behavioral violations identified in this handbook and in the District’s regulations and procedures. Before administering a short-term or in-school suspension, one or more other forms of discipline will be attempted to support the student in meeting behavioral expectations.
Long-term suspension may only be imposed if: (1) a student commits any of the following behavioral violations; and (2) the school has determined that the student would pose an imminent danger to students or school personnel OR would pose an imminent threat of material and substantial disruption of the educational process if the student returned to school before completing a long-term suspension.
Expulsion may only be imposed if: (1) a student commits any of the following behavioral violations; and (2) the school has determined that the student would pose an imminent danger to students or school personnel if the student returned to school before completing an expulsion.
- Having a firearm on school property or school transportation in violation of RCW 28A.600.420;
- Any of the following offenses listed in RCW 13.04.155, including:
- any violent offense as defined in RCW 9.94A.030, including
- any felony that Washington law defines as a class A felony or an attempt, criminal conspiracy, or solicitation to commit a class A felony;
- manslaughter in the first or second degree;
- indecent liberties committed by forcible compulsion;
- kidnapping in the second degree;
- arson in the second degree;
- assault in the second degree;
- assault of a child in the second degree;
- extortion in the first degree;
- robbery in the second degree;
- drive-by shooting; and
- vehicular assault caused by operating or driving a vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug, or by operating a vehicle in a reckless manner;
- any sex offense as defined in RCW 9.94A.030, which includes any felony violation of chapter 9A.44 RCW (other than failure to register as a sex offender in violation of 9A.44.132), including rape, rape of a child, child molestation, sexual misconduct with a minor, indecent liberties, voyeurism; a felony violation of RCW 9A.64.020; a felony violation of chapter 9.68A RCW (other than RCW 9.68A.080); a criminal attempt, solicitation, or conspiracy to commit a sex offense; and any felony conviction or adjudication with a sexual motivation finding;
- unlawful possession or delivery, or both, of a controlled substance in violation of chapter 69.50 RCW; and
- any firearms and dangerous weapons violation of chapter 9.41 RCW, including having a dangerous weapon at school in violation of RCW 41.280.
- any violent offense as defined in RCW 9.94A.030, including
- Two or more violations of the following within a three-year period
- criminal gang intimidation in violation of RCW 9A.46.120:
- gang activity on school grounds in violation of RCW 28A.600.455;
- willfully disobeying school administrative personnel in violation of RCW 28A.635.020; and
- defacing or injuring school property in violation of RCW 28A.635.060; and
- Any student behavior that adversely impacts the health or safety of other students or educational staff.
The phrase “student behavior that adversely impacts the health or safety of other students or educational staff” includes, but is not limited to, the following examples:
- Abusive behavior, lewd conduct, harassment and sexual harassment
- Assault, threats, extortion, causing physical injury or damage to school property
- Behavior that constitutes harassment, intimidation or bullying under Regulation 3207 where such acts adversely impact health and safety of students and staff
- Criminal acts
- Dangerous weapons, instruments, & activities
- Fighting
- Disruptive conduct
- False alarms
Before administering a long-term suspension or expulsion, the District will consider one or more other forms of discipline to support the student in meeting behavioral expectations.
For student behaviors that do not fall within one or more of the categories listed immediately above, schools may only impose classroom exclusion, in-school suspension, short-term suspension, or other forms of discipline.
Before administering any suspension or expulsion, the student’s individual circumstances and the nature and circumstances of the behavioral violation will be considered to determine whether the suspension or expulsion, and the length of the suspension or expulsion, is warranted.
In the case of classroom exclusions, suspensions, or expulsions, parent/guardian/caretakers will be notified. Depending on the circumstances of the infraction and the discipline imposed, a suspension/expulsion may begin immediately during the school day, after school, or the following morning. In order to minimize absences from school and depending upon the infraction, in-school suspension/Saturday School may be used as an alternative to out of school suspension. In addition, any student who is participating in or will be participating in school athletics, ASB, cheer, dance, and/or drill is subject to sanctions for violation of the drug and alcohol Regulation as outlined in the Student Athletic Handbook.
Any student or parent/guardian/caretaker who is aggrieved by the imposition of discipline may utilize the procedures in Procedure 3241P for the purpose of grieving the discipline.
Law enforcement agencies shall be contacted for violations of assault; possession, use, or transmitting alcohol or other drugs not prescribed for the individual; arson; possession of a dangerous weapon or weapon facsimile; reporting false alarms; trespassing; abuse and theft as appropriate; and of other criminal activities.
Department of Social and Health Services, Children’s Protective Services, may be contacted in cases of abuse or assault. If the victim is 18 or older and developmentally disabled, Adult Protective Services may be called.