Student Handbook

PREFACE SECTION I: REQUIRED NOTICES AND INFORMATION FOR PARENTS STATEMENT OF NONDISCRIMINATION 2

PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT.................................................................................................. 2

Working Together ................................................................................................................... 2

PARENTAL RIGHTS ................................................................................................................ 3

Obtaining Information and Protecting Student Rights............................................................ 3

?Opting Out? of Surveys and Activities ................................................................................. 4

Inspecting Surveys .................................................................................................................. 4

Requesting Professional Qualifications of Teachers and Staff ............................................... 4

Reviewing Instructional Materials .......................................................................................... 4

Displaying a Student’s Artwork and Projects ......................................................................... 4

Accessing Student Records ..................................................................................................... 5

Granting Permission to Video or Audio Record a Student ..................................................... 5

Removing a Student Temporarily from the Classroom .......................................................... 5

Excusing a Student from Reciting the Pledges to the U.S. and Texas Flags .......................... 5

Excusing a Student from Reciting a Portion of the Declaration of Independence ................. 6

Requesting Notices of Certain Student Misconduct ............................................................... 6

Requesting Transfers for Your Child ...................................................................................... 6

Requesting Classroom Assignment for Multiple Birth Siblings............................................. 6

OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR PARENTS ...................................................... 7

Parents of Students with Disabilities ...................................................................................... 7

Options and Requirements for Providing Assistance to Students Who Have Learning Difficulties or Who Need or May Need Special Education .................................................... 7

Services for Title I Participants............................................................................................... 7

Student Records ...................................................................................................................... 7

Directory Information ............................................................................................................. 9

Directory Information for School-Sponsored Purposes .......................................................... 9

Release of Student Information to Military Recruiters and Institutions of Higher Education............................................................................................................................................. 10

Bacterial Meningitis .............................................................................................................. 10

SECTION II: INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS AND PARENTS ........................................ 12

ABSENCES/ATTENDANCE .................................................................................................. 12 - vi -

Compulsory Attendance........................................................................................................ 12

Attendance for Credit ............................................................................................................ 13

Parent’s Note After an Absence ............................................................................................ 14

Doctor’s Note After an Absence for Illness .......................................................................... 14

Driver License Attendance Verification ............................................................................... 14

ACADEMIC PROGRAMS ...................................................................................................... 14

AWARDS AND HONORS ...................................................................................................... 14

BULLYING .............................................................................................................................. 14

CLASS RANK / TOP TEN PERCENT / HIGHEST RANKING STUDENT ......................... 14

COMPLAINTS AND CONCERNS ......................................................................................... 14

COMPUTER RESOURCES ..................................................................................................... 15

CONDUCT ............................................................................................................................... 15

Applicability of School Rules ............................................................................................... 15

Corporal Punishment ............................................................................................................ 15

Disruptions ............................................................................................................................ 15

Telecommunications Devices, Including Mobile Telephones .............................................. 16

Other Electronic Devices ...................................................................................................... 16

Social Events ......................................................................................................................... 16

CONTAGIOUS DISEASES / CONDITIONS ......................................................................... 16

COUNSELING ......................................................................................................................... 17

Personal Counseling.............................................................................................................. 17

Psychological Exams, Tests, or Treatment ........................................................................... 17

DATING VIOLENCE, DISCRIMINATION, HARASSMENT, AND RETALIATION ....... 17

Dating Violence .................................................................................................................... 17

Discrimination..................................................................................................................... 18

Harassment ............................................................................................................................ 18

Sexual Harassment ................................................................................................................ 18

Retaliation ............................................................................................................................. 18

Reporting Procedures ............................................................................................................ 19

Investigation of Report ......................................................................................................... 19

DISCRIMINATION ................................................................................................................. 19

DISTRIBUTION OF PUBLISHED MATERIALS OR DOCUMENTS ................................. 19

School Materials ................................................................................................................... 19

Nonschool Materials...from students .................................................................................... 19 - vii -

Nonschool Materials...from others........................................................................................ 20

DRESS AND GROOMING ..................................................................................................... 20

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, CLUBS, AND ORGANIZATIONS ......................... 21

FEES ....................................................................................................................................... 22

FUND-RAISING ...................................................................................................................... 23

GRADING GUIDELINES ....................................................................................................... 23

GRADUATION ACTIVITIES……………………………………………………………… 23

HARASSMENT ....................................................................................................................... 23

HEALTH-RELATED MATTERS ........................................................................................... 23

Physical Activity for Students in Elementary and Middle School ....................................... 23

School Health Advisory Council .......................................................................................... 24

Physical Fitness Assessment ................................................................................................. 24

Vending Machines ................................................................................................................ 24

Other Health-Related Matters ............................................................................................... 24

Tobacco Prohibited ........................................................................................................... 24

Asbestos Management Plan .............................................................................................. 24

Pest Management Plan ...................................................................................................... 24

HOMELESS STUDENTS ........................................................................................................ 24

HOMEWORK......................................................................................................................... 25

IMMUNIZATION .................................................................................................................... 25

LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES ...................................................................................... 25

Questioning of Students ........................................................................................................ 25

Students Taken Into Custody ................................................................................................ 26

Notification of Law Violations ............................................................................................. 26

MAKEUP WORK .................................................................................................................... 27

Routine and In-depth Makeup Work Assignments ............................................................... 27

DAEP Makeup Work ............................................................................................................ 27

In-school Suspension Makeup Work .................................................................................... 27

MEDICINE AT SCHOOL ........................................................................................................ 27

Psychotropic Drugs ............................................................................................................... 28

PHYSICAL EXAMINATIONS / HEALTH SCREENINGS................................................... 28

PLEDGES OF ALLEGIANCE AND A MINUTE OF SILENCE ........................................... 29

PRAYER ................................................................................................................................. 29

PROMOTION AND RETENTION .......................................................................................... 29 - viii -

RELEASE OF STUDENTS FROM SCHOOL ........................................................................ 30

REPORT CARDS / PROGRESS REPORTS AND CONFERENCES .................................... 30

RETALIATION ........................................................................................................................ 31

SAFETY ................................................................................................................................. 31

Accident Insurance................................................................................................................ 31

Drills: Fire, Tornado, and Other Emergencies ..................................................................... 31

Fire Drill Bells .................................................................................................................. 32

Tornado Drill Bells ........................................................................................................... 32

Emergency Medical Treatment and Information .................................................................. 32

Emergency School-Closing Information .............................................................................. 32

SCHOOL FACILITIES ............................................................................................................ 32

Use By Students Before and After School ............................................................................ 32

Conduct Before and After School ......................................................................................... 32

Use of Hallways During Class Time .................................................................................... 33

Cafeteria Services ................................................................................................................. 32

Library................................................................................................................................. 33

Meetings of Noncurriculum-Related Groups........................................................................ 33

SEARCHES .............................................................................................................................. 33

Students’ Desks and Lockers ................................................................................................ 33

Vehicles on Campus ............................................................................................................. 34

Trained Dogs ......................................................................................................................... 34

Metal Detectors ..................................................................................................................... 34

Drug-Testing ......................................................................................................................... 34

SPECIAL PROGRAMS ........................................................................................................... 34

STEROIDS ............................................................................................................................... 34

STUDENT SPEAKERS ........................................................................................................... 34

TAKS (TEXAS ASSESSMENT OF KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS) .................................... 35

TARDINESS........................................................................................................................... 35

TEXTBOOKS ........................................................................................................................... 35

TRANSFERS ............................................................................................................................ 35

TRANSPORTATION ............................................................................................................... 36

School-Sponsored Trips ........................................................................................................ 36

Buses and Other School Vehicles ......................................................................................... 36

VANDALISM......................................................................................................................... 37 - ix -

VIDEO CAMERAS .................................................................................................................. 37

VISITORS TO THE SCHOOL ................................................................................................ 37

General Visitors .................................................................................................................... 37

WITHDRAWING FROM SCHOOL ....................................................................................... 37

GLOSSARY ............................................................................................................................... 39

PARENT INVOLVEMENT POLICY…………………………………………………………..40

GAUSE ISD INTERNET AND ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY………………………………..42

GAUSE ISD HOME-SCHOOL COMPACT……………………………………………………44

CONSENT/OPT-OUT FORM…………………………………………………………………..45

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF RECEIPT OF HANDOUTS……………………………………46