Indiana School Discipline Laws & Regulations: Scope

Indiana School Discipline Laws & Regulations: Scope

Category: Codes of Conduct
Subcategory: Scope
State: Indiana

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Indiana

LAWS

IC 20-33-8-13.5. Discipline rules prohibiting bullying required.

(a) Discipline rules adopted by the governing body of a school corporation under section 12 [IC 20-33-8-12] of this chapter must:

(1) prohibit bullying; and

(2) include:

(A) provisions concerning education, parental involvement, and intervention;

(B) a detailed procedure for the expedited investigation of incidents of bullying that includes:

(i) appropriate responses to bullying behaviors, wherever the behaviors occur;

(ii) provisions for anonymous and personal reporting of bullying to a teacher or other school staff;

(iii) timetables for reporting of bullying incidents to the parents of both the targeted student and the bully, in an expedited manner;

(iv) timetables for reporting of bullying incidents to school counselors, school administrators, the superintendent, or law enforcement, if it is determined that reporting the bullying incident to law enforcement is necessary;

(v) discipline provisions for teachers, school staff, or school administrators who fail to initiate or conduct an investigation of a bullying incident; and

(vi) discipline provisions for false reporting of bullying; and

(i) support services for the victim; and

(ii) bullying education for the bully.

(b) The discipline rules described in subsection (a) may be applied regardless of the physical location in which the bullying behavior occurred, whenever:

(1) the individual committing the bullying behavior and any of the intended targets of the bullying behavior are students attending a school within a school corporation; and

(2) disciplinary action is reasonably necessary to avoid substantial interference with school discipline or prevent an unreasonable threat to the rights of others to a safe and peaceful learning environment.

(c) The discipline rules described in subsection (a) must prohibit bullying through the use of data or computer software that is accessed through a:

(1) computer;

(2) computer system;

(3) computer network; or

(4) cellular telephone or other wireless or cellular communications device.

(d) This section may not be construed to give rise to a cause of action against a person or school corporation based on an allegation of noncompliance with this section. Noncompliance with this section may not be used as evidence against a school corporation in a cause of action.

(e) A record made of an investigation, a disciplinary action, or a follow-up action performed under rules adopted under this section is not a public record under IC 5-14-3.

(f) The department shall periodically review each policy adopted under this section to ensure the policy's compliance with this section.

IC 20-33-8-14. Grounds for suspension or expulsion.

(a) The following are the grounds for student suspension or expulsion, subject to the procedural requirements of this chapter and as stated by school corporation rules:

(1) Student misconduct.

(2) Substantial disobedience.

(b) The grounds for suspension or expulsion listed in subsection (a) apply when a student is:

(1) on school grounds immediately before or during school hours, or immediately after school hours, or at any other time when the school is being used by a school group;

(2) off school grounds at a school activity, function, or event; or

(3) traveling to or from school or a school activity, function, or event.

IC 20-33-8-15. Unlawful activity by student.

In addition to the grounds specified in section 14 [IC 20-33-8-14] of this chapter, a student may be suspended or expelled for engaging in unlawful activity on or off school grounds if:

(1) the unlawful activity may reasonably be considered to be an interference with school purposes or an educational function; or

(2) the student's removal is necessary to restore order or protect persons on school property;

including an unlawful activity during weekends, holidays, other school breaks, and the summer period when a student may not be attending classes or other school functions.

IC 20-33-8-4. "School purposes".

As used in this chapter, "school purposes" refers to the purposes for which a school corporation operates, including the following:

(1) To promote knowledge and learning generally.

(2) To maintain an orderly and effective educational system.

(3) To take any action under the authority granted to school corporations and their governing bodies by IC 20-26-5 or by any other statute.

IC 20-33-8-5. "School property".

As used in this chapter, "school property" means the following:

(1) A building or other structure owned or rented by a school corporation.

(2) The grounds adjacent to and owned or rented in common with a building or other structure owned or rented by a school corporation.

IC 20-33-9-5. Controlled substance violations; reports by school employees.

If a person other than a member of the administrative staff who is an employee of a school corporation has personally observed:

(1) a violation described in section 1 [IC 20-33-9-1] of this chapter; or

(2) a delinquent act that would be a violation under section 1 of this chapter if the violator were an adult;

in, on, or within one thousand (1,000) feet of the school property of the school corporation employing the person, the person shall immediately report the violation in writing to a member of the administrative staff of the school corporation employing the person.

REGULATIONS

No relevant regulations found.