Standards for Off-Campus Behavior Are Part of Discipline Policies for Elementary, Middle, and High School Students in Utah
In any K-12 school in Utah's forty-two school districts, discipline and safety policies have been adopted in accordance with guidelines in the chapter of the Utah Code that covers public education. From small districts like San Juan County in the southeast corner of the state to the 85,000-student Alpine School District south of Salt Lake City, school employees, parents of students, students, and the community at large can provide input on the policies adopted by their district. In each district, discipline policies include measures taken by the school or the district when a student engages in behaviors defined as misconduct.
That a student's behavior away from school grounds can result in disciplinary measures by the school—up to expulsion—can come as an unpleasant surprise both to the student and their parents or guardian, especially if the behavior, however unsavory it might be, has nothing to do with the school or any student or staff member. Schools and school districts, however, maintain that certain types of off-campus behavior by a student can have a negative impact on the educational environment at the school, and they use that as justification for meting out disciplinary consequences.
Whatever the level of disciplinary measure your child may be subject to, it is essential to take it seriously and determine what action you should take. The impact of disciplinary actions can range from immediate fallout, like missed classes, to long-term damage to their educational journey.
If you have a child facing disciplinary action for off-campus behavior at an elementary, middle, or high school in Utah, call the Student Defense Team of the Lento Law Firm at 888.535.3686 or tell us about your case on our website. We have helped students like your child in communities in Utah and across the country.
Types of Off-Campus Misconduct Covered by Utah School Disciplinary Policies
In determining whether off-campus misconduct by a student warrants discipline, schools look at the behavior's potential to have a negative effect on the functions of the school or on any of its students or staff. The more direct the impact may be, the more likely it is that there will be a disciplinary response.
When Off-Campus Misconduct Has a Direct Impact on the School or Members of the School Community
Many middle school students have access to online social media sites, thanks to cell phones and computers. Some students have not yet mastered the best practices necessary for prudent online behavior, and they may cross the line into cyberbullying in an online battle with a classmate on platforms such as Facebook or Instagram, thereby running afoul of their school's behavior expectations. The student handbook for Canyon View Middle School in Cedar City, Utah, for example, includes cyberbullying among prohibited behaviors and refers students to the Iron County District Handbook for more information. That handbook includes social media challenges and “any conduct tending to cause disruption or arouse alarm, anger, or resentment in others” in its definition of severe disruptive behavior.
When Off-Campus Misconduct Tangentially Violates School Policies
While many of the behaviors in this category are like those that have a direct impact on the school or a member of the school community, the target is not the student's school or a specific member of its community. The school administers disciplinary sanctions on the grounds that the behavior still affects the school and its community. Corner Canyon High School in the Canyons District, for example, points out that hazing and bullying activities are illegal behaviors and states that they negatively impact the school environment “regardless of where [they] occur.” Thus, a student who engages in such behavior off-campus, especially if it is against a member of a group that is also represented at the school, will be subject to discipline by the school.
When Off-Campus Misconduct Is Unrelated to the School
Students may face discipline for off-campus conduct that is not related to the school or its community, even in the loosest way. The Safe School Policy of the Granite School District in north-central Utah, for example, includes a listing for “criminal mischief” among the prohibited behaviors that can result in disciplinary action against a student. Painting surfaces with graffiti, even if the content is non-threatening and is not directed at the student's school or a member of its community, is included in the definition of vandalism. A student caught up in a well-intended effort to promote a positive message using graffiti may well find themselves in trouble with their school.
How Utah K-12 Schools Discipline Students for Off-Campus Misconduct
While each school or school district in Utah develops its own disciplinary policy, it does so in accordance with a state law that calls for the Utah State Board of Education to establish rules and minimum standards for discipline and control. In Granite County, the Student Discipline section of the Cyprus High Handbook is an example of how a school communicates its discipline policy to its community.
The Cyprus High discipline policy focuses on infractions that can result in suspension. These include fighting; possessing weapons, explosives, or dangerous devices; participating in vandalism, destruction of property, or theft; using, possessing, or distributing illegal substances such as drugs, alcohol, and vaping devices; sexual harassment or accessing pornography; and directing profanity at others. Notably, the consequences do not distinguish between whether the misconduct occurred on- or off-campus. The school's discipline policy pays special attention to fighting, providing details about consequences that include a $50 fighting fine and a suspension of up to three days; the list of consequences also clarifies that students who film or encourage a fight are also subject to suspension. While expulsion is among the measures sanctioned under state law and included in the Granite County safe school policy, the publicly available Cyprus High discipline policy does not mention it. This discrepancy highlights the need for the highly knowledgeable legal representation that the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team can provide.
Impact and Consequences of Discipline for Off-Campus Misconduct at Schools in Utah
If your child faces school disciplinary sanctions for off-campus misconduct, the best outcome is to see your child back at school, engaged in academic and extracurricular pursuits, and once again fully integrated into the school community. Your child catches up on any missed instruction, and academic setbacks are minimal. But in many cases, the experience has both immediate and long-term effects on your child that cannot be underestimated.
Your child may be affected psychologically by the experience of being sanctioned by their school, perhaps more than you realize. Adolescence is a period characterized by the intense desire to belong and avoid embarrassment or being singled out, and disciplinary measures, especially suspension or expulsion, can feel like a brand that will not fade. Your child may feel alienated from the school community, especially if staff members and other students treat them differently because of misconduct, even though it occurred off-campus. The psychological effects can linger or even become permanent as your child sours on school, feeling they can never get back on track.
The academic cost of missed classroom instruction, tests, and assignments can feel impossible to overcome, and as grades slide, a sense of futility may set in: Why bother trying, it's too much to make up.
As the effects pile up, your child's grades slip, and goals like attending an excellent school close to home like the University of Utah or Utah State University, or venturing out-of-state to a school such as the University of Michigan or UCLA fade away. To ensure your child has the best chance to bounce back after serious disciplinary measures by their school, contact the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team. We are dedicated to helping students achieve their goals by representing their interests when taking on their school's administration.
How the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team Can Guide Your Child Through School Disciplinary Proceedings in Utah
You and your child may be reeling if their school has begun disciplinary proceedings in response to something your child did well away from the school, but rest assured that you have a strong advocate in the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team—you do not need to face this challenge alone. It is understandable if you find the often lengthy disciplinary guidelines of your child's school or district to be confusing and contradictory, but our team has extensive experience navigating the disciplinary process at schools in Utah and across the country, and we will leverage that knowledge to the benefit of your child. We will ensure that your child is treated fairly by the school, and we will do everything possible to get them back on track as soon as possible in pursuit of their education. We help you gain clarity about the process and present a roadmap for the best path forward. With the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team on your side, you can focus on supporting your child instead of becoming mired in a frustrating process.
In keeping with our firm's values and based on extensive experience regarding what works best for our clients, the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team takes a cooperative approach with the school to protect your child's rights and secure the best possible resolution. We emphasize the goal of having your child back at school, confident, secure, and ready to learn.
The approach the Student Defense Team at the Lento Law Firm will take will be tailored to your case, but most cases regarding disciplinary action taken by schools for off-campus misconduct require the following elements for successful resolution:
- Provide guidance on steps you should take. Chief among the recommendations we make to our clients: Keep records of all communications with your child's school and any related parties regarding the disciplinary action. This includes taking notes on any conversations, preferably during the conversation or immediately afterward.
- Investigate all aspects of the case. The Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team includes investigators experienced in capturing all relevant information and identifying the individuals and entities who can help us understand the nuances of your child's case so we can determine the best way forward.
- Facilitate the negotiation process by immediately establishing communication with your child's school. Our team will identify the point person at your child's school for communications about the case.
- Develop the unique strategy that your child's case requires.
- Represent you and your child in negotiations with the school and counsel you whenever you need to communicate with the school.
- Provide you with an outline of the key points of the disciplinary policies at your child's school and identify any discrepancies or contradictions.
- Assist with appeals.
Experience in Utah and Across the Country: The Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team Represents Students Facing School Discipline for Off-Campus Misconduct
Whatever school your child attends in Utah, from Box Elder High School in the northeast corner of the state to Kanab Middle School in Kane County along Utah's southern state line, the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team can help if your child is facing disciplinary action by the school for off-campus behavior that violates the school's conduct code. It is important to take swift action to protect your child's ability to take full advantage of the education they have a right to, rather than be overwhelmed by the stress, embarrassment, and uncertainty being stuck in the school's discipline bureaucracy can cause. The Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team has experience not only in Utah but across the country defending the rights of students like yours. We take a collaborative approach to resolving the issues for the best possible outcome for our clients. Call 888.535.3686 or tell us about your case on the Lento Law Firm Student Discipline Defense website.
