School Policies
Every school operating on Hischool must follow two levels of rules:
- Hischool platform policies
- School-specific policies
School policies help define expectations for your specific community.
However, school rules must never contradict or override Hischool platform policies.
Platform policies always take precedence.
Platform-Level Rules
Section titled “Platform-Level Rules”All schools on Hischool must comply with platform governance, including:
- Community standards
- Platform safety policies
- Content guidelines
- Anti-harassment principles
- Legal and ethical boundaries
School policies cannot:
- Allow behavior that is prohibited by the platform
- Override platform moderation decisions
- Ignore platform safety standards
Platform governance applies to all schools equally.
School-Level Policies
Section titled “School-Level Policies”Each school is responsible for defining additional internal rules that:
- Reflect the school’s mission and values
- Set behavioral expectations
- Define collaboration or academic standards
- Establish consequences for violations
- Clarify member responsibilities
School policies strengthen internal governance and make moderation more consistent.
Publishing School Policies
Section titled “Publishing School Policies”Hischool does not require a special configuration page for school rules.
Instead, the recommended approach is to publish policies inside a dedicated public group.
A common practice is to create a group such as:
#rules#school-rules#community-guidelines#code-of-conduct
Inside that group, administrators can post the rules as messages.
This approach is useful because:
- Members can easily find the rules
- Policies remain visible and searchable
- Administrators can edit the message when rules change
- Updates do not require creating new documents
When policies are updated, simply edit the existing message containing the rules.
This keeps the rules centralized and easy to maintain.
Why School Policies Matter
Section titled “Why School Policies Matter”Clear policies:
- Prevent confusion
- Support fair moderation
- Protect members
- Improve accountability
- Reduce conflicts
Without written rules, enforcement can become inconsistent.
What School Policies May Include
Section titled “What School Policies May Include”Your school policies may define several areas.
Code of Conduct
Section titled “Code of Conduct”- Respectful communication
- Academic integrity
- Professional behavior
- Anti-harassment expectations
Participation Rules
Section titled “Participation Rules”- Attendance expectations
- Assignment or activity guidelines
- Collaboration standards
Communication Standards
Section titled “Communication Standards”- Appropriate language
- Group etiquette
- Message formatting expectations
Consequences
Section titled “Consequences”- Warnings
- Temporary removal
- Permanent bans
- Escalation to platform moderation if necessary
Rule Hierarchy
Section titled “Rule Hierarchy”If a conflict occurs between rules:
- Hischool platform policies override everything
- School policies apply within platform limits
- Moderator actions must follow both
Schools cannot create policies that violate platform rules.
Enforcement Responsibility
Section titled “Enforcement Responsibility”School leadership is responsible for:
- Publishing clear policies
- Applying rules consistently
- Training moderators when necessary
- Avoiding arbitrary or selective enforcement
Moderation actions such as kicking or banning members should align with defined policies.
See:
→ Ban Members
→ Kick Members
Drafting Effective Policies
Section titled “Drafting Effective Policies”When writing school rules:
- Be specific
- Avoid vague language
- Define consequences clearly
- Use a professional tone
- Review policies periodically
- Ensure alignment with platform policies
Policies should be understandable by all members.
Communicating Policies
Section titled “Communicating Policies”School rules should be:
- Visible to all members
- Easy to find
- Accessible before or shortly after joining
- Updated when policies change
Publishing policies in a dedicated group (such as #rules) helps ensure transparency.
Governance Best Practices
Section titled “Governance Best Practices”- Avoid excessive restrictions
- Avoid unclear punishments
- Avoid selective enforcement
- Document serious moderation decisions
- Review policies as your school grows
Strong governance helps maintain a healthy learning community.
Common Questions
Section titled “Common Questions”Can a School Allow Behavior That Hischool Prohibits?
Section titled “Can a School Allow Behavior That Hischool Prohibits?”No.
Platform policies always override school rules.
Can School Policies Be Stricter Than Platform Policies?
Section titled “Can School Policies Be Stricter Than Platform Policies?”Yes.
Schools may enforce stricter standards as long as they do not violate platform rules.
What Happens If a School Violates Platform Policies?
Section titled “What Happens If a School Violates Platform Policies?”Platform-level moderation may apply.
Serious violations may result in administrative review or actions affecting the school.