Bill of Rights and Responsibilities for Students and School Personnel

(a) The Legislature finds that: (1) The mission of public schools is to prepare students for equal and responsible citizenship and productive adulthood; (2) Democratic citizenship and productive adulthood begin with standards of conduct in schools; (3) Schools should be safe havens for learning with high standards of conduct for students; and (4) Rights necessarily carry responsibilities. (b) In recognition of the findings in this section, the following Bill of Rights and Responsibilities for Students and School Personnel is established: (1) The right to attend a school and ride a bus that is safe, orderly and drug free; (2) The right to learn and work in a school that has clear discipline codes with fair and consistently enforced consequences for misbehavior; (3) The right to learn and work in a school that has alternative educational placements for violent or chronically disruptive students; (4) The right to be treated with courtesy and respect; (5) The right to a attend a school and ride on a bus that is free from bullying; (6) The right to support from school administrators when enforcing discipline policies; (7) The right to support from parents, the community, public officials and businesses in their efforts to uphold high standards of conduct; and (8) The responsibility to adhere to the principles in this Bill of Rights and Responsibilities for Students and School Personnel, and to behave in a manner that guarantees that other students and school personnel enjoy the same rights.