Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 6.

Present law requires each local board of education and charter school governing body to adopt a discipline policy to apply to the students in each school operated by the LEA or charter school governing body. The director of schools or head of the charter school is responsible for overall implementation and supervision, and each school principal is responsible for administration and implementation of a code of conduct within the principal's school.<br /> <br /> This bill adds a requirement that each local board of education and charter school governing body adopt a comprehensive code of conduct for each school under the authority of the board or governing body that describes the types of behavior expected from all persons entering on school grounds, including, but not limited to, students, teachers, school employees, and visitors. Each code must emphasize the importance of:<br /> <br /> (1) Respect for the person and property of others; and<br /> (2) Establishing and maintaining a safe, secure, and peaceful educational setting that promotes learning and positive character development.<br /> <br /> The codes of conduct adopted by a local board of education or charter school governing body must describe the types of behavior expected from any person entering on school grounds and the consequences of a person's failure to adhere to the standards. The principal of each school must apply the school's code of conduct uniformly and fairly without partiality or discrimination.<br /> <br /> This bill authorizes each local board of education or charter school governing body to adopt different codes of conduct applicable to:<br /> <br /> (1) Different classes of schools, such as elementary, middle, junior high, and senior high schools; and<br /> (2) Different categories of persons entering on school grounds, such as students, teachers, school employees, parents, and visitors.<br /> <br /> This bill specifies four types of publication that each local board of education or charter school governing body must undertake in order to provide notice of the code of conduct adopted for each school to persons likely to be subject to the code of conduct, such as students, school personnel, and parents and guardians of students. <br /> <br />