Students → Guide to Rights and Responsibilities

Student Rights and Responsibilities, Student Code of Conduct, Guidelines for Respecting Religious Diversity, and Guidelines for Student Gender Identity

In order to ensure a safe, productive, and positive learning environment, Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) publishes two documents that help students, parents, and staff and understand school rules and regulations; the expectations for student conduct; and the possible consequences for violating the rules.

A Student’s Guide to Rights and Responsibilities is an overview of the rights and responsibilities students enjoy in MCPS and a summary of the laws and regulations that affect students.

The MCPS Student Code of Conduct provides an overview of discipline procedures and protocols and the range of consequences students could face for violating various policies, regulations, and rules. The guide also discusses the MCPS philosophy to discipline and defines the various disciplinary responses.

All MCPS families should receive a copy of these documents from their school. Parents and guardians are encouraged to review this document with children so that our students understand their rights and responsibilities and the district’s expectations for student conduct. If you have questions, please speak to the administration at your school.

Also on this page are the MCPS Guidelines for Respecting Religious Diversity and the Guidelines for Student Gender Identity.   The Guidelines for Respecting Religious Diversity publication was created to be a quick, easy-to-read reference regarding Board of Education policies and MCPS regulations--as well as state and federal laws--that guide the district on these important topics.  The Guidelines for Student Gender Identity align with the Montgomery County Board of Education's core values, guidance from the Maryland State Department of Education, and the Montgomery County Board of Education Policy ACA, Nondiscrimination, Equity, and Cultural Proficiency, which prohibits discrimination, stigmatization, and bullying based on gender identity, as well as sex, gender, gender expression, and sexual orientation, among other personal characteristics. 

If you have comments about any of these publications, please send them in writing to the MCPS Department of Communications at pio@mcpsmd.org.

Printable Guides

A Student's Guide to Rights and Responsibilities in MCPS 2022-2023 

This handbook has been translated into the following languages.

 

Student Code of Conduct in MCPS 2022-2023

This handbook has been translated into the following languages.

 

Guidelines for Respecting Religious Diversity 2022-2023

religious diversity

Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) is committed to promoting respect and appreciation for the religions, beliefs, and customs of our diverse student population. The U.S. Supreme Court has emphasized the importance of neutrality toward religion by public schools. Schools must protect religious liberty rights of all students while avoiding the public endorsement of any particular religion.

Our students have a right to their religious beliefs and practices, free from discrimination, bullying, or harassment. MCPS is committed to making feasible and reasonable accommodations for our students to participate in those beliefs and practices. The Guidelines for Respecting Religious Diversity publication was created to be a quick, easy-to-read reference regarding Board of Education policies and MCPS regulations--as well as state and federal laws--that guide the district on these important topics.

These guidelines were developed in partnership with the Montgomery County Executive's Faith Community Working Group. If you have question or comments about this publication, please contact the MCPS Department of Communications at pio@mcpsmd.org.    

This handbook has been translated into the following languages.

Guidelines for Student Gender Identity 2022-2023

Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) is committed to a safe, welcoming school environment where students are engaged in learning and are active participants in the school community because they feel accepted and valued. To this end, all students should feel comfortable expressing their gender identity, including students who identify as transgender or gender nonconforming. It is critical that all MCPS staff members recognize and respect matters of gender identity; make all reasonable accommodations in response to student requests regarding gender identity; and protect student privacy and confidentiality.

To assist in these efforts, MCPS has developed the following guidelines for student gender identity that are aligned with the Montgomery County Board of Education's core values, guidance from the Maryland State Department of Education, and the Montgomery County Board of Education Policy ACA, Nondiscrimination, Equity, and Cultural Proficiency, which prohibits discrimination, stigmatization, and bullying based on gender identity, as well as sex, gender, gender expression, and sexual orientation, among other personal characteristics. These guidelines cannot anticipate every situation which might occur. Consequently, the needs of each student must be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

This handbook has been translated to the following languages.