J
ACKNOWLEDGMENT FORM
My child and I have received a copy of the Anton ISD
Student Handbook and the Student Code of Conduct for 2006–2007. I understand
that the handbook contains information that my child and I may need during the
school year and that all students will be held accountable for their behavior
and will be subject to the disciplinary consequences outlined in the Code.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Print name of
student:_____________________________________________________
Signature of
student:______________________________________________________
Signature of
parent:_______________________________________________________
Date:___________________________________________________________________
Table of Contents
PREFACE.
8
SECTION I IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR PARENTS.
10
QUICK REFERENCE:
10
PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT.
10
Working Together
10
Obtaining Information and Protecting Student Rights.
11
“Opting Out” of Surveys and Activities.
12
Display of your child’s artwork, projects, and other special work products:
12
As a parent, you also have a right:
12
GRADING GUIDELINES.
14
REPORT CARDS / PROGRESS REPORTS AND CONFERENCES.
14
STATE-MANDATED TESTS.
15
OTHER STANDARDIZED TESTING: COLLEGE REQUIREMENTS.
15
MEDICINE AT SCHOOL.
15
PSYCHOTROPIC DRUGS.
16
STEROIDS.
16
STUDENT RECORDS.
16
Directory Information.
18
Directory Information for School-Sponsored Purposes.
18
Release of Student Information to Military Recruiters and Institutions of
Higher Education.
18
STUDENT OR PARENT COMPLAINTS AND CONCERNS.
19
RELEASE OF STUDENTS FROM SCHOOL.
19
Late Arrival to School
19
Withdrawing from School
19
SECTION II CURRICULUM-RELATED INFORMATION..
20
QUICK REFERENCE:
20
ACADEMIC PROGRAMS.
21
AWARDS AND HONORS.
21
CLASS RANK / TOP TEN PERCENT / HIGHEST RANKING STUDENT.
21
STATE SCHOLARSHIPS AND GRANTS.
21
CLASS SCHEDULES.
21
COMPUTER RESOURCES.
21
CORRESPONDENCE COURSES.
22
COUNSELING..
22
Academic Counseling.
22
Personal Counseling.
22
CREDIT BY EXAM—If a Student Has Taken the Course.
23
CREDIT BY EXAM—If a Student Has Not Taken the Course.
23
DISTANCE LEARNING..
23
DUAL CREDIT COURSES / COLLEGE COURSES.
23
CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMS.
24
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, CLUBS, AND ORGANIZATIONS.
24
Offices and Elections.
24
GRADE CLASSIFICATION..
25
PROMOTION AND RETENTION..
25
GRADUATION..
26
Requirements for a Diploma.
26
Graduation Programs.
26
Certificates of Coursework Completion.
27
Students with Disabilities.
27
Graduation Activities.
27
Graduation Expenses.
27
HOMEWORK..
27
NONTRADITIONAL ACADEMIC PROGRAMS.
27
SPECIAL PROGRAMS.
27
Options and Requirements for Providing Assistance to Students Who Have
Learning Difficulties or Who Need or May Need Special Education.
27
SUMMER SCHOOL.
28
TEXTBOOKS.
28
SECTION III GENERAL INFORMATION AND REQUIREMENTS.
29
QUICK REFERENCE:
29
ATTENDANCE.
30
Compulsory Attendance.
30
Attendance for Credit
30
Driver License Attendance Verification.
31
MAKEUP WORK..
31
Routine and In-depth Makeup Work Assignments.
31
DAEP or In-school Suspension Makeup Work.
32
COMMUNICABLE DISEASES / CONDITIONS.
32
Bacterial Meningitis.
32
HEALTH-RELATED MATTERS.
34
Physical Activity for Students in Elementary Grades.
34
School Health Advisory Council
34
Vending Machines.
34
Other Health-Related Matters.
34
Tobacco Prohibited.
34
Asbestos Management Plan.
34
Pest Management Plan.
35
FREEDOM FROM DISCRIMINATION..
35
Reporting Procedures.
35
Investigation of Reported Harassment
35
Services for the Homeless and for Title I Participants.
36
Services for Students with Disabilities.
36
CONDUCT.
37
Applicability of School Rules.
37
Corporal Punishment
37
Disruptions.
37
Radios, CD Players, Cell Phones, and Other Electronic Devices and Games.
38
Social Events.
38
LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES.
38
Questioning of Students.
38
Students Taken Into Custody.
38
Notification of Law Violations.
39
DISTRIBUTION OF PUBLISHED MATERIALS OR DOCUMENTS.
39
School Materials.
39
Nonschool Materials…from students.
40
Nonschool Materials…from others.
40
DRESS AND GROOMING..
40
STUDENT FEES.
41
FUND-RAISING..
42
IMMUNIZATION..
42
PHYSICAL EXAMINATIONS / HEALTH SCREENINGS.
42
PLEDGES OF ALLEGIANCE AND A MINUTE OF SILENCE.
42
PRAYER..
42
SAFETY..
43
Accident Insurance.
43
Drills: Fire, Tornado, and Other Emergencies.
43
Fire Drill Bells.
43
Tornado Drill Bells.
43
Emergency Medical Treatment and Information.
43
Emergency School-Closing Information.
44
SCHOOL FACILITIES.
44
Use By Students Before and After School
44
Conduct Before and After School
44
Use of Hallways During Class Time.
44
Cafeteria Services.
44
Library.
45
Meetings of Noncurriculum-Related Groups.
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Vandalism..
45
SEARCHES.
45
Students’ Desks and Lockers.
45
Vehicles on Campus.
45
Trained Dogs.
46
Metal Detectors.
46
TRANSPORTATION..
46
School-Sponsored Trips.
46
Buses and Other School Vehicles.
46
VIDEO CAMERAS.
47
VISITORS TO THE SCHOOL.
47
General Visitors.
47
Visitors Participating in Special Programs for Students.
47
GLOSSARY..
48
APPENDIX I NOTICES REGARDING DIRECTORY INFORMATION AND PARENT’S RESPONSE
REGARDING RELEASE OF STUDENT INFORMATION..
50
APPENDIX II PARENT’S RESPONSE REGARDING RELEASE OF INFORMATION TO MILITARY
RECRUITERS AND INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION..
53
APPENDIX III ACKNOWLEDGMENT FORM — AMENDMENT.
54
APPENDIX IV CONSENT/OPT-OUT FORM...
55
To Students and Parents:
Welcome to school year 2006–2007! Education is a team
effort, and we know that students, parents, teachers, and other staff members
all working together will make this a successful year for our students.
The Anton ISD Student Handbook is designed to provide a
resource for some of the basic information that you and your child will need
during the school year. In an effort to make it easier to use, the handbook
is divided into three sections:
Section I—IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR PARENTS—with
information all parents will need about assisting their child and responding
to school-related issues;
Section II—CURRICULUM-RELATED INFORMATION—to
provide information to students and their parents about graduation programs,
required courses, class rank, and extracurricular and other activities; and
Section III—GENERAL INFORMATION AND
REQUIREMENTS—describing school operations and requirements such as safety
procedures, the dress code, and fees that may be charged.
Each section has a Quick Reference component to serve as
a guide for day-to-day questions that may arise.
Please be aware that the term “the student’s parent” is
used to refer to the parent, legal guardian, or any other person who has
agreed to assume school-related responsibility for a student.
Both students and parents must be familiar with the Anton
ISD Student Code of Conduct, required by state law and intended to promote
school safety and an atmosphere for learning. That document may be found as
an attachment to this handbook and available in the principal’s office.
The student handbook is designed to be in harmony with
board policy and the Student Code of Conduct. Please be aware that the
handbook is updated yearly, while policy adoption and revision may occur
throughout the year. Changes in policy that affect student handbook
provisions will be made available to students and parents through newsletters
and other communications.
In case of conflict between board policy or the Student
Code of Conduct and any provisions of student handbooks, the provisions of
board policy or the Student Code of Conduct that were most recently adopted by
the board are to be followed.
We encourage parents to review the entire handbook with
their children and keep it as a reference during this school year. If you or
your child has questions about any of the material in this handbook, please
contact a teacher, the counselor, or the principal. Also, please complete and
return the parental acknowledgment, student directory information, release of
information to military recruiters and institutions of higher learning, and
consent/opt-out forms so that we have a record of your choices. [See
Obtaining Information and Protecting Student Rights and Directory
Information for more information.]
Please note that references to alphabetical policy codes
are included so that parents can refer to current board policy. A copy of the
district’s policy manual is available for review in the school office.
This section of the Anton ISD Student Handbook includes
information on topics of particular interest to you as a parent.
Both experience and research tell us that a child’s
education succeeds best when there is a strong partnership between home and
school, a partnership that thrives on communication. Your involvement in this
partnership may include:
·
Encouraging your child to put a high priority on education and
working with your child on a daily basis to make the most of the educational
opportunities the school provides. Ensure that your child completes all
homework assignments and special projects. Be sure your child comes to school
each day prepared, rested, and ready to learn.
·
Becoming familiar with all of your child’s school activities and
with the academic programs, including special programs, offered in the
district. Discuss with the counselor or principal any questions you may have
about the options and opportunities available to your child. If your child is
entering ninth grade, review the requirements of the graduation programs with
your child. Monitor your child’s academic progress and contact teachers as
needed. [See Academic Counseling and Academic Programs.]
·
Attending scheduled conferences and requesting additional
conferences as needed. To schedule a telephone or in-person conference with a
teacher, counselor, or principal, please call the high school office at
997-5211, or elementary office at 997-5221 for an appointment. The teacher
will usually return your call or meet with you during his or her conference
period or before or after school. [See Report Cards/Progress Reports and
Conferences.]
·
Becoming a school volunteer. [For further information, see
policy GKG and contact Dwayne Chenault, Superintendent.]
·
Participating in campus parent organizations. Parent
organizations include: Anton Band Boosters, Athletic Boosters, Elementary
Boosters.
·
Offering to serve as a parent representative on the
district-level or campus-level planning committees assisting in the
development of educational goals and plans to improve student achievement.
For further information, see policies at BQA and BQB, and contact the
elementary office or high school office.
·
Offering to serve on the School Health Advisory Council,
assisting the district in ensuring local community values are reflected in
health education instruction. [See policies BDF, EHAA, FFA and School
Health Advisory Council on page.]
·
Attending board meetings to learn more about district
operations. [See policies BE and BED for more information.]
Your child will not be required to participate without
parental consent in any survey, analysis, or evaluation—funded in whole or in
part by the U.S. Department of Education—that concerns:
·
Political affiliations or beliefs of the student or the
student’s parent.
·
Mental or psychological problems of the student or the student’s
family.
·
Sexual behavior or attitudes.
·
Illegal, antisocial, self-incriminating, or demeaning behavior.
·
Critical appraisals of individuals with whom the student has a
close family relationship.
·
Relationships privileged under law, such as relationships with
lawyers, physicians, and ministers.
·
Religious practices, affiliations, or beliefs of the student or
parents.
·
Income, except when the information is required by law and will
be used to determine the student’s eligibility to participate in a special
program or to receive financial assistance under such a program.
You will be able to inspect the survey or other
instrument and any instructional materials used in connection with such a
survey, analysis, or evaluation. [For further information, see policy EF.]
As a parent, you also have a right to receive notice of
and deny permission for your child’s participation in:
·
Any survey concerning the private information listed above,
regardless of funding.
·
School activities involving the collection, disclosure, or use
of personal information gathered from your child for the purpose of marketing
or selling that information.
·
Any nonemergency, invasive physical examination or screening
required as a condition of attendance, administered and scheduled by the
school in advance and not necessary to protect the immediate health and safety
of the student. Exceptions are hearing, vision, or scoliosis screenings, or
any physical exam or screening permitted or required under state law. See
policies EF and FFAA.
As a parent, if you choose that your child’s artwork,
special projects, photographs, and the like not be displayed to the community
on the district’s Web site, in printed material, by video, or by any other
method of communication, you must notify the principal in writing.
·
To request information regarding the professional qualifications
of your child’s teachers, including whether the teacher has met state
qualification and licensing criteria for the grade levels and subject areas in
which the teacher provides instruction; whether the teacher has an emergency
permit or other provisional status for which state requirements have been
waived; and undergraduate and graduate degree majors, graduate certifications,
and the field of study of the certification or degree. You also have the
right to request information about the qualifications of any paraprofessional
who may provide services to your child.
·
To review teaching materials, textbooks, and other teaching aids
and instructional materials used in the curriculum, and to examine tests that
have been administered to your child.
·
To inspect a survey created by a third party before the survey
is administered or distributed to your child.
·
To review your child’s student records when needed. These
records include:
·
Attendance records,
·
Test scores,
·
Grades,
·
Disciplinary records,
·
Counseling records,
·
Psychological records,
·
Applications for admission,
·
Health and immunization information,
·
Other medical records,
·
Teacher and counselor evaluations,
·
Reports of behavioral patterns, and
·
State assessment instruments that have been administered to your
child.
[See Student Records.]
·
To grant or deny any written request from the district to make a
videotape or voice recording of your child. State law, however, permits the
school to make a videotape or voice recording without parental permission for
the following circumstances:
·
When it is to be used for school safety;
·
When it relates to classroom instruction or a cocurricular or
extracurricular activity; or
·
When it relates to media coverage of the school.
·
To remove your child temporarily from the classroom, if an
instructional activity in which your child is scheduled to participate
conflicts with your religious or moral beliefs. The removal cannot be for the
purpose of avoiding a test and may not extend for an entire semester.
Further, your child must satisfy grade-level and graduation requirements as
determined by the school and by the Texas Education Agency.
·
To request that your child be excused from participation in the
daily recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance to the United States flag and the
Pledge of Allegiance to the Texas flag. The request must be in writing.
State law does not allow your child to be excused from participation in the
required minute of silence or silent activity that follows. [See Pledges
of Allegiance and a Minute of Silence and policy EC.]
·
To request that your child be excused from recitation of a
portion of the Declaration of Independence. State law requires students in
social studies classes in grades 3–12 to recite a portion of the text of the
Declaration of Independence during Celebrate Freedom Week unless (1) you
provide a written statement requesting that your child be excused, (2) the
district determines that your child has a conscientious objection to the
recitation, or (3) you are a representative of a foreign government to whom
the United States government extends diplomatic immunity. [See policy EHBK]
·
To request in writing, if you are a noncustodial parent, that
you be provided for the remainder of the school year a copy of any written
notice usually provided to a parent related to misconduct that may involve
placement in a Disciplinary Alternative Education Program (DAEP) or
expulsion. See policies FL(LEGAL) and (LOCAL), FO(LEGAL), and the Student
Code of Conduct.
·
To request the transfer of your child to another classroom or
campus if your child has been determined by the board or its designee to have
been a victim of bullying as the term is defined by Education Code 25.0341.
Transportation is not provided for a transfer to another campus. See the
Dwayne Chenault, Superintendent, for information. [See policy FDB]
·
To request the transfer of your child to attend a safe public
school in the district if your child attends school at a campus identified by
TEA as persistently dangerous or if your child has been a victim of a violent
criminal offense while at school or on school grounds. [See policy FDD(LOCAL)]
·
To request the transfer of your child to another campus or a
neighboring district if your child has been the victim of a sexual assault by
another student on the same campus, whether that assault occurred on or off
campus, and that student has been convicted of or placed on deferred
adjudication for that assault. [See policy FDD(LOCAL)]
In grades 1st–12th, achievement is reported to parents
as:
Report cards with each student’s grades or performance
and absences in each class or subject are issued to parents at least once
every 6 weeks.
At the end of the first three weeks of a grading period
parents will be given a written unsatisfactory progress report if their
child’s performance in any course (in English language arts, mathematics,
science, or social studies) is near or below 70, or is below the expected
level of performance. If the student receives a grade lower than 70 in any
class or subject at the end of a grading period, the parent will be requested
to schedule a conference with the teacher of that class or subject. [See
Working Together for how to schedule a conference.]
Teachers follow grading guidelines that have been
approved by the principal and designed to reflect each student’s academic
achievement for the grading period, semester, or course. State law provides
that a test or course grade issued by a teacher cannot be changed unless the
board determines that the grade was arbitrary or contains an error, or that
the teacher did not follow the district’s grading policy. [See policy EIA.]
Questions about grade calculation should first be
discussed with the teacher; if the question is not resolved, the student or
parent may request a conference with the principal in accordance with
FNG(LOCAL).
The report card or unsatisfactory progress report will
state whether tutorials are required for a student who receives a grade lower
than 70 in a class or subject.
Report cards and unsatisfactory progress reports must be
signed by the parent and should be returned to the school within 5 days.
In addition to routine tests and other measures of
achievement, students at certain grade levels will take state-mandated tests
(such as TAKS: the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills) in the following
subjects:
·
Mathematics, annually in grades 3–7 without the aid of
technology and, in grades 8–11, with the aid of technology on any test that
includes algebra
·
Reading, annually in grades 3–9
·
Writing, including spelling and grammar, in grades 4 and 7
·
English language arts in grades 10 and 11
·
Social studies in grades 8, 10, and 11
·
Science in grades 5, 8, 10, and 11
·
Any other subject and grade required by federal law
[See policy EKB.]
Many colleges require either the American College Test
(ACT) or the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) for admission. Students are
encouraged to talk with the counselor early during their junior year to
determine the appropriate exam to take; these exams are usually taken at the
end of the junior year. (Prior to enrollment in a Texas public college or
university, most students must take a standardized test, such as the Texas
Higher Education Assessment [THEA]).
District employees will not give a student prescription
medication, nonprescription medication, herbal substances, anabolic steroids,
or dietary supplements, with the following exceptions:
·
Only authorized employees, in accordance with policy FFAC, may
administer:
·
Prescription medication, in the original, properly labeled
container, provided by the parent, along with a written request.
·
Medication from a properly labeled unit dosage container filled
by a registered nurse or another qualified district employee from the
original, properly labeled container.
·
Nonprescription medication, in the original, properly labeled
container, provided by the parent along with a written request.
·
Herbal or dietary supplements provided by the parent only if
required by the student’s individualized education program (IEP) or Section
504 plan for a student with disabilities.
·
In certain emergency situations, the district will maintain and
administer to a student nonprescription medication, but only:
·
In accordance with the guidelines developed with the district’s
medical advisor and
·
When the parent has previously provided written consent to
emergency treatment on the district’s form.
A student with asthma or severe allergic reaction
(anaphylaxis) may be permitted to possess and use prescribed asthma or
anaphylaxis medication at school or school-related events only if he or she
has written authorization from his or her parent and a physician or other
licensed health-care provider. The student must also demonstrate to his or
her physician or health-care provider and to the school nurse the ability to
use the prescribed medication, including any device required to administer the
medication.
If the student has been prescribed asthma or anaphylaxis
medication for use during the school day, the student and parents should
discuss this with the school nurse or principal.
In accordance with a student’s individual health plan for
management of diabetes, a student with diabetes will be permitted to possess
and use monitoring and treatment supplies and equipment while at school or at
a school-related activity. See the school nurse or principal for
information. [See policy FFAF]
A psychotropic drug is a substance used in the diagnosis,
treatment, or prevention of a disease or as a component of a medication. It
is intended to have an altering effect on perception, emotion, or behavior and
is commonly described as a mood- or behavior-altering substance.
Teachers and other district employees may discuss a
student’s academic progress or behavior with the student’s parents or another
employee as appropriate; however, they are not permitted to recommend use of
psychotropic drugs. A district employee who is a registered nurse, an
advanced nurse practitioner, a physician, or a certified or credentialed
mental health professional can recommend that a student be evaluated by an
appropriate medical practitioner, if appropriate. [For further information,
see policies at FFAC.]
State law prohibits students from possessing, dispensing,
delivering, or administering an anabolic steroid. Anabolic steroids are for
medical use only, and only a physician can prescribe use.
Body building, muscle enhancement, or the increase of
muscle bulk or strength through the use of an anabolic steroid or human growth
hormone by a healthy student is not a valid medical use and is a criminal
offense.
Both federal and state law safeguard student records from
unauthorized inspection or use and provide parents and eligible students
certain rights. For purposes of student records, an “eligible” student is one
who is 18 or older OR who is attending an institution of postsecondary
education.
Virtually all information pertaining to student
performance, including grades, test results, and disciplinary records, is
considered confidential educational records. Release is restricted to:
·
The parents—whether married, separated, or divorced—unless
parental rights have been legally terminated and if the school is given a copy
of the court order terminating these rights. Federal law requires that, as
soon as a student becomes 18 or is emancipated by a court, control of the
records goes to the student. The parents may continue to have access to the
records, however, if the student is a dependent for tax purposes.
·
District staff members who have what federal law defines as a
“legitimate educational interest” in a student’s records. Such persons would
include school officials (such as board members, the superintendent, and
principals), school staff members (such as teachers, counselors, and
diagnosticians), or an agent of the district (such as a medical consultant).
·
Various governmental agencies or in response to a subpoena or
court order.
·
A school to which a student transfers or in which he or she
subsequently enrolls.
Release to any other person or agency—such as a
prospective employer or for a scholarship application—will occur only with
parental or student permission as appropriate.
The principal is custodian of all records for currently
enrolled students at the assigned school. The principal is the custodian of
all records for students who have withdrawn or graduated.
Records may be inspected by a parent or eligible student
during regular school hours. If circumstances prevent inspection during these
hours, the district will either provide a copy of the records requested or
make other arrangements for the parent or student to review these records.
The records custodian or designee will respond to reasonable requests for
explanation and interpretation of the records. The address of the
superintendent’s office is 100 Ellwood, Anton, Texas.
The address(es) of the principals’ offices are: 100
Ellwood, Anton, Texas
A parent (or eligible student ) may inspect the student’s
records and request a correction if the records are considered inaccurate or
otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy rights. If the district
refuses the request to amend the records, the requestor has the right to
request a hearing. If the records are not amended as a result of the hearing,
the requestor has 30 school days to exercise the right to place a statement
commenting on the information in the student’s record. Although improperly
recorded grades may be challenged, contesting a student’s grade in a course is
handled through the general complaint process found in policy FNG. [See
Report Cards/Progress Reports and Conferences and Student or Parent
Complaints and Concerns on page for an overview of the process.]
Copies of student records are available at a cost of ten
cents per page, payable in advance. If the student qualifies for free or
reduced-price lunches and the parents are unable to view the records during
regular school hours, one copy of the record will be provided at no charge
upon written request of the parent.
The law permits the district to designate certain
personal information about students as “directory information.” This
“directory information” will be released to anyone who follows procedures for
requesting it.
However, release of a student’s directory information may
be prevented by the parent or an eligible student. This objection must be
made in writing to the principal within ten school days of the child’s first
day of this school year. [See the “Notices Regarding Directory Information
and Parent’s Response Regarding Release of Student Information” attached to
this handbook.]
The district often requires the use of student
information for the following school-sponsored purposes: found in your
FL(LOCAL) district policy.
For these specific school-sponsored purposes, the
district would like to use the student’s items listed as directory information
for school-sponsored purposes in your FL(LOCAL) district policy. This
information will not be released to the public without the consent of the
parent or eligible student.
Unless you object to the use of your child’s information
for these limited purposes, the school will not need to ask your permission
each time the district wishes to use this information for the school-sponsored
purposes listed.
The district is required by federal law to comply with a
request by a military recruiter or an institution of higher education for
students’ names, addresses, and telephone listings, unless parents have
advised the district not to release their child’s information without prior
written consent. A form has been attached for you to complete if you do not
want the district to provide this information to military recruiters or
institutions of higher education.
Please note:
Parents or eligible students have the right to file a
complaint with the U.S. Department of Education if they believe the district
is not in compliance with federal law regarding student records. The
district’s policy regarding student records is available from the principal’s
or superintendent’s office. The parent’s or eligible student’s right of access
to and copies of student records does not extend to all records. Materials
that are not considered educational records—such as teachers’ personal notes
about a student that are shared only with a substitute teacher—do not have to
be made available to the parents or student.
Usually student or parent complaints or concerns can be
addressed by a phone call or a conference with the teacher or principal. For
those complaints and concerns that cannot be handled so easily, the district
has adopted a standard complaint policy at FNG(LOCAL) in the district’s policy
manual. A copy of this policy may be obtained in the principal’s or
superintendent’s office. In general, the student or parent should submit a
written complaint and request a conference with the campus principal. If the
concern is not resolved, a request for a conference should be sent to the
superintendent. If still unresolved, the district provides for the complaint
to be presented to the board of trustees.
Because class time is important, doctor’s appointments
should be scheduled, if possible, at times when the student will not miss
instructional time.
A student who will need to leave school during the day
must bring a note from his or her parent that morning and follow the campus
sign-out procedures before leaving the campus. Otherwise, a student will not
be released from school at times other than at the end of the school day.
Unless the principal has granted approval because of extenuating
circumstances, a student will not regularly be released before the end of the
instructional day.
If a student becomes ill during the school day, the
student should receive permission from the teacher before reporting to the
school nurse. The nurse will decide whether or not the student should be sent
home and will notify the student’s parent.
A student who is tardy to class will be assigned to
detention hall. Repeated instances of tardiness will result in more severe
disciplinary action.
A student under 18 may be withdrawn from school only by a
parent. The school requests notice from the parent at least three days in
advance so that records and documents may be prepared. The parent may obtain
a withdrawal form from the principal’s office.
On the student’s last day, the withdrawal form must be
presented to each teacher for current grade averages and book clearance; to
the librarian to ensure a clear library record; to the clinic for health
records; to the counselor for the last report card and course clearance; and
finally, to the principal. A copy of the withdrawal form will be given to the
student, and a copy will be placed in the student’s permanent record.
A student who is 18 or older, who is married, or who has
been declared by a court to be an emancipated minor, may withdraw without
parental signature.
This section of the handbook contains information on
academics and school activities, which is of particular interest to students.
Students should take the time to review this information with their
parents—especially if they are entering 9th grade or are a transfer student.
The section includes information on graduation programs and requirements;
options for earning course credit; extracurricular activities and other
school-related organizations; and awards, honors, and scholarships.
The school counselor provides students and their parents
information regarding academic programs to prepare for higher education and
career choices. [For more information, see this handbook and policy EIF.]
[See Academic Counseling.]
The valedictorian and salutatorian shall be determined by
the average of all eligible work completed in high school. For the purpose of
the valedictorian and salutatorian graduation address, the grades shall be
averaged six weeks prior to graduation. To be eligible, a student must have
been in the District’s high school for two years, and shall have been a
full-time student, taking a full, normal load of class work.
For two school years following their graduation, district
graduates who ranked in the top ten percent of their graduating class are
eligible for admission into four-year public universities and colleges in
Texas. Students and parents should contact the counselor for further
information about how to apply and the deadline for application.
[For further information, see policies at EIC.]
·
Under the Texas Early High School Graduation Scholarship
Program, students who complete the Recommended or Advanced (Distinguished
Achievement) High School Program may earn financial credits in varying amounts
to apply toward college tuition. The amounts depend on the number of
consecutive months in which the student completed graduation requirements and
the number of early college credits earned and may be used at public or
private higher education institutions within the state. The counselor can
provide additional information about meeting the program’s eligibility
requirements.
·
Students who have a financial need according to federal criteria
and who complete the Recommended High School Program or Distinguished
Achievement Program may be eligible under the TEXAS Grant Program for tuition
and fees to Texas public universities, community colleges, and technical
schools, as well as to private institutions. [For further information, see
the principal or counselor and policy EJ.]
To prepare students for an increasingly computerized
society, the district has made a substantial investment in computer technology
for instructional purposes. Use of these resources is restricted to students
working under a teacher’s supervision and for approved purposes only.
Students and their parents will be asked to sign a user agreement (separate
from this handbook) regarding use of these resources; violations of this
agreement may result in withdrawal of privileges and other disciplinary
action.
Students and their parents should be aware that e-mail
using district computers is not private and may be monitored by district
staff.
[For additional information, see policy CQ.]
The district permits high school students to take
correspondence courses— by mail or via the Internet—for credit toward high
school graduation.
[For further information, see policy EEJC.]
Students and their parents are encouraged to talk with a
school counselor, teacher, or principal to learn about course offerings, the
graduation requirements of various programs, and early graduation procedures.
Each spring, students in grades 7 through 12 will be provided information on
anticipated course offerings for the next year and other information that will
help them make the most of academic and vocational opportunities.
To plan for the future, students should work closely with
the counselor in order to take the high school courses that best prepare them
for attendance at a college, university, or training school, or for pursuit of
some other type of advanced education,. The counselor can also provide
information about entrance exams and deadlines for application, as well as
information about automatic admission to state colleges and universities,
financial aid, housing, and scholarships.
The school counselor is available to assist students with
a wide range of personal concerns, including such areas as social, family, or
emotional issues, or substance abuse. The counselor may also make available
information about community resources to address these concerns. A student
who wishes to meet with the counselor should make an appointment with the
counselor.
Please note: The school will not conduct a
psychological examination, test, or treatment without first obtaining the
parent’s written consent. Parental consent is not necessary when a
psychological examination, test, or treatment is required by state or federal
law for special education purposes or by the Texas Education Ag
