Rule 1: Mandatory Dress Code – It is essential that all students, K4-12th grade, follow the mandatory dress code every day. Shirts must be buttoned and tucked in with no exceptions. All pants must be at waist level. Belts are recommended for all students. We strongly urge parents/guardians to put children’s names inside their clothing.

The complete dress code policy is listed in Section 3: Expectations of Students.

Rule 2: Gum – No student may chew gum at any time on school property.

Rule 3: Prohibited Items – The following is a list of items that should not be brought to school. Atlas Preparatory Academy will not be held responsible for the loss or theft of these items if they are brought to school. This list does not include all items and may be modified by administration at any time.

• Radios, MP3 players, and iPods
• Bluetooth speakers
• Electronic devices excluding calculators
• Large amounts of money
• Earrings larger than a quarter
• Gum & candy
• Unauthorized food items
• Any outside beverages including water
• Toiletry items excluding deodorant
• Nail polish
• Toys and trading cards
• Weapons (including toy weapons of any kind), fireworks, and poppers
• Any item that may be considered a weapon

Cell phones may not be used anytime on school property except for an emergency.

Students bringing a cold lunch or other food items from home, such as for authorized classroom parties, must give the items to school personnel upon arrival that morning.

Students will be subject to random searches of their possessions at all Atlas Preparatory Academy buildings. Any prohibited item will be confiscated and will have to be picked up by a parent/guardian. Students who refuse to have their possessions searched will be in violation of a severe clause infraction, and subject to such consequences.

Rule 4: Inappropriate Language – At no time will students use inappropriate, abusive, or threatening language, including profanity towards a staff member, another student, or any other person.

Rule 5: Leaving the School Building – Students are not allowed to leave the school building without permission. The administrator will contact the parent/guardian and disciplinary action will be taken if students leave the premises without permission.

Rule 6: Late to Class (Russell Campus Only: 7th–12th Grade) – Excessive tardiness to individual class periods will result in disciplinary action.

Consequences of General School-Wide Rules Infractions

Violations of school-wide rules may result in a referral being submitted by a teacher or staff member to administration. The administration, which may include the School Board, reviews the documentation submitted and determines the final consequences of the referral.

The Administrator may, at their discretion, submit the student’s discipline file to the School Board for an overall cumulative review of the student’s discipline history if a student has repeated written referrals. The School Board will review the student’s file and determine appropriate consequences. These may include a mandatory conference with a parent/guardian, an Out of School Suspension, a Last Chance Letter, or a Loss of Seat.

An In School Suspension removes the student from their regular classroom for the term of the suspension and places them in another supervised location within the school. The student must work on class work and is not allowed to communicate with other students or participate in any school functions including extracurricular activities during an In School Suspension.

An Out of School Suspension requires the student to remain at home for the term of the suspension. The student is not allowed to return to school until the term of their assigned suspension is completed. The administrator may require a parent/guardian meeting prior to the student returning to school.

The following consequences may be applied by the teacher or staff member when rules are not followed:

1st Infraction: Verbal Warning

2nd Infraction: Time-Out, Sit out of Activity, Action Plan

3rd Infraction: Lunch Detention, Loss of Recess, Telephone Call to Parent/Guardian

4th Infraction: Written Referral – When a written referral is submitted, the administration reviews the documentation submitted and determines the consequences of the referral. These consequences may include a mandatory parent/guardian conference, an In School Suspension, a 1-4 day Out of School Suspension, or a 5 day Out of School Suspension with a School Board review, which must be served before a student may return to school.

Severe Clause Infractions

Any illegal activities will be reported to the police.

There are certain severe clause behaviors that demand immediate suspension and/or loss of seat, depending on the circumstances and/or number of incidents involving the student. These decisions will be made by the administration on a case by case basis.

The following severe clause behaviors are prohibited and will not be tolerated:

• Any form of fighting, play-fighting, hitting, kicking, or physical violence toward another student/staff member.
• Any students who do not immediately withdraw from a fight, regardless of who initiated the altercation, will be deemed to have engaged in a severe clause infraction.
• Students who encourage a fight, or keep a student from withdrawing in any way, will be deemed to have engaged in a severe clause infraction.
• Threatening to harm any person physically or verbally on or off of school grounds.
• Cursing or blatant disrespect of a teacher or staff member. The administration will use discretion in determining whether the use of profanity stemmed from a lapse in judgement or was done intentionally to disrespect the staff member.
• Use or possession of tobacco, vape pens, lighters, matches, alcohol, drugs, or drug paraphernalia.
• Gang activities of any kind, including but not limited to bandannas, tattoos, drawings, or flashing gang signs.
• Possession of knives, guns, and weapons of any kind, and any other items commonly used to cause bodily harm.
• Theft of property or possession of items that do not belong to you without the owner’s permission.
• Pulling a fire alarm or tampering with other safety equipment.
• Sexual harassment in verbal, written, or electronic form.
• Gambling.
• Purposeful destruction of school property.
• Refusal to follow directions given by any staff member during a dangerous situation as determined by the staff member.
• Arrested and charged for dangerous/threatening behavior off of school grounds.

Students will be subject to random searches of their possessions at all Atlas Preparatory Academy buildings. Any prohibited item will be confiscated and will have to be picked up by a parent/guardian. Students who refuse to have their possessions searched will be in violation of a severe clause infraction and subject to such consequences.

Consequences of Severe Clause Infractions

Any illegal activities will be reported to the police.

There are certain severe clause behaviors that demand immediate suspension and/or loss of seat, depending on the circumstances and/or number of incidents involving the student. These decisions will be made by the administration on a case by case basis.

Any student committing a severe clause infraction will immediately receive a 5 day Out of School Suspension with a School Board review, which must be served before a student may return to school. In addition, parents may be required to have a conference with the administration prior to the child’s return to school.

The following consequences may also occur:

• Students may be asked to attend outside counseling in addition to any other consequences assigned by administration.
• Students may receive a Last Chance Letter. This letter will inform the parent/guardian that any additional behavior issues that result in an Out of School Suspension will lead to a Loss of Seat at Atlas Preparatory Academy.
• Students may be directly issued a Loss of Seat at Atlas Preparatory Academy.

Students who have lost their privilege to attend Atlas Preparatory Academy, or are serving an Out of School Suspension, may not visit the school or attend school functions unless accompanied by a parent/guardian and with the written consent of the administration.

Appeal Process for Suspensions

Parents/guardians may appeal a suspension by placing a telephone call to the administrator who issued the suspension. The administrator will discuss the issues surrounding the suspension and work to resolve disagreements concerning the suspension and may, at their sole discretion, schedule a meeting at the school to resolve any remaining issues concerning the suspension. The administrator will notify the appellant by telephone whether their appeal is accepted or rejected.

Appeal Process for Loss of Seat

Parents/guardians who have been notified by the School that their child has been issued a Loss of Seat by the School Board have the right to file a written appeal to the School Board requesting a review of the Loss of Seat decision.

The letter of appeal must state the specific reasons why the parent/guardian believes the student should not have lost their seat and must specifically request a review of the Loss of Seat. The appeal must be sent by certified mail and postmarked by the United States Postal Service by the tenth (10th) calendar day following the date the parent/guardian was notified by Atlas Preparatory Academy that the student was issued a Loss of Seat by the School Board.

Late or incomplete appeals will be rejected and will not be considered.

The School Board will notify the appellant whether their appeal is accepted or rejected. The notification will be in writing and sent by certified mail to the parent/guardian’s most current address on file within twenty (20) calendar days from the date the appeal was received.