August 11, 2022 Community Update: Student Expectations, Rights and Responsibilities
Our Commitment: Safe and Supportive Learning Environments
Baltimore County Public Schools (BCPS) is committed to providing a safe and supportive learning environments for all students. The resources below outline student expectations, rights and responsibilities for the 2022-2023 school year. BCPS families are encouraged to review resources with children prior to the start of school. Students will also review the documents in class with school staff.
The BCPS Code of Conduct At-A-Glance provides an overview of discipline procedures and protocols, and the range of consequences students could face for violating various policies, regulations, and rules. The guide, aligned with Board Policy 5550 and Superintendent’s Rule 5550, also discusses the BCPS discipline philosophy and defines the various disciplinary responses.
The 2022-2023 Student Handbook includesan overview of the rights and responsibilities of BCPS students and a summary of the laws and regulations that affect students. Topics include consistent, timely attendance, respect for people and property, technology usage, student publications, student activities, student records, the right to appeal - including grievance procedures – and more. For the complete explanation of students’ responsibilities and rights, see Board of Education Policy 5600 and Superintendent’s Rule 5600.
Students and parents/guardians are required to electronically sign a statement indicating that the Student Handbook has been received and that the expectations for student behavior are understood. The Student Handbook is an important document to review annually because it incorporates changes from previous versions.
Substantive changes to the 2022-2023 handbook include:
- Revised social-emotional framework that includes all five competencies offered by the Collaborative for Academic and Social-Emotional Learning (CASEL);
- New policy and rule for educating pregnant students and students who are parenting children;
- Revised policy and rule for addressing bullying, harassment, and intimidation (definitions have been rewritten to provide greater clarity);
- Updated policy/rule for students who commit criminal offenses in the community (language added to make a distinction between offenses that occur in school and in the community);
- New policy and rule for educating students who are charged with committing sexual assaults
- Reference to document that explains how behavioral infractions committed on school buses will be handled.
- Both students and parents will be able to log into Focus student information system to acknowledge receipt and understanding of content within the student handbook.
If you have questions, please speak to the administration at your school.