THIS STUDENT HANDBOOK BELONGS TO - Clayton County Public ...

GENErAL INFOrmATIONFOrEWOrDThis 2012-2013 Parent/Student Handbook contains information for students and parents/guardians of Clayton County Public Schools. We urgeparents/guardians to read and discuss this handbook with their children. Since it is not possible for this manual to address issues that might ariseduring the school year, parents/guardians and students should understand that local school administrators will use their professional judgment tomake decisions in specific situations not covered in this manual.The Clayton County Board of Education seeks to improve the student learning environment by improving student behavior and discipline. Each schoolhas high expectations that students will behave in a way that facilitates learning for themselves and others. Students are expected to respect schoolemployees and each other, obey policies adopted by the Board, and follow school rules.Teachers are expected to maintain order and discipline in the classroom and to deal with minor infractions. The teacher will make every attempt tocommunicate (via phone calls, notes, e-mails, conferences, etc.) with parents/guardians and their children regarding behavioral concerns within theclassroom. The goal is to resolve any behavioral concern early and at the lowest possible level of intervention. When offenses are repetitious or ofa serious nature, the violator will be referred to the principal’s office.ASBESTOS NOTIFIcATIONThe Federal Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) allows an exclusion from the required inspection for asbestos-containing building material(ACBM) for new school buildings built after October 12, 1988, where: an architect or project engineer responsible for the construction of the new schoolbuilding, or an accredited AHERA inspector signs a statement that no ACBM was specified as a building material in any construction document for thebuilding, or, to the best of his or her knowledge no ACBM was used as a building material in the building. The LEA shall submit a copy of the signedstatement to the state and shall include the statement in the management plan for that school. This is to notify you that the required statement hasbeen submitted to the state and a copy is on file in the school’s management plan, which is located in the school’s administrative office and is availablefor public inspection upon reasonable notice.ENGLISH TO SPEAKErS OF OTHEr LANGUAGES PrOGrAm (ESOL)During the past decade, Clayton County Public Schools has become increasingly diverse and multicultural. Many students who enter the school systemfrom other countries or speak another language at home may need additional English language assistance to succeed in school The ESOL program isdesigned to meet the needs of English learners (ELs). Students are screened for English language assistance, and if they qualify for services, they canreceive additional instruction provided by ESOL teachers. These teachers are qualified to work with the diverse student population of English learners(ELs). The ESOL teachers provide instruction, participate in conferences, and assist school officials with various issues related to English learners (ELs).LANGUAGE SErVIcESClayton County Public Schools offers interpreting services at no cost to parents. Parents can request services from school officials or call the InternationalCenter at 404-608-2605 directly to request an interpreter for a meeting or conference.EXTrAcUrrIcULAr AcTIVITIES FOr STUDENTS - middle and High SchoolOpportunities for exploring, developing and widening students’ range of interest and for helping students develop leadership and poise are offered throughextracurricular activities. Participation in these activities enables students to learn how to plan and work with others. Students are encouraged to participatein at least one extracurricular activity. Many of the clubs and athletic groups representing the school have a minimum grade point average standard forjoining and maintaining membership. The Georgia High School Association “No pass/No participate” policy requires students to pass at leastfive classes the previous semester and to be academically on track in order to participate in interscholastic competitive events or activities.Students participating in interscholastic competitive events or extracurricular activities must have earned the appropriate units and remain academicallyon track. Students entering the ninth grade are required to accumulate units in “core” subjects as follows: one unit after the first semester, four unitsentering the second year, eight units entering the third year, and 12 units entering the fourth year. For eligibility purposes, all make-up work must becompleted within 10 calendar days following the conclusion of the semester. Questions concerning “No pass/No participate” should be directed toadministrators. To participate in extracurricular activities, students must be counted present for the school day. If school is in session, suspended studentsassigned to ISS or OSS will not be allowed to participate in any activities or function during the school day until they return to their regular classes in goodstanding.FErPARights under the Family Edcational Rights and Privacy Act are below:1. The right to inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days of the day the District receives a request for access. Parents oreligible students should submit to the school principal a written request that identifies the records they wish to inspect. The principal will makearrangements for access and notify the parent or eligible student of the time and place where the records may be inspected.2. The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the parent or eligible student believes are inaccurate or misleading.Parents or eligible students may ask the School District (District) to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate or misleading. They should writethe school principal, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. If the District decidesnot to amend the record as requested by the parent or eligible student, the District will notify the parent or eligible student of the decision andadvise them of their right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures can be foundin Policy JR, Student records, at www.clayton.k12.ga.us.3. The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s education records, except to the extent thatFERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. One exception which permits disclosure without consent is disclosure to school officials with legitimateeducational interests. A school official is a person employed by the District as an administrator, supervisor, instructor, or support staff member(including health or medical staff and law enforcement unit personnel); a person serving on the Board of Education: a school or District approvedvolunteer, a person or company that is under the direct control of the District with respect to the use and maintenance of Education records andwith whom the District has contracted or who volunteers to perform a service or function for which the District would otherwise use employees(such as an attorney, auditor, medical consultant, therapist, insurance adjuster); or a parent or student serving on an official committee, such as adisciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks. A school official has a legitimate educationalinterest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility. Upon request, the District discloseseducational records without consent to officials of another school district or school in which a student seeks or intends to enroll.14