Reading School District is committed to partnering with you and your family to make sure all students have the social, emotional, behavioral and academic skills they need to succeed in life. The Code of Student Conduct Book (English | Spanish) guides our district staff, students and families in developing safe, participatory, and productive learning environments and disciplinary practices.

Code of Conduct Book
To speak to someone regarding the Reading School District Code of Student Conduct Book, contact our Equity Department at 484-258-7038.

Academic and School Concerns
To speak to someone regarding academic and/or school concerns, please use the below chart. If you cannot determine whom to call, contact the District Office at 484-258-7032 ext. 01205.

• To be treated fairly and respectfully by all school and district staff, and to treat everyone in the school community with respect.
  
  
• To talk with your child about the Code of Student Conduct (available in school and online at www.ReadingSD.org/codeofconduct) and school rules.
  
  
• To receive information and work with the school principal, teachers, and other staff to support your child’s academic, social/emotional, or behavioral needs.
  
  
• To ensure that your child has an opportunity to express his/her side of the story before any disciplinary action and to advocate for appropriate supportive interventions.
  
  
• To be notified promptly of consequences assigned and appeal disciplinary actions taken.

The Code of Student Conduct is based on five principles that provide an important foundation to guide behavior. These principles outline the conduct and behavior students are expected to meet every day:

• My words, actions and attitudes demonstrate respect for others and myself at all times.
  
  
• I demonstrated pride in myself, in my future, and in my school by arriving on time, dressed appropriately, and prepared to focus on my studies.
  
  
• I always seek the most peaceful means of resolving conflict and obtain the assistance of teachers, administrators or school staff when I am unable to resolve conflicts on my own.
  
  
• I take pride in promoting a safe and clean learning environment at my school.
  
  
• I seek to develop positive relationships with all members of the school community and to restore relationships with school community members who are affected by my conduct.

What is progressive discipline?
In order to protect the right of all students to receive the best education possible in a safe and orderly learning environment, certain types of behavior are prohibited. Student misconduct is grouped into four levels of infractions base don the severity of the misbehavior, place of occurrence, frequency of occurrence, and disruptive effect upon the safety and orderliness of the learning environment. Each level of infraction provides a set of possible supports and interventions, as well as a range of possible disciplinary responses that may be imposed by a teacher, principal or other designee of the Superintendent.

When should a suspension be used?
Reading School District is responsible for educating all students. Out-of-school suspensions are a last resort that should only be used only when:

• Staff and/or students are in immediate danger of physical, emotional, or mental harm.
  
  
• A student has severely interrupted other students in school, and staff have tried other ways to respond to the behavior. No student shall be sent home before the end of the day unless the school has established contact with the student’s parent or guardian and provided notice of a suspension. All students must be picked up by a parent or guardian. 

What should I do if I feel my child has been disciplined unfairly?
Parents and students have the right to appeal disciplinary action. If you believe your student has been disciplined unfairly or given a suspension before you were notified, contact your school principal to set up a meeting to discuss the incident and raise your concerns.

A person is bullied when he or she is exposed, repeatedly and over time, to negative actions on the part of one or more other persons, and he or she has difficulty defending himself or herself.

This definition of bullying has three major components: First, it is aggressive behavior that involves unwanted, negative actions. Second, bullying typically involves a pattern of intentional behavior repeated over time. Third, it involves an imbalance of power or strength.

You should notify the school principal, assistant principal or main office staff as quickly as possible if you believe your student is a victim of bullying.

You may also report bullying to any RSD employee or use the Reading School District’s Anonymous Tip Line to share information about incidents affecting your child’s safety.

Call the Tipline at 1-844-SAF2SAY or visit www.readingsd.org/tipline or safe2saypa.org.