DeKalb County School District

Student Relations provides support to each school and center in the DeKalb County School District by interpreting and implementing the rules and regulations regarding student conduct.

Distribution of Student Discipline Information

• Students receive and sign for the Code of Student Conduct, which contains the discipline rules and regulations of the DeKalb County School District.
• Students are taught the contents of the handbook.
• Special education students are taught the contents of the handbook by special education teachers. Also, English language learners are taught the contents of the handbook by English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) teachers and staff.
• Students who enroll in school during the school year receive, sign for, and are taught the contents of the handbook.
• Students are administered tests on the contents of the Code of Student Conduct. Students who score less than an 80 on the test must take a retest after additional instruction is provided. Tests are age appropriate and are prepared for grades K–3rd, 4th–5th, and 6th–12th.
• Students receive the keeping weapons out of your school information to notify students of policies and laws and to encourage students to take an active role in making and keeping their school safe and free of weapons.

The following programs, procedures, and activities are implemented and administered by Student Relations.

• Code of Student Conduct [ http://www.dekalb.k12.ga.us/www/documents/student-relations/code-of-student-conduct-[en].pdf ]
  • English version [ http://www.dekalb.k12.ga.us/www/documents/student-relations/code-of-student-conduct-[en].pdf ]
  • Arabic version / النسخة العربية [ http://www.dekalb.k12.ga.us/www/documents/student-relations/code-of-student-conduct-[ar].pdf ]
  • Ahmaric version [ http://www.dekalb.k12.ga.us/www/documents/student-relations/code-of-student-conduct-[ah].pdf ]
  • French version / version française [ http://www.dekalb.k12.ga.us/www/documents/student-relations/code-of-student-conduct-[fr].pdf ]
  • Spanish version / versión en español [ http://www.dekalb.k12.ga.us/www/documents/student-relations/code-of-student-conduct-[es].pdf ]
  • Somali version [ http://www.dekalb.k12.ga.us/www/documents/student-relations/code-of-student-conduct-[so].pdf ]
  • Vietnamese version [ http://www.dekalb.k12.ga.us/www/documents/student-relations/code-of-student-conduct-[vn].pdf ]
  • Chinese version [ http://www.dekalb.k12.ga.us/www/documents/student-relations/code-of-student-conduct-[zn].pdf ]

Distribution of Posters

• As required by the Official Code of Georgia Annotated (OCGA) section 16-11-127.1, posters that contain verbatim the state law prohibiting weapons on school property have been placed in every school and center in public view.
• Posters that contain the federal and state laws prohibiting the possession and distribution of drugs on school property and within 1,000 feet of school property have been placed in every school and center in public view.
• Safe School Zone posters have been placed in every school and center in public view.
• Bullying posters have been placed in schools to inform students that bullying is strictly prohibited by state law and DeKalb County Schools.
• Posters have been placed at the entrances of middle and high school locker rooms prohibiting taking/using any type of video recording devices in locker rooms.
• 1-877-SAY-STOP posters have been placed in all schools to inform students and the public that incidents of bullying, violence, and other related concerns may be anonymously reported to that toll-free number.
• Posters informing students of the Teenage and Adult Driver Responsibility Act (TAADRA) have been placed in every middle and high school. Students must regularly attend school or not commit specific offenses in order to maintain the privilege to operate a motor vehicle.

Student Evidentiary Hearing Committee

The Student Evidentiary Hearing Committee (SEHC) is a panel composed of principals, assistant principals, counselors, psychologists, social workers, and special educators who work in the DeKalb County School District. They hear evidence concerning charges of misconduct that have been brought against students, which if proven, may require long-term suspension, referral to alternative placement, expulsion, and/or other corrective action. Alternative forms of disciplining students have been used by the SEHC. They include:

• community service in lieu of long-term suspension;
• referrals to community agencies; and
• referrals for mediation between and among students and/or parents when conflict seems unresolved or the potential for continued conflict seems high.

Parent Student Conferences and Mediation

Student Relations has hundreds of conferences each year with parents and students. Schools refer parents and students to Student Relations if they are enrolling/re-enrolling from incarceration, suspension, expulsion, or after having been away from school for an extended period of time.

Student Relations assist parents in identifying appropriate resources for family and children needs.

Collaboration

Student Relations maintains a working relationship with several government and community agencies and resources, including:

• DeKalb County Juvenile Court
• DeKalb County Department of Public Safety
• Georgia Emergency Management Agency
• DeKalb County Department of Health
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• DeKalb County District Attorney's Office
• DeKalb County Department of Family and Children Services
• DeKalb County PTA Council and others
• DeKalb County Solicitor-General's Office
• DeKalb County Recorder's Court