A Reference Guide of the Bakersfield City School District

Rights and ResponsibilitiesStudent RightsStudents have the right to:1. A meaningful education that will be of value to them for the rest of their lives.2. The maintenance of high educational standards. The maximum potential of the student must be developed.3. A meaningful curriculum.4. Physical safety and protection of personal property.5. Safe buildings, sanitary facilities and peaceful campuses.6. Access to teachers, counselors, administrators and anyone else connected with the school.7. Free election of their peers in the student government and the right to seek and hold office.8. Participation in the development of rules and regulations to which they are subject and the right to be notified ofsuch rules and regulations.9. Be involved in school activities if they so desire without being subject to discrimination on the basis of nationalorigin, ethnic group, ancestry, color, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital or parental status, race, disability,religion, or the perception of one or more of such characteristics.10. Not be penalized in any way by the school administration for the beliefs they hold provided they do notviolate the rights of others.11. Respect from students and adults which would exclude their being subjected to corporal punishment or anyother cruel and unusual punishments, especially those that are demeaning, derogatory, diminish their selfesteemor exclude them from their peers.12. Privately present their own side of the story when accused of wrongdoing.13. Students’ person or school property being searched by the Principal or designee when there is reason tosuspect student possession of illegally obtained items. These may include illegal substances, drugparaphernalia, weapons or other objects or substances which may be injurious to the student or others.14. Exercise their constitutionally protected rights of free speech and assembly on their own campus as long as they donot interfere with the operation of the regular school program. However, students must refrain from anydistribution or display of materials that are obscene according to the current legal definitions, libelous, slanderous orthat advocate the commission of unlawful acts. California law states the rights of students to:a. wear political buttons, armbands or any other badges of symbolic expression.b. use bulletin boards designated by the Principal.c. distribute political leaflets, newspapers or other printed materials. The time of such distribution may belimited to before and after school, during lunch or other free periods to prevent interference with classroomactivities.d. form political and social organizations.e. determine their own appearances if that appearance: (1) is not disruptive to the learning process, (2) does notthreaten the health or safety of others, (3) does not prohibit full participation in the program, (4) does notindicate gang association (5) does not relay drug-related messages or (6) does not encourage prejudice againstothers on the grounds of national origin, ethnic group, ancestry, race, color, religion, gender, sexualorientation, age, marital or parental status, disability, or the perception of one or more of such characteristics.43