Calendar Handbook - Frederick County Public Schools

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The Calendar Handbook for 2011–2012 42 Teacher Qualifications The federal “No Child Left Behind” Act of 2002 gives families the right to ask for and receive information about the professional qualifications of their child’s classroom teacher, including: n the college or university degrees or certifications held by the teacher, n the subject area of the teacher’s degree or certification, n whether the teacher is certified by Maryland to teach a particular grade level or subject area, n whether the teacher holds a provisional certificate, and n whether the child is served by paraprofessionals and, if so, the qualifications of the paraprofessionals. To receive such information, please write the school principal, who will provide it within 30 business days. ★ Title IX: Gender Discrimination Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender in educational programs or activities receiving federal funds and requires equal opportunity in admissions, athletics, counseling, access to courses, and employment policies regarding marital or parental status of students and treatment of students. All students and employees are covered by this law. Questions or concerns about the application of Title IX should be directed to the FCPS Legal Services Office. ★ Use of Animals in Instruction The scientifically appropriate use of animals in the classroom laboratory under qualified adult supervision is encouraged for learning purposes. Animal dissection is used to develop an understanding of living processes and must include a concern for the humane and proper treatment and use of animals, particularly vertebrate animals. Animal dissection may be a part of the biology and life science program. However, in some instances dissection may be objectionable to a student. Students wishing to be excused from dissection activities on ethical or moral grounds should make their request known to their teacher in advance and will not be required to participate in dissection activities. Teachers are asked to work with students to identify alternative assignments, such as viewing a tape or film about dissection or using diagrams, models of animal anatomy or computer simulation software. These assignments should be agreed upon early enough to allow sufficient time for proper planning and completion. Students exercising alternative assignments will not be penalized in any way. FCPS encourages opportunities for students to observe living organisms in their natural settings, and for teachers to emphasize respect for living things. ★ Using Athletic Fields and Schools after Hours FCPS encourages the use of school facilities by the public when they are not in use for the primary purpose of educating students. Application procedures, fee structure and regulations governing the use of public schools and athletic fields are found online in Regulation 100-1. To apply, please contact staff at the school. ★ Visitors to Schools All visitors are required to register at the main office upon arrival and may be required to wear an identification badge while on school property. Media representatives must receive approval from the school office to interview, photograph or videotape students before proceeding to the activity they are covering. A building administrator may limit or refuse visitor access to school property to ensure student or employee safety or confidentiality or to minimize interruption. Persons who enter school buildings or grounds without reporting to the office or who disturb or interfere with school activities will be considered unauthorized and will be dealt with as trespassers under the law. ★ Withdrawal Process To allow adequate time for copying and transferring student records, schools prefer a minimum two weeks written notice before a student transfers to another school district. When the student’s new school is out of state, the new school must formally request that FCPS send student records, and FCPS retains the originals. When students transfer within Frederick County or to another Maryland county, FCPS sends the original student records and retains a copy. In either case, upon written request and at a reasonable charge, parents may also receive copies to hand carry to the new school. For additional information, see Regulation 400-7. ★
Philosophy All schools will have a safe, healthy and inviting environment: one that fosters respect, responsibility, trustworthiness, fairness, caring and good citizenship. We believe it is the responsibility of everyone associated with the school — students, parents, staff and members of the community — to promote self-discipline and preserve the quality of our educational environment. Disciplinary consequences are designed to change inappropriate behavior, encourage more effective habits of conduct and promote the development of self-discipline. While accountability is essential, inappropriate behavior cannot be effectively addressed solely through punishment. Consistent with the belief that we continuously teach by example and that training is important in the development of good citizens, the school system adopts the principles of conflict resolution. The implementation of this program will assist in providing students, parents, staff and the community with lifelong skills necessary to create and maintain an environment that recognizes and rewards ethical, non violent behavior. In order to maintain a healthy, inviting school climate where desired learning and development will occur, all individuals will be expected to adhere to this philosophy or lose their right to remain in the school setting. ★ Disciplinary Policies The school administrator has responsibility for taking action based on a knowledge of the facts of the incident and the needs of the student. The following list of minimum and maximum disciplinary actions does not imply or require a progression of increasing severity. Some of the violations are criminal offenses and, if so, appropriate legal authorities would need to be informed. ★ See Regulation 400-8: Discipline. Note: Special education students are disciplined in accordance with provisions of federal law. discipline Definitions (1) Probation (Prob.) – trial period for a student to change undesirable behavior and still remain in the school. (2) In-school removal (In-S Rem.) – Temporary removal of a student from class. (3) In-school suspension (In-S Susp.) – exclusion within the school building by the principal of a student from the regular education program for up to but not more than 10 school days. Make-up work is allowed for credit. (4) Suspension pending parent contact (Susp.PPC) – principal’s temporary removal of student from classes and/or activity until the school administrator has conferred with the parent. (5) Short-term suspension (ST Susp.) – principal’s temporary removal of a student from classes and/or activity for up to and including 10 days. Make-up work is allowed for credit. The student has the responsibility to request make-up work from the teacher within 2 days upon return to school and to complete it within a reasonable time, determined by the teacher. (6) Extended suspension (Ext. Susp.) – temporary prohibition of student attendance by the Superintendent/designee for 11 or more days. A plan for make-up work will be developed or the student may be required to enroll in an alternative education program to continue earning credit. (7) Suspension (Susp.) – Application of extended suspension, in-school suspension or short-term suspension. (8) Expulsion (Exp.) (separate and exclusive from suspension) – the removal of the student from the student’s regular school program, either for a specified period of time or permanently, as determined by the Superintendent/designee. (9) Possession – may include, but is not limited to, having control over, or the right to use, even if the control or right is shared. Possession does not require ownership. (10) Constructive Possession – failure to remove oneself as quickly and safely as possible from a person, area or situation when one is aware that drugs/alcohol are illegally possessed. (11) Restitution – Maryland law requires restitution in the form of monetary reimbursement (up to $2,500) or school work projects from students or their parents when the student damages school or personal property. (12) Search and Seizure – a school administrator may search a student, his/her locker, automobile or personal property when the administrator has reasonable belief that the student has in his/her possession an item, the possession of which is a criminal offense and/or violates civil laws or school rules. ★ General Measures The following chart indicates disciplinary measures that may be used in all schools and designates staff members authorized to use them. Admin- Measure Teacher istrator a. activity suspension - 1............................ x ...... x b. bus suspension ............................................. x c. class suspension ................................. x ...... x d. detention after school ............................ x ...... x e. in-school removal................................ x ...... x f. in-school suspension ........................................ x g. suspension pending parent contact ........................... x h. short-term suspension - 2 ................................... x i. parent-administrator conference ............................. x j. parent-teacher conference ........................ x k. parent-teacher-student conference ................ x l. parent-teacher-administrator conference........... x ...... x m. parent-teacher-student-administrator conference ... x ...... x n. probation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . x o. recommendation for extended suspension/expulsion ........... x p. refer to agency ............................................. x q. refer to alternative program.................................. x r. refer to counselor ................................ x ...... x s. teacher-student conference ....................... x t. warning......................................... x ...... x u. refer to police .............................................. x 1 – by the teacher primarily responsible for the activity 2 – by the administrator for a period up to ten days; requests for extended suspension or expulsion must be approved by the Superintendent or a designated representative. note: A coach or activity supervisor cannot establish rules more or less restrictive than those placed in policy and procedures. Coaches or supervisors may enforce other rules approved by the principal if placed in writing and signed by the student and parent. FindOutFirst e-mail – sign up at www.fcps.org 43
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Page 64: Put the public in public education:

Calendar Handbook - Frederick County Public Schools

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