Respecting the Rights of Others

Students have rights that are not lost when they go to school. However,
the rights of one individual student must be balanced with the rights of all the other students and the faculty. Student rights are limited by the rights
of others. All students should make sure that their rights are being observed while also making sure that the rights of others are being protected.

Right to an Education

A basic student right is to attend a free public school. Students cannot be prevented from attending public schools because of race, religion, sex, place of birth, or disability. Anyone between the ages of five and twenty-one may attend free public schools if a parent or legal guardian lives in Baltimore City. Maryland law says that students must attend school until they are 16 years old.

Freedom of Expression

Students have the right to express their views in speech, publications, pictures, posters, buttons, arm bands, petitions, etc., under the following conditions:

• The message may not be obscene or libelous.
• The message may not threaten or substantially disrupt normal school operations, or infringe upon the rights of others.
• Principals are responsible for school-sponsored publications and/or events that are part of the curriculum such as school newspapers, posters, and assemblies. Therefore, principals or their designees have the right to approve or disapprove such literature, posters, etc., before they are distributed on school grounds, during school hours or school-sponsored events. However, the principals must give their reasons for either approving or disapproving, and they must be fair and uniformly applied to all students.

A student's freedom of expression can be regulated—but not prohibited—by the school. The Rules of the New Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners explains the regulations in detail.

Personal Appearance

In general, students may dress in any style they desire, but there are some restrictions. For example, (1) the style of clothes that students wear may not endanger the students themselves or other students; (2) the style of clothes worn may not disrupt the daily school routine; (3) students may be required to wear certain types of clothing, usually for safety reasons, while participating in certain classes such as physical education, shop, chemistry, etc., or in curricular and extracurricular classes or activities such as band, choir, dance, and drama/theater; and (4) students must follow the exclusionary dress code outlined in this guide.

Students are responsible for keeping themselves and their clothes neat and clean. Students may wear their hair in any style they choose provided that the hair is kept neat and clean.

Student Behavior

Students have a responsibility not to interfere with the learning of others. Those who do not live up to this responsibility may be removed from school.

Students may not disrupt a class; damage school buildings or school materials; be a nuisance on a MTA or school bus or at any school event; take property belonging to another student, etc. These are a few examples of how students can be irresponsible. When students are irresponsible, they can be placed on suspension and/or be required to pay for any property that is damaged or destroyed, or be expelled.

Since students have a right to an education, they also have a right not to be removed from a school unless they and their parents have been given “due process,” which means that students have a right to be treated fairly and present their version of the events that led to their removal from school. Depending upon the seriousness of the offense and the kind of removal, students have rights regarding notice, conferences, appeals, and time limits within which all of these things must be done. See Suspensions and Expulsions in this guide for more information.

Patriotic Exercises

Students may not be required to participate in a patriotic exercise if the students object because of conscience or religious beliefs. Students will be allowed to remain in the classroom during patriotic exercises if they wish but may not disrupt the exercises.

Nondiscrimination

No student may be shown favoritism or denied a privilege or a right in any part of school life because of race, religion, sex, place of birth, or disability. Students have a responsibility to respect the rights and beliefs of others. The school staff must also do all it can to prevent discrimination. (See Reporting Racial, Religious, Ethnic, and Sexual Orientation Incidents.)

Referrals to Special Education

The Baltimore City Public School System provides special education instruction and related services to eligible students with disabilities from birth to the end of the year in which the student turns 21 years old. If parents suspect that their child has a disability, they may refer the child to the Child Study Team. A team of educators, along with the parent, will review the child’s need for evaluation and services. School-age children may be referred to the principal of their schools. Preschool children (ages 3-5) may be referred by calling 410-396-7197. From birth to age three, children may be referred to the Baltimore Infants and Toddlers Program at 410-396-1666.

Married Students

Married students may continue their free public education and, as all other students, may participate in academic, extracurricular, and athletic activities.

Pregnant Students

Pregnant students under 16 years of age are required to be enrolled in an educational program. Pregnant students have the right to a free public education and to participate in classes and extracurricular activities. If there is some question as to whether the activity is medically safe, the student may be required to present a doctor's certificate.

Students may continue in their regular school or may enroll in Laurence G. Paquin Middle/High School, a special school for pregnant students. To enroll, students should call 410-396-9398. When a student is no longer able to attend classes because of pregnancy, school personnel are obligated to help the student continue her education by preparing home assignments. The student must assume responsibility for obtaining the home assignments and returning them to the appropriate teachers.

Above all else, pregnant students have a responsibility—both to themselves and to their babies—to take advantage of all available health services, both at the school and at nearby clinics and hospitals.

Student Participation in Making School Rules

Through student representatives appointed by the student government, students have a voice in the process of making school policies and decisions that affect their education and lives. Student participation can be a powerful resource for the improvement of the school, the educational system, and the community.