Our District and school teams are taking advantage of this new beginning to emphasize with students and staff the importance of setting — and meeting — high expectations for behavior. We strive to create an enriching academic environment that enables all students to feel safe, respected, and heard while at school. 

Every Minute Matters

We ask parents to ensure children arrive on time to school and that they are in school every day. Daily attendance matters and helps build the foundation for a child’s academic success. Extended absences and/or vacations during the school year are discouraged and considered unexcused absences. When unexcused absences reach more than nine days a school year, or five percent, it is considered chronic truancy and significantly negatively impacts a child’s learning. While we want students to stay home if they are ill, we really want all students in school to optimize learning time. Parents can track students’ attendance at the secondary level via Infinite Campus.

Maintain Good Behavior 

Remember that our schools implement a proactive approach to teaching and supporting good behavior through our PBIS program which stands for Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports. 

PBIS supports the good behavior that we expect and that is outlined in U-46’s Student Code of Conduct. We ask that families take some time and review these expectations with their children who attend U-46 schools. The Student Code of Conduct clarifies the rights and responsibilities of students, parents, teachers, and other staff. It also explains the disciplinary responses and how they help to create a stable learning environment conducive to all students and their learning styles.

The Student Code of Conduct can be found on the District website here and on all school websites under School Safety and Culture. It is also available as a hard copy in the main office of each school. 

Some of the most important pages to review in the student handbook includes the following but it is recommended that families take the time to become familiar with the entire publication:

• Rights and Responsibilities
• Where and when does this apply to students?
• Bullying and How to Report
• District U-46 Does Not … 
• Multi-Tiered Systems of Support
• Discipline Framework
• Considerations After an Incident
• Glossary 

Wear Student IDs 

Our schools are reminding students how easy it is - and important - for them to wear their school IDs on their upper torso, displayed on the outermost garment. It is expected that a student ID be attached to a lanyard and worn around the neck. The IDs lets everyone know that the student belongs in the building. Students will be checked for IDs when they arrive for school, at the lunch hour, and before they leave the PE areas. At its best, this process also encourages relationship building between students and staff.

Administrators, staff, parents, and students can make a difference by working together on this important topic as we continue to build a school culture focused on learning across all 57 schools and programs that make up U-46.

Care Solace is a resource that U-46 staff members can utilize to help themselves as well as U-46 students and their families. Care Solace can help quickly find treatment options for mental health or substance abuse, matched to needs. Care Solace is a complimentary and confidential service provided to students, staff, and their families by School District U-46. Care Solace’s team is available 24/7/365 and offers support in many languages.

Students, staff, and families may access Care Solace in two ways:

• Call 888-515-0595 at any day and at any time for multilingual support. 
• Visit www.caresolace.com/u46 and either search on your own or click “Book Appointment” for assistance by video chat, email, or phone.

Disclaimer:
Information on individual treatment providers was gathered by Care Solace based on criteria such as geographic proximity, whether the provider accepts the authorized user’s insurance, and whether the provider is accepting new patients. The school district does not recommend, endorse, promote, or refer to any of the individual treatment providers.

Dress Code Guidelines

Staff Have The Responsibility To:

• Prior to issuing a referral for dress code, use progressive discipline.
• Issue dress code behavior referrals for violations against dress code rules.
• Treat all students with respect and dignity
  (i.e., treat them as human beings, not as·distractions")
• Issue dress code referrals equally (i.e., do not discriminate based on body type, gender, etc.)
• Dress appropriately according to the same rules.
• Be open and straightforward.

Students Have The Responsibility To:

• Wear appropriate clothing that follows these guidelines.
• Treat all staff with respect and dignity
  (i.e., share your opinions in an appropriate manner reflective of esteem and regard for each staff member).
• Be open and straightforward; ask for a private meeting if they feel they are being treated unfairly.

Students Have The Right To:

• Be given a reason for any dress code infraction.
• Have options as to what to do to comply with the rules
  (call home, change into clothes in their possession/locker/Deans' Office clothing).
• Talk to an outside source about the issue, such as Counselors, Dean, social worker, an administrator, or a teacher.
• Be treated with respect and dignity.
• Advocate for themselves without concern for consequences.

The Illinois State Board of Education Faith’s Law Resource Guide can be accessed through this link: Sexual Abuse Response and Prevention Resource Guide. This resource provides guidance for students, parents/guardians, and teachers about sexual abuse responses and prevention resources.

The district will provide a copy to any parent or guardian upon request.

Title IX Training

Title IX Procedures & Title IX Coordinator Contact Information

Mandated reporters are required to report suspected child maltreatment immediately when they have “reasonable cause to believe” that a child known to them in their professional or official capacity may be an abused or neglected child. (325 ILCS 5/4)

This is done by calling the DCFS Hotline at 1-800-252-2873 or 1-800-25ABUSE.

Visit the Department of Child and Family Services website for more information.

Who is a mandated reporter?

In the state of Illinois, the following public service workers are mandated reporters:

• Medical Personnel: for example, a physician, dentist, LPN, RN, medical social worker, emergency medical technician, nurse practitioner, chiropractor, hospital administrator
• School Personnel: includes administrators and certified and non-certified staff such as the superintendent, teacher, principal, school counselor, school nurse, school social worker, assistant principal, teacher’s aide, truant officer, school psychologist, and secretary, including personnel of institutions of higher education If an allegation of abuse is raised to a school board member, the school board as a governing body or the individual member has the authority to direct the superintendent of the school district, or other equivalent school administrator, to report the abuse as required by the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act.
• Social Service/Mental Health Personnel: for example, mental health personnel, social workers, psychologists, domestic violence personnel, substance abuse treatment personnel, staff of state agencies dealing with children such as Department of Human Services, Department of Public Aid, Department of Public Health, Department of Corrections, and Department of Children and Family Services.
• Law Enforcement Personnel: for example, employees of the court, parole/probation officer, emergency services staff, police, states attorney and staff, juvenile officer.
• Coroner/Medical Examiner Personnel
• Child Care Personnel: includes all staff at overnight, daycare, pre-school or nursery school facilities, recreational or athletic program or facility personnel, early intervention providers as defined in the Early Intervention Services System Act, and foster parents.
• Members of the Clergy: includes any member of the clergy that has reasonable cause to believe that a child known to him or her in a professional capacity may be an abused child.

Student Code of Conduct and Restorative Discipline

School District U-46 considers it best practice for children to be engaged in an academic setting. We use a restorative discipline approach that emphasizes relationships and community.

Through the use of restorative discipline, we resolve conflicts, encourage our school community members to take responsibility for their behavior, repair any harm done, restore relationships, and reintegrate students into the school community.  

We are committed to applying school discipline policies and practices in a fair and equitable manner so as not to disproportionately impact students of color, students with disabilities, LGBT students, students with limited English proficiency, or other at-risk students that have been historically marginalized in schools.

**Please note that there may be instances where changes to federal, state and/or local laws and regulations may change during the school year. In any instance where this document conflicts with School Board Policy or updated legal precedent, School Board policy and law shall govern.

Click on the document below to view and search the Student Code of Conduct for more information.

      2025-26 Student Code of Conduct          2025-26 Código de Conducta Estudiantil

Student Code of Conduct Feedback Survey

• Student Code of Conduct Survey (Eng)
• El Código de Conducta Estudiantil Encuesta

Safety Reporting