2026-2027
Student & Family Handbook

CEC sets high standards of student conduct in classrooms and on school property. Teachers and staff will foster a culture that encourages students to be:

• Self-motivated, self-disciplined, and self-directed.
• Focused on the implementation of their ICAP and achieving their academic and personal goals.
• Actively involved in developing a school culture that creates a community of excellence and achievement.
• Aware that violating school policies will result in immediate consequences that are structured and enforced.

As an early college, CEC sets very high expectations of academic achievement, character, kindness, respect, service, leadership, and overall ethical conduct, to which all students and staff are held accountable. Discipline policies, procedures, and consequences promote an educational environment that fosters the highest degree of success for students, reflects what life is like in the workplace or on a college campus, and promotes Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness.

Students who engage in misconduct will be subject to disciplinary action and possible expulsion, based upon the nature and severity of their behaviors. See CEC Student Code of Conduct and Discipline policy.

Academic Honesty

Students must not plagiarize or cheat, including the use of Artificial Intelligence (“AI”).

Students must produce their work and cite sources appropriately. Disciplinary consequences will be enforced for academic dishonesty. Student expectations for academic dishonesty and plagiarism, including but not limited to the consequences, are defined in the course syllabi.

Field Trips and Other Extracurricular Activities

A student’s participation in a field trip or other extracurricular activity may be denied due to failing grades or discipline issues. Students are responsible for making up all missed schoolwork due to participation in a field trip.

CEC Student Dress Code

CEC chooses to adhere to a school Dress Code that ensures safety, professionalism, and instills student self-discipline. CEC wants staff and students to ‘be at their best’ while in an academic setting. CEC believes in having high expectations and standards to follow for every student, while encouraging a focus on their education and career. CEC Dress Code shall be enforced uniformly, fairly, and consistently for all students and prohibits students from wearing apparel that is deemed disruptive to the classroom environment or to the maintenance of a safe and orderly school. In accordance with the CROWN Act, CEC prohibits discrimination based on hair texture or protective hairstyles. This includes, but is not limited to, styles such as braids, locs, twists, Bantu knots, and afros.

Students must be in Dress Code at all times while on campus, during remote learning, and including attending any school-supported/sponsored activity, tutoring appointments, and advising appointments during the year, including summer months.

Questions about whether a clothing item is out of Dress Code should be addressed with the Head of School or their designee before the item is worn.

Expectations

• Student IDs will be visible at all times when on campus for safety, and Students will incur a $5 charge for a replacement ID unless a fee waiver applies.
• Students should wear clothing that covers ALL undergarments, and Pants/jeans must be worn at the waist. No underwear, boxers, or undergarments may be visible.
• No excessive rips in jeans/pants, and all rips must be below the fingertips when arms are extended down the length of the leg.
• Tops must cover areas from one armpit across to the other. Tank-top straps must be at least “4 fingers wide”. Spaghetti straps and knees. halter/backless tops are not allowed.
• Dresses, skirts, and shorts must be no shorter than halfway between fingertips and
• Pajama tops and bottoms, slippers, blankets, and costumes are not allowed. Pajama pants and costumes are only allowed if they are part of Spirit Week.
• Beanies, hoods, or bandanas may not be worn inside the buildings; hooded sweatshirts (hoodies) may be worn, but the hood must not cover the head. Bandanas may be worn if incorporated into Traditional/Religious headwear, as well as protective hairstyles commonly or historically associated with race, are allowed. Hats are only allowed based on Head of School discretion.
• Sunglasses are not to be worn inside the school building.
• Shoes must be worn at all *Closed-toe shoes are required in science labs and PE class.
• Any clothing, jewelry, accessories, and tattoos that contain any words, symbols, or pictures that include any of the following: references to sex, drugs, tobacco, alcohol, weapons, obscenities, profanities, as well as anything vulgar, lewd, legally slanderous, and/or dangerous are prohibited and must be removed or covered.

Dress Code Violations

Any student deemed in violation of CEC’s Dress Code shall be required to change into appropriate clothing or make arrangements to have appropriate clothing brought to school immediately. A notation will be made in Infinite Campus.

If the student refuses to adhere to CEC’s student Dress Code, the student’s parent/guardian may be contacted and asked to attend a restorative conference with the student to review the school’s expectations and rationale for dress and appearance. The student also may be subject to an appearance before the school’s Restorative Practice Panel, or other disciplinary action in accordance with CEC policy Suspension/Expulsion of Students. Classes missed as a result of dress-code violations are considered excused; however, the student will be required to make up missed classwork.

Public Display of Affection

In order to maintain a professional atmosphere of learning, mutual respect, and safety in school, students will refrain from inappropriate, intimate behaviors on campus or at school-related events & activities. Students are expected to conduct themselves respectfully at all times.

Guidelines

• It is acceptable to demonstrate care for each other in physical expressions such as quick friendly hugs, pats on the back or shoulders, or holding hands as an expression of affection.
• Intimate physical expressions of affection (hugging, kissing, embracing) are not permitted on school grounds, on the school bus, or during any school activity.
• Lying down with another student; hand on another’s lap; sitting on another’s lap is also not acceptable. Touching in sexual ways either under or through clothing is not acceptable.

Student Use of the Internet

Student use of the Internet and electronic communications is a privilege, not a right. Failure to follow the procedures in the CEC policy, Technology Resources, Internet Safety Responsible Use Policy for Students, will result in the loss of the privilege of using these devices; possible restitution for costs associated with damages; and may result in disciplinary action, including suspension or expulsion, and/or legal action. CEC may deny, revoke, or suspend access to CEC technology at any time.

Students and parents/guardians are required to sign CEC’s Acceptable Use of Technology Agreement as part of the enrollment process and must agree to adhere to the Agreement while the student is enrolled at CEC.

Social Media

Social media encompasses any online platform, channel, or mobile technology that allows anyone to publish (post) content.

When posting content, CEC students should:

• Honor, value, and respect the dignity of all CEC students and staff.
• Avoid negativity and profanity.
• Refrain from cyberbullying, which includes:
  • Intimidating or threatening others.
  • Making threats against CEC or CEC property.
  • Using another person’s login or password to send inappropriate messages and images.
  • Creating fake profiles.
  • Creating websites or posts to embarrass, threaten, or socially isolate another person.
  • Circulating offensive photos or videos.
  • Texting offensive messages.
  • Creating rumors or posting false information about others.

Cyberbullying is strictly prohibited and may lead to a referral to law enforcement and/or discipline up to and including expulsion.

Any social media post that creates an actual significant disruption to CEC, or is likely to do so, or would threaten the safety of the school, may lead to a referral to law enforcement and/or discipline up to and including expulsion. A single post in conjunction with other behaviors that happen on or off school grounds or at a school-sponsored event as a part of a pattern of disruptive behavior may be considered an actual significant disruption due to this pattern.

Any student who believes they have been a victim of cyberbullying, such as account impersonation, bullying, criminal activity, harassment, hate speech, inappropriate photos, spam, and videos, should immediately report it to the Head of School, Director of Campus Culture, a staff member, or Safe2Tell.

The CEC name and likeness are protected by law; students and parents/guardians are prohibited from launching a CEC website or creating a CEC account on any social media platform without approval from the Director of Strategic Communications.

For additional information, see CEC policies:

• Nondiscrimination/Equal Opportunity
• Data Privacy
• Bullying Prevention and Education
• Rights Concerning Student Records
• Student Code of Conduct and Discipline
• Suspension/Expulsion of Students
• Technology Resources, Internet Safety, and Responsible Use For Students

Personal Electronics in School

Please follow the personal electronics policy as outlined in Student Use of Cell Phones & Other Personal Electronic Devices.