Policy 5112.5 - Closed Campus

Closed Campus

In order to keep our students in a supervised, safe, and orderly environment, the Board of Education establishes a "closed campus" at all district schools. Once students arrive at school, they must remain on campus until the end of the school day unless they have brought written authorization from their parents/guardians and received permission from school authorities to leave for a specific purpose. Students who leave campus without such authorization shall be classified as truant and subject to disciplinary action.

The Board perceives that a closed campus benefits students by encouraging them to participate in school activities, rather than following other pursuits which may not be in their best interests. The requirement to keep students on campus is part of the Board's efforts to maintain a safe school climate and to reduce absenteeism.

The Board of Education of the Lodi Unified School District, pursuant to Section 44808.5 of the Education Code, has further decided to permit the junior/senior students enrolled at the district high schools, upon successful petition, to leave the school grounds during the lunch period.

The privilege of open campus may be revoked for an individual junior/senior student for disciplinary reasons or because of failure to successfully maintain petition criteria.

Neither the school district nor any officer or employee thereof shall be liable for the conduct and safety of any junior/senior student during such time as the junior/senior student has left the school grounds pursuant to this section.

Student handbooks shall fully explain all rules and disciplinary procedures involved in the maintenance of the closed campus.

The Superintendent or designee shall design a system of identification and passes appropriate for use at each school. Each high school principal shall be expected to enforce mechanisms whereby all students may be accounted for at all times during the school day.

Rule 

The following regulations are to be used for off-campus privileges:

1. Junior/senior students eligible to petition for off-campus privileges may pick up a petition in the school administrative office prior to the start of the school year.
2. The petition will be checked for a parent approval signature and verification that the student has earned adequate credits to achieve appropriate grade level status prior to approval.
3. The off-campus privilege pass will be revoked if students violate any of the criteria outlined in the off-campus petition. These include:
   • Discipline: Violation of school rules may result in the loss of off-campus privilege at the discretion of the principal or assistant principal.
   • Attendance: Students who are tardy 3 times to any one class in a quarter will automatically lose their off-campus privilege. Students who are truant for any class period will automatically lose their off-campus privilege.
4. Students losing their off-campus privilege may resubmit a petition to the administration at the beginning of each new quarter in order to re-establish their privileged status.
5. Students holding an off-campus pass may exit only at a gate designated at each school.