Rules, Guidelines and Useful Links: Office of Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction Northwest Educational Service District 189 Index School District Information Notice to all who enter our school: Index Elementary is a Gun Free, Weapon Free, Tobacco Free, Drug Free and Alcohol Free learning environment.   The Student Handbook contains the rights, responsibilities, and regulations for students who attend. These rules and regulations have been established so our students will be assured an educational setting where he or she can have as few disruptions as possible. It is our hope that you will join your son or daughter in reviewing the handbook at the beginning of each school year. In order to assure a safe school environment for all students, the Index School Board has taken a position of zero tolerance for the possession of weapons on school property. According to state law, students who possess firearms or air guns on school grounds or at school activities must be expelled for a minimum of one year. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the principal. We look forward to building a strong partnership with you and your family. **************************************************************** The internet is a powerful research tool which used appropriately can accelerate learning. We maintain the latest filters that prevent students from getting into sites or accessing material that would not be suitable. We have never had a problem and do not expect any. If you DO NOT want your student to have access to the Internet you need to come to the school and fill out a form. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ NOTIFICATION OF RIGHTS UNDER
THE FAMILY EDUCATIONAL RIGHTS AND PRIVACY ACT (FERPA) for Elementary and Secondary Institutions The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords parents and students over 18 years of age (eligible students) certain rights with respect to the student's education records. These rights are: (1) The right to inspect and review the student's education records within 45 days of the day the School receives a request for access. Parents or eligible students should submit to the School principal [or appropriate school official] a written request that identifies the record(s) they wish to inspect. The School official will make arrangements 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 to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate or misleading. They should write the School principal [or appropriate official], clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. If the School decides not to amend the record as requested by the parent or eligible student, the School will notify the parent or eligible student of the decision and advise them to their right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the parent or eligible student when notified of the right to a hearing. (3) The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student's education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. One exception, which permits disclosure without consent, is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the School as an administrator, supervisor, instructor, or support staff member (including health or medical staff and law enforcement unit personnel); a person serving on the School Board; a person or company with whom the School has contracted to perform a special task (such as an attorney, auditor, medical consultant, or therapist); or a parent or student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks. A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility. [Optional] Upon request, the School discloses education records without consent to officials of another school district in which a student seeks or intends to enroll. [NOTE: FERPA requires a school district to make a reasonable attempt to notify the parent or eligible student of the records request unless it states in its annual notification that it intends to forward records on request.] (4) The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the School to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the Office that administers FERPA are: Family Policy Compliance Office U.S. Department of Education 400 Maryland Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20202-4605 * State Law Qualification: Although FERPA allows 45 days to honor a request, the state policy records law requires an appropriate response to a public records request within five business days. RCW 42.17.320 NOTE: In addition, an institution may want to include its directory information public notice, as required by §99.37 of the regulations, with its annual notification of rights under FERPA. ************************************************************************************************************************************************************ ChildFind: The ChildFind program conducts activities for the purpose of locating, evaluating and identifying students with a suspected disability. Activities apply to students ages birth through 21. Formal screenings and assessments, which could include the areas of hearing, vision, social skills, languages, learning and motor skills, are completed on preschool students. For parent(s)/guardians(s) with concerns about their childs development or questions about the ChildFind program, please contact the Index School at 360-793-1330. Home schooling: Parents and students may exercise their personal preference for home instruction, but must register their Declaration of Intent with the Index School District to conduct instruction in the home. Home instruction is subject to those state laws and regulations, which ensure a sufficient basic education program in provided. Registration forms for home schooling may be obtained by calling the school. Granting of credit for home instruction is at the discretion of the district. (RCW28A.225.010; 28A.150.350; WAC392.134.002-392.134.010; WAC392.121.181-392.121.183) Special education services: Index Public School provides special education services for all students with disabilities. These services are available in the general age range of birth through age 21 and are provided as near the child's home school area as possible. Parent(s)/guardian(s) of students with disabilities have basic rights in the following areas: (1) notice and consent, (2) confidentiality of records, (3) testing and assessment, (4) individualized educational program, (5) placement, and (6) due process (mediation and/or impartial hearing), a standardized process for resolving disagreements. Index Public School has the legal responsibility to notify parent(s)/guardians(s) when the district proposes to initiate or change the identification, assessment or education of the child; or when it, upon request of the parent(s)/guardian(s), refuses to initiate or change the identification, assessment or educational placement of the child or the provision of a free appropriate education to the child. Index Public School must obtain the written consent of the parent(s)/guardian(s) prior to conducting any initial evaluation of a student and prior to providing initial special education and related services to a special education student. If parent(s)/guardian(s) do not consent, the district may ask for a hearing officer to decide the issue. (WAC3920172-304c) *********************************************************************************************************************************************************** Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying Index Public School District is committed to a safe and civil educational environment free from harassment, intimidation or bullying for all students, employees, volunteers and patrons. School Board Policy 3207 governs this behavior and key parts of this policy are included below. Definition: Harassment, intimidation or bullying means any intentional written, verbal or physical act that: *Physically harms a student or damages the student’s property; or *Has the effect of substantially interfering with a race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, mental or physical disability, or distinguishing characteristics in RCW 9A.36.080 (3). This policy is a component of the district’s responsibility to create and maintain a safe, civil, respectful and inclusive learning community and is to be implemented in conjunction with comprehensive training of staff and volunteers, including the education of students in partnership with families and the community. This policy is not intended to prohibit expression of religious, philosophical, or political views, provided that the expression does not substantially disrupt the educational environment. Complaint process: Parents, students and staff may use informal or formal procedures to report and resolve complaints of harassment, intimidation or bullying. Informal reports (use form) may be made to any staff member, although staff shall always inform complainants of their right to, and the process for, filing a formal complaint. In addition to addressing concerns with school staff, families may also contact the U.S. Department for Civil Rights and the Washington State Human Rights Commission. When reports are filed with schools, staff begins by working with the complainant, during the informal complainants process, to develop strategies or techniques to resolve the situation. If unresolved, staff will direct complainants to the building principal, Title VI offer, or designees who can explain the formal complaint process, what a complainant can expect, and inform the complainant of his or her rights. All concerns will be investigated promptly and appropriate action will be taken. The district prohibits retaliation against complainants. Life threatening conditions: In accordance with RCW 28A.210, children with life-threatening conditions that would require medical services to be performed at school or risk the child’s life must form a health plan with school officials before child attends school. Student Concern Form Date of report _______________________ Person making complaint: ___________________________________________ Complaint report completed by: ______________________________ Name(s) of alleged harassers or concern about:: _____ Circle type of concern or harassment: Sexual Religious Threat of bullying/harassment Sexual Orientation Disability Racial Other concern (explain): _________________________________________________________________________________ When and where did this incident happen? Date: ______________ Time: _________________ Place: __________________ What happened? (Include as many details as possible – attach additional pages if needed) Were there any witness to the incident, or are there students/staff who may have information about this incident? ______ No _______ Yes. If yes, list their names: ____________________________________________________________ Did you do or say anything to respond to the harassment/bullying? ______No ________ Yes. If yes, describe: __________________________________________________________________ Has this happened before? _____ No ______Yes. Where and when did it happen before? ___________________________ If this happened before did you try to resolve this problem? ___No ______Yes. Please describe how you tried: __________ Do you think this will happen again? ____No _____Yes. If yes, when and where might it happen? ______________________ Signature: ___________________________________________ Date: _____________________________ ************************************************************************************************************************************************************ SUBMISSION OF DECLARATION OF INTENT TO PROVIDE HOME-BASED INSTRUCTION Washington State’s laws regulating home-based instruction, extension programs in approved private schools, and the part-time attendance in public schools of students receiving home-based instruction. In May 1985, the Governor signed into a law chapter 441, Laws of 1985, (SSB 3279, the “Home-Based Instruction” Law). Three statutes were amended by this law: RCW 28A.225.010 Attendance mandatory—Age—Exceptions; RCW 28A.195.010 Private schools—Extension programs for parents to teach children in their custody—Scope of state control; and RCW 28A.150.350 Part-time students—Defined—Enrollment authorized—Reimbursement for costs—Funding authority recognition—Rules, regulations. New sections were added to chapter 28A.225 RCW Compulsory School Attendance and Admission. In 1991, RCW 28A.305.190 Eligibility to take general educational development test was also amended. There are no rules and regulations implementing chapter 28A.225 RCW since the authority to enforce this statute rests with local school district authorities under RCW 28A.305.310 and RCW 28A.195.040. Therefore, those portions of the new legislation, which amended or added to chapter 28A.225 RCW and chapter 28A.200 RCW. Home-Based Instruction will not be put into rules or regulations. The State Board of Education is authorized to promulgate rules relating to the approval of private schools. The Superintendent of Public Instruction is responsible to implement the statute relating to part-time attendance and the General Educational Development (GED). Rules and regulations governing extension programs in private schools and part-time attendance in the public schools of students receiving home-based instruction were adopted in 1987. Rules and regulations authorizing students who receive home-based instruction to take the GED were passed in 1991. TITLE IX NOTICEThe Index School District complies with all federal and state rules and regulations and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, or disability. This holds true for all district employees and opportunities. Inquiries regarding compliance and/or grievance procedures may be directed to the school district’s Title IX RCW 28A.640 Compliance Officer and Section 504 / ADA Coordinator Linda Tate. She may be reached at Index School 436 Index Ave. P.O. 237 Index, WA. 98256 or by phone at 360-793-1330. BULLYING / INTIMATION / HARASSMENT LIAISON SHARING AND PLAYTHINGSAll playthings, toys, electronic devices including games, CD’s, DVD’s, should be left at home unless it is for a special classroom lesson such as show and tell. If your child would like to bring a special object, pet, or other valuable item please accompany your child so that you will be able to take it home or otherwise care for it after sharing time. The Index School is not responsible for lost, stolen, damaged or abandoned student items. ***************************************************************************************************************** We Do Our Part To Be Green! |
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