Reports are reviewed by the appropriate district personnel that may result in disciplinary action against employees.
Boundaries Build Trust
Know the Boundaries
Employees should communicate with students only through district-approved platforms and district-issued accounts. Personal phone calls, text messages, direct messages and social media communication between employees and students are not appropriate.
Even when using approved platforms, communication should remain professional, school-related and transparent. One-on-one communication should be limited when possible.
The boundary: If communication needs to be hidden, moved to a personal account or taken outside an approved platform, it crosses the line.
Physical interactions with students should always be appropriate to the school setting, the student's age and the employee's professional role.
Employees should avoid unnecessary or overly familiar physical contact with students. Appropriate interactions may include a handshake, high-five or fist bump, while recognizing that some educational, athletic, health, safety or student-support situations may require other appropriate contact.
The boundary: Physical contact should have a clear, appropriate purpose and never create secrecy, discomfort or confusion about the employee-student relationship.
Employees should plan student interactions so they are observable and interruptible whenever possible. Avoid unnecessarily placing yourself in situations where you are isolated with a student.
Some services, including school counseling, mental health and health services, require privacy. In those situations, employees should balance student confidentiality with appropriate safeguards, such as remaining within another adult's line of sight when appropriate.
The boundary: Privacy may sometimes be necessary. Secrecy is different.
Trust is everyone's responsibility. Students, employees, parents and community members should speak up when an interaction, communication or behavior raises a concern.
You do not have to determine whether a policy was violated before reporting a concern. If something doesn't seem appropriate, report it.
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Employees should communicate with students only through district-approved platforms and district-issued accounts. Personal phone calls, text messages, direct messages and social media communication between employees and students are not appropriate.
Even when using approved platforms, communication should remain professional, school-related and transparent. One-on-one communication should be limited when possible.
The boundary: If communication needs to be hidden, moved to a personal account or taken outside an approved platform, it crosses the line.
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Physical interactions with students should always be appropriate to the school setting, the student's age and the employee's professional role.
Employees should avoid unnecessary or overly familiar physical contact with students. Appropriate interactions may include a handshake, high-five or fist bump, while recognizing that some educational, athletic, health, safety or student-support situations may require other appropriate contact.
The boundary: Physical contact should have a clear, appropriate purpose and never create secrecy, discomfort or confusion about the employee-student relationship.
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Employees should plan student interactions so they are observable and interruptible whenever possible. Avoid unnecessarily placing yourself in situations where you are isolated with a student.
Some services, including school counseling, mental health and health services, require privacy. In those situations, employees should balance student confidentiality with appropriate safeguards, such as remaining within another adult's line of sight when appropriate.
The boundary: Privacy may sometimes be necessary. Secrecy is different.
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Trust is everyone's responsibility. Students, employees, parents and community members should speak up when an interaction, communication or behavior raises a concern.
You do not have to determine whether a policy was violated before reporting a concern. If something doesn't seem appropriate, report it.
Examples of Staff Misconduct
- Being alone with a student in dark or closed rooms or secluded areas
- Sexting and/or any other form of unprofessional/unethical communication with a student or colleague
- Behaving in an overly friendly or familiar way or failing to maintain an appropriate professional boundary with a student
- Using forceful or unnecessary physical contact with a student
- Administering discipline not compliant with district policy
- Accepting or offering of gifts in return for favors or privileges from students or colleagues
- Badgering or habitually teasing a student
- Making lewd or suggestive comments or overtures toward a student or colleague
- Mocking or belittling a student
- Chronically embarrassing a student
- Displaying prejudice or bigotry against a student
- Using or being suspected of using drugs or alcohol
- Failing to properly supervise students or to ensure student safety
- Cheating or falsifying information or testing violations
- Retaliating against a student or colleague for reporting misconduct
- Bantering or engaging in colloquial or slang communications with a student
- Directing or using profane, offensive, or explosive language in the presence of students
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CCPS employees are strictly prohibited from calling or texting students directly or interacting with students on social media platforms, including friending, following, liking, or messaging. All employees, coaches and club sponsors must communicate with their students exclusively through StudentSquare, the district-approved platform designed for messaging between students and CCPS staff. All communication on StudentSquare is monitored and archived to meet state compliance requirements. Parents/Guardians/Caregivers have the ability to monitor all communications within StudentSquare.
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Student Supervision and Welfare ???????
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Our district uses ParentSquare for school communication, primarily with email, text, and app notifications. ParentSquare automatically syncs with our Student Information System to generate an account for each parent, using their preferred email address and phone number. We encourage parents to access their accounts so they can download the mobile app and update their preferences on when and how they are notified.
ParentSquare is a safe, secure, and modern approach to communication and collaboration between school and home.
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