The Board recognizes that the possession, use, or distribution of illegal drugs, alcoholic beverages, or other prohibited substances constitute a hazard to students and is disruptive to the educational process. The Board delegates to the Administration, responsibility for providing: 1) drug and alcohol use prevention programs, 2) disciplinary procedures and consequences for students who possess, use, or distribute illegal drugs, alcoholic beverages, or prohibited substances on school Academy property, during school hours, or at school functions, and 3) support for students and families in drug and alcohol use identification and prevention efforts.

The possession, use, or distribution, by students, of any substance listed in the guidelines of this policy is prohibited on school Academy property, during school hours, and at any school-sponsored extra-curricular program or activity including those held off of the school property.

Guidelines

A. Prohibited Illegal Substances:
      1. All substances defined as illegal in Utah Code §58-37-1 et seq.
      2. Alcoholic beverages as defined in Utah Code §32A-1-105
      3. Any psychotoxic chemical substance used illegally as defined in Utah Code §76-10-107

B. Illegal Substance Violations
      1. Possession (Personal or Property) or Use (Consumption, Inhalation, or Injection)
            a. First Violation
A student possessing or using prohibited illegal substances for the first time will be suspended from school pending a meeting with the school director and parents. At the meeting the student and parents will be given a choice between the following two disciplinary consequences:
                      (1) The student will be placed in a home-based alternative education program for ten (10) school days. Parents will be required to coordinate homework assignments with a designated school representative.
           b. Second Violation
A student possessing or using prohibited illegal substances for the second time will be expelled in accordance with school policy.

      2. Distribution (Selling, Sharing, or Delivering)
            a. First Violation
A student distributing prohibited illegal substances for the first time will be expelled in accordance with school policy.

C. Prohibited Medication Substances
      1. Prescription medications in excess of a recommended 8-hour dosage.
      2. Over-the-counter medications in excess of a recommended 8-hour dosage.

D. Medication Substance Violations
      1. Possession (Personal or Property)
            a. First Violation
A student possessing medication substances (over-the-counter or prescription medications in excess of a recommended 8-hour dosage) for the first time will be suspended pending a meeting with the school administrator and parents. At the meeting, this policy will be reviewed and written documentation of the violation will be placed in the student's disciplinary file. The student will be readmitted to school after the meeting.
NOTE: The provisions of this section apply only to possession of over-the-counter or prescription medications in excess of a recommended 8-hour dosage. Distribution of any amount of over-the-counter or prescription medications is prohibited and will be dealt with according to the distribution guidelines outlined in this policy.
            b. Second Violation
      A student possessing medication substances in excess of a recommended 8-hour dosage for the second time will be suspended from school pending a meeting with the school administrator and parents.  The student will be placed in a home-based alternative education program for ten (10) school days. Parents will be required to coordinate homework assignments with a designated school representative.

      2. Distribution (Selling, Sharing, or Delivering)
            a. First Violation
                (1) A student distributing substances listed in Guideline C.1.b. (over-the-counter medications) for the first time will be suspended pending a meeting with the school administrator and parents. At the meeting, this policy will be reviewed. Disciplinary consequences for distributing over-the-counter medication will be determined by the school administration based on the severity of the violation.
               (2) A student distributing prescription medications for the first time or over-the-counter medications for the second time will be suspended from school pending a meeting with the school administrator and parents. At the meeting, the student will be placed in a home-based alternative education program for ten (10) school days.
            b. Second Violation
A student distributing prescription medications for the second time will be expelled in accordance with policy.

E. Procedures
      1. Due process procedures outlined in policy will be followed in the administration of this policy.
      2. All illegal violations covered by this policy will be reported to an appropriate law enforcement agency. Charter Academy will enforce the disciplinary consequences outlined in this policy independent of any court action.
      3. Students apprehended by school Academy employees or law enforcement officials for illegal violations covered by this policy while off-campus during regular school hours shall be subject to the guidelines of this policy.
      4. Resorting occurs when a student is apprehended by Charter Academy employees or law enforcement officials for being present where illegal substances listed in the guidelines of this policy are being used or possessed and the use or possession is open, obvious, apparent, and not concealed. Resorting violations will be dealt with according to the "possession and use of illegal substances" guidelines of this policy.
      5. Students found in possession of drug paraphernalia as defined in Utah Code §58-37a will be dealt with according to the "possession and use of illegal substances" guidelines of this policy.
      6. During the time a student is on the home-based alternative education program, the student may not be a spectator or participant in any school-sponsored extra-curricular program or activity including those held off of the school property.
      7. If the designated days of home-based alternative education can not be completed by the end of the regular school year, the home-based alternative education program must be completed at the beginning of the following school year.
      8. School personnel will assist with identifying appropriate agencies qualified to make written assessment of potential substance dependence for students who violate the guidelines of this policy. These assessments will be at the expense of the parent(s).
      10. Records will be maintained on all violations. A student with more than one violation will be considered a repeat offender even if the earlier violation(s) occurred in a prior school year.
      11. In addition to the disciplinary consequences outlined in this policy, a student will be suspended or removed from participation in leadership positions, candidacy for leadership positions, school organizations, and athletic teams upon violations of the guidelines covered in this policy.
      12. Utah Code §53A-11 requires educators to report information of suspected substance abuse among students to their parents. When student substance abuse is suspected, educators will complete a Suspected Illegal Activity Report form and submit it to the designated school administrator for referral to parents. Charter Academy and its employees will not be held responsible for any costs that result from the information provided on the Suspected Illegal Activity Report form.