York Suburban administration recommends major rewrite of student code of conduct; proposes dress-code change and AI guidance

The York Suburban School District administration presented a substantially reorganized student code of conduct on May 27 and recommended board approval at the June meeting. The proposed code restructures behavior classifications, expands language on harassment and hazing, clarifies reporting procedures and adds an academic integrity section that addresses use of artificial intelligence.

Dr. Rebecca Morphew, who led the presentation, said the new code is attached to Policy 218 (student discipline) and that the document was last revised in July 2022. She told the board the rework aligns the code with Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) language and reduces the prior four-tier behavior classification to three levels (minors, majors, severe/serious conduct). She said the changes are reorganizational and that much of the prior content remains but is repackaged for clarity.

The revised code adds sections that were previously missing or incomplete, Morphew said, including explicit language addressing harassment (Policy 103), hazing (Policy 247) and discriminatory language directed at protected classes. The draft also explains how individuals can report policy violations—through staff, a report form attached to Policy 103, or the anonymous “Safe to Say” tip line and app.

On academic integrity, Morphew said the high school team developed a rubric addressing appropriate and teacher-authorized uses of artificial intelligence; the district did not embed the rubric in the code so it can be updated more frequently. "We did not want to put that rubric in the code because AI is going to be changing so quickly," she said. Board members asked for clearer phrasing about permitted AI use; one suggested wording that specifies "type of AI authorized by the teacher for that assignment." Morphew replied the staff will refine the language for families and handbooks.

The code also incorporates the district’s two-year dress-code pilot as the permanent dress code, Morphew said, after administration surveys and building-level data showed a drop in dress-code referrals and fewer escalated behaviors that previously began with dress-code enforcement. The presentation cited staff and student survey results: roughly 50% of students in grades 6–12 said the pilot change was positive, 45% said it made no difference and 3% said it was negative. Morphew read several staff comments supporting the pilot and acknowledged some staff concerns about presentation and safety (such as hoods and face-obscuring headgear).

Board discussion focused on clarifying apparent contradictions in the draft about head coverings. A board member noted the draft permits head coverings including religious coverings and hats but also lists head coverings among items that may be restricted if they "obscure the face or distract from engagement in class." Morphew explained the intended reading: non-face-obscuring head coverings that do not interfere with engagement may be worn, while masks or other items that obscure identity or impede engagement could be addressed by staff.

The administration asked board members to submit feedback before the June meeting so the board can consider a final vote. Morphew said updated handbooks reflecting the approved code would be issued over the summer.