Board Policy 5150 - Student Rights and Responsibilities

I. Policy Statement

1. The Prince George’s County Board of Education (Board) is committed to providing an educational environment which promotes intellectual development, responsibility, citizenship, and respect. The Board believes that all students have the right to free inquiry and expression, due process, equal educational opportunity and freedom from discrimination. In exercising these rights, each student is expected to respect the rights, privileges, and welfare of others.
2. The Board recognizes the need to provide students with information regarding their rights and responsibilities.

II. Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to provide the guidelines for the development of the Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook (SRRH).

III. Definitions

Within the context of this policy, the following definitions apply:

1. Parents – Any one of the following individuals who are legally responsible for a student:
   1. Biological parent – a natural parent whose parental rights have not been terminated.
   2. Adoptive parent – a person who has legally adopted the student and whose parental rights have not been terminated.
   3. Custodian – a person or agency appointed by a court as the legal custodian of the student and granted parental rights and privileges.
   4. Guardian – a person who has been placed by a court in charge of the affairs of the student and granted parental rights and privileges.
   5. Caregiver – an adult resident of Prince George’s County who exercises care, custody or control over the student, but who is neither the biological parent nor legal guardian.
   6. Foster parent – an adult approved to care for a child who has been placed in their home by a State agency or a licensed child placement as provided by Section 5-507 of the Family Law Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland.
2. School community – All individuals involved in the school’s environment, including students, teachers, parents, staff, and community members, who work together to foster a positive and effective learning environment.
3. Stakeholders – Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) students, staff, parents, and community members.

IV. Standards

1. The Superintendent/designee shall develop a SRRH that provides a framework for academic standards and student behavior to promote positive, supportive and inclusive learning environments to maximize student academic achievement and minimize student behavior issues.
2. The SRRH shall:
   1. Set forth student rights and responsibilities as established by Board policies and the Superintendent’s administrative procedures;
   2. Communicate expectations of respectful and responsible student behaviors based on age, developmental level and needs of the student and school community;
   3. Share school and school community resources for students, parents and families;
   4. Identify levels of responses and interventions regarding student behavior; and
   5. Provide information about student appeals processes.
3. The SRRH shall conform to guidelines established by the Maryland State Board of Education.
4. The Superintendent/designee shall involve stakeholders from the school community to review the SRRH annually.
5. The Superintendent/designee shall ensure that the SRRH is presented to students at the beginning of each school year.
6. The Superintendent/designee shall disseminate the SRRH annually to all members of the school community, including: teachers, administrators, and parents.

V. Implementation Responsibilities

The Board authorizes the Superintendent to develop an administrative procedure to implement this policy. The administrative procedure shall contain alternative methods of delivery of the SRRH in the event that a parent does not have the means to access it electronically.

VI. References

1. Legal
   COMAR 13A.08.01.10
2. Superintendent’s Administrative Procedures
   Administrative Procedure 10101 – Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook

VII. History

Policy Adopted 10/10/72

Policy Amended 5/19/80

Policy Amended 5/12/03

Policy Reviewed – No Revisions Required 11/22/04

Policy Reviewed – No Revisions Required 10/11/05

Policy Revised 06/26/25

Documents

• Board Policy 5150 - Student Rights and Responsibilites.pdf