STUDENTS Policy
2100
Nondiscrimination and Student Rights
The
Board of Education reaffirms its belief that every student regardless of race,
color, sex, national origin, age, ethnicity, religion, disability, sexual orientation
or perceived sexual orientation be given equal opportunity for educational
development.
The
Board recognizes the importance of providing each student with a school
environment conducive to intellectual, emotional and social growth through participation
in a full range of educational programs and activities. Board and staff commitments insure equal
educational opportunities in course offerings, guidance and counseling, test
procedures, extracurricular activities, discipline procedures and student
support services. Nov. 2010
STUDENTS
Policy 2110 (Regulation 2110)
Nondiscrimination and
Student Rights
Equal Educational
Opportunity
It is the policy of the Board
of Education to provide a free and appropriate education for students with
disabilities. Students with disabilities are those who, because of certain
atypical characteristics, have been identified by professionally qualified
personnel as requiring special educational planning and services. Students with
disabilities will be identified on the basis of physical, health, sensory,
and/or emotional handicaps, behavioral problems or observable exceptionalities
in mental ability. It is possible that a student may have more than one type of
disability.
The District's programs and
services available to meet the needs of these students will be in accordance
with The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, The Education for All
Handicapped Students Act of 1975, The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 504,
and § 162.670 .995 RSMo., Missouri Special Education Services. In
addition, the identification of students with disabilities and the services
provided by the District will be in accordance with the regulations and
guidelines of the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's
Current Plan for Part B of The Education of the Handicapped Act, as
amended. (See Policy and Regulation 6250 – Instruction for Students with
Disabilities.)
STUDENTS Policy 2115
Student Welfare
Transgender Students
The Board of Education
believes that all students are entitled to a quality education in a safe
environment. This belief extends to the
growing number of transgender students, that is, students who self-identify
with a gender that is different from their biological sex.
The Board seeks to balance
the privacy needs of all students with the preferences of transgender students
and their parents/guardians. This policy
sets forth the practices that are in place for the welfare of all of our
students. This policy does not
anticipate every situation that might occur with respect to transgender
students, and the needs of each transgender student must be assessed on a case-by-case
basis.
Student Identity
Transgender students are
permitted to select a first name and pronoun that more closely matches their
gender identity. This chosen name shall
be used by District staff to communicate verbally and electronically other than
in official school records. Changes of name
shall not be permitted to exceed one name change per school year.
Official school records shall
continue to list the birth name and biological sex of the student. The student or their parents/guardians may
obtain a name change through the court system.
In such case, the District will amend its official school records to
comply with the court order.
Restrooms
The District, when requested,
will designate a gender neutral restroom(s) in each building with the
appropriate signage.
All students, regardless of
their gender identity will have the option of using the gender neutral
restroom, or the restroom designated for their biological sex.
If a parent/guardian requests
an alternative option, the option will be considered on a case-by-case
basis. However, if agreement cannot be
reached, the District will select the option that is in the best interest of
all students.
Locker Rooms/Showering Facilities
Elementary students are not
required to change into PE uniforms and, hence, do not require showering.
In District secondary
schools, students who elect to participate in physical education classes that
require access to locker rooms or showering facilities will be expected to use
those facilities designated for their biological gender. However, upon request of a transgender
student and/or their parents, alternatives will be considered. In consultation with the student and parents,
the alternative will include, but not be limited to, on-line PE courses,
independent study; scheduling adjustments to include early access to change and
showering facilities; separate enclosed change and shower room within the
locker room. Each such request would be
considered on a case-by- case basis. However,
if consensus cannot be reached with the student/parents, the District will
select an option that is in the best interest of all students.
Apparel
Transgender
students are permitted to dress in the same manner as the gender with which
they identify. However, all students are
required to dress consistently with the school’s dress code.
Extra-Curricular/School
Activities
Similarly,
all students are permitted to wear apparel associated with their gender or
gender identity. On occasion, student
activity groups schedule overnight trips.
Students will be assigned rooms, with sponsor approval, mutually agreed
upon by student roommates. The District
is a member of the Missouri State High School Activities Association
(MSHSAA). As such, the District is
required to adhere to MSHSAA regulations regarding athletic participation by
transgender students.
November 2016, Copyright ©
2016 Missouri Consultants for Education, Inc.
STUDENTS
Policy 2120
Nondiscrimination and
Student Rights
Students of Legal Age
Upon attainment of the age of
eighteen (18), students will be deemed to be adults for purposes of educational
records, placement and reporting.
STUDENTS
Policy 2140
Nondiscrimination and
Student Rights
Marital, Parental Status
of Students
Students who are married,
pregnant or who have given birth will be treated in a like manner as other
students with respect to academic matters, student activities as well as other
educational benefits provided by the District.
STUDENTS
Policy 2150 (Form 2150)
Nondiscrimination and
Student Rights
Searches by School
Personnel
School lockers and desks are
the property of the Board of Education and are provided for the convenience of
students, and as such, are subject to periodic inspection without notice,
without student consent, and without a search warrant. The lockers and
desks may be searched by school administrators or staff who have a reasonable
suspicion that the lockers or desks contain drugs, alcohol, material of a
disruptive nature, stolen properties, weapons, items posing a danger to the
health or safety of students and school employees, or evidence of a violation
of school policy. In addition, the Board of Education authorizes the use
of trained dogs to sniff lockers or other school property to assist in the
detection of the presence of drugs, explosives, and other contraband.
Students or student property
may be searched based on reasonable suspicion of a violation of District rules,
policy or state law. Reasonable suspicion must be based on facts known to
the administration, credible information provided or reasonable inference drawn
from such facts or information. The privacy and dignity of students shall
be respected. Searches shall be carried out in the presence of adult
witnesses, if such witnesses are available. Students may be asked to
empty pockets, remove jackets, coats, shoes and other articles of exterior
clothing for examination if reasonable under the circumstances.
No employee shall perform a
strip search of any student. The exception to this would be if a school
administrator reasonably believes that a student possesses a weapon, explosive,
or substance that poses an imminent threat of physical harm to himself or
herself or another person, and if a commissioned law enforcement officer is not
immediately available. Strip searches may be conducted by, or under the
authority of, a commissioned law enforcement officer.
Students are permitted to
park on school premises as a matter of privilege, not of right. The
school retains the authority to conduct routine patrols of the student parking
lots. The interior of a student's automobile on school premises may be
searched if a school administrator has reasonable suspicion to believe that
illegal, unauthorized or contraband items, or evidence of a violation of school
policy is contained inside the vehicle.
Law enforcement officials
shall be contacted if the search produces a controlled substance, drug
paraphernalia, weapons, stolen goods or evidence of a crime, in any case
involving a violation of law when a student refuses to allow a search, or where
the search cannot safely be conducted. Parents may also be
contacted. A student who refuses to submit to a search may be
appropriately disciplined by school officials.
Nov 04
STUDENTS Policy 2160
Nondiscrimination and
Student Rights
Interviews,
Interrogations and Removal From School
Interview or Interrogation
The School District has legal
jurisdiction over students during the school day and hours of approved
extracurricular activities. The school administration is responsible for making
an effort to protect each student's rights with respect to interrogations by
law enforcement officials. When law enforcement officials find it necessary to
question students during the school day or periods of extracurricular
activities, the school principal or designee will be present and the interview
will be conducted in private.
The principal will verify and
record the identity of the officer or other authority and request an
explanation of the need to question or interview the student at school. The
principal ordinarily will make reasonable efforts to notify the student's parents/guardians.
Removal of Students From
School
Before a student at school is
arrested or taken into custody by a law enforcement or other legally authorized
person, the principal will verify the official's authority to take custody of
the student. The school principal will attempt to notify the student's
parent/guardian that the student is being removed from school.
STUDENTS
Policy 2170 (Regulation 2170)
Nondiscrimination and
Student Rights
Distribution
of Noncurricular Publications by Students
The District recognizes that
student expression regarding a variety of topics may be beneficial to the
District’s educational mission. Discussion and debate regarding serious issues
can engender tolerance for diverse viewpoints. The District, however, has
the obligation to ensure that student expression is consistent with the
District’s educational mission. Accordingly, the District has adopted
guidelines to regulate student expression in a manner consistent with the
District’s educational goals.
STUDENTS Policy
2180
Nondiscrimination and Student Rights
Pledge of Allegiance
Schools
shall ensure that the Pledge of Allegiance is recited at least once per school
day. No student shall be required to
recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
August 2016, Copyright © 2016
Missouri Consultants for Education
STUDENTS Policy
2200
Admission and Withdrawal
The admission and denial of admission of all students shall
be under the direction of the Superintendent/Designee, subject to the approval
of the Board of Education. All persons seeking admission to the District and
its instructional programs must satisfactorily meet all residency, academic,
age, immunization, health, safety and other eligibility prerequisites as
established by Board policies, rules and regulations, and by law. Students
entering the District will be required to present a birth certificate or some
other acceptable proof of age along with proof of residency in the District, or
a request for a waiver of the residency requirements unless the student is
exempt from the residency requirements as set forth in District policies, rules
and regulations and/or law.
Upon a request to enroll any student in the District, the
Superintendent/Designee will request the student’s previous school records
along with any other relevant records as set forth in Regulation 2200 and state
law. Any enrollment of a student prior to receipt of the student’s
previous discipline records will remain conditional until receipt of such
records. A student will be allowed to attend school during conditional
enrollment so long as the student does not violate the District’s code of
conduct or pose a threat of harm to students or employees of the District.
(See Regulation 2200, Policy 2290, and Policy and Regulation 2664).
Students who are entering kindergarten or first grade are
encouraged to pre-register in the spring prior to the fall semester in which
they are to begin attendance.
High School Students Residing in K-8 Districts
The District will admit high school students from approved
K-8 Districts in its county or adjoining counties. The District shall
charge the sending K-8 Districts tuition for each such student. The cost
of tuition will be calculated by the District’s Board of Education, but in no
case will tuition exceed the amount spent for teachers’ wages, incidental
purposes, debt service, maintenance and replacements divided by the District’s
average daily pupil attendance. Disputes involving the tuition charged
will be resolved by the State Board of Education. The sending districts
are required to provide transportation provided the receiving District has been
approved by the K-8 District of pupil’s residence.
August 2019
STUDENTS Policy
2210
Admission and Withdrawal
Entrance Age
Entrance Age for
Pre-Kindergarten Programs
If
the District chooses to maintain a pre-kindergarten program, the students must
have reached the age of three (3) before August 1 of the school year beginning
that calendar year to be eligible for admission.
Entrance Age for Kindergarten
To
be admitted to kindergarten or to summer school prior to the student's regular
term, a student must be five (5) years old before August 1st preceding entrance.
Entrance Age for First Grade
To
be admitted to first grade a student must be six (6) years old before August
1st preceding entrance. However, students who have completed an accredited
kindergarten program will be considered for enrollment in the first grade
regardless of the August 1st cut-off date.
A
birth certificate will be required as proof of age.
Military Dependants
Military dependants who have
completed an accredited pre-kindergarten or kindergarten program in another
state may enter kindergarten or first grade regardless of age. The District will facilitate the timely
enrollment of children of military families and will ensure that they are not
placed at a disadvantage due to difficulty in their transfer of education
records from the previous school district(s) or variations in entrance legal
requirements.
July 2014
STUDENTS
Policy 2220
Admission and
Withdrawal
Compulsory Attendance
Ages
The Board of Education shall
abide by the compulsory attendance laws of the state by requiring District
resident students between the ages of seven and sixteen years to attend school
full time, with the exception of those students who may be excused from full time
attendance by the Superintendent. Individual petitions for any deviation from
full time attendance shall be considered by the Superintendent on the
merits of the individual student's application and in compliance with state law
and regulations.
Any student age sixteen years
or older who drops out of school for any reason other than to attend another
school, college or university, or to enlist in the armed services, shall be
reported to the state literacy hotline office by the School District.
STUDENTS Policy
2230 (Regulation 2230)
Admission and Withdrawal (Form
2230)
Admission of Non-Tuition Students
Resident Students
Resident
students of the District, five to twenty-one (5-21) years of age, who have not graduated
from high school or received any document evidencing completion of the
equivalent of a secondary curriculum (G.E.D.), and are not barred from
enrollment by provisions of the Safe Schools Act (See Policy and Regulation
2664) may attend District schools tuition free.
Resident students must provide proof of residency in the District at the
time of enrollment. To be a resident of the District, a student must both
physically reside and be domiciled within District boundaries. The domicile of a minor child is the domicile
of a parent, military guardian pursuant to a military issued guardianship, or
court-appointed legal guardian. Where
due to military stationing or deployment out-of-state of one or both of a child’s
parent(s), the child, a resident of Missouri, relocates to live with other
family members that live in the District or lives in a military support
community located in the District, the child may attend District schools. If the parents’ active duty orders expire
during the school year, the student will be permitted to finish the current
school year at the District.
In
addition, the District will provide tuition-free special education services to
resident students who qualify for special education services between the ages
of 3 and 21 as required by law.
Students Entitled to Enroll Without Proof of Residency
The
residency provisions of this policy are not applicable to homeless students,
inter-District court-ordered desegregation students, wards of the state placed
in residential care facilities, students placed in a residential care facility
due to a mental illness or developmental disability, students placed in a
residential facility by a juvenile court, students with a disability identified
under state eligibility criteria if the student is in the district for reasons
other than accessing the district’s educational program, students attending
regional or cooperative alternative education programs, students attending an
alternative education program on a contractual basis, or students attending a
school pursuant to R.S.Mo.§ 167.151(2) or (4).
The exemptions to the residency requirement are expressly established by
state law and entitle such students to tuition-free school attendance. Additionally, a student may be partially
exempt from the payment of tuition as set forth in Policy and Regulation 2240
and state law. For purposes of IDEA
special education evaluation and provision of special education services a
student attending a private school located within the District will be
evaluated as a resident student.
Requests for Waiver of Proof of Residency Requirements
Those students who are unable
to satisfy the proof of residency requirements and who are not entitled to
enroll as provided in the previous section of this Policy and state law may
request a waiver of the proof of residency requirements. Upon filing a Request for Waiver of Proof of
Residency (Form 2230.1) and satisfaction of all other enrollment requirements,
the student will be conditionally enrolled and allowed to attend school pending
a Board of Education hearing on the student’s request unless there is reason to
suspect that the admission of the pupil will create an immediate danger to the
safety of other students or employees of the District. If there is reason to suspect that the
student poses an immediate danger, the Superintendent/Designee may convene a
hearing within five working days of the request to register and determine
whether or not the pupil may register. (See Policy and Regulation 2200,
Regulation 2230 and Policy and Regulation 2664).
Students of Nonresident Teachers and Regular Employees
Nonresident
students of District teachers or regular District employees may be permitted to
attend school without payment of tuition.
Such students will be considered a "resident" student for
purposes of state aid.
Remote
Registration
Parent(s) who are being relocated to Missouri pursuant to
military orders will be permitted to enroll their students remotely. Proof
of residence is not required at the time of registration, but will be required
within ten (10) days of the student’s registration.
August 2019
STUDENTS Policy
2240 (Regulation 2240)
Admission and Withdrawal
Admission and Tuition - Nonresident Students
Nonresident
students may be permitted to attend the District schools upon payment of
tuition provided the student is not barred from enrollment by provisions of the
Safe Schools Act. (See Policy 2664.)
Tuition rates will be determined annually by the Board of Education on
the basis of the per-pupil cost for the preceding year including operation,
maintenance, and debt service of the schools.
Within
two (2) business days of enrollment in the District by state officials of a
nonresident student pursuant to state statute, the Superintendent/designee will
request the student's transfer and discipline records from all schools or
facilities previously attended and from other state agencies and entities
involved in the placement of the student within the twenty-four (24) month
period preceding enrollment. The
Superintendent/designee is authorized to share relevant portions of such
student's transfer and discipline records with District employees who, based
upon their duties, have a need to know such information. Such records will be maintained in confidence
for purposes of maintaining discipline and for assistance to the student. The student's transfer and discipline records
will not be a part of the student's permanent record nor used as the sole basis
for denying educational services to a pupil.
Admission
of Residents from Unaccredited School Districts
In
accordance with Missouri law and Board Regulation, the District will accept
transfer students from school districts in its same or adjoining counties that
are declared unaccredited by the state of Missouri.
July 2013
STUDENTS
Policy 2245*
Admission and
Withdrawal
Transfer Students
All students entering the
District from other educational settings are required to submit evidence of
their achievement in the last grade attended. Grade placement of a
student may be adjusted on the basis of examination of the student’s previous record,
achievement tests administered, or other factors that the principal and staff
believe are appropriate under the circumstances. A transcript of all
entering secondary school students is required before enrollment can be
completed. However, a student may be permitted to enroll temporarily
until a full transcript is obtained.
Transfers from
Unaccredited Schools
Parents/guardians should be
advised that if they choose to transfer their student to the public school from
an unaccredited school, the student will not be guaranteed comparable placement
in the public schools. Students transferring will be assigned an appropriate
grade level and class assignment based on their educational and developmental
level as determined by the principal through assessment of student's age,
educational experience, achievement tests and consultation with parent/guardian
and personnel from the student's former school.
Jan 04
STUDENTS
Policy 2250 (Regulation 2250)
Admission and
Withdrawal
Admission of Exchange
Students
Resident foreign exchange
students under the auspices of an organization or association accredited by the
state and/or federal governments for that purpose may enroll in the School
District, and shall have all the rights and privileges of a resident student
during the period of enrollment. Those sponsoring agencies which comply with
the standards for foreign student exchange programs as established by the U.S.
Department of State are those which will be recognized by the District.
STUDENTS Policy
2255
Admission and Withdrawal
Disabled Students
The District will follow all
state and federal laws, rules and regulations with regard to implementing its
responsibilities to students who enroll in the District that have been
previously identified as disabled under the Individuals with Disabilities
Education Act, or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.
March 2010
STUDENTS Policy
2260 (Regulation 2260)
Admission and Withdrawal
Homeless Students
The Board of Education is committed to
providing equal access for all eligible homeless students to a free,
appropriate education in the same manner as is provided to other District
students. In carrying out this commitment,
the District will identify and assess the needs of the District's homeless
students; provide for the placement of its homeless students in the school of
best interest; provide access to the District's programs; and appoint a
homeless liaison. The Superintendent will
review all District policies to determine whether they act as barriers to the
enrollment of homeless students. Special attention will be given to policies
regarding transportation, immunization, residency, birth certificates, school
records and guardianship.
January 2018, Copyright ©
2018 Missouri Consultants for Education, LLC
STUDENTS Policy
2270 (Regulation 2270)
Admission and Withdrawal
Migrant Students
The
Board of Education is committed to the identification, needs assessment and enrollment
of migrant students living within the District.
The District's Coordinator of Programs for Homeless Students is also
responsible for implementation and maintenance of the District's program for
migrant students. (See also Policy 6274 – Instruction for Migrant Students.)
The Board of Education
directs the administration to screen students, as required by law, to assist
the state in identifying migratory children. If the District becomes aware of
any student who might be a migrant student, the superintendent or designee will
notify the state director of migrant education, as designated by the Department
of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), so that the student may be
formally recognized as a migrant student.
The administration will
develop written administrative procedures for ensuring that migrant students,
once identified, receive services for which they are eligible. In developing
and implementing a program to address the needs of migratory children, the
District will:
1. Screen
students and assess the educational and related health and social needs of each
student identified as migrant.
2. Provide
a full range of services to migrant students, including applicable Title I
programs, special education, gifted education, career or technical education,
language programs, counseling programs, elective classes, fine arts classes,
etc.
3.
Provide migratory children with the opportunity to meet the same statewide
assessment standards that all children are expected to meet.
4.
To the extent feasible, provide advocacy and outreach programs to migratory
children and their families and professional development for district staff.
5. Provide parents/guardians an
opportunity for meaningful participation in the program.
January 2017 Copyright © 2017
Missouri Consultants for Education, LLC
Admission of Home
Schooled Students Policy
2280 Students
Admission and
Withdrawal
Students
who enroll in the District from a home-schooled status must meet residency requirements
as stipulated in Policy 2230.
Grade
placement will be determined by an administrative evaluation of records from
the home-school setting and assessment of student's age, total educational
experience, achievement tests administered at the time of District
registration, and consultation with parents/guardians.
Last
modified: January 01, 2003
STUDENTS Policy
2290
Admission and Withdrawal
Denial of Admission and Student Withdrawal from School
Denial of Admission
A student who is conditionally
enrolled pending a Waiver of the Proof of Residency Requirement hearing may be
denied admission and barred from attending school after denial of the student’s
waiver request as provided in Regulation 2230 and state law.
A student may be denied
admission based upon a previous disciplinary expulsion that would result in
expulsion in the District or criminal conduct as provide in Policy and
Regulation 2664 and state law.
A nonresident student who is
not otherwise entitle to a free public education in the District, may be denied
admission for any nondiscriminatory reason in accordance with District
policies, regulations and rules and state and federal law.
Administrative Removal of Student from Enrollment Not
Resulting from Student Disciplinary Action
Upon information that calls
into question a student’s entitlement to a free public education in the
District, the Superintendent/Designee will attempt to contact the student’s
parent(s) or guardian and give him/her the opportunity to respond. If the Superintendent/Designee determines
after this communication or attempted communication that the student is not
entitled to a free public education in the District, the
Superintendent/Designee will provide written notification of this determination
to the parent(s)/guardian and will notify the parent(s)/guardian of the right
to appeal this determination to the Board of Education. The student will not be removed from the
District’s enrollment and barred from school attendance until after the time
period to appeal to the Board has expired or if the Superintendent/Designee’s
Determination is appealed, the Board has upheld the Superintendent/Designee’s
determination.
Voluntary Student
Withdrawal
Students
who voluntarily withdraw from school for any reason are required to notify the
building principal and provide a specific reason for withdrawal.
Each
building principal will submit a monthly report to the Superintendent
concerning the identity and reason of each student withdrawing from school.
Requests to
Transfer Student’s Records to Another Public, Private or Charter School
Building
principals will respond within five (5) business days to requests by other
schools for the records of students transferring from District schools. Records
transferred pursuant to such requests will include the written notification of
criminal charges/adjudications by law enforcement officials for criminal acts
listed in Regulation 2673.
July
2014
STUDENTS Policy 2310 (Regulation 2310)
Attendance
Student Attendance
The Board of Education
believes that regular attendance is essential to achieving success in
school. Education is a total process based upon continual communication
and shared responsibilities among parents, students, teachers and school.
As students mature and progress through the educational system, they should
increasingly assume responsibility for regular attendance. However,
parents have a legal and moral responsibility to require regular attendance at
school.
STUDENTS Policy
2315
Attendance
Student Attendance – Excused Absences
In accordance with Missouri
state law, the District recognizes that the Future Farmers of America
Organization (FFA), Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA),
4-H programs, and organized competitions held as part of the Missouri state
fair involve important education and learning processes and are beneficial to
District students. Due to the nature of
these organizations, students will occasionally need to miss school time in
order to fully participate and benefit from the programs sponsored by these
organizations. Accordingly, students who
miss school time during the regular school day due to participation in
officially sanctioned activities of the Future Farmers of America Organization
(FFA), Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), 4-H, and
competitions held as part of the Missouri state fair, shall receive an excused
absence and shall be considered to be attending regularly scheduled instruction
during such times of absence. Up to
10days of school days for participation in such activities will be excused by
the District per school year for each student.
If a leader of one of the
above referenced organizations or the parent of a student participating in the
Missouri state fair anticipates that a student will miss school time due to
participation in an activity for such organization, the leader/parent shall let
the building principal know with as much notice as possible prior to the event
and receive his/her approval of the activity and for missed school time. Time missed by students participating in an
activity of such programs shall be included in the district’s calculation of
average daily attendance as defined by Missouri law. Students who miss school time due to
participation in an approved activity as set forth in this policy, will be
expected to make up all school work missed during their absence.
November 2016, Copyright ©
2016 Missouri Consultants for Education, Inc.
STUDENTS Policy 2320 (Regulation 2320)
Attendance
Part-Time Attendance
Students may attend District
schools on a part-time basis as provided by state law and regulations of the
Board of Education
STUDENTS Policy 2330 (Regulation 2330)
Attendance
Student Early Dismissal
Procedures
Students are to be released
from school during school hours only with permission of the building
principal/designee.
Early dismissal of a student may
be approved only by the principal/designee. Normally requests for early
dismissal must be in writing, signed and dated by a parent/guardian.
STUDENTS
Policy 2340 (Regulation 2340)
Attendance
Truancy and Educational
Neglect
The Board of Education
believes regular attendance is important to academic success. Therefore, the
Board directs that problems with attendance on the part of any student be
investigated and acted upon promptly.
Truancy is defined as
deliberate absence from school on the part of the pupil with or without the
knowledge of the parent/guardian and for which no justifiable excuse is given.
When a pattern of truancy becomes evident, the principal will investigate and
take such action as circumstances dictate. Section 210.115 R.S.Mo. mandates
reporting to the Division of Family Services when there is reasonable cause to
suspect that a student's nonattendance is due to the educational neglect of the
parents/guardians.
Any school official or
employee who knows or has reasonable cause to suspect that a student is being
subjected to home conditions or circumstances which would reasonably result in
truancy will immediately report or cause a report to be made to the building
principal, or his/her designee, who will then become responsible for making a
report via the Student Abuse Hotline to the Missouri Division of Family
Services (DFS). The building principal shall inform the Superintendent/designee
that a report has been made, and keep the Superintendent apprised of the status
of the case.
STUDENTS Policy
2400 (Regulation
2400)
Student Educational
Records (Form
2400)
A cumulative educational record shall be maintained for each
student from his/her entrance into school through the last date of attendance
or through graduation, whichever occurs first.
Each student's educational record will include information
required by state and federal statutes, regulations or agencies and shall
include other information considered necessary by school officials.
The District will comply with the mandates of the Family
Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Safe Schools Act regarding
confidentiality of student records and disclosure of personally identifiable
information.
The parents/guardians of students who are attending or have
attended the District's schools have the right to inspect and review the
educational records of their students and to request amendment of their
students' educational records. The District has adopted procedures (Regulation
2400) for the granting of parental requests for access to the educational
records of their students within a reasonable period of time, but in no case
more than forty-five (45) days after the request is made.
All information contained in a student's educational record,
except information designated as directory information by the District, shall
be confidential and shall be directly accessible only to school officials who
demonstrate a legitimate educational interest in the student's records and to
parents/guardians or eligible students.
Upon request by military recruiters or an institution of
higher learning, the District will provide students' names, addresses and
telephone listings. Parents will be notified annually of their right to
individually request that such information not be released without prior
parental consent. Military recruiters will be provided the same access to
students as is given to institutions of higher learning.
May 2009
STUDENTS Policy 2410 (Regulation 2410)
Student Educational
Records
Health Information
Records
Except as otherwise required
to comply with the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) or Section 504 of
the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504), records containing student health
information will be stored separately from other student records in a locked
file cabinet or in a secure computer file.
STUDENTS Policy
2420
Student
Educational Records
Recording of
Meetings
The
District prohibits the use of audio, video or other recording devices in any
meetings between District employees and parents/guardians, including but not
limited to meetings held pursuant to the Individuals with Disabilities
Education Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. Exceptions to this prohibition will be made
on a case-by-case basis and in accordance with federal and state laws. If a parent or guardian wishes to request an
exception to this general prohibition, he or she must make a written request to
the organizer of the meeting no later than one week prior to the meeting. The
request must state the reasons why the parent or guardian believes the District
should make an exception and/or why he or she believes that the use of a
recording device is necessary to comply with any applicable federal or state
laws. The District will provide a
written response to the request prior to the scheduled meeting. Nov. 2010
STUDENTS Policy 2520* (Regulation 2520)
Student Academic
Achievement
Promotion and Retention
The purpose of promotions and
retentions is to provide maximum consideration for the long range welfare of
the student and to provide an opportunity for each student to progress through
school according to his/her own needs and abilities.
It is expected that most
students in the schools will be promoted annually from one grade level to
another upon completion of satisfactory work, however, a student may be
retained when his/her standards of achievement or social, emotional, mental, or
physical development would not allow satisfactory progress in the next higher
grade. Retention normally occurs before the student leaves the primary grades.
Parents/guardians who wish to
appeal the decision for retention must first contact the building principal. If
parents/guardians do not accept the decision at the building level, an appeal
may be made in writing to the Superintendent. All appeals must be requested
within two (2) weeks after the close of school.
The process for reading
assessments and remediation, and retention guidelines for students who fail to
meet the District’s objectives for reading, are contained in Regulation 2520 –
Promotion and Retention.
Promotion Requirements for Grades 7 & 8
Students
must pass: 10 out of 14 semesters with 7 classes. If the student
does not meet these minimums, he/she must repeat the 7th or 8th
grade. (By Board Action, November, 1983) Jan 04
STUDENTS
Policy2525
Student
Academic Achievement
Graduation
Requirements
The graduation requirements
set out in this policy will apply to the Class of 2010. Students who will
be in the ninth (9th) grade for the 2006-07 must adjust their
schedules for each school year beginning 2006-07 to satisfy the minimum
requirements for high school graduation in 2010.
The minimum graduation
requirements effective for the Class of 2010 are as follows:
Communication Arts
4 units
Social
Studies
3 units
Mathematics
3 units
Science
3 units
Fine
Arts
1 unit
Practical
Arts
1 unit
Physical
Education
1 ˝ unit
Health
Education
˝ unit
Personal
Finance
˝ unit
Electives
6 ˝ units
Total
24 units
The District will accept
courses offered through Missouri’s K12 Virtual Instructional Program (MoVIP) as
units of credit meeting state and local graduation requirements provided however
the quantity and quality of completed student works meets standards applicable
to the District’s traditional program. (See Policy Virtual Instruction
Program).
Eligible students as defined
in Regulation 2525 may pursue a timely graduation from high school through the
School Flex Program. Eligible students
participating in the School Flex Program will be considered full-time students.
May 2011
INSTRUCTIONAL SERVICES Policy
2526
Student Academic Achievement
Constitution and American Civics Tests
As a condition of graduation,
student must satisfactorily pass an examination on the principles and
provisions of the United States and Missouri Constitutions, American History,
American Institutions and American Civics.
This requirement may be waived for any student transferring from a
school outside the state if the student furnishes acceptable documentation of
the student’s successful completion of a course over comparable material.
The Civics examination will
consist of one hundred questions similar to the one hundred question
examination used by the United States for applicants for citizenship.
All
students entering 9th grade after July 1, 2017 must pass an American
Civics Test similar to the civics portion of the United States Naturalization Test,
produced by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. The
American Civics Test may be administered in conjunction with testing on the
provisions and principles of the United States and Missouri Constitutions,
American History and American Institutions. August
2016, Copyright © 2016 Missouri Consultants for Education
STUDENTS Policy
2530
Student
Academic Achievement
Graduation
Requirements - Students with Disabilities
The
District must provide a free appropriate public education (FAPE) for students
with disabilities pursuant to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
(IDEA) until they graduate or until the student reaches twenty-one (21) years
of age.
Students
with disabilities pursuant to the IDEA who have completed four years of high
school shall be allowed to participate in the graduation ceremony of the
student’s high school graduating class and all related activities if the
student’s individualized education program (IEP) prescribes special education,
transition planning, transition services, or related services beyond the
student’s four years of high school, and the student’s individualized education
program team determines the student is making satisfactory progress toward the
completion of the individual education program and participation in the
graduation ceremony is determined appropriate.
The
District shall provide timely and meaningful written notice to children with
disabilities and their parents or guardians about the instant policy. [Notice of the District’s policy shall be
provided at the annual IEP meeting that occurs prior to the student’s fourth
year of high school.] The purpose of the notice is to inform parents and
students about the policy and should not be confused with IDEA notices of
action relating to the identification, evaluation, placement, or provision of
FAPE.
This
policy does not apply to non-IDEA students.
Nov. 2010
STUDENTS
Policy 2540*
Student Academic
Achievement
Early Graduation
Graduation,
with all attendant privileges, will be allowed any time after six (6) semesters
of attendance beginning with grade nine and attainment of all requirements as
set by the state and local School Boards. Early graduation should be part of a
cooperative plan arrived at by students, their parent/guardian, and the school.
The
above requirements may be modified in exceptional cases with approval of the Board
of Education, upon recommendation of the Superintendent.
Jan.
2003
STUDENTS Policy
2550
Student Academic Achievement
Dual Credit Scholarships
The District may provide
“dual credit” courses in conjunction with an accredited Missouri higher education
institution. Such courses would be
taught in a district high school by instructors possessing appropriate academic
credentials. Eligible students
participating in the program would be eligible to earn high school and college
credit simultaneously.
Subject to state
appropriation of funds, dual credit students may be eligible for a dual credit
scholarship. Dual credit students would
be eligible to receive up to fifty (50%) percent of the tuition cost paid by the
student to enroll in a course offered by an approved dual credit provider. However, no student shall receive more than
five hundred dollars ($500.00) annually for all dual credit courses taken.
In order to be eligible to
receive a dual credit scholarship a student must:
·
Be a United States
citizen or permanent resident;
·
Be a Missouri
resident;
·
Have a cumulative
high school GPA of at least 2.5 on a four point scale.
·
Meet one or more
of the following indicators of economic need:
·
Be eligible to be
enrolled in a federal free or reduced lunch program; or
·
Reside in a
foster home; be a ward of the State; or be homeless; or
·
Receive low
income public assistance or live in federally subsidized public housing.
August 2016, Copyright © 2016
Missouri Consultants for Education
STUDENTS Policy
2600
Discipline
The
District has the authority to discipline for student conduct that is
prejudicial to good order and discipline in the schools as provided by state
law. School officials are authorized to
hold students accountable for misconduct in school, on school property, and
during school-sponsored activities.
Students who engage in significant acts of misconduct off campus which
materially and adversely impact the education of District students will be
subject to discipline up to and including expulsion. However, no student will be confined in an
unattended locked space except for emergency situations while awaiting the
arrival of law enforcement officials.
Students
forfeit their right to a public school education by engaging in conduct
prohibited in Regulation 2610, the code of student conduct, and/or state or
federal law. Disciplinary consequences include, but are not limited to,
withdrawal of school privileges (athletics, intramurals, student clubs and
activities and school social events); the reassignment of the student to
another school; removal for up to ten (10) school days by building principals;
extension of suspensions for a total of 180 days by the Superintendent; and
longer term suspension and expulsion from school by the Board of Education. See
also Policies 2610, 2662, and 2663.
Removal
of any student who is a student with a disability under Section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 or the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
is subject to state and federal procedural due process rights. See policy 2672
and its corresponding regulation.
The
District will provide annual in-service training to all employees concerning
the District's discipline regulations and their implementation. Annual training will also include, but will not
be limited to, approved methods of dealing with school violence, discipline of
students with disabilities, and the requirements of student confidentiality.
March 2010
STUDENTS Policy
2610 (Regulation 2610)
Discipline
Misconduct
& Disciplinary Consequences
All students attending school
in District schools will be expected to accept the obligation and
responsibility to attend school on a regular basis and to comply with the
District's discipline code set forth in Regulation 2610. Those students who
choose not to fulfill their responsibilities at school will be held accountable
for their conduct. Consequences for individual acts of misconduct are
calculated to discipline the student, to deter future misconduct, and to
provide a safe and positive environment in which students can maximize their
learning potential. Students who engage in significant acts of misconduct
off campus which materially and adversely impact the education of district students
will be subject to discipline up to and including expulsion. August 2010
STUDENT Policy
2620 (Regulation 2620)
Discipline
Firearms and Weapons in School
The
District recognizes firearm and weapon possession as a potential threat to the
health, safety and security of students, employees, and other persons. The
District will not tolerate the presence of firearms or weapons on the premises
of our schools. This prohibition
includes possession of firearms and weapons on school playgrounds, school
parking lots, school buses, and at school activities, whether on or off school
property. The District complies with the provisions of the Improving America's
Schools Act of 1994 and other applicable federal and state law.
Nothing
in this policy shall prohibit the District from permitting a Civil War
re-enactor to bring a Civil War era weapon to school for educational purposes
so long as the weapon is not loaded.
Students
who violate this policy will be suspended for no less than one (1) year and are
subject to permanent expulsion. However, the Superintendent may recommend to
the Board a modification of the suspension on a case-by-case basis. Students
with disabilities under the Individuals with Disabilities Act and/or Section
504 of the Rehabilitation Act are entitled to the protections of those laws.
This
policy will be annually submitted to the Department of Elementary and Secondary
Education together with a report of disciplinary action taken for possession of
a "firearm" or "weapon" as defined in Regulation 2620. March 2010
STUDENTS
Policy 2630
Discipline
Closed Campus
With the safety and welfare
of the students in mind, the Board of Education has closed all campuses during
the school day. Permission to leave school will be granted only for valid
reasons, and only with a written request signed by a parent/guardian. In
emergency situations, a telephone call from a parent/guardian may suffice, with
approval of the building principal.
STUDENTS Policy
2640
Discipline
Student Use of Tobacco, Alcohol
and Drugs
Smoking
The Board of Education
believes that smoking; the use of any tobacco products; and substances
appearing to be tobacco products are detrimental to the health and well-being
of staff and students. Therefore the Board prohibits the use, sale, transfer
and possession of tobacco products and substances appearing to be tobacco
products, i.e. e-cigarettes, at school and at school activities.
Alcohol and Drug Use
The improper use of
controlled substances, alcohol and substances represented to be such is
detrimental to the health and welfare of students and is detrimental to
discipline in school. Such conduct, as
well as the possession of drug paraphernalia, is prohibited and is subject to
disciplinary action as set forth in Regulation 2610.
Pursuant to 29 U.S.C.
705(20)(c)(iv), a student with a 504/ADA disability who is currently engaging in
the illegal use of alcohol or drugs is not considered a student with a
disability under those laws and the District, may take disciplinary action – to
the same extent that disciplinary action is taken against nondisabled students
– in relation to that use or possession of alcohol or drugs. In such cases, the
due process procedures contained in the Section 504 regulations will not apply
to protect those students. This provision does not apply to students who are
identified as disabled under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
However, school personnel may remove an IDEA disabled student to an interim
alternative educational setting for not more than 45 school days without regard
to whether that student’s behavior is a manifestation of his/her disability
where that student knowingly possesses or uses illegal drugs, or sells or
solicits the sale of a controlled substance, while at school, on school
premises, or at a school function under the District’s jurisdiction. “Illegal
drug,” as it pertains to the discipline of IDEA students, means a controlled
substance but does not include a controlled substance that is legally possessed
or used under the supervision of a licensed health-care professional or under
any other authority.
The determination of whether
or not a student is under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance is
based upon a variety of information including but not limited to, physical
appearances, speech patterns, and witnesses statements. While not required, District administrators
may request a student suspected of
alcohol use to submit to a Breathalyzer.
Conduct that includes possession of or use of alcohol or controlled
substances as well as the possession of drug paraphernalia is prohibited and is
subject to disciplinary action as set forth in Regulation 2610. July 2014
STUDENTS
Policy 2641
Discipline
Drug Free Schools
Pursuant to requirements of
the 1989 amendments of the Drug Free Schools and Communities Act and to
the requirements of the Safe Schools Act, and for the purpose of preventing the
use of illicit drugs and alcohol by students, the District shall provide
age appropriate, developmentally based drug and alcohol education and
prevention programs to all students from early childhood level through grade
twelve (12). (See also Policy 6130 – Drug Education.) Such programs will
address the legal, social and health consequences of drug and alcohol use, and
provide information about effective techniques for resisting peer pressure to
use illicit drugs or alcohol.
The District shall provide
information about any drug and alcohol counseling and rehabilitation and
re entry programs that are available to students. Students may be required
to participate in such programs in order to avoid suspension or expulsion if
they are found to be in violation of this policy. All parents/guardians and
students shall annually be provided with a copy of this policy.
The District certifies that
it has adopted and implemented the drug prevention program described in this
policy in the form required by the Department of Elementary and Secondary
Education or the United States Department of Education. The District conducts a
biennial review of such program to determine its effectiveness, to implement
necessary changes and to ensure that the disciplinary sanctions are
consistently enforced.
STUDENTS Policy 2650 (Form
2650)
Discipline
Student Vehicle Use
Building principals have the
authority to regulate student use of automobiles at school. Use of school
property for student parking purposes is a privilege that may be denied due to
violation of District regulations and school policies. Student vehicles
parked on District property are subject to search by school officials where
there is reason to believe a vehicle contains materials prohibited by District
regulations.
STUDENTS
Policy 2651
Discipline
Student Dress
The
Board of Education expects student dress and grooming to be neat, clean and in
keeping with community standards, so that each student may share in promoting a
positive, healthy and safe atmosphere within the School District. This
expectation includes the school day and school sponsored extracurricular
activities. The Board may require students to wear a school uniform.
Students
shall observe modes of dress and standards of personal grooming that are in
conformity with the educational environment and necessary to maintain an
orderly and safe atmosphere for all students. Apparel is expected to conform to
reasonable student standards of modesty, and as such, no excessive or
inappropriate areas of skin or undergarments may be exposed. No apparel or
grooming which presents a safety concern is permitted. No apparel displaying
messages that are gang-related, sexually explicit, vulgar, violent, or advocating
illegal activities is permitted. Further, no clothing or personal grooming that
disrupts, or can be forecasted to disrupt, the educational environment is
permitted.
August
2010
STUDENTS
Policy 2652
Discipline
Student Conduct on
Buses
The safety of students during
their transportation to and from school is a responsibility which they and
their parents/guardians share with the bus drivers and school officials.
Therefore, the rules of student conduct will be issued to all students at the
beginning of the school year, and to new students upon enrollment.
STUDENTS Policy 2653 (Regulation 2653)
Discipline
Student Participation in
Secret Organizations and Gangs
The Board of Education
prohibits membership in secret fraternities or sororities, or in other clubs or
gangs not sponsored by established agencies or organizations recognized by the
School District.
The Board of Education feels
that the presence of gangs and gang activities can cause a substantial
disruption of or material interference with school and school activities.
A “gang” as defined in this policy is any group of two or more persons whose
purposes include the commission of illegal acts. By this policy, the
Board of Education acts to prohibit existence of gangs and gang activities as
follows:
No student on or about school
property or at any school activity:
1. Shall
wear, possess, use, distribute, display, or sell any clothing, jewelry, emblem,
badge, symbol, sign, or other things
which are evidence of membership or affiliation in any gang.
2. Shall
commit any act or omission or use any speech either verbal or non-verbal
(gestures, hand-shakes, etc.) showing
membership or affiliation in a gang.
3. Shall
use any speech or commit any act or omission in furtherance of the interests of
any gang or gang activity, including but
not limited to:
a. Soliciting others for
membership in any gangs.
b. Requesting any person to pay
protection or otherwise intimidating or threatening any
person.
c. Committing any other
illegal act or other violation of school District policies.
d. Inciting other
students to act with physical violence upon any other person.
STUDENTS
Policy 2654
Discipline
Student Use and Care of
School Property
The Board of Education
recognizes that acts of destruction, defacing, trespassing, burglary and theft
of District property are contrary to the interests of students, staff and tax
payers. The District officials will cooperate fully with all law
enforcement agencies in the prevention of crimes against District property as
well as in the prosecution of persons involved in such conduct.
The District will seek
restitution from students and other persons who have damaged or destroyed
District property. As permitted by law, the District will also seek
restitution from the parent/guardian of children involved in such misconduct.
STUDENTS Policy
2655 (Form 2655)
Discipline
Bullying
The
District is committed to maintaining a learning and working environment free of
any form of bullying or intimidation.
Bullying is strictly prohibited on school grounds, or school time, at a
school sponsored activity or in a school related context. Bullying is the intentional action by an
individual or group of individuals to inflict intimidation, unwanted aggressive behavior, or harassment that is repetitive or is
substantially likely to be repeated and causes a reasonable student to fear for his or her physical
safety or property; substantially
interferes with the educational performance, opportunities, or benefits of any
student without exception; or substantially disrupts the orderly operation of
the school.
Bullying may consist of physical actions, including gestures,
or oral, cyberbullying, electronic, or written communication, and any threat of
retaliation for reporting acts of bullying.
Cyberbullying
means bullying as defined above through the transmission of a communication including, but not
limited to, a message, text, sound, or image by means of an electronic device
including, but not limited to, a telephone, wireless telephone, or other
wireless communication device, computer, or pager. The District may
prohibit and discipline for cyberbullying that originates on any District campus or at a District
activity if the electronic communication was made using the school's
technological resources, if there is a sufficient nexus to the educational
environment, or if the electronic communication was made on the District’s
campus or at a District activity using the student's own personal technological
resources. Further, students who engage in significant acts of
misconduct off campus which materially and adversely impact the education of
District students will be subject to discipline.
Bullying,
as defined in this policy, is strictly prohibited. Students are encouraged to report any
incident of bullying which they have witnessed or incurred, by contacting their
building principal. District employees are required to report any instance of
bullying of which the employee has witnessed within two (2) school days of the
occurrence. Employees shall report the occurrence to the building principal,
who is the person the District designates to receive reports of incidents of
bullying. A principal who receives a
report of an incident of bullying shall initiate an investigation into the
allegations within two (2) school days of receipt of the report. The principal may assign other employees to
assist in the investigation, or request that the superintendent assign an
outside investigator. The investigation shall be completed within ten school days from the
date of the written report of bullying unless good cause exists to extend the
investigation. No employee or student who reports an act of bullying shall be
subject to reprisal or retaliation for making such a report. Any person who
engages in reprisal or retaliation against an employee or student who reports
an act of bullying shall be subject to disciplinary action.
Students
who are found to have violated this policy will be subject to consequences
depending on factors such as: age of student(s), degree of harm, severity of
behavior, number of incidences, etc.
Possible consequences to a student for a violation of this policy
include: loss of privileges, classroom detention, conference with teacher,
parents contacted, conference with principal, in-school suspension,
out-of-school suspension, expulsion and law enforcement contacted.
The
District shall give annual notice of the policy to students, parents or
guardians, and staff. This policy shall
be included in all student handbooks.
This policy shall also be posted on the District’s web page (as a Board policy)
and a copy shall be placed in the District Administrative Office.
The
District shall provide information and appropriate training to District staff
who have significant contact with students regarding the policy. All staff with significant
student contact shall be trained on the requirements of this policy on an
annual basis.
The
District shall provide
education and information to students regarding bullying, including information
regarding this policy prohibiting bullying, the harmful effects of bullying,
and other applicable initiatives to address bullying, including student
peer-to-peer initiatives to provide accountability and policy enforcement for
those found to have engaged in bullying, reprisal, or retaliation against any
person who reports an act of bullying. The District shall instruct
its school counselors, school social workers, licensed social workers, mental
health professionals, and school psychologists to educate students who are
victims of bullying on techniques for students to overcome bullying's negative
effects. Such techniques include but are not limited to, cultivating the
student's self-worth and self-esteem; teaching the student to defend himself or
herself assertively and effectively; helping the student develop social skills
or encouraging the student to develop an internal locus of control. District administrators will implement
programs and other initiatives to address bullying, to respond to such conduct
in a manner that does not stigmatize the victim, and to make resources or
referrals available to victims of bullying.
August 2016, Copyright © 2016
Missouri Consultants for Education, Inc.
STUDENTS Policy
2656
Discipline
Cell Phone
Developments
in cell phone technology in recent years have resulted in enhanced
communication opportunities. However, the use of cell phones in schools poses
increasing risks of school disruptions, bullying, criminal activity, and
academic dishonesty. As a result, beginning with the 2008-09 school year,
student cell phones, digital cameras and similar electronic devices will be
banned during the instructional day unless approved by teacher, as well as, in
dressing areas during extracurricular activities.
Parents
may apply to the building principal to obtain a hardship exception. In such
cases, the student's cell phone must be retained in the principal's office.
Students granted a hardship may visit the office to use their cell phone for
approved purposes. Telephones are also available in school offices for parents
to contact their student for legitimate reasons.
STUDENTS Policy 2660 (Regulation 2660)
Discipline
Detention
The provisions of a detention
program for student violations of policies, rules and regulations shall provide
principals with an additional alternative for dealing with disciplinary
problems that occur in the schools. Detention is an assigned before school
and/or after school period, during which student activity is closely
monitored and severely restricted. Students are expected to be quiet during the
entire detention period and to work exclusively on assigned tasks.
STUDENTS Policy2661
Discipline
In School
Suspension
In school suspension is
a structured disciplinary action in which a student is isolated or removed from
regular classroom activities, but is not dismissed from the school setting. The
principal/ designee may assign students to the in school suspension
program for a reasonable and specified period of time.
STUDENTS Policy
2662 (Regulation 2662)
Discipline (Form
2662)
Suspension
Suspension refers to an
exclusion from school for a specific period of time short of permanent
exclusion. Building principals are
authorized to suspend students for periods of time not to exceed ten (10)
consecutive school days for violation of District regulations, and are
authorized to impose additional suspensions of not more than 10 consecutive
school days in the same school year for separate acts of misconduct. Building
principals may also recommend extensions of suspension for periods of time up
to 180 consecutive school days by the Superintendent. The Superintendent of schools may suspend
students for periods up to 180 consecutive school days and recommend longer
suspensions and expulsions to the Board of Education. Only the Board may impose suspensions in
excess of 180 consecutive school days.
March
2010
STUDENTS Policy 2663 (Regulation 2663)
Discipline
(Form 2663)
Expulsion
The term
"expulsion" refers to permanent exclusion from school.
If a student consistently or
egregiously refuses to conform to school policies, rules and/or regulations,
the principal and Superintendent may recommend to the Board of Education that
the student be expelled from school. The Board will review such
recommendations and decide whether to proceed with an expulsion hearing. Nov 04
STUDENTS Policy 2664 (Regulation
2664)
Discipline
Enrollment or Return
Following Suspension and/or Expulsion
No student shall be
readmitted, or permitted to enroll or otherwise attend school (except as may
otherwise be required by law), following a suspension or expulsion from this or
any other school until the District has conducted a conference to review the
conduct that resulted in the expulsion or suspension, and any remedial actions
needed to prevent any future occurrences of such or related conduct.
STUDENTS
Policy 2670
Discipline
Corporal Punishment:
Authorized
Corporal punishment should be
used only after other methods have failed and when there is reason to believe
it will be helpful in maintaining discipline or in the development of the
student's character and power of self control.
All instances of corporal
punishment shall be witnessed by at least one other adult member of the school
staff and will only be administered by a principal or other District
administrator. The use of reasonable
force for a District employee to protect persons or property is not abuse
within the meaning of Chapter 210, RSMo.
STUDENTS
Policy 2671 (Regulation 2671)
Discipline
(Form 2671)
Student Discipline
Hearings
Parents/guardians of students
suspended for more than ten (10) school days may make a written request for a
hearing before the Board of Education. This request will be addressed to the
Superintendent who will review all matters concerning the suspension and refer
the request for a Board hearing.
In conducting a discipline
hearing the Board will carefully consider the information presented by the
administration and by the parent/guardian. In making its decision concerning
guilt and innocence as well as punishment, the Board will be mindful of Board
discipline policies in place, the effect of its decision upon the individual
student, and the safety and welfare of District students and staff.
STUDENTS Policy
2672 (Regulation 2672)
Discipline
Discipline
of Students with Disabilities
The
obligation and the responsibility to attend school regularly and to comply with
the District's discipline policies applies to all students. The District may discipline a student with a
disability who has not complied with the District's discipline policies in a
manner that is consistent with the District's policies and applicable law. Special education services will be provided
to a disabled student if the student has been removed from school for more than
ten (10) school days. If a student with
a disability is removed for less than ten (10) cumulative days, educational
services will be provided only if such services are provided to students
without disabilities who have been similarly removed in accordance with
applicable federal and state law and Board policy. March 2010
STUDENTS Policy 2673 (Regulation 2673)
Discipline
(Form 2673)
Reporting of Violent
Behavior
The District requires school
administrators to report acts of school violence to teachers and other District
employees who are directly responsible for the student's education or who
interact with the student in the performance of the employee's duties.
School administrators will also disclose to appropriate staff members portions
of any student's individualized education program that is related to past or
potentially future violent behavior. Violent behavior and the
phrase acts of school violence are defined as the use of physical force
by a student with the intent to do serious physical injury to another person
while on school property, including a school bus, or while involved in school activities.
In addition the
Superintendent/designee will report to law enforcement officials, as soon as is
reasonably practicable, the commission of any of the acts or related juvenile
offenses listed in Regulation 2673, which are committed on school property,
including school buses, or while involved in school activities.
STUDENTS Policy
2710 (Regulation 2710)
Student Welfare
Reporting Student Abuse
The
Board of Education believes that school staff members, school volunteers and
school contractors, are in unique positions to assist children, families, and
the community in dealing with the issue of child abuse and neglect. Child
abuse is defined as any physical injury, sexual abuse or emotional abuse
inflicted on a child other than by accidental means. Neglect is defined as the
failure to provide the proper or necessary support, education, nutrition or
medical, surgical or other care necessary for the child's well-being.
Employees, volunteers and school contractors making reports of allegations of
sexual abuse of a student will be provided immediate unrestricted use of
communication technology and will be temporarily released from their work
duties to make an immediate report.
If
a school employee, volunteer or school contractor has a reasonable belief that
a student has been or maybe subjected to abuse or neglect, such employee,
volunteer or school contractor and the Superintendent shall report the
information immediately upon receiving the information to the Children’s
Division. Thereafter, the Superintendent will investigate the allegation
for the purpose of making decisions about the accused person’s employment.
Depending upon the specific facts, the District may place the alleged
abuser on paid leave of absence; place the employee in a non-student contact
position; initiate dismissal proceedings, or continue the employee in their
present position pending outcome of the investigation.
Any
school district employee, volunteer or school contractor acting in good faith,
who reports alleged sexual misconduct on the part of a school employee will not
be disciplined or discriminated against because of such reporting.
The
District will annually provide employee and volunteer training, which will
include but not be limited to current information concerning identification of
the signs of sexual abuse in children as well as the identification of the
danger signals of potentially abusive relationships between children and
adults. This training will emphasize the importance of mandatory child
abuse reporting, including the obligation to report suspected abuse by other
mandated reporters. Employees and volunteers will receive training on the
need for and methods to create an atmosphere of trust so that students believe
their school and school employees are available to discuss matters concerning
abusive behavior.
The
District will post in each student restroom and in a clearly visible location
in each school office, the toll free child abuse and neglect hotline number
established by the Children’s Division. These signs will be published in
both English and Spanish. Such child abuse and neglect hotline numbers
shall be depicted in large print on posters 11 inches by 17 inches and will be
placed at eye level for easy viewing. The hotline number will be shown in
bold print. The signs shall also contain instructions to call 911 for
emergencies and contain directions for accessing the Children’s Division’s
website for more information on reporting abuse and neglect.
August
2019
STUDENTS
Policy 2720
Student Welfare
Employment of Students
The
Superintendent of Schools will make provision for the issuance of work permits
to students between the ages of fourteen (14) and sixteen (16). In addition,
principals/designees and District employees holding a student service
certificate and, who is authorized by the Superintendent, may issue work
certificates to students who are attending their schools. Employees with authority
to issue certificates may not issue a certificate to their own child.
Principals
issuing work certificates will provide self-certification that the principal
understands the legal requirements for issuing work certificates. The principal
issuing a work certificate will submit a copy of each certificate and the
certificate application to the Superintendent. The Superintendent may revoke a
certificate issued by a principal if the Superintendent becomes aware of any
grounds upon which the student may be ineligible for a work certificate.
August
2010
STUDENTS
Policy 2730
Student Welfare
Supervision of Students
Students are to be under supervision
of the professional staff at all times during school hours and at school
sponsored activities.
It is the responsibility of
principals to arrange for adequate supervision. It is the duty of
teachers to perform assigned supervision. Students are not to be left
unsupervised during the school day whether in instructional areas or on the
playground.
STUDENTS Policy
2740 (Regulation 2740)
Student Welfare
Student Safety
The
District places a high priority on the safety of its students and employees.
When a student or employee is the victim of a violent criminal offense, severe
disciplinary consequences will be imposed. (See also Regulation 2610 -
Behavioral Expectations.) In addition and pursuant to the Every Student
Succeeds Act, student victims of a violent criminal offense that was committed
on school premises will be offered transfer to another District school. To
insure awareness of this policy, the parents of student victims will be
notified in writing of their right to a school transfer.
For
purposes of this policy, a victim is a student who has suffered personal injury
or injuries to his or her property as a direct result of a violent criminal
offense. This definition does not include bystanders or witnesses to the act
unless they suffered personal or property injury as a direct result of a
violent criminal offense while on school premises.
The
District will notify the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
(DESE) of all violent criminal offenses committed on school premises when the
victim is a student or employee. Reportable offenses are set out in Regulation
2740.
January 2018,
STUDENTS Policy
2742
Sexual Abuse
Awareness Training
Beginning
in the 2020-21 school year and annually thereafter, The District will provide
trauma-informed, developmentally-appropriate sexual abuse training to students
in grades 6-12. Student training will include, but not be limited to:
Prior
to inception of the training, the District will notify parents/guardians of the
training content and of the parents/guardians right to have their student
excused from the training. Upon written request of the parent/guardian
their student will be excused from the training.
August
2019
STUDENTS Policy
2745
Student Welfare
Electronic Data Breach
In
the event of a breach of data that includes personal student information
maintained in an electronic form, the District will send written notification
of the breach to the student’s parent/guardian.
In addition, the District will also send notification of such breach to
the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and to the state auditor.
For
purposes of this policy, student personal information shall mean:
1.
Social Security
Number
2.
Credit Card
Numbers
3.
Driver’s License
Numbers
4.
Medical
Information
5.
Health Insurance
Information
6.
Financial Account
Information
Student
personal information does not include information that is lawfully obtained
from publically available sources or from federal state or local government
records that are lawfully made available to the general public.
August 2018
STUDENTS Policy
2750 (Regulation 2750)
Student Welfare
Wellness
The
District is committed to the optimal development of every student. The District believes that for students to
have the opportunity to achieve personal, academic, developmental and social
success, there needs to exist a positive, safe and health-promoting learning
environment at every level, in every setting, throughout the school year.
The
District promotes healthy schools, by supporting wellness, good nutrition, and
regular physical activity as part of the total learning environment. The
District supports a healthy environment where children learn and participate in
positive dietary and lifestyle practices.
Schools contribute to the basic health status of children by
facilitating learning through the support and promotion of good nutrition and
physical activity. Improved health optimizes student performance
potential.
January 2017
STUDENTS Policy
2755
Student Welfare
Cardiopulmonary/Heimlich Training
Beginning no later than the
2017-18 school year, students will receive thirty (30) minutes of
cardiopulmonary resuscitation instruction and training in the performance of
the Heimlich maneuver or other first aid for choking. Students will receive this training at least
once during the student’s four years of high school. Instruction will be included in the
District’s existing health or physical education curriculum. Students with disabilities may participate to
the extent appropriate as determined by the student’s IEP or §504 Plan.
August 2016
STUDENTS Policy
2760 (Regulation 2760)
Student Welfare (Form
2760)
Students in Foster Care
The
District is committed to ensuring and facilitating the proper educational
placement, enrollment in school and checkout from school for foster
children.
In
order to facilitate this process and to serve as the educational liaison for
District foster children, the District will designate [Select One: Director of
Student Services, Guidance Counselor, etc.] to oversee and assess the
District’s foster care program.
The
Board recognizes students in foster care experience mobility in and out of the
foster care system and from one home placement to another that may disrupt
their education, and which may create barriers to academic success and on-time
graduation. The District, in collaboration with state and local agencies, will
work to minimize or eliminate educational barriers for students in foster care,
particularly in enrollment, transfer of student records, and transportation to
their school of origin, where appropriate.
For purposes of this policy, “school of origin” is the school in which
the student is enrolled at the time of placement in foster care. The District will, to the largest extent
possible, ensure that a child in foster care enrolls or remains in his or her
school of origin, unless a determination is made that remaining in the
student’s school of origin is not in the student’s best interest.
In
determining the student’s best interest for purposes of this policy, the
following factors will be considered:
A
foster care child whose home placement is changed may remain enrolled and
attend their school of origin, or return to a previously attended school in an
adjacent district. The District will
accept for credit full or partial course work satisfactorily completed by a
foster child while attending a public school, nonpublic school or non-sectarian
school in compliance with District policies, regulations and practices.
If
a child in foster care is absent from school due to a decision to change the
placement of a pupil made by a court or child placing agency, or due to a
verified court appearance or related court-ordered activity, the grades and
credits of the pupil will be calculated as of the day the pupil left school and
no reduction in grades will occur as a result of the pupil’s absence under
these circumstances.
If
a foster care student transfers into the District prior to or during a school
year, the District will initially honor the placement of the student in
educational courses and programs based on the student’s prior enrollment or
educational assessments; will provide comparable services to transferring
foster care students with disabilities based on the student’s current IEP; and
will make reasonable accommodations and modifications to address the needs of a
student with disabilities, subject to an existing 504 or Title II Plan in order
to provide equal access to education.
The District will conduct evaluations, where necessary, to ensure proper
placement and services.
The
District will waive specific courses required for graduation if similar course
work has been satisfactorily completed at another school. Similarly, the District may waive
prerequisites for placement in a District course or program based upon courses
taken at a prior school. If a waiver is
denied for reasonable justifications, the District will provide an alternative
means of acquiring the required course work so that graduation may occur on
time. If foster care students who
transfer at the beginning of their senior year or during their senior year are
deemed ineligible to graduate after all alternatives have been considered, the
sending District and this District will ensure that a qualified student who
satisfied graduation requirements of the sending school, will receive a diploma
from the sending school. Students in foster care who have completed the
graduation requirements of the District while under juvenile court jurisdiction
will receive a diploma in the same manner as other District students.
Transportation
Some
students in foster care who are residents of the District may need
transportation to remain in their school of origin when it is in their best
interest. To facilitate transportation
for such students, the District will collaborate with the state and/or local
child welfare agencies to ensure that transportation for such students is
arranged, provided, and funded. If there
are additional costs incurred in providing transportation to the school of
origin, the District will provide such transportation if:
a) The local child welfare agency agrees to reimburse the
District for such costs;
b) The District elects to pay the costs; or
c) The District and the local child welfare agency agree
to share the cost.
Dispute Resolution
In
the event that a caregiver or education decision-maker disputes a District
decision regarding the best interest or the provision of other educationally
related services for a student in foster care, the caregiver or education
decision-maker may use the District’s dispute resolution procedure.
During
the pendency of the dispute resolution, the student shall remain in his or her
school of origin in order to minimize disruptions and to reduce the number of
moves between schools. Similarly, students attending their school of origin are
entitled to continue to receive transportation during the appeal.
In
the event of such dispute, the District will inform the educational decision-maker
or parent of their right to appeal the Best Interest Determination in a
language and format reasonably calculated to inform the parent/educational
decision-maker of their rights. They
will also be provided with the following:
Level I
In
order to appeal from the Best Interest Determination, a parent/educational
decision-maker must submit their appeal in writing. This writing must contain the following:
1. The school in which enrollment is sought.
2. The basis for seeking enrollment.
3. The requesting parent/educational decision-maker’s
name and contact information.
If
the appeal is submitted by email, the subject line should provide “Foster Care
Appeal.”
The
appeal letter must be submitted within ten (10) weekdays of receiving the
District’s notice of the right to appeal the decision. Failure to timely submit an appeal letter may
result in dismissal of the appeal.
The
Superintendent/designee will arrange for a personal conference with the
parent/educational decision-maker, the student where appropriate, and the
student’s case manager or point of contact.
Prior to the meeting, the Superintendent will have reviewed the
documentation from the Best Interest Determination meeting. The conference will be arranged within ten
(10) days of receipt of the appeal letter and will be conducted as soon as
practicable.
Within
five (5) days of the conference, the Superintendent/designee will inform the
parent/educational decision-maker as well as other parties attending the
meeting of the Superintendent/designee’s decision. The decision will be communicated in
writing. The written decision will
include the following:
Level II
If
the parent/educational decision-maker disagrees with the Level I decision, they
may submit a written and dated appeal letter headed “Foster Child Appeal” which
must include:
The
appeal letter must be submitted to the DESE contact person and the District’s
Superintendent within five (5) days of receipt of the Level I decision. The District will have five (5) days from
receipt of the Level II appeal letter to submit its response, which will be
headed “Foster Child Appeal.” Documents
submitted after the stated deadline will not be considered.
The
State’s decision will be made by a three person panel including the DESE foster
care point of contact, an additional DESE representative, and a representative
of the state child welfare agency. The panel
will make its decision within thirty (30) days of receipt of the Level II
appeal letter. The DESE foster care
point of contact will send the written decision to the parent/educational
decision-maker and the Superintendent.
The decision will include:
1. Copy of the Level II packet.
2. The decision and its explanation.
STUDENTS Policy
2765
(Regulation
2765)
Student Welfare
Transfer of Care and Custody
A
parent or legal custodian of a student may execute a power of attorney
transferring the care and custody of the student for a period of up to one
year. The transfer of custody will not change or modify parental or legal
rights contained in an existing court order or deprive parents of visitation.
Parents or legal guardians may revoke the power of attorney at any time.
Parents
or legal custodians who are members of the Armed Forces, including reserve
components, the Commissioned Officer Corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA), the Public Health Services of the United States,
Department of Health and Human Services detailed for duty with the United
States Armed Forces, or who is required to enter or serve in the active
military service of the United States, under a call or order of the President
of the United States, or to serve on state active duty, may delegate care and
custody of their student for a period of longer than one year if on active duty
service. The delegation of care and custody may not exceed the term of active
duty service plus thirty (30) days.
The
delegation of care and custody will not alter or affect the District’s
residency requirements.
STUDENTS Policy
2770
Student Welfare
Seclusion and Restraint
Purpose
It
is the purpose of this policy to:
1.
Meet the
requirements of RSMo 160.263.
2.
Promote safety
and prevent harm to all students, school personnel and visitors in the school
district.
3.
Treat all
students with dignity and respect in the use of discipline and
behavior-management techniques.
4.
Provide school
personnel with clear guidelines about the use of seclusion, isolation and
restraint on school district property or at any school district function or
event.
5.
Promote retention
of teachers and other school personnel by addressing student behavior in an
appropriate and safe manner.
6.
Promote parent
understanding about state guidelines and district policies related to the use
of discipline, behavior management, behavior interventions and responses to
emergency situations.
7.
Promote the use
of non-aversive behavioral interventions.
Definitions:
“Authorized School Personnel” means
school personnel who have received annual training in:
1. De-escalation practices,
2. Appropriate use of physical restraint,
3. Professionally-accepted practices in physical
management and use of restraints,
4. Methods to explain the use of restraint to the student
who is to be restrained and to the individual’s family,
5. Appropriate use of isolation,
6. Appropriate use of seclusion, and
7. Information on the policy and appropriate
documentation and notification procedures.
“Assistive
technology device” means any item, piece of equipment or product system
that is used to increase, maintain or improve the functional capacities of a
child with a disability.
“Aversive
behavioral interventions” means an intervention that is intended to induce
pain or discomfort to a student for the purpose of eliminating or reducing
maladaptive behaviors, including such interventions as: contingent application
of noxious, painful, intrusive stimuli or activities; any form of noxious,
painful or intrusive spray, inhalant or tastes; or other stimuli or actions
similar to the interventions described above. The term does not include such
interventions as voice control, limited to loud, firm commands; time-limited
ignoring of a specific behavior; token fines as part of a token economy system;
brief physical prompts to interrupt or prevent a specific behavior;
interventions medically necessary for the treatment or protection of the student.
“Behavior
Intervention Plan (BIP)” sets forth specific behavior interventions for a
specific student who displays chronic patterns of problem behavior.
“Chemical
restraint” means the administration of a drug or medication to manage a
student’s behavior that is not a
standard treatment and dosage for the student’s medical condition.
“Emergency
situation” is one in which a student’s behavior poses a serious, probable
threat of imminent physical harm to self or others or destruction of school or another person’s property.
“Functional
Behavior Assessment” a formal assessment to identify the function or
purpose the behavior serves for the student so that classroom interventions and
behavior support plans can be developed to improve behavior. The assessment
could include observations and charting of the behavior and interviews with
family, teachers, and the student, so as to determine the frequency, antecedent
and response of the targeted behavior.
“IEP”
means a student’s Individualized Education Program as defined by the
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
“Isolation” means the
confinement of a student alone in an enclosed space without locking hardware.
“Law
enforcement officer” means any public servant having both the power and duty
to make arrests for violations of the laws of this state.
“Locking
hardware” means mechanical, electrical or other material devices used to
lock a door or to prevent egress from a confined area.
“Mechanical
restraint” means a device or physical object that the student cannot easily
remove that restricts a student’s freedom of movement of or normal access to a
portion of his or her body. This includes but is not limited to straps, duct
tape, cords or garments. The term does not include assistive technology
devices.
“Physical
escort” means the temporary touching or holding of the hand, wrist, arm,
shoulder or back for the purpose of inducing a student who is acting out or
eloping to walk to a safe location.
“Physical
restraint” means the use of person-to-person physical contact to restrict
the free
movement
of all or a portion of a student’s body. It does not include briefly holding or
hugging a student without undo force for instructional or other purposes,
briefly holding a student to calm them, taking a student’s hand to transport
them for safety purposes, physical escort or intervening in a fight.
“School
personnel” means
Employees
of a local board of education.
Any
person, paid or unpaid, working on school grounds in an official capacity.
Any
person working at a school function under a contract or written agreement with
the school system to provide educational or related services to students.
Any
person working on school grounds or at a school function for another agency
providing educational or related services to students.
“Seclusion”
means the confinement of a student alone in an enclosed space from which the
student is physically prevented from leaving by locking hardware.
“Section
504 Plan” means a student’s individualized plan developed by the student’s
Section 504 multidisciplinary team after a pre-placement evaluation finding the
student is disabled within the meaning of Section 504 and its implementing
regulations.
“Time
out” means brief removal from sources of reinforcement within instructional
contexts that does not meet the definition of seclusion or isolation. Time out
includes both of the following:
Non-exclusionary
time out: removal of reinforcers from the student without changing the physical
location of the student (e.g., asking the student to put his/her head down on
the desk); and Exclusionary time-out: removal of the student from participation
in an activity or removal from the instructional area.
Use of Restrictive Behavioral Interventions:
Time-Out
Nothing
in this policy is intended to prohibit the use of time-out as defined in this
section.
Seclusion
Seclusion
as defined in this policy is prohibited except for an emergency situation while
awaiting the arrival of law enforcement personnel as provided for in RSMo
160.263.
Isolation
Isolation,
as defined in this policy, may only be used by authorized school personnel, as
defined in this policy:
After
de-escalating procedures have failed;
In
an emergency situation as defined in this section; or
As
specified in a student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP), Section 504
plan, or other parentally agreed-upon plan to address a student behavior.
Use of
isolation requires all of the following:
The
student to be monitored by an adult in close proximity who is able to see and
hear the student at all times. Monitoring shall be face-to-face unless personal
safety of the child or staff member is significantly compromised, in which case
technology-supported monitoring may be utilized.
The
total time in isolation is to be reasonably calculated by District personnel on
a case-by-case basis based on the age of the child and circumstances, and is
not to exceed 40 minutes without a
reassessment of the situation and consultation with parents and/or
administrative staff, unless otherwise specified in an IEP or Section 504 Plan
or other parentally agreed-upon plan to address a student’s behavior.
The
space in which the student is placed should be a normal-sized meeting or
classroom commonly found in a school setting. The space in which the student is
confined is comparable in lighting, ventilation, heating, cooling, and ceiling
height to those systems that are in use in other places in the school. The space in which the student is placed must
be free of objects that could cause harm.
Isolation
shall never be used as a form of punishment or for the convenience of school
personnel.
Physical Restraint
Physical
restraint shall only be used in one of the three circumstances below:
1. In an emergency situation, as defined in this policy;
2. When less restrictive measures have not effectively
de-escalated the situation; or
3. When otherwise specified in an IEP, Section 504 Plan
or other parentally agreed-upon, plan to address a student’s behavior.
Physical
restraint shall:
Only
be used by authorized school personnel, as defined in this policy.
1. Only be used for as long as necessary to resolve the
actual risk of danger or harm that warranted the use of the physical restraint;
2. Use no more than the degree of force necessary to
protect the student or other persons from imminent bodily injury;
3. Not place pressure or weight on the chest, lungs,
sternum, diaphragm, back, neck or throat of the student which restricts
breathing; and
4. Only be done by school personnel trained in the proper
use of restraint.
Any
school personnel using physical restraint shall:
1. Use only methods of restraint in which the person has
received district approved training.
2. Conduct restraint with at least one additional adult
present and in line of sight, unless other school personnel are not immediately
available due to the unforeseeable nature of the emergency situation.
Physical
restraints should never be used as a form of punishment or for the convenience
of school personnel.
Mechanical Restraint
Mechanical
restraint shall only be used as specified in a student’s IEP or Section 504
plan with two exceptions:
Vehicle
safety restraints shall be used according to state and federal regulations.
Mechanical
restraints employed by law enforcement officers in school settings should be
used in accordance with law enforcement policies and procedures and appropriate
professional standards.
Chemical Restraint
Chemical
restraints shall never be used by school personnel. Aversive interventions that compromise health
and safety shall never be used by school personnel.
Communication and Training
School Personnel Debriefing
Following
any situation involving the use of seclusion, isolation or restraint, as
defined in this policy, a debriefing shall occur as soon as possible but no
later than two (2) school days after the emergency situation. The debriefing
shall include, at a minimum, a discussion of the events that led to the
emergency and why the de-escalation efforts were not effective; any trauma
reactions on the part of the student, other students or school personnel; what,
if anything, could have been done differently; and an evaluation of the
process.
Parental Notification
Except
as otherwise specified in a student’s IEP or Section 504 plan:
Following
a situation involving the use of seclusion, isolation or restraint the parent
or guardian of the student shall be notified through verbal or electronic means
of the incident as soon as possible, but no later than the end of the day of the
incident.
The
parent or guardian shall receive a written report of the emergency situation
within five (5) school days of the incident. The written incident report shall
include all of the following:
1. Date, time of day, location, duration, and description
of the incident and de-escalation interventions.
2. Event(s) that led up to the incident.
3. Nature and extent of any injury to the student.
4. Name of a school employee the parent or guardian can
contact regarding the incident, and contact information for that employee.
Staff
Training
School
districts shall ensure that all school personnel are trained annually regarding
the policy and procedures involving the use of seclusion, isolation and
restraint.
Students with Disabilities
The
foregoing policy applies to all students. However, if the IEP team determines
that a form of restraint or isolation or aversive behavior intervention may be
appropriate in certain identified and limited situations, the team may set
forth the conditions and procedures in the IEP or Section 504 plan. Any use of
restraint, isolation or aversive behavior interventions must be limited to what
is set forth in the IEP or Section 504 plan.
Before adding the use of restraint, isolation or aversive behavior
interventions to an IEP or Section 504 plan, the student must have undergone
appropriate assessments to include, but not limited to, a formal functional
behavior assessment and a positive behavior intervention plan must be
developed, which indicates a plan to eliminate the use of the restraint,
isolation or aversive behavior intervention over time.
Reports on Use of Seclusion, Isolation, Restraint or
Aversive Behavior Interventions
Districts
shall maintain records documenting the use of seclusion, isolation, restraint
and aversive behavior interventions showing each of the following: when, reason
for use, duration, names of school personnel involved, whether students or
school personnel were injured, name and age of the student, whether the student
has an IEP, Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP) or other personal safety plan,
when the parents were notified, if the student was disciplined, and any other
documentation required by federal or state law.
Applicability of this Policy
This
policy applies to all district school personnel. School personnel assigned to
programs not located on district premises (hospitals, detention centers,
juvenile facilities, and mental health facilities) shall follow the policy and
procedure of the facility/program where they work. Nov.
2010
STUDENTS Policy
2780
Student Welfare
Use of Tracking Devices
District employees are
prohibited from requiring students to use an identification device that uses
radio frequency identification technology, or related technology to identify
the student, to transmit information regarding the student, or to monitor or
trace the location of the student. July
2014
STUDENTS Policy
2785 (Regulation 2785)
Student Welfare (Form
2785)
Student Suicide Awareness
This policy and the
accompanying regulation reflects the District’s commitment to maintaining a
safe environment to protect the health, safety and welfare of students. The corresponding regulation for this policy
outlines key protocol and procedures for this District in educating employees
and students on the actions and resources necessary to prevent suicide and to
promote student well-being. This policy
is being adopted pursuant to Section 170.048, RSMo. This policy and corresponding regulation will
go into effect no later than July 1, 2018.
October 2017, Copyright ©
2017 Missouri Consultants for Education, LLC
STUDENTS Policy
2810
Student Services
Guidance and
Counseling Services
The District is committed fully to implement a guidance and counseling program that supports the academic, career, and personal/social development of all students, leading District students to successful transitions into post-secondary education and into the workforce. The District’s guidance and counseling program is implemented with the services of fully certified school counselors supported by teachers, administrators, parents and students. The District guidance and counseling program is designed and implemented in a manner to be consistent with the standards of the Missouri Comprehensive Guidance and Counseling Program.
The
content of the District’s program, consistent with the Missouri Comprehensive
Guidance and Counseling Program, is divided into three broad areas as follows:
Academic Development (ACAD)
1. Students will apply skills needed for
achievement in school, both cognitive and affective.
2. Students will utilize skills necessary to
successfully transition between educational levels.
3. Individual student learning plans will be
developed and monitored throughout the students’ District learning experience.
Career Development
1. Students will achieve life career goals
through the consistent application of career exploration and planning skills.
2. Students will identify and locate information
relevant to the “World of Work” and post-secondary training/education.
3. Students will achieve on-the-job success
through the application of employment readiness skills.
Personal/Social Development
1. Students will achieve an understanding of
themselves as individuals and as members of diverse local and global
communities.
2. Students will interact with others in ways
that manifest respect for individual and group differences.
3. Students will learn to apply personal safety
skills and coping strategies.
Identification of Critical Workforce
Needs and Shortages
STUDENTS Policy
2812
Student Services
Identification of At-Risk Students
The
District is committed to identifying students who are at-risk of not being
ready for college-level work or not being ready for employment in entry-level
career positions. It is essential that
such identification occur early enough that our schools can intervene with
academic counseling, career counseling, and other intervention services to
enhance a student’s readiness for post high school academic or employment
opportunities.
Identification
Consistent
with this District’s commitment, at-risk students will be identified by at
least their ninth grade year, including students who transfer into the District
during ninth grade. In order to identify
such at-risk students, District staff will utilize the following criteria:
1.
Student
performance in Mathematics and English on the eighth grade Missouri Assessment
Program (MAP) tests.
2.
The District will
consider comparable statewide assessment performance for students transferring
into ninth grade from outside of Missouri.
3.
The District’s
reported rate of students taking remedial courses in basic academic subjects of
English, Mathematics, and Reading during their initial year of college. In assessing this data, the District will
rely on data submitted by the Department of Higher Education pursuant to §
173.750 RSMo.
4.
The student’s
attendance rates.
While
the above at-risk identifiers are mandatory, the District may consider
additional criteria including, but not limited to, review of discipline record;
performance more than one grade level below in Reading and/or Math; core
subject middle school grades; academic assessment results; contents of Section
504 Plan; ACE score (Adverse Childhood Experience) of 5 or more or other
relevant identifiers.
Academic and Career Counseling
When
at-risk students are identified, the District will initiate academic and/or
career counseling as soon as is practicable to enhance at-risk students’
opportunity to graduate on-time, and to enhance their college and/or career
readiness.
This policy may be
appropriately waived for any student with a disability upon the recommendation
of the student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) team.
May 2018, Copyright © 2018
Missouri Consultants for Education, LLC
STUDENTS Policy
2815
Student Services
Contact and Involvement with Outside Agencies
The counseling staff, in consultation with other staff members, is
responsible for reviewing students' academic progress as well as
personal/social concerns. Where appropriate, the District will make contact
with and/or put students and their parents/guardians in contact with outside
agencies or professional resources. Where appropriate, the District will
cooperate and assist other agencies or professional resources that become
involved with students. Student information will not be provided to outside
agencies or professional resources until the student's parents/guardians or the
eligible student has signed a release of information form. Except as required
by law, including but not limited to the Individuals with Disabilities
Education Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the cost of
any services provided by the outside agency or professional resource is the
sole responsibility of individual parents/guardians or eligible student.
May 2013
STUDENTS Policy
2820
Student Services
Psychological Testing of Students
Psychological
tests administered to students by qualified District personnel or appropriate
diagnostic agencies will ensure quality psychological services in the District,
and will protect the educational rights, dignity and privacy of students and
parents/guardians.
Psychological
evaluations will be made only after informed and written consent of the
student's parent/guardian is obtained. A conference will be held with the
parent/guardian to review all test results and the student's specific
educational needs in the educational program. Psychological data are only
partial criteria for determining any change in a student's educational program.
Psychological data older than three years shall not be used as the basis for
prescriptive teaching or placement.
All
psychological services provided by the District or agencies contracted by the
District will be in accordance with state and federal statutes and regulations concerning
the privacy of student records and use of psychological services. (See also
Policy 2815 - Assessments and Referrals to Outside Services.)
STUDENTS Policy
2825
Student
Services
ACT
Administration
In
two circumstances, students taking the ACT assessment will have the option to
take the assessment in its regular configuration or the ACT Work Keys
assessment. Students opting to take the ACT Work Keys assessment will do so
within three (3) months before administration of the ACT assessment.
These
assessment options will be available:
In
any school year in which DESE directs a state-funded census administration of
the ACT to any group of District students.
In
any school year in which the District directs a District-funded administration
to any group of District students.
August 2018
STUDENTS Policy
2830
Student
Services
Health
Services
The
Board of Education believes that in order to provide for the safety and well
being of its students, it is necessary to implement and maintain a District-wide
student health services program. The
health service staff will be responsible to their building principal and may
also be responsible to a designated District administrator.
The
District will be responsible for providing first aid or emergency treatment for
students in cases of sudden illness or injury.
Where necessary, and with notice to the parent/guardian, emergency
health services will be secured. The
parent/guardian is responsible for the cost of their child's medical treatment.
Nov.
2010
STUDENTS Policy
2835 (Form 2835)
Student
Services
Consent to Medical Treatment and Educational Service
As provided by statute, and
as otherwise provided in Board Policy, the following individuals may consent to
student medical treatment and educational services:
·
Parents
·
Student’s legal
guardian
·
Relative
caregiver
·
Foster parent
·
Any person who
under court order is authorized to give consent for a student
A “relative caregiver” is
defined by statute as a competent adult (18 years of age or older) who is
related to the student by blood, marriage or adoption, and who is not the
parent. Relative caregivers are required
to provide an affidavit attesting that the student lives with the relative
caregiver and they are responsible for the care of the student. (See Form 2835).
A relative caregiver acting
under the requirements of an affidavit may consent to medical treatment and
educational services for a student who cannot otherwise legally consent, if the
parent has delegated these responsibilities in writing, or after reasonable
efforts, the consent of the parent cannot be obtained.
The consent of the relative
caregiver will be revoked in the event the student’s parent withdraws their
authorization provided the parent’s decision does not threaten the life, health
or safety of the student. In addition,
if the student ceases to live with the relative caregiver, the relative
caregiver must immediately notify the District.
Upon receipt of such notice, the relative caregiver can no longer
consent to medical treatment or educational services.
A relative caregiver’s
affidavit is valid for one year from the date received by the District. July 2014
STUDENTS
Policy 2840
Student Services
Student Accident Insurance
The Board of Education will
provide the opportunity for parents/guardians, students and others to purchase
student accident insurance on an annual basis. Each year the
Administration will choose a provider offering group rates and will make the
information available to District families.
Participation in any group
plan is optional and arrangements for participation are the responsibility of
the parents/guardians or students. However, all students are required to
have insurance coverage before they are allowed to practice or compete in
interscholastic athletics, cheerleading, pompon squads and similar groups.
STUDENTS Policy
2850 (Regulation 2850)
Student Services (Form
2850)
Inoculations of Students
All students attending District schools
are required to be in compliance with state programs mandating immunization
against specific diseases. Failure to
comply with District immunization requirements will result in exclusion from
school until proof of compliance is provided.
Parents/guardians of homeless students are encouraged to submit proof of
compliance as soon as possible.
The Superintendent shall institute
procedures for the maintenance of health records, which are to show the
immunization status of every student enrolled or attending in the District, and
for the completion of all necessary reports in accordance with guidelines
prepared by the Department of Social Services-Missouri Division of Health.
Upon written request, the District will
notify the parents/guardians of pre-kindergarten students whether other
pre-kindergarten students are attending school with an immunization
exception. The identity of students for
whom an immunization exception has been filed is confidential and will not be
released except as required by law.
October 2017, Copyright ©
2017 Missouri Consultants for Education, LLC
STUDENTS Policy2860 (Regulation 2860)
Student Services
Students with Communicable
Diseases
A
student shall not attend classes or other school-sponsored activities, if the
student (1) has, or has been exposed to, an acute (short duration) or chronic
(long duration) contagious or infectious disease, and (2) is liable to transmit
the contagious or infectious disease, unless the Board of Education or its
designee has determined, based upon medical evidence, that the student:
1.
No longer has the disease.
2.
Is not in the contagious or infectious stage of an acute disease.
3.
Has a chronic infectious disease that poses little risk of transmission in the
school environment with reasonable precautions.
School
officials may require any child suspected of having a contagious or infectious
disease to be examined by a physician and may exclude the child from school, in
accordance with the procedures authorized by this policy, so long as there is a
substantial risk of transmission of the disease in the school
environment.
A
student who has a chronic infectious disease, and who is permitted to attend
school, may be required to do so under specified conditions. Failure to
adhere to the conditions will result in the student being excluded from
school. A student who has a chronic infectious disease and who is not
permitted to attend school or participate in school activities will be provided
instruction in an alternative educational setting in accordance with District
policy.
Students
with acute or chronic contagious or infectious diseases and their families have
a right to privacy and confidentiality. Only staff members who have a
medical reason to know the identity and condition of such students will be
informed. Willful or negligent disclosure of confidential information
about a student’s medical condition by staff members will be cause for
disciplinary action.
The
District will implement reporting and disease outbreak control measures in
accordance with the provisions of Missouri Department of Health publication
PACH-16, “Prevention and Control of Communicable Diseases: A Guide for
School Administrators, Nurses, Teachers and Day Care Operators,” a copy of
which shall be on file in the office of the Supervisor of Health Services and
in the office of each school nurse.
STUDENTS Policy 2870 (Regulation 2870)
Student
Services (Form
2870)
Administering
Medicines To Students
It
shall be the policy of the Board of Education that the giving of medicine to
students during school hours be discouraged and restricted to medication that
cannot be given on an alternative schedule. The Board of Education recognizes
that some students may require medication for chronic or short-term illness/injury
during the school day to enable them to remain in school and participate in
their education. Employees providing routine first aid according to District
procedures will be immune from liability or disciplinary action. Similarly, trained employees will be immune
from civil liability for administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation and other
lifesaving methods in good faith and according to standard medical
practices. The Board of Education also
recognizes that the administration of medication may be required under Section
504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and/or the Individuals with Disabilities
Education Act to provide a free appropriate public education for identified as
disabled under those laws.
Nov.
2010
STUDENTS Policy
2871
Student Services
Medical Marijuana
The Board strives to honor
families’ private medical decisions while ensuring a learning environment free
of disruption. To that goal, the District maintains a strict prohibition
against the possession, use, sale and presence under the influence of
prohibited substances, having adopted a Drug Free School Policy (Policy 2641 – Drug Free Schools) as
well as a prohibition against Student Use of Tobacco, Alcohol and Drugs (Policy 2640 - Student Use of Tobacco,
Alcohol and Drugs). The purpose of
these policies and others is not primarily punitive to catch offenders, rather
it is designed to provide a safe learning environment and to serve as a
deterrence to drug use.
The State of Missouri has
adopted a limited authorization of medical marijuana, as defined by state law
and all applicable regulations (hereinafter “medical marijuana” or “drug”).
Qualified individual students and employees are permitted the use of medical
marijuana. The law does not authorize
the use of medical marijuana on school premises, nor does it require or permit
district employees to administer the drug to students.
Overall, the District
restricts the administration of medications, including medical marijuana,
unless administration cannot reasonably be accomplished outside of school
hours. Administration of medical marijuana to qualified students shall be in
accordance with this policy. Administration of all other prescription and
nonprescription medications to students shall be in accordance with applicable
law and the Board’s policy concerning the administration of medications to
students.
Under this policy, caregivers
of qualified users of medical marijuana should administer the drug before or
after school hours. Caregivers are
advised to administer the drug as early in the morning as possible or after
school in order to avoid safety issues at school.
Administration at School
In the limited circumstances
that a qualified student must receive the drug at school, certain procedures as
determined by the District must be followed.
Among those procedures, the caregiver must provide the principal with
the student’s valid authorization to use medical marijuana and the parent must
provide the principal with doctor’s orders confirming that the drug must be
administered during the school day.
Where the principal is satisfied that all procedural requirements have
been met, the principal will provide a private place where the caregiver may
administer the drug to a qualified student.
Medical marijuana will not be stored at school, but rather must be
brought to school by the caregiver.
Following administration of the drug, the caregiver must leave school
taking with them any remaining drug.
This procedure will be
followed on school premises, on school transportation, and at school sponsored
activities either within the District or outside the District. Violation of these procedures will result in
the revocation of a qualified student’s opportunity to receive the drug at
school and disciplinary action.
Caregivers wishing to appeal
a building level decision to limit use of medical marijuana at school may
appeal the decision to the Superintendent.
The Superintendent’s decision will be final.
Additional Parameters
This policy conveys no right to
any student or to the student’s parents/guardians or other primary caregiver to
demand access to any general or particular location on school or district
property, a school bus or at a school-sponsored event to administer medical
marijuana.
Student possession, use,
distribution, sale or being under the influence of marijuana inconsistent with
this policy may be considered a violation of Board policy concerning drug and
alcohol involvement by students or other Board policy and may subject the
student to disciplinary consequences, including suspension and/or expulsion, in
accordance with applicable Board policy.
If the federal government
indicates that the District’s federal funds are jeopardized by this policy, the
Board declares that this policy shall be suspended immediately and that the
administration of any form of medical marijuana to qualified students on school
property, on a school bus or at a school-sponsored event shall not be
permitted.
July 2019
STUDENTS Policy
2874
Student Services
Administering Opioid Antagonists
NARCAN,
also known as naloxone is a medication that can be used to block the effects of
opioids. Properly used, it can be a lifesaver in cases of opioid
overdose.
The
District shall maintain NARCAN or other opioid antagonist at each school in
locked, secure locations to be administered to any student or staff member
reasonably believed to be having a drug overdose. School nurses and other
school personnel expected to provide emergency care in drug overdose situations
shall be trained. The school nurse or other trained school personnel may
utilize the school’s supply of NARCAN, or similar opioid antagonist to respond
to a drug overdose.
The
school district will notify the parents/guardians of any student to whom NARCAN
or other opioid antagonist has been administered. Parents who choose not
to have an opioid antagonist administered to their student(s) must notify the
district in writing. However, if their student is reasonably believed to
be experiencing a drug overdose, parents will be notified by the school nurse
as expeditiously as possible. In such situations, local medical services
will be notified.
March
2020
STUDENTS Policy
2875 (Regulation 2875)
Student Services
Student Allergy Prevention and Response
The purpose of this policy is to create an organized system for preventing
and responding to allergic reactions in accordance with House Bill 922 (2009).
This policy is not a guarantee of an allergen-free environment; instead, it is
designed to increase awareness, provide education and training, reduce the
chance of exposure and outline responses to allergic reactions.
This policy applies to district facilities to which students have access
and includes transportation provided by the district. The Board instructs the
superintendent or designee to develop procedures to implement this policy.
Identification
An allergic reaction is an immune system response to a substance that
itself is not harmful but that the body interprets as being harmful. Allergic
reactions range from mild to life- threatening. Each school in the district
will attempt to identify students with life-threatening allergies, including
food allergies. At enrollment, the person enrolling the student will be asked
to provide information on any allergies the student may have.
Prevention
Students with allergies that rise to the level of a disability as defined
by law will be accommodated in accordance with district policies and procedures
pertaining to the identification and accommodation of students with
disabilities. An Individualized Health Plan (IHP), including an Emergency
Action Plan (EAP), may be developed for students with allergies that do not
rise to the level of a disability.
All staff members are required to follow any 504 Plan or IHP/EAP developed
for a student by the district. Staff members who do not follow an existing 504
Plan or IHP/EAP will be disciplined, up to and including termination.
Staff members shall not use air fresheners, oils, candles, incense or other
such items intended to add fragrance in any district facilities. This provision
will not be construed to prohibit the use of personal care items that contain
added fragrance, but the principal may require staff members to refrain from
the use of personal care items with added fragrance under particular
circumstances.
Staff members are prohibited from using cleaning materials, disinfectants,
pesticides or other chemicals except those provided by the district.
The district will not serve any processed foods, including foods sold in
vending machines, which are not labeled with a complete list of ingredients.
Vended items must include a list of ingredients on the individual package. The
food service director will create an ingredient list for all foods provided by
the district as part of the district’s nutrition program, including food
provided during the school day and in before- and after-school programs. This
list will be available upon request.
Prepackaged items used in concessions, fundraisers and classroom activities
must include a list of ingredients on the package. If the package does not
contain a list of ingredients, the list of ingredients must be available at the
location where the package is sold or provided.
Education and Training
All staff members will be annually trained on the causes and symptoms of
and responses to allergic reactions. Training will include instruction on the
use of epinephrine premeasured auto-injection devices.
Age-appropriate education on allergies and allergic reactions will be
provided to students as such education aligns with state Grade-Level
Expectations (GLEs) for health education. Education will include potential
causes, information on avoiding allergens, signs and symptoms of allergic
reactions and simple steps students can take to keep classmates safe.
Confidentiality
Information about individual students with allergies will be provided to
all staff members and others who need to know the information to provide a safe
learning environment for the student. Information about individual students
with allergies will be shared with students and others who do not have a
legitimate educational interest in the information only to the extent
authorized by the parent/guardian or as otherwise permitted by law, including
the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
Response
Response to an allergic reaction shall be in accordance with established
procedures, including application of the student's 504 Plan or IHP/EAP, where applicable.
Parents of students with
life-threatening allergies should supply the school with epinephrine
premeasured auto-injection devices to be administered in accordance with Board
policy.
Nov. 2010
STUDENTS
Policy 2880
Student Services
Student Physical
Examination
The Board of Education may
require any student to be examined by a physician for the purpose of determining
whether the student is afflicted with a contagious or infectious disease or
have the liability of transmitting the disease.
The Board may also require
certification from a physician indicating a student's fitness to participate in
specific educational programs or extra-class activities.
Refusal on the part of
parent/guardian to obtain the required examination and to submit the
certification indicating freedom from contagious or infectious disease may
result in student exclusion from school.
Students may be excused from
engaging in required educational activities upon proper certification from a
physician advising of student disability.
All costs of physical or
other examinations shall be at the expense of students unless state or federal
law specifically mandates the examination to be the responsibility of the
school.
Vision
Examinations
Beginning July 1, 2008,
students enrolling in kindergarten or first grade will be required to receive a
vision examination from a state licensed optometrist or physician.
Beginning on July 1, 2008 and
continuing through the 2011-12 school year, a trained District nurse or other
qualified District employee will conduct eye screening exams for every student
prior to the completion of first grade and will again screen before the
completion of third grade. If a student fails an eye screening, the
District will notify the parent/guardian of the results of the eye screening
and will require the student to receive a complete eye exam from an optometrist
or physician. Students will be excused from the eye screening examination
if a student’s parent/guardian submit a written objection to the exam addressed
to the student’s principal. Dec 07
STUDENTS
Policy 2890
Student
Services
Do Not Resuscitate (DNR)
Orders
The School District
recognizes that some students have progressive medical conditions that may
result in the students’ death while present at school or school activities.
The District appreciates the difficult medical and emotional decisions that
must be made when families choose to limit resuscitative efforts for these
students. Accordingly, the administration shall develop procedures for
evaluating requests by a parent or guardian that the District honor a Do Not
Resuscitate (DNR) order from a licensed physician.
At a minimum, the procedures
will require an individualized evaluation of each request. The procedures
will comply with federal and state law. A health care and
resuscitation/non-resuscitation plan shall be developed for each request and
shall include a determination regarding what if any resuscitation efforts are
appropriate. Health care and resuscitation/non-resuscitation plans will
be developed by a multidisciplinary team that shall include the student’s
parents or guardians and physician; appropriate school personnel (including but
not limited to, the principal, counselor, and school nurse) and their
consultants; and when appropriate, the student. This team will consider
the best interests of the student.
The team will also address
and plan for the effect of a student’s sudden death on other students and staff
in each school setting in which the student participates. Health care and
resuscitation/non-resuscitation plans shall be reviewed regularly and have a
specific limited duration. Such plans will be communicated to all school
personnel who have a need to know in order to implement these plans. The
administration shall coordinate with local emergency medical services to
implement the plans.
STUDENTS Policy 2910 (Regulation 2910)
Activities and
Athletics
Student Publications
The Board of Education encourages
student production and distribution of publications which can provide
opportunities for practical journalistic experience and for the written
expression of differing opinions. The Board of Education recognizes that
freedom of speech and press bring corresponding responsibilities, therefore, in
its inherent authority based on Missouri Public School Law, it designates the
school principal as the Board's representative. The principal, through
appointment of a faculty advisor, shall provide guidance to students in
appropriate methods for preparing and producing publications.
The building
principal/designee may delay or stop distribution of any materials proposed for
printing or that have been printed which may be reasonably forecast to cause
substantial and material disruption or obstruction of any lawful mission,
process, or function of the school.
STUDENTS Policy
2920 (Regulation
2920)
Activities and
Athletics
(Form 2920)
Interscholastic Activities
and Athletics
The
District provides opportunities for students to participate in interscholastic
activities and athletics. The interscholastic programs should encourage
participation by as many students as possible and should be carried on with the
best interests of the students as the primary consideration. The programs are
expected to be well organized and well conducted and to have a positive
influence on the students and the community.
Participation
in interscholastic and extracurricular activities is a privilege and not a
right. Interscholastic competition may be withheld from any student as a
condition of discipline. Furthermore, all policies that apply to the regular
school day apply also to interscholastic competition. Coaches and sponsors may
establish policies for their groups in addition to those set out by the
Missouri State High School Activities Association.
Hazing
Student
hazing is inconsistent with the educational goals of the District and poses a
significant risk to the physical and mental welfare of District students.
Hazing of students, on or off District property, is prohibited and may result
in suspension or expulsion from school and from activity/athletic
participation. May 2009
STUDENTS Policy
2921 (Regulation 2921)
Activities and Athletics
Participation by Non-Traditional Students
Should the District elect to
permit non-traditional students to participate in interscholastic activities,
such students must qualify as bonafide students under MSHSAA regulations in
order to participate in such activities.
Non-Traditional students may
be considered bonafide under MSHSAA regulations under any of the following
options:
Option 1 – Transcripted Credits
1. The student must be enrolled in a District high school although some
courses/credits are taken off-campus, i.e. virtual, post-secondary, work study,
etc; and
2. All credits attempted must appear on the student’s
high school transcript; and
3. All classes must be completed by the high school’s
close of semester in order to be considered counted toward activity
eligibility.
Option 2 – Seat Time plus Non-Transcripted Credits
1. The student must be enrolled in a District High School
and take a minimum of two (2) credit bearing seat time classes for a minimum of
1.0 units of credit at the high school; and
2. High School Administration must confirm after a full
academic review that the student is further enrolled in courses outside of the high
school, which bring the student up to full MSHSAA mandated credit requirements
of 80%. The High School Administration
will develop and submit to the Superintendent a written procedure to determine
approval of outside courses/credits; as well as the procedures to determine
success/credit confirmation for academic eligibility for the current and
following semester. It is not necessary
that such confirmed credits be placed on the student’s transcript.
3. All classes must be completed by the high school’s end
of semester in order to be considered toward activity eligibility.
Change of Enrollment Status
Any student whose enrollment
status changes from being a non-bonafide activity eligible student to a bonafide activity eligible student will
be considered a transfer student. As a
transfer student, the student would be activity ineligible until a transfer of
eligibility form is filed and an eligibility ruling rendered.
October 2017, Copyright ©
2017 Missouri Consultants for Education, LLC
STUDENTS Policy
2930 (Form 2930, 2930.1, 2930.2)
Activities and Athletics
Concussions – Brain Injury
Any District athlete
suspected of sustaining a concussion or brain injury must be removed from
practice and competition immediately and may not participate in contact
athletic practice or competition for at least twenty-four (24) hours. Athletes suspected of sustaining concussion
or brain injury will not be permitted to return to contact practice or
competition until being evaluated by a licensed health care provider trained in
the evaluation and management of concussions and receiving a written clearance
from the provider to return to competition.
(See Form 2930 - MSHSAA Concussion Return to Play Form). Information about concussions obtained from
MSHSAA (Form 2930.2) or similar materials will be made available to all student
athletes and to their parents/guardians.
August, 2012
STUDENTS Policy 2940 (Regulation 2940)
Activities and Athletics
Student Group Use of
School Facilities
Pursuant to the Equal Access
Act, District secondary schools will provide an opportunity for
student-initiated noncurricular groups to conduct meetings on school premises,
during noninstructional time, and will not discriminate against students on the
basis of the religious, political or philosophical content of the speech at
such meetings.
An activity is to be
considered curricular if the subject matter is or will be taught in a regularly
offered class; if the subject matter concerns the body of courses as a whole;
if participation in the group is a requirement for a course; or if academic
credit is available for participation. Extracurricular activities include
activities organized and supervised under the auspices of the school.
Extracurricular activities primarily involve students in activities occurring
outside academic class time, for which no units of credit are awarded. Any
activity which does not meet the definition of a curricular or extracurricular
activity will be considered noncurricular.