CODE OF CONDUCT - Mastery Charter Schools · spread to another person (e.g., chicken pox, measles), notify the school nurse. Categories of Absences There are three (3) categories

SERVING STUDENTS IN PHILADELPHIA AND CAMDEN SINCE 2001

CODE OF CONDUCT

Mastery Charter Schools

ATTENDANCE POLICY

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Automated call home (Repeat for each additional absence)

Letter mailed home

Group attendance meeting

District Attorney (DA) prosecution warning letter

DA group attendance meeting

Individual meeting with DA and referral to DHS

DA pre-trial meeting (at district attorney’s office)

Regional court referral (citation with upcoming court date sent to the family)

The student may be required to repeat the grade level the next school year.

Late Arrivals

Occurrences Per Year

Absences (Illegal or Following Submission of Parent Note)

• Call home • Letter mailed home

• Detention for each late arrival

• Group parent meeting • Detention for one week

• Warning letter about the possibility of a grade reduction • Community service

• 2nd warning letter about the possibility of a grade reduction.

• Late arrivals will be noted in truancy documentation for students with 10+ absences.

Students are expected to be in school every day, on time and ready to learn.Pennsylvania Law requires that all children younger than 17 attend school. As a parent/guardian of a school-aged child, you are responsible for making sure the child attends school. If the child doesn’t come to school, you and possibly the student, may face legal consequences.

In Pennsylvania, truancy is defined as when a child of compulsory school age is absent from school for three or more days without a valid excuse. Absences without a valid excuse are considered “illegal” absences. If a child is found to be truant, you as the parent/guardian can be convicted and put in jail for Corrupting the Morals of a Minor and/or Endangering the Welfare of a Child.

A teenager who is found to be truant can have his/her driver’s license suspended for up to ninety days for the first conviction of truancy and six months for any other convictions of truancy. If the child does not have a license, the chance to apply for one can be suspended for ninety days for the first offense and six months for additional offenses.

Absence NotificationIf a student is sick and can’t come to school, you as the parent/guardian must call the school no later than 8:00 a.m. If the school doesn’t hear from you, the office will call you.

If the student is sick with a communicable disease that can be spread to another person (e.g., chicken pox, measles), notify the school nurse.

Categories of AbsencesThere are three (3) categories of absences at Mastery.

Excused: Mastery may excuse student absences under certain circumstances, including emergency (non-routine) medical appointments, (Routine medical and dental appointments should be scheduled outside of school hours.), court subpoenas or funeral notices. For the absence to be excused, you will need to submit original documentation as proof.

Students will also be excused if they are involved with the Philadelphia Department of Human Services (DHS) or the juvenile probation office and are required to leave school for court hearings related to their involvement with these agencies.

Parent Note: Students have three (3) calendar days to submit a parent note (written explanation) of the reason(s) for an absence. If they do not submit the parent note within three (3) days, the absence will be counted as “illegal.”

Illegal: All absences are treated as illegal until Mastery receives a parent note (See “parent note” above.) If the school does not receive a parent note within three (3) days of the absence, the absence is permanently counted as “illegal.”

Consequences for Chronic Absences and Late Arrivals Please Note: After ten (10) consecutive “illegal” absences, students will be dropped from Mastery’s enrollment.

Early DismissalAs a parent/guardian, you can request your child leave school early in cases of an emergency. Emergencies include crises within the family that cannot be managed without the student’s presence. Early dismissals for private instruction in such activities as music, dance, gymnastics, or drama are not granted. In addition, early dismissals for religious instruction are not granted except on a very limited basis as outlined in state regulations.

Please make routine medical and dental appointments after school hours. Ordinary household or personal matters involving students are also to be handled outside regular school hours. When students must have an early dismissal for medical/dental appointments, and the child is out of school for only part of the day, the student must bring a follow-up note from the physician or dentist to show that the appointment was kept.

All requests for early dismissals must be in writing, signed by a parent/guardian. The written request must explain the reason for the request and the time of dismissal. Mastery will call you to make sure the request is real and came from you. Requests by phone are not allowed except in cases of an emergency.

Students must hand in their early dismissal requests during morning entry. The requests will be forwarded to the attendance coordinator.

You can pick up your child from school if you are listed as a parent/guardian or emergency contact. To pick up a child, stop by the front desk and show a state ID or driver’s license. It’s a safety precaution to keep students safe.

Illegal early dismissals may result in a Level II infraction for cutting class. See “Level II Infractions.”

Temporary ExcusalsIn truly exceptional cases, principals may choose to grant temporary excusals from attendance. To request the principal’s approval of temporary excusals, you must provide written evidence of a severe mental/physical condition or other urgent reason before the accumulation of absences.

CODE OF CONDUCT 2

PHILADELPHIA ELEMENTARY PHILADELPHIA SECONDARY

Mastery High School of Camden

Escuelas Mastery de Camden

Gratz Prep Middle

Mastery Charter SchoolClymer Elementary

Mastery Charter SchoolFrancis D. Pastorius Elementary

Mastery Charter SchoolFrederick Douglass Elementary

Mastery Charter SchoolGrover Cleveland Elementary

Mastery Charter SchoolHardy Williams Elementary

Mastery Charter SchoolHarrity Elementary

Mastery Charter SchoolJohn Wister Elementary

Mastery Charter SchoolMann Elementary

Mastery Charter SchoolSmedley Elementary

Mastery Charter SchoolThomas Elementary

Mastery Prep Elementary

Mastery Schools Mastery Charter Schools

Mastery Charter SchoolFrederick Douglass Middle

Mastery Charter SchoolGratz Prep Middle

Mastery Charter SchoolLenfest Campus

Mastery Charter SchoolHardy Williams High

Mastery Charter SchoolPickett Campus

Mastery Charter SchoolShoemaker Campus

Mastery Charter SchoolSimon Gratz High

Mastery Charter SchoolThomas Campus

Mastery Prep Middle

Mastery Schools of Camden

Mastery Schools of CamdenCramer Hill Elementary

Mastery Schools of CamdenMcGraw Elementary

Mastery Schools of CamdenMolina Lower Elementary

Mastery Schools of CamdenMolina Upper Elementary

Mastery Schools of CamdenEast Camden Middle


Failure to Carry Hall Pass and/or Appropriate ID

Lateness to Class

Community Infraction

Disruptive Behavior

Insubordination

Uniform Violation

Redirection Level I Infraction

Category Teacher-Assigned Consequence or Demerit

Dean Call, Conduct Referral and/or Classroom Removal

CONSEQUENCES

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The Mastery Code of Conduct is designed to create a safe, respectful, and cooperative community. There are three types of infractions: Level I, Level II, and Level III. Each infraction type has a range of possible consequences.

Level I InfractionsLevel I infractions negatively impact Mastery’s high achievement culture and community of safety, respect and cooperation.

Academic Cheating, Plagiarism, and Forgery (Loss of credit for assignment is an automatic consequence.)

Repeated Level I Infractions*

Cutting*

Persistent Disruption/Insubordination

Elopement*

Simple Assault/Physical Aggression

Provocation

Inappropriate Behavior to Students

Inappropriate Behavior to Staff

Inciting Violence

Damaging or Stealing (Minor)

Inappropriate Consensual Sexual Behavior

Inappropriate Use of Technology

Gambling

Possession of Contraband

Phone Call/ Detention Level II Infraction

Category

In-School Consequences (In-School Suspension, Community Service, Extended Detentions and Phone Call Home)

K-2: Mandatory Parent Conference

Grades 3-12: Assignment of Out-of-School Suspension & Mandatory Parent Conference

Level II InfractionsLevel II Infractions significantly impact Mastery’s high achievement culture and community of safety, respect, and cooperation.

Please Note: Mastery does not suspend students for infractions denoted with an *. The most severe consequence for these infractions is a mandatory parent conference.

Disciplinary Hearing with Possible Assignment to Alternative Placement

CONSEQUENCES

MASTERY CODE OF CONDUCT

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CODE OF CONDUCT 3




Gratz Prep Middle





















Mastery Prep Middle








Grades K-5

Grades 6-12

Disciplinary Hearing outcome options for Level III Infractions

• Additional days of suspension

• Behavior contract with restrictions

• Referral to the intervention and referral services team

• Additional days of suspension (up to 10 days) and behavior contract (with supports)

• Alternative placement

• Expulsion

Level III InfractionsLevel III infractions are very serious violations of our Disciplinary Code of Conduct and/or are criminal violations of Pennsylvania state law. When a Level III infraction occurs, Mastery is required to report the incident to the State, and it becomes part of the student’s permanent record. A suspension and disciplinary hearing is mandated for all Level III infractions.

Theft

Bullying/Cyberbullying

Sexual Harassment/Intimidation

Possession or Use of Illegal Drugs, Tobacco, and/or Alcohol and/or Engagement in Illicit Activity on School Grounds

Arson and/or Possession of Fireworks and Other Explosive Devices

Vandalism

Reckless Endangerment

Threatening a Staff Member or Staff Members

Instigation and/or Participation in Group Assault

Physical Assault

Aggravated Assault

Non-Consensual Sexual Misconduct

Firearm, Weapon, or Dangerous Instrument

Terrorist Threats/Acts

Robbery

Extortion

Level III Infraction Category

CODE OF CONDUCT 4




Gratz Prep Middle





















Mastery Prep Middle








Mandatory Parent Meetings (MPCs)During a Mandatory Parent Conference (MPC), the dean of students and relevant staff members meet with you, the student’s parent or guardian, to review infractions and to develop support plans. The dean of students serves as the point of contact for connecting students with challenging behaviors to the appropriate supports. Students with repeated Level I, Level II, and Level III infractions receive additional resources and supports. For K-2 students, MPCs are used in place of out-of-school suspensions. Kindergarten, first and second grade students may not be suspended unless their actions result in serious bodily injury.

You will receive both written and verbal communication of the date and time of the scheduled Mandatory Parent Conference, as well as an explanation of the student infraction.

Student InterventionsDuring a Mandatory Parent Conference, the dean of students recommends intervention supports. Intervention supports include, but are not limited to:

Community service

Loss of privilege

Preferential seating

Referral to the school-based Intervention and Referral Services team

Restorative conferencing

Creation of behavior contract

Habit cards

Proactive check-ins

Social Emotional Learning groups

Student behavior trackers

Creation of safety plans

Parent conferences

Reflective essay

Referral to the Student Assistance Program

Use of classroom-based “calming corner”

Additional school culture policies can be found in the Parent-Student Handbook.

STUDENT INTERVENTION

MASTERY CODE OF CONDUCT

Documents

CODE OF CONDUCT - Mastery Charter Schools · spread to another person (e.g., chicken pox, measles), notify the school nurse. Categories of Absences There are three (3) categories