**JI - STUDENT RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES** **Last Updated Date:** 05/27/2014 **Adoption Date:** 01/10/2006 The School Committee is responsible for guaranteeing students rights under federal and state law. In connection with these rights, there are responsibilities that must be assumed by students. Among these rights and responsibilities are the following: 1.         Civil rights—including the rights to equal educational opportunity and freedom from discrimination and harassment; the responsibility not to discriminate against or harass others. 2.         The right to attend free public schools; the responsibility to attend school regularly and to observe school rules essential for permitting others to learn at school. 3.         The right to due process of law with respect to suspension, expulsion, and decisions the student believes injure his/her rights. 4.         The right to free inquiry and expression; responsibility to observe reasonable rules regarding these rights. 5.         The right to privacy, which includes privacy in respect to the student's school records. It is the School Committee's belief that as part of the educational process students should be made aware of their legal rights and of the legal authority of the School Committee to make, and delegate authority to its staff to make rules regarding the orderly operation of the schools. Students have the right to know the standards of behavior that are expected of them, and the consequences of misbehavior. The rights and responsibilities of students, including standards of conduct, will be made available to students and their parents through handbooks distributed annually. **Policy References:** LEGAL REFS.: M.G.L. 71:37H; 71:82 through 71:86