Student Handbook - McKinney Independent School District

Section 504 is the federal law that prohibits discrimination against a student with a disability,requiring schools to provide opportunities for equal services, programs, and participation inactivities. Unless the student is determined to be eligible for special education services under theIndividuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), general education with appropriateinstructional accommodations will be provided.STAAR is the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, the state’s system ofstandardized academic achievement assessments, effective beginning with certain students for the2011-2012 school year.STAAR Alternate is an alternative state-mandated assessment designed for students with severecognitive disabilities receiving special education services who meet the participationrequirements, as determined by the student’s ARD committee.STAAR Modified is an alternative state-mandated assessment based on modified achievementstandards that is administered to eligible students receiving special education services, asdetermined by the student’s ARD committee.STAAR Linguistically Accommodated (STAAR L) is an alternative state-mandatedassessment with linguistic accommodations designed for certain recent immigrate Englishlanguage learners.State-mandated assessments are required of students at certain grade levels and inspecified subjects. Successful performance sometimes is a condition of promotion, and passingthe grade 11 exit-level test or end-of-course assessments, when applicable, is a condition ofgraduation. Students have multiple opportunities to take the tests if necessary for promotion orgraduation.Student Code of Conduct is developed with the advice of the district-level committee andadopted by the board; identifies the circumstances, consistent with law, when a student may beremoved from the classroom or campus. It also sets out the conditions that authorize or requirethe principal or another administrator to place the student in a DAEP. It outlines conditions forout-of-school suspension and for expulsion, and states whether self-defense is a consideration insuspension, DAEP placement, or expulsion. The Student Code of Conduct also addresses noticeto the parent regarding a student’s violation of one of its provisions.TAKS is the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills, the state’s standardized achievementtest currently given to students in certain subjects in grades 10 and 11 and is required forgraduation for students at these grade levels.TELPAS stands for the Texas English Language Proficiency Assessment System, which assessesthe progress that English language learners make in learning the English language, and isadministered for those who meet the participation requirements in kindergarten–grade 12.Apex Learning is the online course provider for MISD students to supplement the instructionalprogram. Courses are taught by qualified instructors, and courses are equivalent in rigor andscope to a course taught in a traditional classroom setting.UIL refers to the University Interscholastic League, the statewide voluntary nonprofitorganization that oversees educational extracurricular academic, athletic, and music contests.- 55 -