Gang Activity Policy

The Board of Education does not tolerate any gang or gang-like activity within the Grand Rapids Public Schools. The Board considers gang or gang-like activity to constitute gross disobedience, which shall result in a lengthy suspension and/or expulsion of a scholar. 

Gang activity means any activity by a group of two (2) or more, or by an individual scholar on behalf of a group, whose purpose includes (but is not limited to):

1. The commission of one (1) or more illegal acts in violation of the Uniform Discipline Code and/or Board policies
2. The information of a group to defend its members (by use of physical force, threats or intimidation) against a perceived threat by another group of known gang; where the group or gang is identifiable by name, sign, clothing, symbol and other conduct as described in the numbered paragraphs below 

Scholars are also prohibited from engaging in any gang-like activity which is defined as any conduct engaged in by a scholar:

1. On behalf of any gang or group intending to function as a gang or formed for the purpose described above
2. To perpetuate the existence of any gang or gang-like group
3. To affect the common purpose and design of any gang or gang- like group
4. To represent, encourage, promote or advance a gang affiliation, loyalty or membership in such gang or gang-like group, in any way while on school property or while attending a school-sponsored event 

These regulations and the Uniform Discipline Code also apply to any gang or gang-like activity on or off-school property which:

1. Has the effect of disrupting the educational environment
2. Is detrimental to the normal functioning of the school and/or of school activities
3. Jeopardizes the safety or emotional well-being of any scholar, staff member or the District’s community at school 

Any scholar who is found to engage in gang or gang-like activity, or who disrupts the school environment, facilitates the illegal or disruptive acts of a gang or gang-like group within school or on school property or whose continued presence creates a reasonable likelihood of harm to any District scholar or staff member as a result of affiliation or activity with a gang, gang-like group or group formed for the purposes described above, is subject to discipline, suspension, expulsion, arrest or referral to law enforcement authorities. 

All scholars are assured access to due process hearing procedures and appeal rights outlined in Board rules and regulations. 

Scholar conduct, as described below, may also be the basis for discipline under these regulations. 

The Board believes that the presence of gang members and gang or gang-like activities (as described above) in or outside of school causes a substantial disruption of the educational environment and materially interferes with learning and school activities. Scholars on or about school property or at any school activity or school-sponsored event shall not:

1. Wear, possess, use, distribute, display or sell any overt gang paraphernalia, such as clothing, jewelry, emblem, badge, symbol, color, sign or any other thing which are known to be evidence of membership or affiliation with any gang, or membership of affiliation in any gang-like group or other group as described above; Note: Scholars who wear clothing or accessories that display affiliation with gang-like groups, gangs, criminally motivated organizations or other groups as defined above may be subject to discipline in accordance with the terms of the Uniform Discipline Code.
2. Commit any act, or use any language, either verbal or non-verbal (gestures, handshakes and so on) known to show membership in or affiliation with any gang, gang-like group or other group as defined above
3. Use any language or commit any act to promote, encourage or advance the interest of any gang or gang-like activity, including (but not limited to):
   1. Soliciting others for membership in any gangs or gang-like groups or other groups as defined here
   2. Intimidating or threatening any person as a result of gang affiliation or gang-like activity or other activities described in this regulation
   3. Committing any other illegal act or violation of District policies
   4. Inciting other scholars to act with physical violence on or off-school property, to engage in criminal activity on or off-school property, or to engage in any conduct in violation of the Uniform Discipline Code and/or Board policies
   5. Acting or recruiting with use of intimidation, tagging or marking, assault, battery, theft, trespassing or extortion, performed by or on behalf of a gang member, gang-like group, or other group as defined on the previous page; or any such acts intended to further a common criminal objective, or to retaliate for conduct viewed as hostile to a particular gang, gang-like group or other group as defined above. 

Note: Frequent association with known gang members or gang- like organizations, in or out of school, is one (1) factor considered in determining whether a scholar is engaged in a gang or gang- like activity. 

Because gang activity, by its nature, is often subtle or covert, gang activity or affiliation can be implied from the character of a scholar’s acts as well as the circumstances surrounding any misconduct. As a result, one (1) or more of the following shall be considered evidence of gang affiliation, conduct, gang-like activity or conduct in support of a group as defined on the previous page:

1. Website or internet postings describing or reasonably implying the scholar’s membership, affiliation or participation in a gang, gang-like group or activities or activities of a group as defined above
2. Any form of internet communication depicting the scholar making gang gestures or displaying other overt gang paraphernalia or gang-like affiliation
3. Displays on school assignments or objects, such as notebooks or lockers, of gang names, symbols, paraphernalia, street names, a.k.a. (also known as) monikers, and so on. Any gang graffiti on District premises shall be quietly removed, washed down, or painted over as soon as discovered. Daily checks for graffiti shall be made throughout the campus, including restroom walls and doors. Graffiti shall be photographed before it is removed. The photographs will be shared with local law enforcement authorities and used in future disciplinary or criminal action against offenders
4. Posting threats on internet blogs or otherwise making verbal or written threats in any manner against a District scholar or staff member, to promote, advertise or encourage gang activity or affiliation, or on behalf of a gang-like group or other group as defined on the previous page, which is disruptive to the educational environment, or is reasonably likely to create anxiety, fear, or other disruption of a scholar’s educational experience or significantly disturb the health, safety or emotional well-being of a staff member
5. Possessing, selling or otherwise promoting in any way, lyrics or songs that specifically threaten or encourage physical violence against known gangs or known gang members, or support criminal gang activities. 

Note: Intent can be implied from the nature of character of a scholar’s acts, on or off-school property, as well as the entirety of the circumstances surrounding any misconduct or violation of the Uniform Discipline Code.