Code of Conduct

Alabama law requires that all children between the ages of 6 and 17 attend school for the minimum number of scholastic days prescribed by the State Board of Education. All laws regarding school attendance will be strictly enforced by the Tuscaloosa City Board of Education.

Alabama Code § 16-28-12: Expectations of Parents Regarding Attendance and Behavior in Public Schools

• Each parent, guardian, or other person having control or custody of any child required to attend school or receive regular instruction by a private tutor who fails to have the child enrolled in school or who fails to send the child to school, or have them instructed by a private tutor during the time the child is required to attend a public school, private school, church school, denominational school, or parochial school, or be instructed by a private tutor, or fails to require the child to regularly attend the school or tutor, or fails to compel the child to properly conduct himself or herself as a pupil in any public school in accordance with the written policy on school behavior adopted by the local board of education pursuant to this section and documented by the appropriate school official, which conduct may result in the suspension of the pupil, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be fined not more than one hundred dollars ($100) and may also be sentenced to hard labor for the county for not more than 90 days. The absence of a child without the consent of the principal teacher of the public school they attend or should attend, or of the tutor who instructs or should instruct the child, shall be prima facie evidence of the violation of this section.
• Each local public board of education shall adopt a written policy for its standards on school behavior. Each local public-school superintendent shall provide at the commencement of each academic year a copy of the written policy on school behavior to each parent, guardian, or other person having care or control of a child who is enrolled. Included in the written policy shall be a copy of this section. The signature of the student and the parent, guardian, or other person having control or custody of the child shall document receipt of the policy.
• Any parent, guardian, or other person having control or custody of any child enrolled in public school who fails to require the child to regularly attend the school or tutor, or fails to compel the child to properly conduct himself or herself as a pupil in accordance with the written policy on school behavior adopted by the school board of education and documented by the appropriate school official, which conduct may result in the suspension of the pupil, shall be reported by the principal to the superintendent of education of the school system in which the suspected violation occurred.

The superintendent or their designee shall report suspected violations to the district attorney within 10 days. Any principal or superintendent or their designee intentionally failing to report a suspected violation shall be guilty of a Class C misdemeanor. The district attorney shall vigorously enforce this section to ensure proper conduct and required attendance by any child enrolled in public school.

Absences

Ala. Code §16-28-3 requires all children between the ages of 6 and 17 to attend school regularly. Each child who enrolls in a public school, whether or not the child is required by law to enroll, is subject to the Alabama school attendance and truancy laws. Parents having control over school-age children are responsible for their children’s regular attendance and proper conduct. Failure to comply with the Compulsory School Attendance law requires the Office of Student Services to file a complaint in the
Tuscaloosa Family Court.

All absences from school will be designated as either excused or unexcused. School-related absences, approved by the principal, will not count as an absence.

Excuses for absences will be accepted within three days of the student returning to school. Written excuses must be signed by the parent of the child. A written note from a parent will be accepted as an excuse for up to five absences each year. Further absences will require a note from a physician or court to be considered excused. The following reasons will be accepted as excused absences:

• Personal illness
• Hospitalization
• Emergency
• Religious holidays
• Court subpoena
• Death in the immediate family
• Absence approved by the Deputy Superintendent (Exceptional or unusual circumstances may be considered)

All students who have used five or more parent notes during the school year will be required to submit an official statement from a court of competent jurisdiction or a physician explaining each absence for the rest of the year.

Excessive Unexcused Absences

The principal has the final authority at the school building level to make decisions regarding excessive unexcused absences in the categories listed below:

• Students under age 6 who accumulate more than 10 unexcused absences during a single semester may be withdrawn from school. Parents will be notified of the pending withdrawal and given one week to appear before the principal or Office of Student Services to show cause
• as to why the student should not be withdrawn.
• Students in grades Kindergarten through 12 who accumulate five or more unexcused absences during a semester may be denied participation in major school activities (i.e., sports participation, induction ceremonies, prom, etc.) by the principal. The student will be afforded due process prior to the denial.
• Students who are 17 years of age or older and who are consistently truant from school and fail to abide by Ala. Code §16-28-3.1 may be withdrawn from school. The student will be afforded due process prior to the withdrawal and an exit interview must be conducted prior to withdrawing the student.
• The superintendent or their designee shall use the Student Enrollment/Exclusion Status form to notify the Department of Public Safety concerning students who have requested enrollment status who are 16 to 19 years of age with more than 10 consecutive or 15 cumulative days of unexcused absences during a single semester.

Makeup Work

When a student returns following an absence, the student must provide a written statement from their parent, physician, or court explaining the reason for the absence and the date of the absence. The excuse must be signed by the parent, physician, or judge. A student who has been absent shall make arrangements with the student’s teacher(s) to engage in activities that will enable the student to learn those facts/skills/concepts that were missed during the absence. The student has the responsibility to request makeup work within five days after returning to school. The period for makeup work may be lengthened in cases involving extended absences that are validated and excused. Suspended students will be allowed to complete makeup work.

Tardies

Students are required to attend school and each class on time each day. When a student is tardy at the beginning of the school day, the parent must check the student in at the school office. 

Attendance at the middle and high school levels will be taken each period of the day. Tardies are counted per period and daily. Parents will be notified once a child accumulates three tardies. Students with more than three tardies are subject to discipline in accordance with the Code of Conduct.

Elementary and middle school students who accumulate six or more absences during the school year will be required to submit an official statement from the courts or a physician explaining each absence for the remainder of the school year. High school students who accumulate three or more absences during the term will be required to submit an official statement from the courts or a physician explaining each absence for the remainder of the term. Failure to provide an official statement from the courts or a physician will result in the absence being marked as unexcused.

A wireless communication device (WCD) is defined as any electronic device capable of transmitting or receiving voice, text, image, or data signals through wireless means. This includes, but is not limited to, cellphones, laptops, iPads, pagers, gaming devices, smartwatches, tablets, and other devices with Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or cellular capabilities.

Beginning with the 2025–2026 school year, and in accordance with the Alabama FOCUS Act (SB92), students may not use, operate, or display a WCD during the instructional day in any school building, on school grounds, or on school transportation unless specifically permitted under limited exceptions.

All WCDs must be turned off and stored in a district-approved manner upon arrival on campus—such as in a backpack, locker, locked pouch, or vehicle—and may not be carried in clothing or kept on the student’s person. Devices must remain stored and unused throughout the instructional day unless otherwise directed by school staff. The use of a WCD during instructional time, state-mandated assessments, and secure exams is only permitted in cases of documented medical need as outlined in an Individual Health Plan (IHP), accommodations provided in an active Individualized Education Program (IEP) or Section 504 Plan, in emergency situations as determined by school personnel, or when specifically authorized by a certified teacher or administrator for instructional purposes.

Students who participate in off-campus instructional programs—including dual enrollment, career technical education, or work-based learning—are expected to follow the wireless device policies of the host institution or program. WCD use during travel or while off-site is only allowed if permitted by the supervising partner. Upon returning to campus, students must immediately comply with Tuscaloosa City Schools’ storage and use requirements.

WCDs are strictly prohibited during any state-mandated assessments or secure exams, and any violations may result in disciplinary action under district and state testing guidelines. Possession of a WCD is a privilege and not a right; therefore, violations of this policy may result in the confiscation of the device (to be returned only to a parent or guardian), loss of device privileges, and/or additional disciplinary consequences outlined in the Code of Student Conduct.

The school district is not responsible for the theft, loss, or damage of personal technology devices brought onto school property. Students permitted to use WCDs during the school day for educational purposes must follow all Board policies regarding internet safety and acceptable use of technology. Misuse of devices may result in disciplinary action and the revocation of usage privileges.

The primary responsibility for a student’s attire resides with the student and parents or guardians. The following rules concerning dress and grooming are mandatory for all students attending Tuscaloosa City Schools. Students who fail to follow these rules will be subject to disciplinary action as outlined in Code of Conduct 1.13, “Non-conformity to Dress Code.”

Section 1: Students Must Wear

• Shirts: Must be opaque fabric. Must cover midriff and not be low cut in front or back.
• Bottoms: Pants, sweatpants, joggers, shorts, skirt, dress, leggings. Must be opaque fabric. Dresses and skirts must be fingertip length. Shorts, including athletic shorts, are allowed, but may not be less than a 3” inseam. Genitals and buttocks must be covered at all times.
• Shoes: Activity-specific shoes are permitted (for example for sports or TCTA classes.) Shoes that are secured to the foot and do not easily fall off are highly encouraged for safety reasons.

Section 2: Students May Wear

• Hoodie sweatshirts, although hood cannot not be worn over head.
• Fitted pants, including leggings, yoga pants and “skinny jeans” as long as it meets requirements in section 1.
• Ripped jeans, as long as underwear is not exposed, and rips are not above fingertip length.
• Tank tops, as long as underwear or midriff is not exposed.
• Athletic attire, as long as it meets requirements in Sections 1 and 3.
• Clothing with commercial or athletic logos provided they do not violate Section 3 below.

Section 3: Students May Not Wear

• Garments that reflect violent language or images.
• Images or language depicting drugs or alcohol (or any illegal item or activity) or the dress code policy.
• Hate speech, profanity, pornography.
• Images or language that creates a hostile or intimidating environment based on any protected class.
• Clothing where underwear is exposed. Undershirts/camisoles cannot be worn alone as shirts.
• Spaghetti straps, or strapless tops, unless otherwise covered.
• Bathing suits.
• Hats or head coverings except as a religious observance or as allowed on special days or for certain athletic or class requirements.
• Pajamas, except when allowed on special days.
• House slippers or shoes intended for indoors only.
• Sunglasses (indoors.)
• Metal-spikes on shoes or metal-toed shoes, except for when needed for a class such as at TCTA.

The Tuscaloosa City Board of Education is committed to protecting its students from harassment, sexual harassment, violence, threats of violence, intimidation, bullying, cyberbullying, cyberstalking, and discrimination. The Board believes that all students are entitled to a safe school experience in which students can realize their maximum potential and engage fully in the learning process. Conduct that constitutes harassment, sexual harassment, violence, threats of violence, intimidation, bullying, cyberbullying, cyberstalking, or discrimination, as defined in the Board’s policy manual, is strictly prohibited. Tuscaloosa City Schools will take appropriate action to prevent, correct, and where warranted, discipline behavior that violates this policy.

Students who believe they have been harassed, sexually harassed, bullied, or discriminated against, or have knowledge of harassment, sexual harassment, bullying, or discrimination against another student, are encouraged to report the problem, verbally or in writing, to the principal, counselor, Director of Student Services, superintendent, or other faculty member.

No student shall be subjected to harassment, sexual harassment, violence, threats of violence, intimidation, bullying, cyberbullying, cyberstalking, or discrimination by employees, students, or third parties. Any student who violates this policy will be subject to appropriate disciplinary action, which may include any sanction, penalty, or consequence that is available to school officials under the Student Code of Conduct. Any employee who violates this policy shall be subject to appropriate disciplinary action in accord with Board policy and state and federal law. Third parties who violate this policy will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis by the school system administration.

For a detailed statement of the Board’s policies concerning harassment, sexual harassment, violence, threats of violence, intimidation, bullying, cyberbullying, cyberstalking, or discrimination, including descriptions of prohibited conduct, reporting methods, investigative procedures, and disciplinary consequences, please refer to the Board’s policy manual, a copy of which is maintained at the Board’s Central Office, at each local school, and on the TCS website; as well as the Student Code of Conduct.