Skip to main content

4520 - High School-Sponsored Dances - First Reading

  1. PURPOSE
    The District is committed to conducting school-sponsored dances in a manner that promotes student safety, appropriate conduct, equal opportunity, accessibility, and compliance with District policy, state law, and applicable federal law.

  2. POLICY
    This policy establishes consistent minimum standards governing student eligibility, guest participation, conduct, safety, supervision, admission, and removal from school-sponsored dances.

    Individual schools may establish additional event-specific requirements when reasonably necessary based upon the nature, location, size, or circumstances of an event, provided those requirements are consistent with Board policy.

    This policy applies to school-sponsored dances conducted by District high schools. This policy does not apply to dances or similar activities sponsored by District junior high schools.

  3. DEFINITIONS
    1. ‘School-sponsored dance” means a dance or similar social event authorized, sponsored, provided, or supported by the District or a District school, including dances conducted on or off school property.
    2. “Guest” means an individual who is not enrolled at the sponsoring school and who is authorized to attend a school-sponsored dance pursuant to this policy and the requirements established by the sponsoring school.
    3. “Sponsoring school” means the District school responsible for organizing and administering the dance.
    4. “Event-specific requirement” means a reasonable requirement established for a particular dance based on the nature, location, size, security needs, expected attendance, or other circumstances of the event.
    5. “Boundary school” means the school within the boundaries of which a student resides.
    6. “Dangerous weapons” means a firearm or an object that, in the manner of the object’s use or intended use, is capable of causing death or serious bodily injury.

  4. APPROVAL AND ADMINISTRATION
    1. The principal or designee shall approve all school-sponsored dances.
    2. The principal shall designate an administrator or employee responsible for coordinating the event.
    3. The sponsoring school shall provide adequate adult supervision based upon the expected attendance, location, and nature of the event.
    4. The school may establish additional reasonable security measures based upon the circumstances of a particular dance.

  5. STUDENT ELIGIBILITY
    1. School-sponsored dances are generally intended for students enrolled at the sponsoring school.
    2. A school principal may establish reasonable eligibility requirements for students enrolled in the sponsoring school, such as citizenship or attendance requirements.
    3. School-based eligibility requirements shall be communicated to students/parents at the beginning of the school year, shall be posted on the school’s website, and shall be included in written announcements about the dance.
    4. A student suspended from school for disciplinary reasons is also suspended from any extracurricular activity, including school dances, during the term of the suspension.
    5. Eligibility requirements within the school shall be applied consistently and without unlawful discrimination.

  6. GUESTS
    1. Students residing outside Weber School District boundaries are not permitted to attend school dances in Weber School District.
    2. Homeschool, private school or charter school students residing in Weber School District boundaries may attend school dances as guests at their boundary school subject to the following:
      1. Proof of residence in the boundary school is provided to the sponsoring school, for example, a driver's license, utility bill or rental agreement.
      2. Submission of Homeschool, Private School or Charter School Dance Guest Form is provided to the sponsoring school at least three (3) school days prior to the dance. (For example, if the dance is on a Saturday, the Guest Form must be submitted by Wednesday, 3:00 p.m.)
      3. Attendance at the dance is with a student enrolled in the sponsoring school
    3. Students attending other high schools in Weber School District may attend another school’s dance as a guest, subject to the following:
      1. The guest is not on suspension from his/her boundary school at the time of the sponsoring school’s dance.
      2. The guest receives written permission from the guest’s principal and submits that permission to the sponsoring school at least three (3) days prior to the dance. Each school may create their own WSD Student Guest Form provided it includes all the information on the WSD Student Guest Template. Permission may be denied based on behavior and/or attendance concerns at the guest student’s home school.
      3. Attendance at the dance is with a student enrolled in the sponsoring school
    4. Tickets for guests must be purchased at least three days in advance by the student enrolled in the sponsoring school.
    5. All guests must be enrolled in grades 10-12 at the time of the dance. Students enrolled in ninth grade or below and individuals who have graduated from high school at the time of the dance shall not be permitted to attend as guests. School principals may make exceptions for students who graduated earlier than their graduating cohort.
    6. Guests shall be required to provide photo identification at the door of the dance.
    7. A student who brings a guest is responsible for informing the guest of applicable school and District expectations.
    8. A guest shall comply with the same applicable conduct and safety requirements as students attending the event.
    9. A guest may be denied admission to the dance when the guest does not satisfy applicable identification, approval (including timeliness of guest form approval paperwork), conduct, or safety requirements.
    10. School administrators may designate certain dances as dances at which guests are not allowed.

  7. ADMISSION AND IDENTIFICATION
    1. The sponsoring school shall require:
      1. photo identification, including current student identification, government-issued or other reasonable photo identification; and
      2. for guests, a guest pass; and
      3. a ticket or electronic admission verification; or
      4. other reasonable identification or admission documentation, at the administrator’s discretion.
    2. Students and guests may be denied admission when required identification or admission documentation is not provided.
    3. Schools shall communicate admission requirements before the event.

  8. EXPECTED CONDUCT
     Students and guests shall:
    1. Follow District policies and school rules;
    2. Follow reasonable directions of school employees and authorized event personnel;
    3. Treat other students, guests, and employees respectfully;
    4. Maintain appropriate physical boundaries;
    5. Remain in designated areas;
    6. Refrain from conduct that creates a safety risk;
    7. Refrain from bullying, harassment, intimidation, hazing, and retaliation;
    8. Refrain from fighting or physical aggression;
    9. Refrain from sexually inappropriate conduct;
    10. Respect school and private property; and
    11. Follow all event-specific requirements communicated by the sponsoring school.

  9. PROHIBITED CONDUCT
    The following conduct is prohibited at school-sponsored dances:
    1. Fighting or physical aggression;
    2. Bullying, harassment, intimidation, hazing, or retaliation;
    3. Sexual harassment or other prohibited sexual conduct;
    4. Lewd or sexually explicit behavior;
    5. Possession, use, distribution, or being under the influence of alcohol or prohibited substances;
    6. Possession of weapons or other prohibited dangerous items;
    7. Property damage or vandalism;
    8. Unsafe physical activity (see section XI below);
    9. Unauthorized entry or re-entry;
    10. Disruptive behavior that interferes with the event;
    11. Refusal to follow reasonable directions of school personnel;
    12. Falsifying or misusing tickets, identification, or guest forms; and
    13. Other conduct prohibited by District policies 5200, 5201, 4120, 4121, or applicable law or policy.

  10. DANCING AND PHYSICAL CONTACT
    1. Dancing shall be appropriate for a school-sponsored activity.
    2. Students and guests shall refrain from sexually explicit dancing, simulated sexual activity, grinding, or other dancing or physical contact that is reasonably determined by school personnel to be inappropriate for a school-sponsored activity.
    3. Students and guests shall not engage in dancing or physical activity that creates a safety concern or interferes with the ability of other students to participate safely.
    4. Moshing, slam dancing, crowd surfing, passing students over or through a crowd, violent pushing or shoving, and other physical activity that creates a safety risk are prohibited.
    5. Schools may provide students with examples of prohibited conduct before an event.
    6. Students engaging in unsafe physical activity may be asked to leave the dance.

  11. SECURITY AND PROHIBITED ITEMS
    1. The sponsoring school may prohibit or restrict backpacks, large bags, purses, or other items when reasonably necessary for safety or security.
    2. Dangerous weapons are prohibited items.
    3. The school shall communicate prohibited items before the event whenever reasonably practicable.
    4. Security procedures shall comply with applicable District policies and law.
    5. Any student search conducted in connection with a school dance shall comply with District policy 5300 governing student searches and applicable law.
    6. Students and guests may be required to leave prohibited items outside the event area or return them to a parent or guardian before entering the dance.
    7. The sponsoring school may establish procedures for screening bags, personal belongings, tickets, identification, and other items consistent with District policy and applicable law.

  12. ENTRY AND RE-ENTRY
    1. School-sponsored dances are designated as no-re-entry events. Re-entry is prohibited. This prohibition shall be communicated to students before admission.
    2. The principal or designee may permit re-entry when necessary because of an emergency, medical need, disability-related accommodation, or other circumstance requiring an exception.

  13. REMOVAL FROM THE DANCE
    1. A student or guest may be removed from a dance for:
      1. violating District policy;
      2. violating school rules;
      3. violating dance expectations as outlined in Sections VIII and IX of this policy; or
      4. other conduct that reasonably interferes with the safety or operation of the event.
    2. When appropriate, the school may notify a parent or guardian when a student is removed from an event.
    3. Removal from a dance may result in additional disciplinary action consistent with District policy.
    4. A guest removed from a dance may be prohibited from attending future school-sponsored dances at the sponsoring school.

  14. DISCIPLINE AND LOSS OF DANCE PRIVILEGES
    1. A violation of dance requirements may result in disciplinary action consistent with District policy.
    2. Consequences may include:
      1. Warning or redirection;
      2. Removal from the event;
      3. Parent/guardian notification;
      4. School disciplinary action;
      5. Loss of eligibility for future dances or other extracurricular activities when authorized by District policy and based on the student’s conduct or eligibility status; and
      6. Referral to law enforcement when required or appropriate.
    3. Administrators may terminate a dance early if necessary for significant violations of this policy.
    4. Discipline shall be administered consistently and in accordance with applicable District policy and law.

Parties, Dances

Policy Feedback:

Your input is crucial in shaping our school district's policies - please share
your feedback on pending policies under review by the board.

Send Feedback