To Students and Parents:
Welcome to school year 2011–2012! Education is a team effort, and we know that
students, parents, teachers, and other staff members all working together can
make this a wonderfully successful year for our students.
The Paradise High School 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 two sections:
Section I—PARENTAL
RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES—with information to assist you in responding to
school-related issues. We encourage you
to take some time to closely review this section of the handbook.
Section II—OTHER
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS AND PARENTS—organized alphabetically by
topic for quick access when searching for information on a specific issue.
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 should become familiar with the
Paradise ISD Student Code of Conduct, which is a document adopted by the board
and intended to promote school safety and an atmosphere for learning. That document may be found posted at
www.pisd.net or 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 or other rules that affect
Student Handbook provisions will be made available to students and parents
through newsletters or other communications.
In case of conflict between board policy (including the
Student Code of Conduct) and any provisions of the Student Handbook, the
current provisions of board policy and the Student Code of Conduct are to be
followed.
After reading through the entire handbook with your child,
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 the campus principal.
Also, please complete and return to your child’s campus the
following required forms provided in the forms packet accompanying this
handbook:
1.
Parental Acknowledgment Form;
1. Student
Directory Information and Release of Student Information Form;
2. Release
of Information to Military Recruiters and Institutions of Higher Education
Form; and
3. Consent/Opt-Out
Form.
[See Obtaining
Information and Protecting Student Rights on page 1 and Directory Information on page 12 for
more information.]
Please note that references to 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 [or online at www.pisd.net.
This section of the Paradise High School Student Handbook
includes information on topics of particular interest to you as a parent.
In its efforts to promote nondiscrimination, Paradise ISD
does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin,
gender, or disability in providing education services, activities, and
programs, including vocational programs, in accordance with Title VI of the
Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; Title IX of the Educational Amendments of
1972; and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended.
The following district staff members have been designated to
coordinate compliance with these legal requirements:
·
Title IX Coordinator, for concerns regarding
discrimination on the basis of gender:
Director of Federal Programs, 338
School House Rd. Paradise, Texas 76073,
940-969-5000
·
ADA/Section 504 Coordinator, for concerns
regarding discrimination on the basis of disability: Director of Federal Programs, 338 School
House Rd. Paradise, Texas
76073, 940-969-5000
·
All other concerns regarding
discrimination: See the superintendent
Monty Chapman, 338 School House Rd.
Paradise, Texas 76073, 940-969-5000
Both experience and research tell us that a child’s
education succeeds best when there is good communication and a strong
partnership between home and school. 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.
·
Ensuring that your child completes all homework
assignments and special projects and 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.
·
Discussing with the counselor or principal any
questions you may have about the options and opportunities available to your
child.
·
Reviewing the requirements of the graduation
programs with your child once your child begins enrolling in courses that earn
high school credit
·
Monitoring your child’s academic progress and
contacting teachers as needed. [See Academic Counseling on page 25 and Academic Programs on page 18.]
·
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 school office at (940) 969-5010 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 on page 47.]
·
Becoming a school volunteer. [For further information, see policies at GKG
and contact the High School office.]
·
Participating in campus parent organizations. Parent organizations include:
·
Parent Teacher Organization
·
Athletic Booster
·
Band Booster
·
Serving 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 campus principal.
·
Serving on the School Health Advisory Council,
assisting the district in ensuring local community values are reflected in
health education instruction. [See
policies at BDF, EHAA, FFA, and information in this handbook at School Health Advisory Council on page
40.]
·
Attending board meetings to learn more about
district operations. [See policies at BE
and BED for more information.]
The Parent Involvement Coordinator, who works with parents
of students participating in Title I programs is Patti Seckman and may be
contacted at 940-969-5000.
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(LEGAL).]
As a parent, you 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, you may inspect a survey created by a third
party before the survey is administered or distributed to your child.
You may request information regarding the professional
qualifications of your child’s teachers, including whether a 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.
As a parent, you have a right 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.
[Also see Removing a
Student from Human Sexuality Instruction on page 6 for additional
information.]
Teachers may display students’ work in classrooms or
elsewhere on campus as recognition of student achievement. However, the
district will seek parental consent before displaying students’ artwork,
special projects, photographs taken by students, and the like on the district’s
Web site, in printed material, by video, or by any other method of mass
communication.
You may review your child’s student records. 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
on page 10.]
As a parent, you may grant or deny any written request from
the district to make a video or voice recording of your child. State law, however, permits the school to
make a video 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
co-curricular or extracurricular activity; or
·
When it relates to media coverage of the school.
As a parent, if your child is under the age of 14, you must
grant permission for your child to receive instruction in the district’s
parenting and paternity awareness program or your child will not be allowed to
participate in the instruction. This program,
developed by the Office of the Texas Attorney General and the State Board of
Education (SBOE), is incorporated into the district’s health education classes.
You may 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.
As a part of the district’s curriculum, students receive
instruction related to human sexuality.
The School Health Advisory Council (SHAC) is involved with the selection
of course materials for such instruction.
State law requires that any instruction related to human
sexuality, sexually transmitted diseases, or human immunodeficiency virus or
acquired immune deficiency syndrome must:
·
Present abstinence from sexual activity as the
preferred choice of behavior in relationship to all sexual activity for
unmarried persons of school age;
·
Devote more attention to abstinence from sexual
activity than to any other behavior;
·
Emphasize that abstinence is the only method
that is 100 percent effective in preventing pregnancy, sexually transmitted
diseases, and the emotional trauma associated with adolescent sexual activity;
·
Direct adolescents to a standard of behavior in
which abstinence from sexual activity before marriage is the most effective way
to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases; and
·
If included in the content of the curriculum,
teach contraception and condom use in terms of human use reality rates instead
of theoretical laboratory rates.
In accordance with state law, below is a summary of the
district’s curriculum regarding human sexuality instruction:
·
Planned Parenting
·
Child Development
·
Health
·
Anatomy and Physiology
·
Personal and Family Development
As a parent, you are entitled to review the curriculum
materials. In addition, you may remove
your child from any part of this instruction with no academic, disciplinary, or
other penalties. You may also choose to
become more involved with the development of curriculum used for this purpose
by becoming a member of the district’s SHAC.
Please see the campus principal for additional information.
As a parent, you may 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 on page 46 and policy
EC(LEGAL).]
You may 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(LEGAL).]
Teachers and other approved employees are permitted by the
district to communicate with students through the use of electronic media
within the scope of the individual’s professional responsibilities. For example, a teacher may set up a social
networking page for his or her class that has information related to class
work, homework, and tests. As a parent,
you are welcome to join or become a member of such a page.
An employee described above may also contact a student
individually through electronic media to communicate about items such as
homework or upcoming tests.
If you prefer that your child not receive any one-to-one
electronic communications from a district employee, please submit a written
request to the campus principal stating this preference.
A noncustodial parent may request in writing that he or she
be provided, for the remainder of the school year, a copy of any written notice
usually provided to a parent related to his or her child’s misconduct that may
involve placement in a disciplinary alternative education program (DAEP) or
expulsion. [See policy FO(LEGAL) and the
Student Code of Conduct.]
Corporal punishment—spanking or paddling the student—may be
used as a discipline management technique in accordance with the Student Code
of Conduct and policy FO(LOCAL) in the district’s policy manual.
If you do not want corporal punishment to be administered to
your child as a method of student discipline, submit a written statement to the
campus principal stating this decision.
A signed statement must be provided each year.
You may choose to revoke this request at any time during the
year by providing a signed statement to the campus principal. However, district personnel may choose to use
discipline methods other than corporal punishment even if the parent requests
that this method be used on the student.
As a parent, you have a right:
·
To request the transfer of your child to another
classroom or campus if your child has been determined by the campus principal
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
campus principal for information. [See
policy FDB.]
[See Bullying on page 18, and policy FFI(LOCAL).]
·
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 FDE(LOCAL).]
·
To request the transfer of your child to a
neighboring district if your child has been the victim of a sexual assault by
another student assigned to 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 FDE.]
As a parent, if your children are multiple birth siblings
(e.g., twins, triplets, etc.) assigned to the same grade and campus, you may
request that they be placed either in the same classroom or in separate
classrooms. Your written request must be
submitted no later than the 14th day after the enrollment of your
children. [See policy FDB(LEGAL).]
Parents of students with learning difficulties or who may
need special education services may request an evaluation for special education
at any time. For more information, see Special Programs on page 51 and contact
the Director of Federal Programs at (940)969-5000.
A parent of a student who uses a service animal because of
the student’s disability must submit a request in writing to the principal at
least ten district business days before bringing the service animal on campus.
If a child is experiencing learning difficulties, the parent
may contact the person listed below to learn about the district’s overall
general education referral or screening system for support services. This system links students to a variety of
support options, including referral for a special education evaluation. Students having difficulty in the regular
classroom should be considered for tutorial, compensatory, and other academic
or behavior support services that are available to all students including a
process based on Response to Intervention.
The implementation of Response to Intervention has the potential to have
a positive impact on the ability of school districts to meet the needs of all
struggling students.
At any time, a parent is entitled to request an evaluation
for special education services. Within a
reasonable amount of time, the district must decide if the evaluation is
needed. If the evaluation is needed, the
parent will be notified and asked to provide informed written consent for the
evaluation. The district must complete
the evaluation and the report within 60 calendar days of the date the district
receives the written consent. The
district must give a copy of the report to the parent.
If the district determines that the evaluation is not
needed, the district will provide the parent with prior written notice that
explains why the child will not be evaluated.
This written notice will include a statement that informs the parents of
their rights, if they disagree with the district. The district is required to give parents the Notice
of Procedural Safeguards—Rights of Parents of Students with Disabilities. Additional information regarding the
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is available from the school
district in a companion document, A Guide to the Admission, Review, and
Dismissal Process.
The following Web sites provide information to those who are
seeking information and resources specific to students with disabilities and
their families:
·
Texas Project First, at http://www.texasprojectfirst.org/
·
Partners Resource Network, at http://www.partnerstx.org/howPRNhelps.html
The designated person to contact regarding options for a
child experiencing learning difficulties or a referral for evaluation for
special education services is the campus principal.
A student may be eligible to receive specialized support if
his or her primary language is not English, and the student has difficulty
performing ordinary class work in English.
If the student qualifies for these extra services, the Language
Proficiency Assessment Committee (LPAC) will determine the types of services
the student needs, including accommodations or modifications related to
classroom instruction, local assessments, and state-mandated assessments.
Children of military families will be provided flexibility
regarding certain district requirements, including:
·
Immunization requirements.
·
Grade level, course, or educational program
placement.
·
Eligibility requirements for participation in
extracurricular activities.
·
Graduation requirements.
In addition, absences related to a student visiting with his
or her parent related to leave or deployment activities may be excused by the
district.
Additional information may be found at http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index2.aspx?id=7995.
The Parent Involvement Coordinator, who works with parents
of students participating in Title I programs is the Director of Federal
Programs and may be contacted at 940-969-5000.
Both federal and state laws safeguard student records from
unauthorized inspection or use and provide parents and eligible students
certain rights of privacy. Before
disclosing any personally identifiable information from a student’s records, the
district must verify the identity of the person, including a parent or the
student, requesting the information. 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 the school is given a copy of a court order terminating
parental rights or the right to access a student’s education records.
Federal law requires that, as soon
as a student becomes 18, is emancipated by a court, or enrolls in a
postsecondary institution, 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 and under
limited circumstances when there is a threat to the health and safety of the
student or other individuals.
·
District school officials who have what federal
law refers to as a “legitimate educational interest” in a student’s
records. School officials would include
trustees and employees, such as the superintendent, administrators, and
principals; teachers, counselors, diagnosticians, and support staff; a person
or company with whom the district has contracted or allowed to provide a
particular service or function (such as an attorney, consultant, auditor,
medical consultant, therapist, or volunteer); a parent or student serving on a
school committee; or a parent or student assisting a school official in the
performance of his or her duties.
“Legitimate educational interest” in a student’s records includes working
with the student; considering disciplinary or academic actions, the student’s
case, or an individualized education program for a student with disabilities;
compiling statistical data; reviewing an educational record to fulfill the
official’s professional responsibility; or investigating or evaluating
programs.
·
Various governmental agencies, including
juvenile service providers.
·
Individuals granted access in response to a
subpoena or court order.
·
A school or institution of postsecondary
education to which a student seeks or intends to enroll or in which he or she
is already enrolled.
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 campus principal is custodian of all records for
currently enrolled students at the assigned school. The campus 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. The records
custodian or designee will respond to reasonable requests for explanation and
interpretation of the records.
A parent or eligible student who provides a written request
and pays copying costs of ten cents per page may obtain copies. If circumstances prevent inspection during
regular school hours and the student qualifies for free or reduced-price meals,
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 address of the superintendent’s office is
338 School House Rd., Paradise, TX 76073.
The address of the principals’ office is the same as the
superintendent’s office.
A parent (or eligible student) may inspect the student’s records
and request a correction if the records are considered inaccurate, misleading,
or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy rights. A request to correct a student’s record
should be submitted to the campus principal.
The request must clearly identify the part of the record that should be
corrected and include an explanation of how the information in the record is
inaccurate. If the district denies the
request to amend the records, the parent or eligible student has the right to
request a hearing. If the records are
not amended as a result of the hearing, the parent or eligible student 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(LOCAL). A grade
issued by a classroom teacher can be changed only if, as determined by the
board of trustees, the grade is arbitrary, erroneous, or inconsistent with the
district’s grading policy. [See FINALITY
OF GRADES at FNG(LEGAL), Report
Cards/Progress Reports and Conferences on page 47, and Student or Parent Complaints and Concerns on page 23 for an
overview of the process.]
The district’s policy regarding student records found at
FL(LEGAL) and (LOCAL) is available from the principal’s or superintendent’s
office or on the district’s Web site at www.pisd.net.
The parent’s or eligible student’s right of access to and
copies of student records do not extend to all records. Materials that are not considered educational
records—such as a teacher’s 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.
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 complaint may be mailed to:
Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202-5901
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 your child’s first day of instruction for this school year. [See the “Notice Regarding Directory
Information and Parent’s Response Regarding Release of Student Information”
included in the forms packet.]
The district often needs to use student information for
school-sponsored purposes as listed in FL(LOCAL).
This information will not be used for other purposes without
the consent of the parent or eligible student, except as described above at Directory Information.
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 school-sponsored purposes.
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.
State law specifically requires the district to provide the
following information:
·
What is meningitis?
Meningitis is an inflammation of
the covering of the brain and spinal cord.
It can be caused by viruses, parasites, fungi, and bacteria. Viral meningitis is most common and the least
serious. Bacterial meningitis is the
most common form of serious bacterial infection with the potential for serious,
long-term complications. It is an
uncommon disease, but requires urgent treatment with antibiotics to prevent
permanent damage or death.
·
What are the symptoms?
Someone with meningitis will
become very ill. The illness may develop
over one or two days, but it can also rapidly progress in a matter of
hours. Not everyone with meningitis will
have the same symptoms.
Children (over 1 year old) and
adults with meningitis may have a severe headache, high temperature, vomiting,
sensitivity to bright lights, neck stiffness or joint pains, and drowsiness or
confusion. In both children and adults,
there may be a rash of tiny, red-purple spots.
These can occur anywhere on the body.
The diagnosis of bacterial
meningitis is based on a combination of symptoms and laboratory results.
·
How serious is bacterial meningitis?
If it is diagnosed early and
treated promptly, the majority of people make a complete recovery. In some cases it can be fatal or a person may
be left with a permanent disability.
·
How is bacterial meningitis spread?
Fortunately, none of the bacteria
that cause meningitis are as contagious as diseases like the common cold or the
flu, and they are not spread by casual contact or by simply breathing the air
where a person with meningitis has been.
The germs live naturally in the back of our noses and throats, but they
do not live for long outside the body.
They are spread when people exchange saliva (such as by kissing, sharing
drinking containers, utensils, or cigarettes).
The germ does not cause meningitis
in most people. Instead, most people
become carriers of the germ for days, weeks, or even months. The bacteria rarely overcome the body’s
immune system and cause meningitis or another serious illness.
·
How can bacterial meningitis be prevented?
Do not share food, drinks,
utensils, toothbrushes, or cigarettes.
Limit the number of persons you kiss.
While there are vaccines for some
other strains of bacterial meningitis, they are used only in special
circumstances. These include when there
is a disease outbreak in a community or for people traveling to a country where
there is a high risk of getting the disease.
Also, a vaccine is recommended by some groups for college students,
particularly freshmen living in dorms or residence halls. The vaccine is safe and effective (85–90
percent). It can cause mild side
effects, such as redness and pain at the injection site lasting up to two
days. Immunity develops within seven to
ten days after the vaccine is given and lasts for up to five years.
·
What should you do if you think you or a friend
might have bacterial meningitis?
You should seek prompt medical
attention.
·
Where can you get more information?
Your school nurse, family doctor,
and the staff at your local or regional health department office are excellent
sources for information on all communicable diseases. You may also call your local health
department or Regional Department of State Health Services office to ask about
a meningococcal vaccine. Additional
information may also be found at the Web sites for the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, http://www.cdc.gov,
and the Department of State Health Services, http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/.
Topics in this section of the handbook contain important
information on academics, school activities, and school operations and
requirements. Take a moment with your
child to become familiar with the various issues addressed in this
section. It is organized in alphabetical
order to serve as a quick-reference when you or your child has a question about
a specific school-related issue. Should
you be unable to find the information on a particular topic, please contact the
campus principal.
Regular school attendance is essential for a student to make
the most of his or her education—to benefit from teacher-led and school
activities, to build each day’s learning on the previous day’s, and to grow as
an individual. Absences from class may
result in serious disruption of a student’s mastery of the instructional
materials; therefore, the student and parent should make every effort to avoid
unnecessary absences. Two state laws—one
dealing with compulsory attendance, the other with attendance for course
credit—are of special interest to students and parents. They are discussed below.
State law requires that a student between the ages of six
and 18 attend school, as well as any applicable accelerated instruction
program, extended year program, or tutorial session, unless the student is
otherwise excused from attendance or legally exempt.
A student who voluntarily attends or enrolls after his or
her 18th birthday is required to attend each school day until the
end of the school year and is subject to compulsory attendance laws, if the
student is under 21 years old. In
addition, if a student 18 or older has more than five unexcused absences in a
semester the district may revoke the student’s enrollment. The student’s presence on school property
thereafter would be unauthorized and may be considered trespassing. [See FEA.]
State law allows exemptions to the compulsory attendance
requirements for several types of absences if the student makes up all
work. These include the following
activities and events:
·
Religious holy days;
·
Required court appearances;
·
Activities related to obtaining United States
citizenship;
·
Service as an election clerk; and
·
Documented health-care appointments, including
absences for recognized services for students diagnosed with autism spectrum
disorders. A note from the health-care provider must be submitted upon the
student’s return to campus.
In addition, a junior or senior student’s absence of up to
two days related to visiting a college or university will be considered an
exemption, provided the student receives approval from the campus principal,
follows the campus procedures to verify such a visit, and makes up any work
missed.
School employees must investigate and report violations of
the state compulsory attendance law. A
student absent without permission from school; from any class; from required
special programs, such as additional special instruction, termed “accelerated
instruction” by the state; or from required tutorials will be considered in
violation of the compulsory attendance law and subject to disciplinary action.
A court of law may also impose penalties against both the
student and his or her parents if a school-aged student is deliberately not
attending school. A complaint against
the parent may be filed in court if the student:
·
Is absent from school on ten or more days or
parts of days within a six-month period in the same school year, or
·
Is absent on three or more days or parts of days
within a four-week period.
·
For a student younger than 12 years of age, the
student’s parent could be charged with a criminal offense based on the student’s
failure to attend school.
If a student between the ages of 12 and 18 violates the
compulsory attendance law, both the parent and student could be charged with a
criminal offense.
If the student is age 18 or older, the student, but not the
student’s parents, would be subject to penalties as a result of the student’s
violation of state compulsory attendance law.
[See policy FEA(LEGAL).]
To receive credit in a class, a student must attend at least
90 percent of the days the class is offered.
A student who attends at least 75 percent but fewer than 90 percent of
the days the class is offered may receive credit for the class if he or she
completes a plan, approved by the principal, which allows the student to
fulfill the instructional requirements for the class. If a student is involved in a criminal or
juvenile court proceeding, the approval of the judge presiding over the case
will also be required before the student receives credit for the class.
If a student attends less than 75 percent of the days a
class is offered or has not completed a plan approved by the principal, then
the student will be referred to the attendance review committee to determine
whether there are extenuating circumstances for the absences and how the student
can regain credit, if appropriate. [See
policies at FEC.]
In determining whether there were extenuating circumstances
for the absences, the attendance committee will use the following guidelines:
·
All absences will be considered in determining
whether a student has attended the required percentage of days. If makeup work is completed, absences for the
reasons listed above at Exemptions to
Compulsory Attendance will be considered days of attendance for this
purpose.
·
A transfer or migrant student begins to
accumulate absences only after he or she has enrolled in the district.
·
In reaching a decision about a student’s
absences, the committee will attempt to ensure that it is in the best interest
of the student.
·
The committee will consider the acceptability and
authenticity of documented reasons for the student’s absences.
·
The committee will consider whether the absences
were for reasons over which the student or the student’s parent could exercise
any control.
·
The committee will consider the extent to which
the student has completed all assignments, mastered the essential knowledge and
skills, and maintained passing grades in the course or subject.
·
The student or parent will be given an
opportunity to present any information to the committee about the absences and
to talk about ways to earn or regain credit.
The student or parent may appeal the committee’s decision to
the board of trustees by filing a written request with the superintendent in
accordance with policy FNG(LOCAL).
The actual number of days a student must be in attendance in
order to receive credit will depend on whether the class is for a full semester
or for a full year.
Roll will be taken at the beginning of each class period. A
student will be counted absent if they are not present in the classroom at the
beginning of each class. If a student comes to class within the first 20
minutes of that class, the absence will be changed to a tardy. All absences and
tardies are unexcused until they have been cleared by the principal or his designee.
Students have 3 class days upon returning to school to bring a note that will
excuse their absence(s). At the end of the 3 day period the absences will be
considered unexcused.
When a student must be absent from school, the student—upon
returning to school—must bring a note signed by the parent that describes the
reason for the absence. A note signed by
the student, even with the parent’s permission, will not be accepted unless the
student is 18 or older.
Upon return to school, a student absent for more than 5
consecutive days because of a personal illness must bring a statement from a
doctor or health clinic verifying the illness or condition that caused the student’s
extended absence from school.
Should the student develop a questionable pattern of
absences, the principal or attendance committee may require a statement from a
doctor or health clinic verifying the illness or condition that caused the
student’s absence from school.
[See policy FEC(LOCAL).]
For a student between the ages of 16 and 18 to obtain a
driver license, written parental permission must be provided for the Texas
Department of Public Safety (DPS) to access the student’s attendance records
and, in certain circumstances, for a school administrator to provide the
student’s attendance information to DPS.
The school counselor provides students and parents
information regarding academic programs to prepare for higher education and
career choices. [For more information,
see Academic Counseling on page 25
of this handbook and policies at EIF.]
Students desiring to enroll in an Advanced Placement (AP) or
Pre-AP course must receive a teacher recommendation from a previous teacher in
the same curriculum area. Exceptions to this may be made by way of a conference
between the principal, parent, and teacher.
Bullying occurs when a student or group of students engages
in written or verbal expression or physical conduct against another student and
the behavior:
·
results in harm to the student or the student’s
property,
·
places a student in fear of physical harm or of
damage to the student’s property, or
·
is so severe, persistent, or pervasive that it
creates an intimidating, threatening, or abusive educational environment.
Bullying is prohibited by the district and could include
hazing, threats, taunting, teasing, assault, demands for money, confinement,
destruction of property, theft of valued possessions, name-calling,
rumor-spreading, and ostracism. In some
cases, bullying can occur through electronic methods, called “cyberbullying.”
If a student believes that he or she has experienced
bullying or has witnessed bullying of another student, it is important for the
student or parent to notify a teacher, counselor, principal, or another
district employee as soon as possible.
The administration will investigate any allegations of bullying and will
take appropriate disciplinary action if an investigation indicates that
bullying has occurred. Disciplinary or
other action may be taken even if the conduct did not rise to the level of
bullying.
Any retaliation against a student who reports an incident of
bullying is prohibited.
[See School Safety
Transfers on page 8 and policy FFI(LOCAL).]
The district offers career and technical education programs
in Agriculture Science, Business, and Home Economics. Admission to these
programs is based on the aptitude, grade level enrollment, and degree plan.
Paradise ISD will take steps to ensure that lack of English
language skills will not be a barrier to admission and participation in all
educational and vocational programs.
[Also see Nondiscrimination
Statement on page 3 for additional information regarding the district’s
efforts regarding participation in these programs.]
The district has established a plan for addressing child
sexual abuse and other maltreatment of children, which may be accessed through
the Director of Federal Programs at 940-969-5000. As a parent, it is important for you to be
aware of warning signs that could indicate a child may have been or is being
sexually abused. Sexual abuse in the
Texas Family Code is defined as any sexual conduct harmful to a child’s mental,
emotional, or physical welfare as well as a failure to make a reasonable effort
to prevent sexual conduct with a child.
Anyone who suspects that a child has been or may be abused or neglected
has a legal responsibility, under state law, for reporting the suspected abuse
or neglect to law enforcement or to Child Protective Services (CPS).
Possible physical warning signs of sexual abuse could be difficulty
sitting or walking, pain in the genital areas, and claims of stomachaches and
headaches. Behavioral indicators may
include verbal references or pretend games of sexual activity between adults
and children, fear of being alone with adults of a particular gender, or
sexually suggestive behavior. Emotional
warning signs to be aware of include withdrawal, depression, sleeping and
eating disorders, and problems in school.
A child who has experienced sexual abuse or any other type
of abuse or neglect should be encouraged to seek out a trusted adult. Be aware as a parent or other trusted adult
that disclosures of sexual abuse may be more indirect than disclosures of
physical abuse and neglect, and it is important to be calm and comforting if
your child, or another child, confides in you.
Reassure the child that he or she did the right thing by telling you.
As a parent, if your child is a victim of sexual abuse or
other maltreatment, the campus counselor or principal will provide information
regarding counseling options for you and your child available in your
area. The Texas Department of Family and
Protective Services (TDFPS) also manages early intervention counseling
programs. To find out what services may
be available in your county, see http://www.dfps.state.tx.us/Prevention_and_Early_Intervention/Programs_Available_In_Your_County/default.asp.
The following Web sites might help you become more aware of
child abuse and neglect:
http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets/signs.cfm
http://sapn.nonprofitoffice.com/
http://www.taasa.org/member/materials2.php
http://www.oag.state.tx.us/AG_Publications/txts/childabuse1.shtml
http://www.oag.state.tx.us/AG_Publications/txts/childabuse2.shtml
Reports may be made to:
The Child Protective Services (CPS) division of the Texas
Department of Family and Protective Services (1 800-252-5400 or on the Web at http://www.txabusehotline.org).
PURPOSE: The Paradise
I.S.D. desires to develop a class rank policy that will support the District’s
goal of increasing the percentage of students completing the Recommended and
Distinguished Achievement Programs, increasing SAT and ACT scores, and to take
Level Four classes to promote academic success.
HONORS TO BE EARNED: Valedictorian, Salutatorian, top ten percent
for automatic admission to a State-funded institution.
Must be enrolled in the
Distinguished Achievement Programs.
Must be enrolled in Paradise High School during their last four
semesters before graduation.
No major violations (AEP
placements, out of school suspensions, or expulsions) of the student code of
conduct during the student’s final year.
Violations would result in forfeiture of giving a speech at the
graduation ceremony.
In cases of a tie in weighted grade averages among the top
ranking students, the following methods shall be used to determine who shall be
recognized as salutatorian or valedictorian:
Computing the weighted grade
average to three decimal places.
However, if a tie still remains,
the student with the most AP courses shall be considered first.
However, if a tie still remains,
the student with the highest numerical grade average of all AP courses taken
shall be the valedictorian.
In the event that the students are still tied after the
above criteria have been met, the students will be named co-valedictorian, and
there will be no salutatorian. If a tie
occurs for salutatorian, both students will be co-salutatorians.
Students choosing to graduate early must notify the
counselor during their sophomore year and pass all aspects of the most recent
TAKS test administration. The student's
ranking will calculate with the class of graduation.
Any grade received from an accredited institution will go
towards the student's class rank. Any
grade received from a non-accredited institution will be accepted, but will not
go towards the class ranking.
Will consider regular academic courses only: all English, Math, Science, Social Studies,
Foreign Language, Business and Technology Education, Health, Vocational Ag.,
Consumer Economics, Computer Science, and Fine Arts.
Will not consider Physical Education, Athletics, Drill Team,
Band, PAL’s, and courses of local credit, courses taken by correspondence,
credit by examination with prior instruction, examinations for acceleration, or
summer school courses.
A board of 5 faculty members (appointed by principal) will
review any changes to this policy.
[For further
information, see policies at EIC.]
Under the Texas Early High School Graduation Scholarship
Program, eligible students may earn financial credits in varying amounts, depending
on the number of consecutive months in which the student completed graduation
requirements and the number of early college credits earned. Students may choose public or private Texas higher education
institutions within the state. Except
for ninth graders who entered high school in the 2004-2005 school year, these
financial credits will be limited to students who complete the Recommended or
Advanced (Distinguished Achievement) High School Program. Exceptions will apply if necessary courses
were unavailable at the appropriate times in the student’s high school years
because of course scheduling, lack of enrollment capacity, or another reason
outside the student’s control. If the
exception applies, the District will indicate the fact on the student’s
transcript. The counselor can provide
additional information about meeting the program’s eligibility
requirements.
Students who have financial need according to federal
criteria and who complete the Recommended
High school Graduation Program or Distinguished
Achievement Program (Advanced) may be eligible under the T.E.X.A.S. Grant
Program for tuition and fees to Texas public universities, community colleges,
and technical schools, as well as to private institutions. For information, see the principal or
counselor and policy EJ(LEGAL).
All students are expected to attend school for the entire
school day and maintain a class/course schedule to fulfill each period of the
day. Exceptions may be made occasionally
by the campus principal for students in grades 9–12 who meet specific criteria
and receive parental consent to enroll in less than a full-day’s schedule.
Class schedules will not be changed after the first 5 class
days except in extenuating circumstances and approval from the Principal.
For two school years following his or her graduation, a
district student who graduates in the top ten percent and, in some cases, the
top 25 percent, of his or her class is eligible for automatic admission into four-year
public universities and colleges in Texas if the student:
·
Completes the Recommended or
Advanced/Distinguished Achievement Program; or
·
Satisfies the ACT College Readiness Benchmarks
or earns at least a 1500 out of 2400 on the SAT.
In addition, the student must submit a completed application
for admission in accordance with the deadline established by the college or
university.
The University of Texas at Austin may limit the number of
students automatically admitted to 75 percent of the University’s enrollment
capacity for incoming resident freshmen.
For students who are eligible to enroll in the University of Texas at
Austin during the summer or fall 2012 term, the University will be admitting
the top nine percent of the high school’s graduating class who meet the above
requirements. Additional applicants will
be considered by the University through an independent review process.
Should a college or university adopt an admissions policy
that automatically accepts the top 25 percent of a graduating class, the
provisions above will also apply to a student ranked in the top 25 percent of
his or her class.
Students and parents should contact the counselor for
further information about automatic admissions, the application process, and
deadlines.
[See also Class
Rank/Highest Ranking Student on page 19 for information specifically
related to how the district calculates a student’s rank in class].
Students in grades 9–12 have opportunities to earn college
credit through the following methods:
·
Certain courses taught at the high school
campus, which may include courses termed dual credit, Advanced Placement (AP);
·
Enrollment in an AP or dual credit course
through the Texas Virtual School Network; and
·
Certain CTE courses.
All of these methods have eligibility requirements and must
be approved prior to enrollment in the course.
Please see the counselor for more information.
It is important to keep in mind that not all colleges and
universities accept credit earned in all dual credit or AP courses taken in
high school for college credit. Students
and parents should check with the prospective college or university to
determine if a particular course will count toward the student’s desired degree
plan.
Students are allowed to take college coursework during the
school year. They must have approval
from the principal in advance to earn dual credit. These courses can give dual credit if the
college course meets all the guidelines set forth in the TEA Texas Essential
Knowledge and Skills.
In order for a student to receive approval to take a college
or dual credit course, they must have met the standards in all areas of the
TAKS test and they must have made an 85 or higher grade in the class previous
to the college course.
Students who have previously failed a college or dual credit
course will not be approved to sign up for another college or dual credit
course.
Students will be required to meet entrance guidelines of the
college through which the course is being offered. This may include the THEA
test or other requirements listed by the individual college or university.
In addition to the programs offered by the district, Students
in grades 9–12 may earn college credit from an accredited college or
university.
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 [or on the district’s Web site at www.pisd.net].
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.
As required by law, the board has adopted a Student Code of
Conduct that prohibits certain behaviors and defines standards of acceptable
behavior—both on and off campus—and consequences for violation of these
standards. The district has disciplinary
authority over a student in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct. Students and parents should be familiar with
the standards set out in the Student Code of Conduct, as well as campus and
classroom rules.
Disruptions of school operations are not tolerated and may
constitute a misdemeanor offense. As
identified by law, disruptions include the following:
·
Interference with the movement of people at an
exit, entrance, or hallway of a district building without authorization from an
administrator.
·
Interference with an authorized activity by
seizing control of all or part of a building.
·
Use of force, violence, or threats in an attempt
to prevent participation in an authorized assembly.
·
Use of force, violence, or threats to cause
disruption during an assembly.
·
Interference with the movement of people at an
exit or an entrance to district property.
·
Use of force, violence, or threats in an attempt
to prevent people from entering or leaving district property without
authorization from an administrator.
·
Disruption of classes or other school activities
while on district property or on public property that is within 500 feet of
district property. Class disruption
includes making loud noises; trying to entice a student away from, or to
prevent a student from attending, a required class or activity; and entering a
classroom without authorization and disrupting the activity with loud or
profane language or any misconduct.
·
Interference with the transportation of students
in vehicles owned or operated by the district.
Possession of telecommunications devices, including mobile
telephones is permitted at Paradise High School as long as the device is not
visible, heard, or used at anytime or anywhere on school property during classroom instruction time or student
assemblies. Classroom instruction time
is defined as the time beginning when the tardy bell rings for class to start
through the instructor’s dismissal of students at the end of class. Classroom instruction time includes all
areas of school property. Exceptions will only be made in cases where the instructor
permits the use of these devices as a part of the educational process.
The use of mobile telephones in locker rooms or restroom
areas, at any time while at school or at a school-related or school-sponsored
event, is strictly prohibited.
Administrators have the right to prohibit the use of these
devices anywhere or anytime.
First time offense, the item will be confiscated and the
parent must come to the school and pick up the device.
Second offense, the device will be confiscated and the
parent must come to the school and pick up the device. A $15.00 fee will be charged each time the
item is confiscated after the first offense.
Third and subsequent offense, the item will be confiscated
and kept for 30 days. At the end of this
time period, the parent must come to the school and pick up the device. A
$15.00 fee will be charged for the return of the item.
Confiscated telecommunications devices that are not
retrieved by the student or student’s parents will be disposed of after the
notice required by law. [See policy
FNCE.]
Any disciplinary
action will be in accordance with the Student
Code of Conduct. The district will
not be responsible for damaged, lost, or stolen telecommunications devices.
Students are not permitted to possess such items as radios,
CD players, MP3 players, video or audio recorders, DVD players, cameras, games,
or other electronic devices at school, unless prior permission has been
obtained from the principal. Without
such permission, teachers will collect the items and turn them in to the
principal’s office. The principal will
determine whether to return items to students at the end of the day or to
contact parents to pick up the items.
Any disciplinary action will be in accordance with the Student
Code of Conduct. The district
will not be responsible for any damaged, lost, or stolen electronic device.
Students are prohibited from possessing, sending,
forwarding, posting, accessing, or displaying electronic messages that are
abusive, obscene, sexually oriented, threatening, harassing, damaging to
another’s reputation, or illegal. This
prohibition also applies to conduct off school property, whether the equipment
used to send such messages is district-owned or personally owned, if it results
in a substantial disruption to the educational environment. Any person taking, disseminating,
transferring, possessing, or sharing obscene, sexually oriented, lewd, or
otherwise illegal images or other content, commonly referred to as “sexting,”
will be disciplined according to the Student Code of Conduct and may, in
certain circumstances, be reported to law enforcement.
In addition, any student who engages in conduct that results
in a breach of the district’s computer security will be disciplined in
accordance with the Student Code of Conduct, and, in some cases, the
consequence may rise to the level of expulsion.
School rules apply to all school social events. Guests attending these events are expected to
observe the same rules as students, and a student inviting a guest will share
responsibility for the conduct of his or her guest.
A student attending a social event will be asked to sign out
when leaving before the end of the event; anyone leaving before the official
end of the event will not be readmitted.
To protect other students from contagious illnesses,
students infected with certain diseases are not allowed to come to school while
contagious. If a parent suspects that
his or her child has a contagious disease, the parent should contact the school
nurse or principal so that other students who might have been exposed to the
disease can be alerted.
The school nurse or the principal’s office can provide
information from the Department of State Health Services regarding these
diseases.
Students and their parents are encouraged to talk with a
school counselor, teacher, or principal to learn more about course offerings,
graduation requirements, and early graduation procedures. Each spring, students in grades 8–11 will be
provided information on anticipated course offerings for the next school year
and other information that will help them make the most of academic and CTE
opportunities.
To plan for the future, each student should work closely
with the counselor in order to enroll in the high school courses that best
prepare him or her 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 application deadlines, 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 stop by the counselor’s
office and set up an appointment.
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 Agency for child
abuse investigations and reports.
[For more information, refer to policies EHBAA(LEGAL),
FFE(LEGAL), and FFG(EXHIBIT).]
A student in grades 9–12 will earn credit for a course only
if the final grade is 70 or above. For a
two-semester (1 credit) course, the student’s grades from both semesters will
be averaged and credit will be awarded if the combined average is 70 or
above. Should the student’s combined
average be less than 70, the student will be required to retake the semester in
which he or she failed.
A student who has previously taken a course or subject—but
did not receive credit for it—may, in circumstances determined by the
principal, or attendance committee, be permitted to earn credit by passing an
exam on the essential knowledge and skills defined for that course or
subject. Prior instruction may include,
for example, incomplete coursework due to a failed course or excessive absences,
homeschooling, or coursework by a student transferring from a nonaccredited
school.
The counselor or principal would determine if the student
could take an exam for this purpose. If
approval is granted, the student must score at least 70 on the exam to receive
credit for the course or subject.
The attendance review committee may also offer a student
with excessive absences an opportunity to earn credit for a course by passing
an exam.
A fee will be charged to the student for this test.
[For further information, see the counselor and policy
EHDB(LOCAL).]
A student will be permitted to take an exam to earn credit
for an academic course for which the student has had no prior instruction or to
accelerate to the next grade level. The
dates on which exams are scheduled during the 2011–2012 school year include:
Dates Scheduled:
November 15-18, 2011
May 29-31, 2012
A student will earn course credit with a passing score of at
least 90 on the exam.
If a student plans to take an exam, the student (or parent)
must register with the principal no later than 30 days prior to the scheduled
testing date. The district will not
honor a request by a parent to administer a test on a date other than the published
dates. If the district agrees to
administer a test other than the one chosen by the district, the student’s will
be responsible for the cost of the exam. [For further information, see policy
EHDC(LOCAL).]
The district believes that all students learn best in an
environment free from dating violence, discrimination, harassment, and
retaliation and that their welfare is best served when they are free from this
prohibited conduct while attending school.
Students are expected to treat other students and district employees
with courtesy and respect, to avoid behaviors known to be offensive, and to
stop those behaviors when asked or told to stop. District employees are expected to treat
students with courtesy and respect.
The board has established policies and procedures to
prohibit and promptly respond to inappropriate and offensive behaviors that are
based on a person’s race, color, religion, gender, national origin, disability,
or any other basis prohibited by law.
[See policy FFH.]
Dating violence occurs when a person in a current or past
dating relationship uses physical, sexual, verbal, or emotional abuse to harm,
threaten, intimidate, or control the other person in the relationship. Dating violence also occurs when a person
commits these acts against a person in a marriage or dating relationship with
the individual who is or was once in a marriage or dating relationship with the
person committing the offense. This type
of conduct is considered harassment if the conduct is so severe, persistent, or
pervasive that it affects the student’s ability to participate in or benefit
from an educational program or activity; creates an intimidating, threatening,
hostile, or offensive educational environment; or substantially interferes with
the student’s academic performance.
Examples of dating violence against a student may include,
but are not limited to, physical or sexual assaults, name-calling, put-downs,
threats to hurt the student or the student’s family members or members of the
student’s household, destroying property belonging to the student, threats to
commit suicide or homicide if the student ends the relationship, attempts to
isolate the student from friends and family, stalking, or encouraging others to
engage in these behaviors.
Discrimination is defined as any conduct directed at a
student on
