Student and Parent

Handbook

1.00 RESIDENCE REQUIREMENTS

Definitions:

A. “Reside” means to be physically present and to maintain a permanent place of abode for an average of no fewer than four (4) calendar days and nights per week for a primary purpose other than school attendance.

B. “Resident” means a student whose parents, legal guardians, persons having legal, lawful control of the student under order of a court, or persons standing in loco parentis reside in the school district.

C. “Residential address” means the physical location where the student’s parents, legal guardians, persons having legal, lawful control of the student under order of a court, or persons standing in loco parentis reside. A student may use the residential address of a legal guardian, person having legal, lawful control of the student under order of a court, or person standing in loco parentis only if the student resides at the same residential address and if the guardianship or other legal authority is not granted solely for educational needs or school attendance purposes.

D. The schools of the District shall be open and free through the completion of the secondary program to all persons between the ages of five (5) and twenty-one (21) years whose parents, legal guardians or other persons having lawful control of the person under an order of a court reside within the District and to all persons between those ages who have been legally transferred to the District for educational purposes.

E. In order for a person under the age of eighteen (18) years to establish a residence for the purpose of attending the District’s schools separate and apart from his or her parents, guardians or other persons having lawful control of him or her under an order of a court, the person must actually reside in the District for a primary purpose other than that of school attendance. However, a student previously enrolled in the district who is placed under the legal guardianship of a noncustodial parent living outside of the district by a custodial parent on active military duty may continue to attend district schools.

F. Under instances prescribed in A.C.A. §6-18-203, a child or ward of an employee of the district or of the education coop to which the district belongs may enroll in the district even though the employee and his/her child or ward reside outside the district.

1.05 ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS

A. To enroll in a school in the District, the child must be a resident of the District as defined in District policy (4.1 - RESIDENCE REQUIREMENTS) or meet the criteria outlined in policy 4.40 - HOMELESS STUDENTS.

B. Students who move into the District from an accredited school shall be assigned to the same grade as they were attending in their previous school (mid-year transfers) or as they would have been assigned in their previous school. Home-schooled students shall be evaluated by the District to determine their appropriate grade placement.

C. Prior to the child’s admission to a District school:

1. The parent, guardian or other responsible person shall furnish the child’s social security number, or if they request, the district will assign the child a nine (9) digit number designated by the Department of Education.

2. The parent, guardian or other responsible person shall provide the district with one (1) of the following documents indicating the child’s age:

a. A birth certificate;

b. A statement by the local registrar or a county recorder certifying the child’s date of birth;

c. An attested baptismal certificate;

d. A passport;

e. An affidavit of the date and place of birth by the child’s parent or

guardian;

f. United States military identification; or

g. Previous school records.

D. The parent, guardian or other responsible person shall indicate on school registration forms whether the child has been expelled from school in any other school district or is a party to an expulsion proceeding.

E. The child shall be age appropriately immunized from poliomyelitis, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis,

red (rubella) measles, rubella, and other diseases as designated by the State Board of Health, or have an exemption issued by the Arkansas Department of Health. Proof of immunization shall be by a certificate of a licensed physician or a public health department acknowledging the immunization. Exemptions are also possible on an annual basis for religious reasons from the Arkansas Department of Health. To continue such exemptions, they must be renewed at the beginning of each school year. Requests should be sent to the Director, Division of CD/Immunization, Arkansas Department of Health, 4815 W. Markham, Slot 48, Little Rock, Arkansas, 72205. Letters of exemption or denial will be issued to the school. A child enrolling in a district school and living in the household of a person on active military duty has thirty (30) days to receive his/her initial required immunizations and twelve (12) months to be up to date on the required immunizations for the student’s age.

F. Act 1255 of 2005 requires schools to “immediately” enroll foster children whether or not they can produce “required clothing or required records”.

1.10 HOMELESS STUDENTS

A. The South Conway County School District will afford the same services and educational opportunities to homeless children as are afforded to non-homeless children. The Superintendent or his/her designee shall appoint an appropriate staff person to be the local educational liaison for homeless children and youth whose responsibilities shall include coordinating with the state educational liaison for homeless children and youth to ensure that homeless children are not stigmatized or segregated on the basis of their status as homeless and such other duties as are prescribed by law and this policy.

B. Homeless students living in the district are entitled to enroll in the district’s school that non-homeless students who live in the same attendance area are eligible to attend. If there is a question concerning the enrollment of a homeless child due to a conflict with the South Conway County School District Policy 4.1 or 4.2, the child shall be immediately admitted to the school in which enrollment is sought pending resolution of the dispute. It is the responsibility of the District’s local educational liaison for homeless children and youth to carry out the dispute resolution process.

C. The District shall act according to the best interests of a homeless child and to the extent feasible, shall do one of the following. (For the purposes of this policy “school of origin” means the school the child attended when permanently housed or the school in which the child was last enrolled).

1. continue educating the child who becomes homeless between academic years or during an academic year in their school of origin for the duration of their homelessness;

2. continue educating the child in his/her school of origin who becomes permanently housed during an academic year for the remainder of the academic year; or

3. enroll the homeless child in the school appropriate for the attendance zone where the child lives.

D. If the District elects to enroll a homeless child in a school other than their school of origin and such action is against the wishes of the child’s parent or guardian, the District shall provide the parent or guardian with a written explanation of their reason for so doing which shall include a statement of the parent/guardian’s right to appeal.

E. In any instance where the child is unaccompanied by a parent or guardian, the District’s local educational liaison for homeless children and youth shall assist the child in determining his/her place of enrollment. The Liaison shall provide the child with a notice of his/her right to appeal the enrollment decision.

F. The District shall be responsible for providing transportation for a homeless child, at the request of the parent or guardian (or in the case of an unaccompanied youth, the liaison), to and from the child’s school.

G. For the purposes of this policy, students shall be considered homeless if they lack a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence and

1. are sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship or a similar reason; are living in motels, hotels, trailer parks or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative adequate accommodations; are living in emergency or transitional shelters; are abandoned in hospitals; or are awaiting foster care placement;

2. have a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings;

3. are living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings; or

4. are migratory children who are living in circumstances described in clauses (a) through (c).

1.15 COMPULSORY ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS

A. Every parent, guardian or other person having custody or care of any child age five (5) through seventeen (17) years on or before September 15 of that year who resides, as defined by policy, within the District shall enroll and send the child to a District school with the following exceptions:

1. The child is enrolled in private or parochial school.

2. The child is being home schooled and the conditions of the home school policy have been met.

3. The child will not be age six (6) on or before September 15 of that particular school year and the parent, guardian or other person having custody or charge of the child elects not to have him/her attend kindergarten. A kindergarten wavier form prescribed by regulations of the Department of Education must be signed and on file with the District administrative office.

4. The child has received a high school diploma or its equivalent as determined by the State Board of Education.

5. The child is age sixteen (16) or above and is enrolled in a post-secondary vocational-technical institution, a community college or a two-year or four-year institution of higher education.

6. The child is age sixteen (16) or seventeen (17) and has met the requirements to enroll in an adult education program as defined by A.C.A. § 6-18-201 (b).

1.20 HOME SCHOOL

A. Parents or legal guardians desiring to provide a home school for their children must give written notice to the Superintendent of their intent to do so and sign a waiver acknowledging that the State of Arkansas is not liable for the education of their children during the time the parents choose to home school. Notice shall be given:

1. At the beginning of each school year, but no later than August 15;

2. By December 15 for parents who decide to start home schooling at the beginning of the spring semester; or

3. Fourteen (14) calendar days prior to withdrawing the child (provided the student is not currently under disciplinary action for violation of any written school policy, including, but not limited to, excessive unexcused absences) and at the beginning of each school year thereafter.

B. The parents or legal guardians shall deliver written notice in person to the Superintendent the first time such notice is given and the notice must include:

1. The name, date of birth, grade level and the name and address of the school last attended, if any;

2. The location of the home school;

3. The basic core curriculum to be offered;

4. The proposed schedule of instruction; and

5. The qualifications of the parent-teacher.

C. To aid the District in providing a free and appropriate public education to students in need of special education services, the parents or legal guardians home schooling their children shall provide information which might indicate the need for special education services.

D. Any student transferring from a home school to a District school shall be evaluated/assessed by District staff to determine the student’s appropriate grade placement. The District specifically reserves the right to utilize various assessment techniques to determine appropriate grade placement.

Legal References: A.C.A. § 6-15-503, A.C.A. § 6-41-206

1.25 EQUAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY

A. No student in the South Conway County School District shall, on the grounds of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age or disability be excluded from participation in, or denied the benefits of, or subjected to discrimination under any educational program or activity sponsored by the District.

1.30 ABSENCES

A. Attendance and achievement go hand in hand. Students should be in school unless illness or extenuating circumstance justifies an absence. The purpose of this policy is to define excused, unexcused, and excessive absences. The policy also explains procedures the school may use to address attendance problems.

B. Notes are only required for excused absences outlined in section C. All other absences will be unexcused. Notes must be turned into the office within three (3) days of the student returning to school from the absence.

C. An excused absence is defined as follows:

1. The student’s illness or when attendance could jeopardize the health of others.

* Head lice infestation is excused for one day per occurrence.

2. Death or illness in the immediate family. The definition of immediate family

members is students’ spouse, child, parent or relative living in the same residence.

3. Observance of recognized holidays observed by their faith.

4. Attendance at an appointment with a government agency.

5. Attendance at a medical appointment.

6. Participation in a FFA, FCCLA, 4-H and other school sanctioned activities.

7. Exceptional circumstances with prior approval of the principal.

Additional excused absences shall be granted to allow a student to visit his/her parent or legal guardian who is a member of the military and been called to active duty, is on leave from active duty, or has returned from deployment to a combat zone or combat support posting. The number of additional excused absences shall be at the discretion of the superintendent or designee.

D. Unexcused Absences - Absences not defined above. Excessive absences shall not be a reason for expulsion or dismissal of a student. After ten (10) unexcused absences, students will not be allowed to make up work/tests.

E. Students are not permitted more than ten (10) unexcused absences from any one class per semester. This should be adequate time to take care of student’s normal illness or extenuating circumstances. Any time a student presents a note from a licensed medical professional, or the student absence is cleared by the building administration, the absence(s) will not count toward the allowed number.

F. Whenever a student exceeds five (5) and ten (10) unexcused absences in a semester, the District shall notify the prosecuting attorney and the parent, guardian or persons in loco parentis shall be subject to a civil penalty as prescribed by law.

G. Students who are assigned suspension shall not be counted absent for those days.

1.35 STUDENT VEHICLES (Grades 9-12)

A. Students who have presented a valid driver’s license and proof of insurance to the appropriate office personnel, may drive their vehicle to school. Vehicles driven to school shall be parked in the area designated for student parking.

B. Students are not permitted to loiter in parking areas and are not to return to their vehicles for any reason unless given permission to do so by a school administrator. Students going to their car without permission are subject to a search of property.

C. It is understood that there is no expectation of privacy in vehicles in parking areas. Drivers of vehicles parked on a school campus will be held accountable for illegal substances or any other items prohibited by District policy found in their vehicle.

D. Rental for a parking space is $5.00 per year. Hang tag will be required to park on campus in assigned parking space.

E. Vehicles parked anywhere but in its assigned spot without prior permission from an administrator will be subject to a parking fine or loss of parking privileges.

F. Only students enrolled in grades 9^th through 12^th shall be able to purchase a parking space.

G. Morrilton High School and the South Conway County School District are not responsible for damage or theft while vehicles are parked on South County School District Property.

H. Grades will be reviewed at the end of each quarter. Students with failing grades will lose driving privileges for the following quarter.

1.40 STUDENT HANDBOOK

A. It shall be the policy of the South Conway County School District that the most recently adopted version of the Student Handbook be incorporated by reference into the policies of this district. In the event that there is a conflict between the student handbook and a general board policy or policies, the more recently adopted language will be considered binding and controlling on the matter provided the parent(s) of the student, or the student is eighteen (18) years of age or older have acknowledged receipt of the controlling language.

1.45 ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS (Grades 9-12)

A. Students in grades nine through twelve (9-12) are required to schedule and attend at least 360 minutes of regularly scheduled class time daily. Part of this requirement may be met by students taking post-secondary courses. Eligible students’ enrollment and attendance at a post-secondary institution shall count toward the required weekly time of school attendance. Each credit hour shall count as three (3) hours of attendance time, meaning a three (3) hour course will count as nine (9) hours of the weekly required attendance time.

B. Academic Seminar/Study Halls - Students may be assigned to no more than one (1) class period each day for a study hall that the student shall be required to attend and participate in for the full period. Such study halls are to be used for the purposes of self-study or for organized tutoring which is to take place in the school building.

C. Extracurricular Classes - Students may be assigned to no more than one (1) class period each day for organized and scheduled student extracurricular classes that the student shall be required to attend and participate in for the full class period. Extracurricular classes related to a seasonal activity shall meet for an entire semester whether or not the season ends prior to the end of the semester. Students must attend and participate in the class for the entire semester in order to receive credit for the course. For the purpose of this policy, extracurricular classes is defined as school sponsored activities which are not an Arkansas Department of Education approved course counting toward graduation requirements or classes that have not been approved by the Arkansas Department of Education for academic credit. Such classes may include special interest, fine arts, technical, scholastic, intramural and interscholastic opportunities.

D. Course Enrollment Outside of District - Enrollment and attendance in vocational-educational training courses, college courses, school work programs, and other department-sanctioned educational programs may be used to satisfy the student attendance requirement even if the programs are not located at the public schools. Attendance in such alternative programs must be pre-approved by the school’s administration. The district shall strive to assign students who have been dropped from a course of study or removed from a school work program job during the semester into another placement or course of study. In the instances where a subsequent placement is unable to be made, the district may grant a wavier for the student for the duration of the semester in which the placement is unable to be made.

E. In rare instances, students may be granted waivers from the mandatory attendance requirement if they would experience proven financial hardships if required to attend a full day of school. For the purpose of this policy, proven financial hardships is defined as harm or suffering caused by a student's inability to obtain or provide basic life necessities of food, clothing and shelter for the student or the student's family. The superintendent shall have the authority to grant such a waiver, on a case-by-case basis, only when convinced the student meets the definition of proven financial hardships.

F. In any instance where a provision of a student’s Individual Education Plan (IEP) conflicts with a portion(s) of this policy, the IEP shall prevail.

Legal References: A.C.A. § 6-18-210, 211, Arkansas Department of Education Rules Governing the Mandatory Attendance Requirements for Students in Grades Nine through Twelve.

1.50 SMART CORE CURRICULUM AND GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

A. All students are required to participate in the Smart Core curriculum unless their parents or guardians, or the students if they are 18 years of age or older, sign an Informed Consent Form to not participate¹. Those students not participating in the Smart Core curriculum will be required to fulfill the Core curriculum or the requirements of their IEP (when applicable) to be eligible for graduation. The signed Informed Consent Formshall be attached to the student’s permanent transcript. Informed Consent Forms are required to be signed prior to registering for seventh grade classes, or if enrolling in the district for seventh through twelfth grade classes.² Counseling by trained personnel shall be available to students and their parents or legal guardians prior to the time they are required to sign the consent forms.

B. While there are similarities between the two curriculums, following the Core curriculum may not qualify students for some scholarships and admission to certain colleges could be jeopardized. Students initially choosing the Core curriculum may subsequently change to the Smart Core curriculum providing they would be able to complete the required course of study by the end of their senior year.³ Students wishing to change their choice of curriculums must consult with their counselor to determine the feasibility of changing.

C. This policy, the Smart Core curriculum, and the courses necessary for graduation shall be reviewed by staff, students, and parents at least every other year⁴ to determine if changes need to be made to better serve the needs of the district’s students. The superintendent, or his/her designee, shall select the composition of the review panel.

D. Sufficient information relating to Smart Core and the district’s graduation requirements shall be communicated to parents and students to ensure their informed understanding of each. This may be accomplished through any or all of the following means.⁵

· Inclusion in the student handbook⁶ of the Smart Core curriculum and graduation requirements;

· Discussion of the Smart Core curriculum and graduation requirements at the school’s annual public meeting, PTA meetings, or a meeting held specifically for the purpose of informing the public on this matter;

· Discussions held by the school’s counselors with students and their parents; and/or

· Distribution of a newsletter(s) to parents or guardians of the district’s students.

E. The first year of this policy’s implementation all employees required to be certified as a condition of their employment shall receive training regarding this policy so that they will be able to help successfully implement it. In subsequent years, administrators, or their designees, shall train newly hired employees, required to be certified as a condition of their employment, regarding this policy. The district’s annual professional development shall include the training required by this paragraph.⁷

F. GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

1. The number of units students must earn in grades nine through twelve (9-12) to be eligible for high school graduation is to be earned from the following categories. A minimum of 26 units⁸ is required for graduation for student participating in either the Smart Core or Core curriculum. There are some distinctions made between Smart Core units and Graduation units. Not all units earned toward graduation necessarily apply to Smart Core requirements.

2. Additionally, unless exempted by a student’s IEP, all students must successfully pass all end-of-course (EOC) assessments they are required to take or meet the remediation required for the EOC assessment to receive academic credit for the applicable course and be eligible to graduate from high school.

3. Beginning with the class of 2012, students will be required to take Computer Business Applications to fulfill local graduation requirements.

G. SMART CORE: Sixteen (16) units

English: four (4) units (years) – 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th

Oral Communications: one-half (1/2) unit (1/2 year)

Mathematics: four (4) units (years) (all students under Smart Core must take a mathematics course in grade 11 or 12 and complete Algebra II.)

· Algebra I or Algebra A & B* which may be taken in grades 7-8 or 8-9

· Geometry or Investigating Geometry or Geometry A & B* which may be taken in grades 8-9 or 9-10

*A two-year algebra equivalent or a two-year geometry equivalent may each be counted as two units of the four-unit requirement for the purpose of meeting the graduation requirement, but only serve as one unit each toward fulfilling the Smart Core requirement.

· Algebra II

· Choice of: Transitions to College Math, Pre-Calculus, Calculus, Trigonometry, Statistics, Computer Math, Algebra III, or an Advanced Placement math

(Comparable concurrent credit college courses may be substituted where applicable)

Natural Science: three (3) units (years) with lab experience chosen from

· Physical Science

· Biology or Applied Biology/Chemistry

· Chemistry

· Physics or Principles of Technology I & II or PIC Physics

Social Studies: three (3) units (years)

· Civics or Civics/American Government (for the class of 2011-2013)

· Civics one-half (1/2) unit and Economics one-half (1/2) unit (for the class of 2014 and after)

· World History

· American History

Physical Education: one-half (1/2) unit (1/2 year)

Note: While one-half (1/2) unit is required for graduation, no more than one (1) unit may be applied toward fulfilling the necessary units to graduate.

Health and Safety: one-half (1/2) unit (1/2 year)

Fine Arts: one-half (1/2) unit (1/2 year)

H. CAREER FOCUS: - Six (6) units – at least two of the Career Focus units must be of the same foreign language.⁹

All career focus unit requirements shall be established through guidance and counseling based on the student’s contemplated work aspirations. Career focus courses shall conform to the curriculum policy of the district and reflect state curriculum frameworks through course sequencing and career course concentrations where appropriate.

The Smart Core, career focus, and elective units must total at least twenty-six (26) units⁸ to graduate.

I. CORE CURRICULUM: Sixteen (16) units

English: four (4) units (years) – 9, 10, 11, and 12

Oral Communications: one-half (1/2) unit (1/2 year)

Mathematics: four (4) units (years)

· Algebra or its equivalent* - 1 unit

· Geometry or its equivalent* - 1 unit

· All math units must build on the base of algebra and geometry knowledge and skills.

· (Comparable concurrent credit college courses may be substituted where applicable)

*A two-year algebra equivalent or a two-year geometry equivalent may each be counted as two units of the four (4) unit requirement.

Science: three (3) units (years)

· at least one (1) unit of biology or its equivalent

· one (1) unit of a physical science

Social Studies: three (3) units (years)

· Civics or Civics/American Government (for the class of 2011-2013)

· Civics one-half (1/2) unit and Economics one-half (1/2) unit (for the class of 2014 and after)

· World history, one (1) unit

· U.S. history, one (1) unit

Physical Education: one-half (1/2) unit (1/2 year)

Note: While one-half (1/2) unit is required for graduation, no more than one (1) unit may be applied toward fulfilling the necessary units to graduate.

Health and Safety: one-half (1/2) unit (1/2 year)

Fine Arts: one-half (1/2) unit (1/2 year)

J CAREER FOCUS: - Six (6) units

The Core Curriculum, career focus, and elective units must total at least twenty-six (26) units⁸ to graduate.

Notes: ¹ The Form requires the selection of either Smart or Core curriculum rather than only requiring a

signature for choosing to opt out of Smart Core. The Standards only require a signature for those opting out. The Guidance requires a specific choice be made. We suggest following the Guidance because it can serve to protect you better in the long run. Regardless, the default option is Smart Core.

² Inclusion of this policy is required in all student handbooks serving students in grades 6^th through 12^th.

³ The Department’s Guidelines stipulate completion by the end of the senior year. We believe this is not in agreement with Arkansas code 6-18-202(b)(1) which requires public schools to be open through the completion of the secondary program to students between the ages of 5 and 21. Therefore, we suggest that students be allowed to switch from Core to Smart Core if they could successfully complete its requirements by the time they attained their twenty first birthday. Acceptance of a diploma negates a student’s right to switch programs.

⁴ The Standards require a review, but do not stipulate its frequency. Select an interval to insert here (never is not an option). Standards require the inclusion of students, parents, and staff in the formulation and review of this policy.

⁵ Schools are required to retain documentation procedures and methods used.

⁶ This policy is required to be included in your student handbooks that cover grades 6 through 12. Students and parents are required to sign an acknowledgement specifically for this policy that they have received it.

⁷ The Guidelines require the policy to include the training“procedure.” If you prefer a different procedure than inclusion in your district’s annual professional development process, change this sentence accordingly.

⁸ Change this to reflect your district’s requirement if it is greater than 22.

⁹ Technically, foreign language is not required under Smart Core, but it is required for eligibility for the Challenge Scholarship as well as being necessary for admission to many colleges. It is included in this policy under the Career Focus for those reasons.

Legal References: Standards of Accreditation 9.03 – 9.03.1.9, 14.03

ADE Guidelines for the Development of Smart Core Curriculum Policy

Smart Core Informed Consent Form

Legal References: A.C.A. § 6-18-210, 211, Arkansas Department of Education Rules Governing the Mandatory Attendance Requirements for Students in Grades Nine through Twelve.

1.55 GRADUATION

Graduating seniors will not be allowed to participate in commencement activities if any of the following hold true:

a. Students have not paid all fines or have not returned school property.

b. Students have more than ten unexcused absences for spring semester.

1.61 CLASSIFICATION CREDIT REQUIREMENTS

Students must earn the amount of credits (units) listed below for classification in the classes indicated:

To be classified as a sophomore: 6 total credits

To be classified as a junior: 13 total credits, 2 of which must be English

To be classified as a senior: 18 total credits, 3 of which must be English

Total credits to graduate: 26 credits

1.65 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

A. The Pledge of Allegiance shall be recited during the school day. Those students choosing to participate shall do so by facing the flag with their right hands over their hearts, or in an appropriate salute if in uniform, while reciting the Pledge. Students choosing not to participate shall be quiet while either standing or sitting at their desks.

B. Students shall not be compelled to recite the Pledge, but students who choose not to recite the Pledge shall not disrupt those students choosing to recite the Pledge.

C. Students choosing not to recite the Pledge shall not be subject to any comments, retaliation or disciplinary action.

Legal Reference: A.C.A. § 6-16-108.

1.70 FOREIGN EXCHANGE STUDENT PROGRAM

A. Morrilton High School will operate its Foreign Student Exchange Program under the following guidelines:

1. All students from foreign student exchange programs accepted by the South Conway County School District must be from a program accredited by the Council on Standards for International Educational Travel.

2. There shall be no more than two students from the same home country.

3. There shall be no more than four students from the same accredited organization during any one school year.

4. There shall be no more than three students allowed per grade level. No more than six total.

5. Students and/or the foreign student exchange program shall furnish a transcript written in the English language upon entering the school. The transcript shall include the following information:

a. Course titles for each subject taken.

b. The school year each class was taken.

c. Number of class meetings for each subject per week.

d. Number of minutes in each class meeting.

e. Grade earned for each class (the grade will be converted to the South Conway County School District system).

6. Credit will not be awarded to students not proficient in the English language. These students will be considered for a cultural experience only.

7. Students must be permanently placed in an American host family prior to enrollment, and the host family will be domiciled in the South Conway County School District.

8. All students must be enrolled in one year study programs.

1.75 DAILY ATTENDANCE FOR PARTICIPATION

A. Students that miss any part of the regular school day are ineligible to participate in games, practices, performances, contests or credited work programs unless the absence is cleared by the building principal in advance.

1.80 COLLEGE DAYS

A. Seniors are allowed two days to visit colleges during their senior year. Only two days will be considered school business. All College days MUST be taken by April 15^th. However, the student must arrange with his/her teachers and the Assistant Principal before the visitation and must secure a letter from the Admissions Office of the college concerned stating that the student visited on a given date. The student will then present this statement to the Assistant Principal the following day for it to be considered school business. Failure to present the statement the day following the visit causes it to be counted as an absence.

1.85 SCHOOL SPONSORED TRIPS

A. School trips will be supervised by a teacher, coach, school official, approved parent or adult sponsor. Students will be required to ride the bus to the trip destination.

B. Students shall be permitted to return from school sponsored events with parents upon request of the parents. The parent will sign out the student at the school event.

C. A student may lose the right to go on school sponsored trips due to discipline.

1.90 USE OF STUDENTS BY COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS

A. Community organizations wishing to use students in speeches, programs, etc. shall make their requests known to the appropriate principal at least one day in advance. These students shall be excused only when the permission of the parent is given. The principal shall ensure that a minimum of classes will be missed by the student.

1.95 HONORS PROGRAM PARTICIPATION

A. Participants must be enrolled at Morrilton High School for the full two semesters of their senior year for Highest Honor status. Transfer students will be allowed to graduate in the Honors Program and receive an Honors Diploma if all program requirements have been met.

B. Students must complete all requirements for graduation of the Arkansas Department of Education and the South Conway County School District.

C. Participants must earn credit for twelve (12) of the twenty-six (26) honors courses.

D. For Highest Honors Graduate status, students must have a cumulative 4.0 or above GPA after eight semesters.

E. For Honors Graduate status, a participant must have a cumulative 3.50 GPA after eight (8) semesters.

F. For Honors Diploma, a participant must have a cumulative 3.0 GPA after eight (8) semesters.

G. Advance Placement (AP) and Honors Courses that call for pre-requisite requirements must be met.

H. The following twenty-six (26) courses will be Honors Courses. Each will be counted only one (1) time for Honors credit.

Pre AP English 9 Honors Civics and Government

Pre AP English 10 AP United States History

AP English Language Pre AP World History

AP English/Literature and Composition AP World History

Honors Algebra II E.A.S.T (one period, one year)

Honors Algebra III Multimedia Application I and II

Pre AP Calculus AP Calculus AB

Honors Desktop Publishing I and II Pre AP Biology

Honors CADD: Architecture II Pre AP US History

AP Biology

Honors CADD: Engineering II Pre AP Chemistry I

AP Chemistry I Spanish II

Physics Spanish III

Honors Physical Science

I. All Honor Graduates must complete a minimum of two (2) years of Honors English (Pre-AP, AP, or Composition I and II).

J. The following college-level classes count for concurrent credit: College Algebra, Composition I, Composition II, Western Civilization I, and Western Civilization II.

K. The GPA shall be derived from courses taken in public schools in grades nine (9) through twelve (12), concurrent credit grades as approved, and 8^th grade Algebra I. GPA is calculated by including all courses except athletics and service learning. Of note, students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25 to be considered for service learning.

Legal References: A.C.A. § 6-18-101 (a) (1), A.C.A. § 6-18-101 (b), A.C.A. § 6-18-101 (a) (2).

2.00 WEBSITE PRIVACY POLICY

A. The South Conway County School District operates and maintains a web site for the purpose of informing the citizens of the district about its activities. The web site does not use “cookies” or ISP addresses to collect or retain personally identifying information about visitors to its web site nor is any such information given to “third parties.” Any data collected is used solely for the purpose of monitoring site activity to help the district improve the usefulness of the site to its visitors.

B. The site serves no commercial purpose and does not collect any information from individuals for such purpose.

C. Photographs of students shall not be displayed on any page of the district’s web site without the prior written consent of the parent (or the student if 18 or older).

D. The site provides for email communication between the District and individuals for the purpose of exchanging information regarding the District and its activities or between teachers and their students. The site may also provide for password protected communication between the District and its staff.

Legal References: 15 U.S.C. § 6501 (COPPA).

2.05 CONCURRENT CREDIT

A. A ninth through twelfth grade student who successfully completes a college course(s) from an institution approved by the Arkansas Department of Education can replace credit toward high school grades and graduation at the rate of one-half (1/2) high school credit for each three (3) semester hours of college credit. Unless approved by the school’s principal, prior to enrolling for the course, the concurrent credit shall be applied toward the student’s graduation requirements as an elective.

B. Students will retain credit applied toward a course required for high school graduation from a previously attended, accredited, public school.

C. Concurrent credit courses must be taught by a highly qualified teacher currently holding a valid Arkansas Teacher License. Any and all costs of higher education courses taken for concurrent credit are the student’s responsibility.

D. Students are responsible for having the transcript for the concurrent credit course(s) they’ve taken sent to Morrilton High School in order to receive credit for the course(s). Credit for concurrent credit courses will not be given until the transcript is received. Transcripts for students who take concurrent credit courses as partial fulfillment of the required full day of class for students in grades 9-12 are to be received by the school within ten (10) school days of the end of the semester in which the course is taken. Students may not receive credit for the course(s) they took or the credit may be delayed if the transcripts are not received in time, or at all. This may jeopardize students’ eligibility for extracurricular activities, graduation, or promotion.

E. Remedial classes and math classes lower than College Algebra shall not receive credit.

Legal Reference: A.C.A. § 6-15-902(c)(2), Arkansas Department of Education Rules and Regulations: Concurrent College and High School Credit for Students Who Have Completed the Eighth Grade.

2.10 VALEDICTORIAN-HIGHEST HONORS

A. All Highest Honors Graduates (GPA of 4.0 or higher) who have been enrolled in Morrilton High School for his/her entire senior year shall serve as the valedictorian of his/her graduating class. The three speakers at graduation will be determined by the following criteria:

1. Student with the most honors courses successfully completed

2. Student earning the most credits (units)

2.15 ATHLETICS FOR PHYSICAL EDUCATION CREDIT

A. To receive physical education credit for participation in athletics, a student must be enrolled in a program that receives credit in physical education, subject to course approvals.

B. The student will receive credit only if he participated in a given sport in lieu of participation in his normal physical education class and would receive credit for that semester, subject to course approvals.

C. Physical education can only count as one-half (1/2) unit towards graduation.

2.20 FINAL TEST EXEMPTION

Fall Semester

All 9^th 10^th, 11^th, and 12^th grade students may be exempt from their final tests during the fall semester. The following qualifications for exemptions will apply:

A Student must have scored proficient or advanced on the Augmented Benchmark, EOC Algebra I, EOC Geometry, EOC Biology or the Grade 11 Literacy Exam for the 2009-2010 school year. Fall exemptions also apply to students who scored at or above state average on the American Diploma Project Algebra II EOC exam.

B. Qualifications for exemptions must first meet the criteria for letter “A” (above) as well as academic performance, absenteeism, and disciplinary actions.

C. Students may take final exams in lieu of exemptions in an attempt to raise grade averages.

D. Criteria will be:

1. A grade average during the fall semester of a "B" or better in the individual class. This includes AP courses.

2. No more than five days absent in the individual class during the fall semester. School business is the only absence not included in the five days.

3. No suspensions for the semester being tested.

E. If a student wishes to take the exemption, their grades will be the average of the first and second quarter grades.

F. 9^th, 10^th, 11^th, and 12^th grade students would be exempt from school only during the time that the test from which they were exempted was being administered.

Spring Semester

All 9^th 10^th, 11^th, and 12^th grade students may be exempt from their final tests during the spring semester. The following qualifications for exemptions will apply:

A. Exemptions will be based on academic performance, absenteeism, and disciplinary actions.

B. Students may take final exams in lieu of exemptions in an attempt to raise grade averages.

C. Criteria will be:

1. A grade average during the spring semester of a "B" or better in the individual class. This includes AP courses.

2. No more than five days absent in the individual class during the spring semester. School business is the only absence not included in the five days.

3. No suspensions for the semester being tested.

D. If a student wishes to take the exemption, their grades will be the average of the third and fourth quarter grades. The final grade is an average of the 1^st and 2^nd semester grades.

E. 9^th, 10^th, 11^th, and 12^th grade students would be exempt from school only during the time that the test from which they were exempted was being administered.

2.25 DAILY SCHEDULE

A. Buildings will be opened for the entrance of students at 7:35 a.m. The school buildings will not be opened to the students without a teacher in charge. Students will not be permitted to go to their lockers until the 7:55 bell. This schedule is subject to change under extenuating circumstances.

B. Instruction Begins……… 8:05 a.m.

School Dismisses………. 3:15 p.m.

2.30 TRANSPORTATION

A.. The South Conway County School District will provide the best transportation program possible for the greatest number of students. Only those students residing in the school district who are attending school are eligible for bus transportation.

B. All students will be assigned a section of the bus in which to sit, beginning with Westside students in the first rows, followed by Reynolds, Morrilton Elementary, Morrilton Intermediate, MJHS and MHS, in that order. The first row of the bus may be used to assign seats to students from any school who require close supervision.

C. General rules for riding the school bus:

1. Be at your bus stop five minutes prior to your estimated pickup time and stand a safe distance from the road.

2. Do not play on the roadways while waiting for the bus.

3. Wait until the bus stops and the driver signals it is safe to approach or cross in front of the bus.

4. Always cross the road in front of the bus where the driver can see you. Never cross the road behind the bus.

5. Wait until the bus leaves the area before you cross the road to check the mail.

6. If you miss the bus, do not hitchhike to school.

7. Enter and leave the bus quickly and orderly.

8. The school bus is an extension of the classroom and all classroom rules of conduct apply.

9. While riding the bus:

a. All students are to follow the directions of the bus driver at all times.

b. Respect your driver. Act 814 of 1997 makes it unlawful for any person or persons to threaten, curse or use abusive language to a school bus driver in the presence of students.

c. Respect the rights of other riders - no harassment or intimidation of other riders will be tolerated.

d. Find your seat and remain seated and facing forward while the bus is moving.

e. Keep bus aisle clear of books, bags, feet, legs, etc. at all times.

f. No balloons, flowers or other items that cannot be stored in a backpack will be permitted on the bus.

g. Speak softly; no loud or distracting noises are allowed.

h. Any act that jeopardizes the safety of students on the bus is prohibited.

i. No food, drinks, candy or gum will be allowed on the bus.

j. Do not bring water guns, rubber bands or any shooting devices on the bus.

k. Do not put hands, arms, legs or head out the windows or doors.

l. Do not throw objects in the bus or out the windows of the bus.

m. No drugs, alcohol or tobacco product of any kind is allowed on the bus.

n. No matches, lighters or other flammable materials are allowed on the bus.

o. Do not tamper with emergency windows, doors and other safety equipment on the bus.

p. The use of cell phones is prohibited on school buses transporting students to and from school during the defined school day

q. No vandalism to school or personal property is allowed. Act 36 of 1987 makes the parents of a minor child responsible for reimbursing the school for any damages caused by the minor child up to $5,000.00.

D. Disciplinary procedure - Students causing discipline problems on the bus will be reported to the Director of Transportation. They will be handled as School Bus Behavior Problems.

1. First Offense - Director of Transportation will meet with the student and notify parents of the problem by phone and in writing.

2. Second Offense- Student will be denied transportation privileges five days and will meet with the Director of Transportation and/or building principal. Parents will be notified by phone and in writing.

3. Third Offense - Student will be denied transportation privileges ten days and will meet with the Director of Transportation and/or building principal. Parents will be notified by phone and in writing.

4. Fourth Offense - Student will be denied bus riding privileges for the remainder of the year and will meet with the Director of Transportation and/or building principal. Parents will be notified by phone and in writing.

*For offenses determined severe in nature, the District has the right to surpass the first three (3) disciplinary procedures and immediately deny a student bus privileges.

NOTICE! Any student who needs to ride a different bus than his/her own for any specific reason or who does not ride a bus regularly and needs to ride a bus for any specific reason must have a written request signed one day in advance by the parent or guardian and approved by the Director of Transportation before he/she will be allowed on a bus other than his/her regular bus.

IT IS A PRIVILEGE TO RIDE A SCHOOL BUS, NOT A RIGHT!

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Brian Bunch, Transportation Director at 345-9421 or via Email at bbunch@sccsd.k12.ar.us.

2.35 SUPPLIES AND TEXTBOOKS

A. Each student will furnish his/her own school supplies. Parents/guardians should check with their student periodically to determine if additional supplies are needed.

B. Textbooks are provided for student use free of charge. Students are responsible for lost or damaged books and will be expected to pay for replacements.

2.40 VISITS AND CONFERENCES

A. Parents/Guardians wishing to visit their children during the school day shall register first with the office. Student visitors in the classroom can be disruptive to the educational process. Any visitation to the classroom shall be allowed only with the permission of the school principal. Visitation will not be permitted by anyone other than a parent or guardian.

B. If there is any question concerning the legal custody of the student, the parent shall present documentation to the principal or his/her designee establishing the parent’s custody of the student or legal right of visitation. It shall be the responsibility of the custodial parent to make any visitation restrictions regarding the non-custodial parent known to the principal by presenting a copy of a file-marked court order. Estranged parents may visit their child during school hours with the consent of the custodial parent.

2.45 SCHOOL TELEPHONE

A. The telephone is a business phone. Students are not to use it for making social arrangements or unnecessary calls. Messages will be delivered to students in case of emergencies. Students are not taken out of class to talk on the phone unless it is an extreme emergency. NOTE: Only the phone in the office shall be used to call home due to an illness.

B. Parents/guardians and students are asked to make necessary arrangements for after school transportation while at home each morning before coming to school.

C. Remember to plan ahead for emergencies, because plans often must change. Be sure your child knows what to do on those occasions!

APPOINTMENTS AND EARLY CHECKOUT

A. We encourage you to make health-related appointments after school hours. The success

of the students is dependent on them being in class. We discourage any early checkout

from a class. Five early checkouts will result in one unexcused absence.

2.55 LOST AND FOUND

A. The school cannot assume responsibility for loss of personal items. However, if it is reported immediately, every effort will be made to help locate the lost item. All personal items should be clearly marked for identification. Items not needed for school work should be left at home. WE WILL NOT INVESTIGATE MISSING CELL PHONES.

2.60 SCHOOL PROPERTY

A. As good citizens, students are obligated to respect and protect all school property and help keep the building, furniture and school equipment as attractive as possible. If a student is guilty of defacing or destroying school property, he/she will be expected to pay for the property to the extent of replacing as new or as good as new and face disciplinary action.

2.65 SPECIAL SERVICES

A. Many special services are available to assist your child. Some of the services available include:

Media center personnel Guidance counselor

Talented and gifted personnel Physical education

Title I services Special education services

School nurse Food services

2.70 GRADING POLICY

A. The following grading scale shall be used at Morrilton High School:

90 – 100 A = 4 points

80 – 89 B = 3 points

70 – 79 C = 2 points

60 –69 D = 1 point

59 and below F = 0 points

B. Progress reports will be sent according to the district calendar to parents/guardians of those students who are failing or are not working up to capacity.

C. Grades assigned to students reflect only educational objectives and are consistent with laws and regulations.

D. If a student is having difficulty in class, the teacher(s) may call the parent/guardian for assistance in helping the student.

2.75 ADVANCED PLACEMENT

A. Students who take advanced placement courses, International Baccalaureate courses, or honors courses approved for weighted credit by the Arkansas Department of Education shall be graded according to the following schedule:

90 – 100 A = 5 points

80 – 89 B = 4 points

70 – 79 C = 3 points

60 –69 D = 2 point

59 and below F = 0 points

B. Students who transfer into the district will be given weighted credit for the Advanced Placement courses, honors courses approved by the Arkansas Department of Education, and concurrent college courses taken for weighted credit at his/her previous school(s) according to the preceding scale.

C. Students taking AP courses or International Baccalaureate courses shall receive weighted credit as described in this policy. Credit shall be given for each grading period during the course of the year, but shall be retroactively removed from a student’s grade for any course in which the student fails to take the applicable AP exam. Students who do not take the AP exam shall receive the same numeric value for the grade he/she received in the course as if it were a non-AP course.

D. Students will have ten days from the start of either semester to drop an AP or International Baccalaureate course. After ten days, a student must finish the entire semester. For those who request to drop before the end of the ten day grace period, they will only be allowed to move if space is available in other classes or if their credit status will allow them to drop the class.

Legal References: Arkansas Department of Education Rules and Regulations Governing Uniform Grading Scales for Public Secondary Schools, ADE Rules Governing Advanced Placement Courses in the Four Core Areas in High School, A.C.A. § 6-15-902(c)(1), (c) (3).

2.80 LEGAL CUSTODY

A. Act 660 of 1993 indicates that in order to avoid continuing child custody controversies for involving public school personnel and to avoid disruptions to the educational atmosphere in the school, the transfer of a child between the child’s custodial parent and non-custodial parent…when both parents are present…is prohibited from taking place on the real property of an elementary school on normal school days during normal hours of school operation. The provisions of this policy shall not prohibit one parent (custodial or non-custodial) from transporting the child to school and the other parent (custodial or non-custodial) from picking the child up from school at prearranged times on prearranged days if prior approval had been made with the school’s principal.

B. When the non-custodial parent is to be denied access to the student, the custodial parent must provide the principal with:

1. A copy of the court order giving custodial right to the parent.

2. A written statement to the principal that such denial is approved by the custodial parent.

2.85 LEGAL NAMES

A. Students must use their legal birth names for all official school documents. Name changes will only be accepted upon receipt of a court order.

2.90 PERMANENT RECORDS

A. Permanent school records, as required by the Arkansas Department of Education, shall be maintained for each student enrolled in the District until the student graduates or is beyond the age of compulsory school attendance. A copy of the student’s permanent record shall be provided to the receiving school district upon request.

2.95 COMMUNICABLE DISEASES AND PARASITES

A. Students with communicable diseases or with parasites shall demonstrate respect for other students by not attending school while they are contagious. In some instances, a letter from a health care provider may be required prior to the student being readmitted to the school.

B. The parents or legal guardians of students found to have live lice or nits will be asked to pick their child up at school. The parents or legal guardians will be given information concerning the eradication and control of head lice. Before students may be readmitted following an absence due to head lice, the school nurse or designee shall examine the student to make sure they are free of any lice or nits.

C. Each school may conduct screenings for students for head lice as needed. The screenings shall be conducted in a manner that respects the confidentiality of each student.

3.00 STUDENT MEDICATIONS

A. Prior to the administration of any medication to any student under the age of eighteen (18), written parental consent is required. The consent form shall include authorization to administer the medication and relieve the Board and its employees of civil liability for damages or injuries resulting from the administration of medication to students in accordance with this policy.

B. Unless authorized to self-administer, students are not allowed to carry any medications while at school. The parent or legal guardian shall bring the student’s medication to the nurse, or in the absence of the nurse, to the principal’s office. Medications, including those for self-medication, must be in the original container and be properly labeled with the student’s name, the ordering provider’s name, the name of the medication, the dosage, frequency, and instructions for the administration of the medication (including times). Additional information accompanying the medication shall state the purpose for the medication, its possible side effects, and any other pertinent instructions (such as special storage requirements) or warnings.

C. Students who have written permission from their parent/guardian and a licensed health care practitioner to self-administer either an asthma inhaler or auto-injectable epinephrine, or both and have a current consent form on file shall be allowed to carry and self-administer such medication while in school or at an on-site school sponsored activity. Students are prohibited from sharing, transferring, or in any way diverting his/her medications to any other person. The parent/guardian of a student who chooses to not carry an asthma inhaler or auto-injectable epinephrine, or both on his/her person shall provide the school with the appropriate medication which shall be immediately available to the student in an emergency.

D. Nonprescription medications may be given to students upon the decision of the principal or the nurse or their designee(s). Such medications must be in the original container, clearly labeled and accompanied by a written authorization form signed by the parents or legal guardians that includes the student’s name, the name of the medication, the dosage and instructions for the administration of the medication (including times).

E. The school shall not keep outdated medications or any medications past the end of the school year. Parents shall be notified ten (10) days in advance of the school’s intention to dispose of any medication. Medications not picked up by the parents or legal guardians within the ten (10) day period shall be destroyed by the nurse with a witness present.

3.05 STUDENT ILLNESS / ACCIDENT

A. If a student becomes too ill to remain in class and/or could be contagious to other students, the principal or designee will attempt to notify the student’s parent or legal guardian. The student will remain in the school’s health room or a place where he/she can be supervised until the end of the school day or until the parent/legal guardian can check the student out of school.

B. If a student becomes seriously ill or is injured while at school and the parent/legal guardian cannot be contacted, the failure to make such contact shall not unreasonably delay the school’s expeditious transport of the student to an appropriate medical care facility. The school assumes no responsibility for treatment of the student. When available, current, and applicable, the student’s emergency contact numbers and medical information will be utilized. Parents are strongly encouraged to keep this information up to date.

3.10 PHYSICAL EXAMINATIONS OR SCREENINGS

A. The South Conway County School District may provide from time to time for the administration of physical exams, screenings, or Body Mass Index testing of its students. The intent of the exams or screenings shall be to detect contagious or infectious diseases or defects in hearing, vision or other elements of health that would adversely affect the student’s ability to achieve to their full potential.

B. The district shall notify parents, at least annually, of the specific or approximate dates of any non-emergency, physical examination or screening that is:

1. required as a condition of attendance.

2. administered by the school and scheduled by the school in advance.

3. not necessary to protect the immediate health and safety of the student, or of other students.

C. Except in instances where a student is suspected of having a contagious or infectious disease, parents shall have the right to opt their student out of the exams or screenings by using the form provided or by providing certification from a physician that he/she has recently examined the student.

D. A student may be required to pass a physical exam before being allowed to participate in certain extracurricular activities to help ensure they are physically capable of withstanding the rigors of the activity. It is understood that students who refuse to take such an exam will not be allowed to participate in the desired activity.

E. The form to decline physical examinations can be found in the back of this book.

3.15 HOMEWORK

A. Homework is considered to be part of the educational program of the District. Assignments shall be an extension of the teaching/learning experience that promotes the student’s educational development. As an extension of the classroom, homework must be planned and organized and should be viewed by the students as purposeful.

B. Teachers are aware of the potential problem students may have completing assignments from multiple teachers and will limit the amount of homework they give from day to day.

C. Parents shall be notified of this policy at the beginning of each school year.

3.16 PLAGIARISM

A. Plagiarism is a form of dishonesty that occurs when a person passes off someone else's work as his or her own. Plagiarism is an act that will have serious academic consequences in high school and in college.

Forms of plagiarism range from failing to cite an author for ideas incorporated into a student's paper to cutting and pasting paragraphs from different websites to handing in a paper downloaded from the internet. All are plagiarism.

There are two main things all school students should know about plagiarism:

1. Plagiarism in most instances is easy to identify and expose. The very force that makes plagiarism easy and tempting to some students--the internet--makes its detection easy. Most teachers can locate the source of suspected plagiarism within a few minutes of searching the web. In this context, plagiarism is as much ignorance as it is dishonesty. Students should be aware that all teachers have access online tools that are very effective resources for catching plagiarism. Further, the experienced teacher will always be able to distinguish the fluency of sentences and word choice of adolescent writers when compared to university students or professional writers. It is this latter that uncovers most plagiarism in high school.

2. All parties to plagiarism are considered equally guilty. If you share your coursework with another student and he or she plagiarizes it, you are considered as guilty as the one who has plagiarized your work, since you enabled the plagiarism to take place. Under no circumstances should a student make his or her coursework available to another student unless the teacher gives explicit permission for this to happen.

B. Students who plagiarize are likely to be caught, and the consequences will be severe and will include anyone who enabled the plagiarism to take place. All student work produced for school will be subject to an electronic database to determine plagiarism.

C. Consequences for plagiarizing work will range from redoing the project for half (1/2) credit for first time offenders to receiving no credit for second time offenders.

3.20 REPORTS TO PARENTS / GUARDIANS

A. Report cards will go home at the end of each 9-week grading period. Progress reports will be sent home at the mid-point in each grading period.

B. Non-custodial parents with visitation rights may request current scholastic records.

3.25 PROMOTION / RETENTION/CREDIT RECOVERY

A. A disservice is done to students through social promotion and is prohibited by state law. The district shall, at a minimum, evaluate each student annually in an effort to help each student who is not performing at grade level. Each school in the South Conway County School District shall include in the student handbook, the criteria for promotion of students to the next grade as well as the criteria for being required to retake a course, if applicable. Parents or guardians shall be kept informed concerning the progress of their student(s). Notice of a student’s possible retention or required retaking of a course shall be included with the student’s grades sent home to each parent/guardian or the student if 18 or older. Parent-teacher conferences are encouraged and may be held as necessary in an effort to improve a student’s academic success.

B. Promotion or retention of students, or their required retaking of a course shall be primarily based

on the following criteria.¹ If there is doubt concerning the promotion or retention of a student, or their required retaking of a course, a conference between the parents/guardians, teacher(s), other pertinent personnel, and principal shall be held before a final decision is made. The conference shall be held at a time and place that best accommodates those participating in the conference. The school shall document participation or non-participation in required conferences. If the conference attendees fail to agree concerning the student’s placement, the final decision to promote or retain shall rest with the principal or his/her designee.

C. A student may receive a credit through credit recovery if the student has been enrolled in the

course for a semester or calendar year prior to requesting credit recovery. With principal approval, credit recovery can be a correspondence course from an accredited institution, at the expense of the student, and the student must provide an official transcript to the school within ten (10) days of the completion of the course. Transcripts should be provided sooner in situations that warrant quicker response. Failure to do so could jeopardize student’s eligibility for extra-curricular activities, graduation, or promotion. Students taking credit recovery courses offered at MHS will receive credit after they have completed the course in which they are enrolled for the purpose of recovering credits. For a semester course, a student will have one semester to complete the course.

D. Students who do not meet the satisfactory passing level on all general end-of-course (EOC) tests shall be required to participate in an individualized academic improvement plan (AIP). Each AIP shall be developed by school personnel and the student’s parents and shall be designed to assist the student in attaining the expected achievement level. The AIP shall also state the parent’s role as well as the consequences for the student’s failure to participate in the plan.

E. All students, unless exempted by the student’s individualized education program (IEP), must successfully pass all general EOC assessments they are required to take. To receive academic credit in a course requiring a student to take a general EOC assessment, the student must either receive a passing score on the initial assessment or successfully participate in the remediation program identified in his/her AIP. A student is not eligible to graduate if he/she fails to receive academic credit in a course requiring a general EOC. Additionally, the lack of credit could jeopardize their grade promotion or classification.

F. All students, unless exempted by the student’s IEP, must successfully pass the Algebra I EOC assessment to receive academic credit for the course and be eligible to graduate from high school. This is a high stakes assessment and students failing to receive a passing score the first time they take the assessment must receive a passing score on a subsequent assessment or on an alternative assessment as provided by law.

G. Students from an Arkansas public school who have completed and received credit on an Algebra I EOC assessment prior to the 2009-10 school year are not required to take the high stakes Algebra I EOC. Students not in grades 10, 11, or 12 in the 2009-10 school year who have taken Algebra I but not received proper academic credit on their transcript for the course are now required to take the high stakes Algebra I test before they can receive academic credit for the course. Students in grades 10, 11, or 12 in the 2009-10 school year are exempt from the high stakes Algebra I assessment requirement, but must meet the general EOC assessment requirements to receive credit for the course.

H. Students transferring into the district from an out-of-state public, private, or home school or an Arkansas private or home school who can demonstrate by an official transcript that he/she has received academic credit for Algebra I is not required to take the Algebra I high stakes end of course assessment. The district, however, has the right to assess the student’s education status to determine if the student possesses the requisite passing knowledge of Algebra I.

I. A student transferring into the district who does not have academic credit in Algebra I must take the Algebra I high stakes EOC assessment and meet its requirements to be eligible for graduation.

J. Promotion/retention or graduation of students with an Individual Educational Plan (IEP) shall be based on their successful attainment of the goals set forth in their IEP.

Notes: This policy is designed for upper level grades, but that may or may not include grades 7 and 8 depending on how your district’s grades are configured. You will need to select the grades this policy covers and state that in the title. You will also have to choose, as noted in the following footnotes which paragraphs and/or sentences to include depending on what grades the policy will cover. There is also the problem of how to describe retention for high school grades since it is generally not done by whole grades, but rather is done by individual courses. At a minimum, it would probably help to include the criteria your district uses to identify eligibility for each high school grade.

¹ Insert the criteria your district uses for promotion/retention.

² If your grade configuration is 9^th (or higher) – 12, you don’t need to include this paragraph since there are no Benchmark Exams for those grades. While the law and the Rules require beginning in 2009-2010, that students actually pass the EOC test to receive credit for the course, there is no reason to put that into policy at this point. It is not the class of 2009-2010, but rather the year 2009-2010 that this requirement goes into effect.

³ If your secondary grade configuration is limited to 9^th (or higher) – 12, delete this clause.

Cross References: 3.30—PARENT-TEACHER COMMUNICATION, 4.45—SMART CORE CURRICULUM AND GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

Legal References: A.C.A. § 6-15-402, A.C.A. § 6-15-1602, A.C.A. § 6-15-2001, A.C.A. § 6-15-2005, A.C.A. § 6-15-2009 , State Board of Education: Standards of Accreditation 12.04.3, ADE Rules Governing the ACTAAP and the Academic Distress Program 7.02-7.02.9, 7.03-7.03.7.3

3.30 STUDENTS LEAVING SCHOOL GROUNDS DURING THE SCHOOL DAY

A. Parents/guardians must call from a number listed in the student permanent records before a student will be permitted to leave the school campus either by themselves or with someone other than the parent/guardian. Blocked calls are unacceptable. Photo identification will be required by the adult.

3.35 TRUANCY AND TARDINESS

A. Truancy is unexcused and defined as a student that is not present at school without the prior consent of parents and/or without permission from the office of the principal. If a student comes to class more than 5 minutes late without permission, they are considered truant.

B. Tardiness to class is disruptive and repeated tardiness cannot be tolerated. If a student misses more than 25 min. in any class period, it is considered an absence.

C. The consequences for tardies in a nine weeks period are as follows:

1. 5 tardies – lunch detention

2. 6 tardies – Corporal punishment or 1 day of ISS

3. 7 tardies – 1 day ISS

4. 8 tardies – 2 days ISS

5. 9 tardies – 3 days ISS

6. 10 tardies – home suspension

3.40 STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS / EQUAL ACCESS

A. Non-curriculum related secondary school student organizations wishing to conduct meetings on school premises during non-instructional time shall not be denied equal access on the basis of the religious, political, philosophical or other content of the speech at such meetings. Such meetings must meet the following criteria.

1. The meeting is to be voluntary and student initiated.

2. There is no sponsorship of the meeting by the school, the government or its agents or employees.

3. The meeting must occur during non-instructional time.

4. Employees or agents of the school are present at religious meetings only in a non- participatory capacity.

5. The meeting does not materially and substantially interfere with the orderly conduct of educational activities within the school.

6. Non-school persons may not direct, conduct, control or regularly attend activities of student groups.

B. All meetings held on school premises must be scheduled and approved by the principal. The school, its agents and employees retain the authority to maintain order and discipline, to protect the well-being of students and faculty, and to assure that attendance of students at meetings is voluntary.

C. Fraternities, sororities and secret societies are forbidden in the District’s schools. Membership to student organizations shall not be by a vote of the organization’s members, nor be restricted by the student’s race, religion, sex, national origin or other arbitrary criteria.

3.45 STUDENT TRANSFERS

A. The South Conway County School District shall review and accept or reject requests for transfers, both into and out of the district, on a case by case basis.

B. The District may reject a nonresident’s application for admission if its acceptance would necessitate the addition of staff or classrooms, exceed the capacity of a program, class, grade level, or school building, or cause the District to provide educational services not currently provided in the affected school. The District shall reject applications that would cause it to be out of compliance with applicable laws and regulations regarding desegregation.

C. Any student transferring from home school or a school that is not accredited by the Department of Education to a District school shall be evaluated by District staff to determine the student’s appropriate grade placement.

D. The Board of Education reserves the right, after a hearing before the Board, not to allow any person who has been expelled from another district to enroll as a student until the time of the person’s expulsion has expired.

E. The responsibility for transportation of any non-resident student admitted to a school in this District shall be borne by the student or the student’s parents. The District and the resident district may enter into a written agreement with the student or student’s parents to provide transportation to or from the District, or both.

3.50 SCHOOL CHOICE

A. The superintendent will consider all applications for School Choice postmarked not later than the July 1, preceding the fall semester the applicant would begin school in the District. The superintendent shall notify the parent or guardian and the student’s resident district, in writing, of the decision to accept or reject the application within 30 days of its receipt of the application.

B. The District shall advertise in appropriate print and broadcast media to inform students and parents in adjoining districts of the range of possible openings available under the School Choice program. The public pronouncements shall state the application deadline and the requirements and procedure for participation in the program. Such pronouncements shall be made in the spring, but in no case later than June 1.

C. When considering applications, priority will be given to applications from siblings or stepsiblings residing in the same residence or household of students already attending the District through School Choice.

D. The District may reject a nonresident’s application for admission if its acceptance would necessitate the addition of staff or classrooms, exceed the capacity of a program, class, grade level, or school building, or cause the District to provide educational services not currently provided in the affected school. The District shall reject applications that would cause it to be out of compliance with applicable laws and regulations regarding desegregation. Letters of rejection shall state the reason(s) for the rejection.

E. The Board of Directors reserves the right, after a hearing before the board, not to allow any person who is currently under expulsion from another district to enroll in a District school

F. Students admitted under this policy shall be entitled to continued enrollment until they graduate or are no longer eligible for enrollment in the District’s schools. Any student admitted to this district under the provisions of this policy who chooses to return to his/her resident district during the school year voids the transfer and must reapply for a school choice admission if desiring to return to this district in the future.

3.55 PRIVACY OF STUDENTS’ RECORDS / DIRECTORY INFORMATION

A. All students’ educational records are available for inspection and copying by the parents of any student who is under the age of eighteen (18). At the age of eighteen (18), the right to inspect and copy a student’s records transfers to the student. The district forwards education records, including disciplinary records, to schools that have requested them and in which the student seeks or intends to enroll.

B. The district shall receive written permission before releasing educational records to any agency or individual not authorized by law to receive and/or view the educational records without prior parental permission.

C. For purposes of this policy, the South Conway County School District does not distinguish between a custodial and non-custodial parent with respect to gaining access to a student’s records. The fact of a person’s status as parent or guardian, alone, enables that parent or guardian to review and copy his child’s records.

D. If there exists a court order which directs that a parent not have access to a student or his records, the parent or guardian must present a file-marked copy of such order to the building principal and the Superintendent. The school will make good-faith efforts to act in accordance with such court order, but the failure to do so does not impose legal liability upon the school. The actual responsibility for enforcement of such court orders rests with the parents or guardians, their attorneys and the court which issued the order.

E. A parent or guardian does not have the right to remove any material from a student’s records, but such parent or guardian may challenge the accuracy of a record. The right to challenge the accuracy of a record does not include the right to dispute a grade, which must be done only through the appropriate teacher and/or administrator, the decision of whom is final. A challenge to the accuracy of material contained in a student file must be initiated with the building principal, with an appeal available to the Superintendent or his designee. Any appeal above that level will be subject to the procedure set out in federal law and/or regulation.

F. Unless the parent, guardian or student, if above the age of eighteen (18) objects, directory information about a student may be made available to the public, military recruiters, post secondary educational institutions, prospective employers of those students, as well as school publications such as annual yearbooks, graduation announcements, and district and school authorized web sites. Directory information includes, but is not limited to, a student’s name, address, telephone number, electronic mail address, photograph, date and place of birth, classes in which he/she is enrolled, his/her placement on the honor roll (or the receipt of other types of honors) as well as his/her participation in school clubs and extracurricular activities, among others. If the student participates in inherently public activities (for example, basketball, football, or other interscholastic activities), the publication of such information will be beyond the control of the District. A student’s name and photograph will only be displayed on the district or school’s web page(s) after receiving the written permission from the student’s parent or student if over the age of 18.

G. The form for objecting to making directory information available is located in the back of

the student handbook and must be completed and signed by the parent or age-eligible

student and filed with the building principal’s office no later than ten (10) school days

after the beginning of each school year or the date the student is enrolled. Failure to file

an objection by that time is considered a specific grant of permission.

Legal Reference: 20 U.S.C. § 1232g, 20 U.S.C. § 7908 (NCLB Section 9528), 34 CFR 99.3, 99.7, 99.31, 99.21, 99.22, 99.30, 99.31, 99.32, 99.33, 99.34, 99.35, 99.36, 99.37, 99.63, 99.64

3.60 EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

A. The Board believes in providing opportunities for students to participate in extracurricular activities that can help enrich the student’s educational experience. At the same time, the Board believes that a student’s participation in extracurricular activities cannot come at the expense of his/her classroom academic achievement. Interruptions of instructional time in the classroom are to be minimal and absences from class to participate in extracurricular activities shall not exceed one per week per extracurricular activity (tournaments excepted). Additionally, a student’s participation in, and the District’s operation of, extracurricular activities shall be subject to the following policy. All students meeting this policy’s criteria are eligible for extracurricular activities.

B. Definitions:

1. Extracurricular activities are defined as: any school sponsored program where students from one or more schools meet, work, perform, practice under supervision outside of regular class-time, or are competing for the purpose of receiving an award, rating, recognition, or criticism, or qualification for additional competition. Examples include, but are not limited to, interscholastic athletics, cheerleading, band, choral, math, or science competitions and club activities.

2. Academic Courses are those courses for which class time is scheduled and can be credited to meet the minimum requirements for graduation, is taught by a teacher required to have State certification in the course, and has a course content guide which has been approved by the Arkansas Department of Education. Any of these courses for which concurrent high school credit is earned may be from an institution of higher education recognized by the Arkansas Department of Education. If a student passes an academic course offered on a block schedule, the course can be counted twice toward meeting the requirement for students to pass four (4) academic courses per semester as required by this policy.

3. Supplemental Improvement Program (S.I.P.) is an additional instructional opportunity for identified students outside of their regular classroom and meets the criteria outlined in the current Arkansas Activities Association Handbook.

C. Academic Requirements:

1. The first semester ninth-grade student meets the scholarship requirements for junior high if he/she has successfully passed four (4) academic courses the previous semester, three (3) of which shall be in the core curriculum as specified by the Arkansas Department of Education’s Standards of Accreditation of Arkansas Public Schools.

2. The second semester ninth-grade student meets the scholarship requirements for junior high if he/she has successfully passed (4) academic courses the previous semester which count toward his/her graduation requirements.

3. Ninth-grade students must meet the requirements of the senior high scholarship rule by the end of the second semester in the ninth grade in order to be eligible to participate the fall semester of their tenth-grade year.

In order to remain eligible for competitive interscholastic activity, a student must have passed (4) academic courses the previous semester and either:

1. Have earned a minimum Grade Point Average of 2.0 from all academic courses the previous semester; or

2. If the student has passed four (4) academic courses the previous semester but does not have a 2.0 GPA, the student must be enrolled and successfully participating in a supplemental instruction program to maintain their competitive interscholastic extracurricular eligibility.

D. Students with an Individual Education Program - In order to be considered eligible to participate in competitive interscholastic activities, students with disabilities must pass at least four (4) courses per semester as required by their individual education program (IEP).

E. Arkansas Activities Association - In addition to the foregoing rules, the district shall abide by the rules and regulations of the Arkansas Activities Association (AAA) governing interscholastic activities.

F. A student is allowed to participate in an SIP for a maximum of two consecutive semesters and requires the student to improve his/her GPA by at least 10% by the end of the first semester to remain eligible for the second semester. By the end of the second semester, the student must have attained a 2.0 GPA to be eligible for competitive interscholastic activities. Following one or more semesters where the student has attained a 2.0 GPA, this cycle may be repeated.

G. NCAA eligibility standards for Division I require three (3) years of mathematics Algebra I or higher. Students who opt out of Smart Core do not meet the math requirements for NCAA eligibility.

Legal References: State Board of Education Standards for Accreditation 10.05 and 10.06 Arkansas Activities Association Handbook.

3.61 SCHOOL DANCES

To reduce the risk of students having access to alcohol through social hosts 21 or older, any guest who is not a current, full-time member of MHS must be under the age of 21. The law refers to incidences that would occur on private property, but any alcoholic consumption by students would generally take place before or after school dances on private property. Furthermore, guest passes will be required for any student who is not a current, full-time student.

Legal Reference: Social Host Law, Act 976; A.C.A. §3-3-219.

3.65 BULLYING

A. Respect for the dignity of others is a cornerstone of civil society. Bullying creates an atmosphere of fear and intimidation, robs his/her of their dignity, detracts from the safe environment necessary to promote student learning and will not be tolerated by the Board. Students who bully another person shall be held accountable for their actions whether they occur on school equipment or property; off the school property at a school sponsored function, activity, or event; or going to or from school or a school activity in a school vehicle or school bus; or at designated school bus stops.

B. Bullying means the intentional harassment, intimidation, humiliation, ridicule, defamation, or threat or incitement of violence by a student against another student or public school employee by a written, verbal, electronic, or physical act that causes or creates a clear and present danger of:

1. Physical harm to a public school employee or student or damage to the public school employee's or student's property;

2. Substantial interference with a student's education or with a public school employee's role in education;

3. A hostile educational environment for one (1) or more students or public school employees due to the severity, persistence, or pervasiveness of the act; or

4. Substantial disruption of the orderly operation of the school or educational environment;

Electronic act means without limitation a communication or image transmitted by means of an electronic device, including without limitation a telephone, wireless phone or other wireless communications device, computer, or pager that results in the substantial disruption of the orderly operation of the school or educational environment.

Electronic acts of bullying are prohibited whether or not the electronic act originated on school property or with school equipment, if the electronic act is directed specifically at students or school personnel and maliciously intended for the purpose of disrupting school, and has a high likelihood of succeeding in that purpose;

Harassment means a pattern of unwelcome verbal or physical conduct relating to another person's constitutionally or statutorily protected status that causes, or reasonably should be expected to cause, substantial interference with the other's performance in the school environment; and

Substantial disruption means without limitation that any one or more of the following occur as a result of the bullying:

1. Necessary cessation of instruction or educational activities;

2. Inability of students or educational staff to focus on learning or function as an educational unit because of a hostile environment;

3. Severe or repetitive disciplinary measures are needed in the classroom or during educational activities; or

4. Exhibition of other behaviors by students or educational staff that substantially interfere with the learning environment.

C. Examples of “Bullying” may include but are not limited to a pattern of behavior involving one or more of the following:

1. Sarcastic “compliments” about another student’s personal appearance.

2. Pointed questions intended to embarrass or humiliate.

3. Mocking, taunting or belittling.

4. Non-verbal threats and/or intimidation such as “fronting” or “chesting” a person.

5. Demeaning humor relating to a student’s race, gender, ethnicity or personal characteristics.

6. Blackmail, extortion, demands for protection money or other involuntary donations or loans.

7. Blocking access to school property or facilities.

8. Deliberate physical contact or injury to person or property.

9. Stealing or hiding books or belongings.

10. Threats of harm to students(s), possessions or others.

11. Electronic forms of bullying (Cyber-bullying) which include, but are not limited to email, text messaging, blogging, etc.

D. Students are encouraged to report behavior they consider to be bullying, including a single action which if allowed to continue would constitute bullying, to their teacher or the building principal.

E. The report may be made anonymously. Teachers and other school employees who have witnessed, or are reliably informed that a student has been a victim of behavior they consider to be bullying, including a single action which if allowed to continue would constitute bullying, shall report the incident(s) to the principal. Parents or legal guardians may submit written reports of incidents they feel constitute bullying, or if allowed

to continue would constitute bullying, to the principal. The principal shall be responsible for investigating the incident(s) to determine if disciplinary action is warranted. The person or persons reporting behavior they consider to be bullying shall not be subject to retaliation or reprisal in any form.

F. Students found to be in violation of this policy shall be subject to disciplinary action up to and including expulsion. In determining the appropriate disciplinary action, consideration may be given to other violations of the student handbook, which may have simultaneously occurred.

G. Notice of what constitutes bullying, the District’s prohibition against bullying, and the consequences to students who bully shall be conspicuously posted in every classroom, cafeteria, restroom, gymnasium, auditorium and school bus. Parents, students, school volunteers, and employees shall be given copies of the notice.

3.70 MAKE-UP WORK

A. Students will be allowed to make up the work they miss for excused absences and the first ten (10) unexcused absences per semester. No make-up work will be allowed for unexcused absences after ten (10) per semester.

B. Assignments made, including tests, prior to days missed, will be due upon returning to class.

C. Assignments made while a student is serving out of school suspension shall be made up for fifty (50%) percent credit.

3.80 STUDENT PUBLICATIONS

A. All publications that are supported financially by the school or by use of school facilities, or are produced in conjunction with a class shall be considered school-sponsored publications. School publications do not provide a forum for public expression. Such publications, as well as the content of student expression in school-sponsored activities, shall be subject to the editorial control of the District’s administration whose actions shall be reasonably related to legitimate pedagogical concerns and adhere to the following limitations:

1. Advertising may be accepted for publications that does not condone or promote products that are inappropriate for the age and maturity of the audience or that endorse such things as tobacco, alcohol or drugs.

2. Publications may be regulated to prohibit writings, which are, in the opinion of the appropriate teacher and/or administrator, ungrammatical, poorly written, inadequately researched, biased or prejudiced, vulgar or profane, or unsuitable for immature audiences.

3. Publications may be regulated to refuse to publish material which might reasonably be perceived to advocate drug or alcohol use, irresponsible sex, or conduct otherwise inconsistent with the shared values of a civilized social order, or to associate the school with any position other than neutrality on matters of political controversy.

4. Prohibited publications include:

a. Those that are obscene to minors.

b. Those that are libelous or slanderous, including material containing defamatory falsehoods about public figures or governmental officials, which are made with knowledge of their falsity or reckless disregard of the truth.

c. Those that constitute an unwarranted invasion of privacy as defined by state law.

d. Publications that suggest or urge the commission of unlawful acts on the school premises.

e. Publications which suggest or urge the violation of lawful school regulations.

f. Hate literature that scurrilously attacks ethnic, religious or racial groups.

B. Student publications that are displayed on school web pages shall follow the same guidelines as listed above plus they shall:

1. Not contain any non-educational advertisements.

2. Not contain any personally identifying information.

3. State that the views expressed are not necessarily those of the School Board or the employees of the district.

C. Student Distribution of Non-school Literature Publications, and Materials – A student or group of students who distribute ten (10) or fewer copies of the same nonschool literature, publications, or materials (hereinafter “nonschool materials”), shall do so in a time, place, and manner that does not cause a substantial disruption of the orderly education environment. A student or group of students wishing to distribute more than ten (10) copies of nonschool materialsshall have school authorities review their nonschool materials at least three (3) school days in advance of their desired time of dissemination. School authorities* shall review the nonschool materials prior to their distribution and will bar from distribution those nonschool materials that are obscene, libelous, pervasively indecent, or advertise unlawful products or services. Material may also be barred from distribution if there is evidence that reasonably supports a forecast that a substantial disruption of the orderly operation of the school or educational environment will likely result from the distribution. Concerns related to any denial of distribution by the principal shall be heard by the superintendent or his designee, whose decision shall be final. The Deputy Superintendent shall review non-school publications prior to their distribution and will bar from distribution those materials that are obscene, libelous, pervasively indecent, or advertise unlawful products or services. Material may also be barred from distribution if there is evidence that reasonably supports a forecast that disruption will likely result from the distribution.

3.85 DISTRIBUTION OF LITERATURE

A. The school principal or designee shall establish reasonable regulations governing the time, place, and manner of student distribution of nonschool materials.

B. The regulations shall:

1. Be narrowly drawn to promote orderly administration of school activities by preventing disruption and may not be designed to stifle expression;

2. Be uniformly applied to all forms of nonschool materials;

3. Allow no interference with classes or school activities;

4. Specify times, places, and manner where distribution may and may not occur;

5. Not inhibit a person’s right to accept or reject any literature distributed in accordance with the regulations.

6. Students shall be responsible for the removal of excess literature that is left at the distribution point for more than three (3) days and are responsible for picking up any materials thrown on school grounds.

C. The Superintendent, along with the student publication advisor, shall develop administrative regulations for the implementation of this policy. The regulations shall include definitions of terms and timelines for the review of materials.

3.90 CONTACT WITH STUDENTS WHILE AT SCHOOL

A. In the event there is a question about the legal custody of a child (student), it should be established who has this responsibility and what limitations are imposed by this situation.

B. When a questioning in private or removal from school is desired, the school official should secure parental consent. The school official should not be obligated to release the child from custody without the consent. If such consent cannot be secured, a subpoena must be presented by the public official to the school official stating that the child may possess information relevant to an investigation.

C. Where public officials believe probable cause does not exist and they wish only to obtain information, parental consent must be obtained in order for the officer to speak privately with the child.

D. Pursuant to the order of Judge Terry Sullivan, February 3, 2005:

1. Investigative personnel of the Department of Human Services or the Department of Children and Family Services shall have the absolute right to enter upon the public school grounds to interview children attending and enrolled in the respective school.

2. The Arkansas State Police, by and through its designated personnel for the investigation of child sexual or child physical abuse, shall have the absolute right to enter upon the public school grounds to interview children attending and enrolled in the respective schools.

3. The absolute right to enter upon the school grounds and to interview school children is limited to the following conditions:

a. Proper identification of the investigative personnel.

b. A written allegation that a specifically named child or children are suspected of having been the victim of child sexual abuse or child physical abuse or to have witnessed the same.

c. That the alleged perpetrator of those acts resides in or commonly stays at the residence where the alleged acts of abuse occurred.

4. When school personnel discharge their duty under law to be the reporter of suspected child physical or sexual abuse they shall be allowed to communicate with the investigative personnel of the appropriate state agencies upon the school grounds of their employment.

3.95 SEARCH, SEIZURE AND INTERROGATIONS

A. The district respects the rights of its students against arbitrary intrusion of their person and property. At the same time, it is the responsibility of school officials to protect the health, safety and welfare of all students enrolled in the District in order to promote an environment conducive to student learning. The Superintendent, principals, and their designees have the right to inspect and search school property and equipment. They may also search students and their personal property in which the student has a reasonable expectation of privacy, when there is reasonable suspicion to believe such student or property contains illegal items or other items in violation of Board policy or dangerous to the school community. School authorities may seize evidence found in the search and disciplinary action may be taken. Evidence found which appears to be in violation of the law shall be reported to the appropriate authority.

B. School property shall include, but not be limited to, lockers, desks, and parking lots, as well as personal effects left there by students. When possible, prior notice will be given and the student will be allowed to be present along with an adult witness, however, searches may be done at any time with or without notice or the student’s consent. A personal search must not be excessively intrusive in light of the age and sex of the student and the nature of the infraction.

C. The Superintendent, principals, and their designees may request the assistance of law enforcement officials to help conduct searches. Such searches may include the use of specially trained dogs.

D. A school official of the same sex shall conduct personal searches with an adult witness of the same sex present.

E. State Law requires that Department of Human Services employees, local law enforcement, or agents of the Crimes Against Children Division of the Department of Arkansas State Police, may interview students without a court order for the purpose of investigating suspected child abuse. In instances where the interviewers deem it necessary, they may exercise a “72-hour hold” without first obtaining a court order. Other questioning of students by non-school personnel shall be granted only with a court order directing such questioning, with permission of the parents of a student (or the student if above eighteen [18] years of age), or in response to a subpoena or arrest warrant.

F. If the District makes a report to any law enforcement agency concerning student misconduct or if access to a student is granted to a law enforcement agency due to a court order, the principal or the principal’s designee shall make a good faith effort to contact the student’s parent, legal guardian, or other person having lawful control by court order, or person acting in loco parentis on student enrollment forms.

G. In instances other than those related to cases of suspected child abuse, principals must release a student to either a police officer who presents a subpoena for the student, or a warrant for arrest, or to an agent of state social services or an agent of a court with jurisdiction over a child with a court order signed by a judge. Upon release of the student, the principal or designee shall give the student’s parent, legal guardian, or other person having lawful control by court order, or person acting in loco parentis notice that the student has been taken into custody by law enforcement personnel or a state’s social services agency. If the principal or designee is unable to reach the parent, he or she shall make a reasonable, good faith effort to get a message to the parent to call the principal or designee, and leave both a day and an after hours telephone number.

Legal Reference: A.C.A. § 6-18-513;A.C.A. § 12-12-509, 510, and 516; A.C.A. § 9-13-104

4.00 STUDENT DISCIPLINE

A. The South Conway County School District Board of Education has a responsibility to protect the health, safety and welfare of the District’s students and employees. To help maintain a safe environment conducive to high student achievement, the Board establishes policies necessary to regulate student behavior to promote an orderly school environment that is respectful of the rights of others and ensures the uniform enforcement of student discipline. Students are responsible for their conduct that occurs at any time on the school grounds, off school grounds at a school-sponsored function, activity, or event, and going to and from school or a school activity.

B. The District’s administrators may also take disciplinary action against a student for off- campus conduct occurring at any time that would have a detrimental impact on school discipline, the educational environment or the welfare of the students and/or staff. A student who has committed a criminal act while off campus and whose presence on campus could cause a substantial disruption to school or endanger the welfare of other students or staff is subject to disciplinary action up to and including expulsion. Such acts could include, but are not limited to a felony or an act that would be considered a felony if committed by an adult, as assault or battery, drug law violations or sexual misconduct of a serious nature. Any disciplinary action pursued by the District shall be in accordance with the student’s appropriate due process rights.

C. The District’s personnel policy committee shall review the student discipline policies annually and may recommend changes in the policies to the South Conway County School Board. The Board shall approve any changes to student discipline policies.

D. The District’s student discipline policies shall be distributed to each student during the first week of school each year and to new students upon their enrollment. Each student’s parent or legal guardian shall sign and return to the school an acknowledgement form documenting that they have received the policies.

E. It is required by law that the principal or person in charge, report to the police any incidents where a person has committed or threatened to commit an act of violence or any crime involving a deadly weapon on school property or while under school supervision.

F. The minimum penalty for student misconduct will be a verbal warning from teachers and the maximum penalty will be expulsion by the Board and/or legal action dependent upon the severity and frequency of the misconduct. Receipt of the handbook also serves as a warning. The minimum consequence for an office referral will be lunch detention but can be more severe depending on the offense.

G. Any student who gives false information or wrongfully accuses another student or staff member may be subject to disciplinary action.

4.05 PROHIBITED CONDUCT - RULES FOR BEHAVIOR

A. Students and staff require a safe and orderly learning environment that is conducive to high student achievement. Certain student behaviors are unacceptable in such an environment and are hereby prohibited by the Board. Pursuant to Policy 4.00 above, the minimum consequence for an office referral will be lunch detention but can be more severe depending on the offense. Receipt of this handbook serves as a warning. Prohibited behaviors include, but shall not be limited to the following rules:

1. Refusal to Follow School and/or Classroom Rules

Students shall comply with reasonable instructions from administrators, teachers, instructional assistants, school bus drivers or any other authorized school district employee.

Penalty: Handbook Warning and corporal punishment - suspension

2. Academic Dishonesty

A student will not cheat on tests, nor will a student aid other students in cheating on tests.

Penalty: Zero for test - suspension

3. Defiant Behavior

Open defiance or blatant refusal to follow the reasonable directives of any authorized school district employee.

Penalty: Suspension to Expulsion

4. Truancy (Skipping School or Class)

A student will not be absent from school without parent or school authorities’ prior knowledge and consent. A student absent from his classroom or other assigned learning station without permission from school authorities will be considered as truant. Each truancy will be treated as an unexcused absence. Students found to be truant will not be allowed to make up major tests and assignments (A.C.A. §6-18-17, A.C.A. §6-18-222).

The Board of Education does not approve of skip days, and students who participate in skip days will be charged with truancy.

Penalty: Suspension to Expulsion

5. Leaving Campus or Designated Area without Permission

After arrival on the school campus, a student will not leave the campus or designated area without permission from school authorities.

Penalty: Suspension to Expulsion

6. School Bus Rules and Regulations

All students shall conduct themselves in accordance with the conduct code governing student behavior in school and in accordance with school bus regulations when on the bus or at the bus stop area (see policy 2.30).

7. Food and Drink Regulations

No food or drink will be allowed in the building with the exception of the cafeteria at breakfast and lunch time. When entering the campus, students will not be allowed to have open drink containers or disposable fast food cups.

Penalty: Handbook Warning to Suspension

8. Smoking and Smokeless Tobacco

A student may not smoke nor have possession or control of any tobacco products, tobacco-related substances, smoking paraphernalia (matches, lighters, etc.) on school property, including school buses, at any time (A.C.A. §6-21-609, A.C.A. §20-27-701, A.C.A. §20-27-702, A.C.A. §20-27-703).

Penalty: Suspension to Expulsion

9. Gambling

Students shall not gamble while on school property, school buses or at school-sponsored events (A.C.A. §5-66-101, et seq; A.C.A. §5-66-112, card games; A.C.A. §5-66-113, games of hazard or skill – betting).

Penalty: Handbook Warning - suspension

10. Forgery or Falsification of Information or Failure to Provide Identification

No student shall falsify signatures or information on official school records, refuse to give identification or give false identification when identity is requested by a staff member.

Penalty: Corporal Punishment - suspension

11. Fighting

When students fight, it may be difficult to determine who is at fault. When a cooling off period is needed, both students may be immediately suspended until an effort to determine fault is made. If a student is found to have not initiated the fight, he may or may not be suspended. Alternate punishment may be applied with regard to actual involvement (A.C.A. §5-71-207). In an attempt to be proactive, a no contact contract may be used in an effort to discourage any confrontations. Instigating or encouraging fights will result in disciplinary action.

Penalty: Suspension - expulsion

12. Profanity, Verbal Harassment, Obscene Gestures

A student will not use in verbal or written form profane, violent, vulgar, abusive, insulting, sexual or disrespectful language at any time. A student will not use physical gestures that convey a connotation of obscene or disrespectful acts, infringe upon the rights of others or cause or begin an overt and immediate disruption of the educational process (A.C.A. §5-60-113, school bus drivers; A.C.A. §5-17-207, disorderly conduct; A.C.A. §5-71-208, harassment; A.C.A. §6-17-106, insult/abuse of teachers; A.C.A. §6-18-506).

Penalty: Corporal punishment - expulsion

13. Bullying

Students who bully another person shall be held accountable for their actions, whether it occurs on the school grounds; off the school grounds at a school sponsored function, activity or event; or going to or from school or a school activity in a school vehicle or school bus; or at designated school bus stops.

Bullying is any pattern of behavior by a student, or a group of students, that is intended to harass, intimidate, ridicule, humiliate, or instill fear in another student or group of students. Bullying behavior can be a threat of, or actual physical harm, electronic forms of bullying (Cyber-bullying), or it can be verbal abuse of the student. Bullying is a series of recurring actions committed over a period of time directed toward one student, or successive, separate actions directed against multiple students.

Penalty: Handbook Warning – expulsion

14. Student Dress and Grooming

At Morrilton High School, we understand that the dress code is a matter of personal opinion and style. To insure a healthy working environment, we must advise that students dress appropriately so there will be no distractions from their education. Measures will be taken to correct the dress code violation through the use of t-shirts, zip-ties, etc. so students can return to class. However, disciplinary action will also be taken for violating the dress code.

a. Shorts and skirts are permitted; however, they shall be 3 ½ inches (any standard size credit card or driver’s license) from the top of the kneecap. No exceptions for leggings.

b. Hats and hoods are only allowed in the parking lot or outside lunch area. No covering (including sweat bands, combs, skull cap/stocking caps, or do-rag/wave caps) is allowed on the head inside of the building at anytime for females or males. Bills should face front and center.

c. Clothing that displays messages or illustrations of a profane or crude nature, or advertisements for drugs, alcohol, or any illegal substance shall not be allowed.

d. Holes located 3 ½ inches above the top of the kneecap must not reveal skin, boxers, briefs, panties, or any article of clothing that cannot be worn alone. Absolutely no holes allowed in the groin, buttox or hip area.

e. Pajamas are not allowed without permission.

f. Girls are allowed to wear sleeveless shirts as long as 3 ½ inches of the shoulder is covered and no bras are visible. Guys must wear shirts that cover arm pits.

g. Blouses and shirts must be long enough to keep the midriff, back and stomach covered on a consistent basis (even while seated). Students shall not expose skin on the back that is more than 3 ½ inches below the neck line.

h. Clothing that reveals “cleavage” is not allowed.

i. Sagging is not allowed. Pants are to be worn above the hips.

Any clothing, jewelry, accessory, or hairstyle that the administration deems as inappropriate in an educational setting, presenting a safety concern, or that causes a disruption in the educational process will be prohibited. The final decision on dress code matters rests with the building principal or designee of the principal.

Student grooming will not be allowed in cafeteria or classrooms and will be restricted to restrooms only.

Penalty: Handbook Warning - suspension

15. Violation of Parking and Driving Regulations

A student using any type of vehicle (bicycle, motorcycle, automobile, truck) as a means of transportation to and from school will not violate the rules and regulations set forth by the principal of the school. Students with a valid driver’s license may drive cars and trucks to school and these vehicles must be parked in the assigned area on the campus, be registered with the school and display a current decal. Students are prohibited from sitting in parked vehicles during school hours.

Penalty: Parking fine/loss of parking privilege - suspension

16. Public Display of Affection

Public display of affection includes, but is not limited to, kissing, hugging, holding hands and inappropriate touching. Public display of affection is inappropriate school behavior. Failure to comply with reasonable expectations of school staff will lead to disciplinary action.

Penalty: Handbook Warning - expulsion

17. Loitering by Suspended or Expelled Student

No suspended or expelled student shall linger on school grounds or within 100 feet of the school without permission of the school administrator, nor shall they go on school district property for any purpose while serving suspension/expulsion. The parent may be notified and student may be referred to legal authorities (A.C.A. §6-21-606; A.C.A. §6-21-607).

Penalty: Corporal punishment – expulsion

18. Loitering on an Unassigned Campus

No student from another campus is allowed on another school’s campus during school hours without permission of school officials (A.C.A. §6-21-606; A.C.A. §6-21-607).

Penalty: Corporal punishment – expulsion

19. Possession of Paging Devices, Lasers and/or Other Electronic Communication Devices

Students are forbidden from having any paging device, beeper, or similar electronic communication devices, cameras, as well as MP 3 players, Ipods, and other portable music devices. Such devices may be stored in the student’s locker or vehicle so long as they are turned off. Exceptions may be made by the building principal or his/her designee for health or other compelling reasons.

(A.C.A. §5-71-227; A.C.A. §6-60-122).

Penalty: Seizure of electronic device to suspension

20. Possessing, Using or Being under the Influence of Alcohol

Students shall not possess, use or be under the influence of alcohol at school or school-related activities. Students breaking this rule for the first time will be suspended for ten (10) days and placed on probation. The student/family must show proof that they are enrolled with a counseling agency recognized by the District or the student will be recommended for expulsion. The District will provide a list of recognized agencies to the principal.

If the student breaks the rule a second time, he will immediately be recommended for expulsion. The student may be reported to legal authorities.

Penalty: Suspension - expulsion

21. Possessing, Using or Being under the Influence of Illegal, Prescription, or Over-the-Counter Drugs

Students shall not possess, use or be under the influence of illegal drugs at school or school-related activities. Students breaking this rule for the first time will be suspended for ten (10) days and placed on probation. The student/family must show proof that they are enrolled with a counseling agency recognized by the District or the student will be recommended for expulsion. The district will provide a list of recognized agencies to the principal.

If the student breaks the rule a second time, he will immediately be recommended for expulsion. The student may be reported to legal authorities.

Penalty: Suspension - expulsion

22. Possessing or Using Drug Paraphernalia

Students may not possess, use or transmit any objects which could reasonably be considered drug par

STUDENT AND PARENT

HANDBOOK

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Student and Parent

Handbook

1.20 HOME SCHOOL

1.25 EQUAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY

1.50 SMART CORE CURRICULUM AND GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

2.35 SUPPLIES AND TEXTBOOKS

2.40 VISITS AND CONFERENCES

APPOINTMENTS AND EARLY CHECKOUT

2.55 LOST AND FOUND

2.95 COMMUNICABLE DISEASES AND PARASITES

3.30 STUDENTS LEAVING SCHOOL GROUNDS DURING THE SCHOOL DAY

3.35 TRUANCY AND TARDINESS

3.70 MAKE-UP WORK

3.95 SEARCH, SEIZURE AND INTERROGATIONS