Secondary School Ordinance (SSO) (MSV)

1 The Directorate of Education appoints a school commission for each cantonal secondary school. This generally comprises seven to eleven members.11

2 The school commission notably includes personalities from the fields of economics, culture, primary education, and higher education.

3 At the beginning of a legislative period, the Office for Secondary and Vocational Education searches for replacements for outgoing members through public calls for applications in public publications and direct inquiries. A public call for applications may be waived if vacancies arise during the legislative period.9

1 The Directorate of Education determines the President of the School Commission.

2 The School Commission elects a Vice-President from among its members.

9 The Presidents' Conference

1 The presidents of the school commissions form the Presidents' Conference.

2 This body elects from among its members a chair and a vice-chair, in agreement with the Office for Secondary Education and Vocational Training.

3 The Presidents' Conference is responsible for coordination between the school commissions. The chair represents the Presidents' Conference vis-à-vis the Office for Secondary Education and Vocational Training and the Directorate of Education.

1 Members of the school commission are obliged to maintain confidentiality regarding confidential information that comes to their knowledge during the exercise of their function.

2 The duty of confidentiality also applies to other persons participating in the meetings of the school commission.

1 The members of the School Commission have the right to propose motions and to vote on resolutions. They are obliged to cast their votes.

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413.211

Secondary School Ordinance (SSO)

Minutes

Secretariat

Appointment

2. School Management

The School Commission has a quorum if the majority of its members are present. It adopts its resolutions by a simple majority of votes. In the event of a tie, the President has the casting vote.

The President may decide on less important or urgent matters, or arrange for resolutions to be adopted by circular resolution. A circular resolution requires the consent of the majority of the members.

The School Commission determines the form in which resolutions and presidential decrees are communicated.

1 Minutes of the meetings shall be kept, containing in particular the decisions.

**2 The minutes shall be sent to the members of the School Commission, the school administration, the representative of the teaching staff, as well as the Office for Secondary and Vocational Education.**

1 The secretariat is managed by the school.

2 The secretariat takes the administrative and organizational measures for the preparation and handling of the School Commission's business.

1 The General Assembly may hear applicants who have been short-listed by the School Commission.

2 The General Assembly submits its proposal to the School Commission, which may include additional applicants.

3 The School Commission submits an application for the appointment of the members of the school management to the Office for Secondary and Vocational Education, for the attention of the Directorate of Education and the Government Council. The School Commission considers the proposal of the General Assembly in this process.9

4 In renewal elections, positions are not publicly advertised. The School Commission obtains the opinion of the General Assembly and submits an application to the Office for Secondary and Vocational Education, for the attention of the Directorate of Education and the Government Council.9

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1 The Head of School leads the School Management and bears overall responsibility for the school.

2 The Head of School appoints her or his deputy from among the Pro-Heads of School.

3. Teacher Conferences

a. General Conference

1 All teachers of the school are entitled to participate in the general convention.

**2 The following are obliged to participate with the right to submit motions and vote:**

a. Teachers with special tasks according to § 3 para. 1 lit. c of the Ordinance on Teachers at Secondary and Vocational Schools,

b. Teachers according to § 3 para. 1 lit. a and b of the Ordinance on Teachers at Secondary and Vocational Schools, provided they are employed for a workload of at least 20% and have taught a total of at least twelve annual lessons (standard lessons) at the school.

**3 The School Commission may make special provisions for specific categories of teachers, such as instrumental and solo vocal teachers.**

1 The student body may send two to five representatives to the General Convention. The School Commission determines the number according to the size of the school.

2 The representatives of the student body are elected by the general assembly or the delegates’ assembly of the student organization or, if no student organization exists, by the student body in a direct ballot for at least one year.

The General Convention elects a President and a Vice-President from among the voting teaching staff, including members of the school management. The election is for a term of no more than four years; re-election is possible twice.

The General Assembly decides in particular on regulations concerning school operations, provided these do not infringe upon the competencies of the school management, the school commission, or other superior authorities.

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413.211 Secondary School Ordinance (SSO)

Meetings

Decisions

Involvement of

additional

persons

Composition

Decisions

Cooperation

1 The President convenes the General Convention in consultation with the school management and determines the agenda. The invitation to the meeting must be issued at least ten days in advance.

**2 The school management or at least one-fifth of the voting members may request the convening of a meeting and the inclusion of items on the agenda.**

**3 The provisions of § 4 shall apply mutatis mutandis to the duty of confidentiality.**

The General Convention constitutes a quorum if the majority of its voting members are present. It adopts its resolutions by simple majority of votes. In the event of a tie, the President has the casting vote.

The President may co-opt specialists not belonging to the full Convent for individual matters.

b. Class Convent

1 The class council consists of all teachers of the class who teach compulsory subjects graded with report card marks, as well as a member of the school administration. Other teachers of the class may be admitted in an advisory capacity.

2 The class teacher or the member of the school administration presides.

1 The class conference decides in particular on admissions at the end of the probationary period, as well as on promotions.

2 Eligible to vote are those teachers who teach the student in question. In decisions regarding promotions and admissions at the end of the probationary period, they are obliged to cast their vote.

3 Resolutions are passed with the consent of the majority of the eligible teaching staff present. In the event of a tie, the chairperson has the casting vote.

4. Parents

Parents of students aged 18 and over will also be informed about important school matters without their consent, provided they contribute to the maintenance of these students.

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Ordinance on Middle Schools (MSV)

5. School Operations

17 The Canton operates the following types of schools

a. Long-cycle Gymnasium,

b. Short-cycle Gymnasium,

c. Vocational Baccalaureate School,

d. Commercial Baccalaureate School,

e. Information Technology Baccalaureate School.

School Types

17 1 The Canton offers the following baccalaureate profiles for Gymnasium

a. Classical Languages Profile,

b. Modern Languages Profile,

c. Mathematics and Natural Sciences Profile,

d. Economics and Law Profile,

e. Arts Profile,

f. Philosophy, Pedagogy, and Psychology Profile.

Baccalaureate

Profiles

2 Students choose a profile at the beginning of the 11th school year.

17 1 Language of Instruction

The language of instruction at long and short grammar schools is Standard German. Foreign language instruction remains reserved.

2 Long and short grammar schools may also offer courses where a part of the instruction is delivered in a foreign language.

1 Schools that are oversubscribed or underutilized shall ensure the necessary balance through the reassignment of pupils among themselves.

2 The Office for Secondary Schools and Vocational Education decides on the reassignment if no agreement can be reached. Key criteria include the chosen profile, connections to public transport, or the age of the pupils.

3 The school management of the Liceo artistico decides on reassignments concerning the Liceo artistico, particularly based on the artistic aptitude of the pupils. The school management determines the documents to be submitted. The Office for Secondary Schools and Vocational Education decides on the reassignment if no agreement can be reached.15

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Ordinance on Secondary Schools (OSS)

6. Absences, Exemptions, and Joker Days12

Scope

Absences

a. Principle

b. Reasons for Excuse

Exemptions

a. Principle

b. Reasons for Exemption

13 Sections 22–35 do not apply to the Cantonal Matura School for Adults.

13 1 An absence is considered an unjustified absence when a student is completely or partially absent from class

a. for unforeseeable reasons,

b. in the case of a dispensation that was not granted,

c. in the case of a rejected joker day.

2 An absence is considered excused if the student can provide proof of a reason for excuse.

13 1 Valid excuses are

a. an illness or an accident,

b. exceptional events in the personal environment,

c. special events outside the control of the pupils.

2 The school management may recognize further special circumstances as valid excuses in individual cases.

13 1 If a student wishes to be absent from class for foreseeable reasons, they must request a dispensation in advance.

**2 The school management or the body designated by it dispenses students from attending classes, a subject, or parts thereof for a specific period, provided a valid reason for dispensation exists. It considers the personal, family, and academic circumstances.**

**3 A complete dispensation from subjects relevant for promotion is not permissible.**

12 1 Reasons for exemption include

a. foreseeable absences in connection with an illness or an accident,

b. extraordinary events in the personal environment,

c. high holidays or special occasions of a religious or denominational

nature,

d. preparation for and active participation in significant cultural and

sporting events,

e. exceptional support needs for special academic, artistic, or sporting

talents,

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Secondary School Ordinance (MSV)

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f. information events of tertiary institutions, trial apprenticeships, or

similar events for vocational preparation,

g. military, civilian substitute, civil defense, and fire department service.

2 The school management may recognize other special circumstances

as reasons for exemption in individual cases.

12 1 Students shall submit requests for excusal of an absence or for dispensation in writing and signed to the school administration or the body designated by it, and shall enclose the documents specified by the school administration.

**a. Form of Request**

**2 They shall state the reason for the excusal or dispensation in the request.**

**3 Until majority, the request must be signed by the holder of parental responsibility or other legal guardians.**

12 1 If students are absent from class due to illness or accident, they must submit a medical certificate with their request

a. for an absence of more than four days,

b. for short, recurring absences,

c. for an absence at a final examination.

2 The school management may order an examination by a trusted medical practitioner designated by them if there are justified doubts about the accuracy of the medical certificate.

12 Students submit the request to

a. Absences, as soon as circumstances permit,

b. Dispensations at least 14 days in advance.

c. Deadline

12 The school administration or the body designated by it decides on the request in writing.

12 Joker Days

**1** Pupils may be absent from lessons on two days per school year without the need for dispensation grounds (Joker Days).

**2** Each Joker Day taken counts as a full day, even if lessons on that day only take place for half a day.

**3** Unused Joker Days expire at the end of each school year.

12 1. **Notification**

Students must inform the school administration or the designated

authority in writing at least 14 days in advance of their intention to

take a Joker Day.

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Ordinance on Secondary Schools (MSV)

2 Until the age of majority, the notification must be signed by the

holder of parental responsibility or other legal guardians.

c. **Block-out days**

d. **Refusal**

Note on the

report card

Making up for

missed lessons

and performance

assessments

Contribution to

costs by the

municipalities

12 1 The school administration may determine that during special events such as sports days or project weeks, no joker days can be taken.

**2 Students may not take joker days on school days when they are taking final examinations or presenting their final thesis.**

**3 The school administration announces the blocked days at the beginning of each semester.**

12 The school administration or the body designated by it shall notify the student in writing of a rejection.

12 The certificate does not contain any information on absences, dispensations, and Joker Days. An exception to this is the notation that a female student or a male student has been completely exempted from a subject.

12.1 Students who miss classes due to an absence, a dispensation, or a joker day must catch up on the missed subject matter independently.

**2 They must take performance assessments before or after. The responsible teacher may grant exceptions.**

**7.14 Finances**

6, 14 1 The contributions according to § 31 para. 2 of the Secondary School Act³

shall be levied by the Secondary and Vocational Education Office from the municipalities responsible for upper-level secondary education.

2 When calculating the exemption limit of 5 percent, only students of public primary and secondary schools shall be considered.

3 Students whose actual place of residence is in the municipality shall be deemed to reside in that municipality.

4 The contributions shall be calculated based on the general annual data collection conducted at the secondary schools in September of the previous year, adjusted for withdrawals after the probationary period.¹¹

5 The Directorate of Education shall issue directives on the calculation modalities and procedural flow.

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8, 14 The Directorate of Education regulates the compensation for participation

in the entrance and final examinations at secondary schools.

8.14 Transitional and Final Provisions

14 Teachers at Cantonal Secondary Schools who have been awarded the title of Professor by the Government Council, based on § 197 of the Education Act⁴, may continue to use this title.

14 Until the transfer of the employment relationships of teaching staff pursuant to § 15 of the Secondary and Vocational School Teacher Ordinance² applies, the previous convent regulations of the schools apply to the participation of the teaching staff.

Overall Convent

14 The term of office relevant for the application of the term limit begins with the Spring Semester 2000.

Term Limits

2000 in force.

1 OS 56, 58.

2 LS 413.111.

3 LS 413.21.

4 Repealed.

5 Version in accordance with Executive Council Resolution of 18 June 2003 (OS 58, 152). In force since 1 July 2003.

6 Inserted by Executive Council Resolution of 11 December 2003 (OS 58, 374). In force since 1 January 2004.

7 Version in accordance with Executive Council Resolution of 11 December 2003 (OS 58, 374). In force since 1 January 2004.

8 Inserted by Executive Council Resolution of 25 May 2005 (OS 60, 166). In force since 1 May 2005.

9 Version in accordance with Executive Council Resolution of 9 May 2012 (OS 67, 230; ABI 2012, 1053). In force since 1 August 2012.

10 Version in accordance with Executive Council Resolution of 7 November 2012 (OS 67, 607; ABI 2012-11-16). In force since 1 January 2013.

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Ordinance on Secondary Schools (MSV)

11 Version in accordance with Executive Council Resolution of 29 May 2013 (OS 68, 257; AB12013-06-07). In force since 19 August 2013.

12 Inserted by Executive Council Resolution of 27 May 2020 (OS 75, 349; AB1 2020-06-05). In force since 1 August 2020.

13 Version in accordance with Executive Council Resolution of 27 May 2020 (OS 75, 349; ABI 2020-06-05). In force since 1 August 2020.

14 Numbering in accordance with Executive Council Resolution of 27 May 2020 (OS 75, 349; AB1 2020-06-05). In force since 1 August 2020.

15 Inserted by Executive Council Resolution of 3 April 2019 (OS 74, 351; ABI 2019-04-12). In force since 1 August 2022 (OS 76, 266).

16 Version in accordance with Executive Council Resolution of 3 April 2019 (OS 74, 351; ABI 2019-04-12). In force since 1 August 2022 (OS 76, 266).

17 Inserted by Executive Council Resolution of 25 August 2021 (OS 77, 104; AB1 2021-09-03). In force since 1 August 2023.

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