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Findlay Elementary School
STUDENT/PARENT HANDBOOK 2011-2012
Mission Statement
The mission of Findlay Elementary School, with strong community support, is to insure that our students are motivated, literate, and value-conscious individuals by creating a safe, nurturing, and interactive learning environment
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576 Hale Street
Sparta, Tennessee 38583
Phone: 931.738.2412
Fax 931.738.3007
www.findlayelementary.com
2011-2012 School Year
This Parent-Student Handbook has been prepared to provide essential information to the students who attend Findlay Elementary School and their parents. Please review the contents. All information and policies are subject to change.
2011-2012 Calendar
Findlay Elementary School
White County Schools
August 11 Student Registration, 8:00 – 9:30 AM
August 15 First Full Day of School
August 18 School Open House/Orientation 3:15 – 6:15
September 5 Labor Day – No School
October 14, 17 Fall Break – No School
November 23, 24, 25 Thanksgiving Holidays – No School
December 16 Full Day/ Christmas Break Begins 12/17
January 3 School Reopens
January 16 Martin Luther King Day– No School
February 20 Presidents Day – No School
March 9, 12, 13 Spring Break – No School
April 6, 9 Easter Break – No School
April 26-May 1 TCAP Testing
May 22 Last Day of School – Dismissed at 9:30
Important Phone Numbers
Findlay School - 738-2412
Findlay Cafeteria - 738-8631
Superintendent's Office - 836-2229
Bus Transportation Office - 836-8075
Findlay Elementary School addresses character, values, and attitudes through the Lifelong Guidelines and LIFESKILLS developed by Susan Kovalik. The Lifelong Guidelines include: Trustworthiness, Truthfulness, Active Listening, No Put-Downs, and Personal Best.
Personal best is defined by 18 LIFESKILLS: Integrity, Responsibility, Common Sense, Problem Solving, Organization, Resourcefulness, Effort, Perseverance, Sense of Humor, Initiative, Curiosity, Courage, Flexibility, Patience, Friendship, Caring, Cooperation, and Pride. Our goal is to make the Lifelong Guidelines and LIFESKILLS the basis for interaction among students and between teachers and students with the supportive and nurturing environment all children need.
Procedures all students are expected to follow include:
HALLWAY PROCEDURES
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Walk Slowly and Quietly·
Respect Others·
Respect Walls and Displays by keeping Hands, Feet and Objects to Yourself.RESTROOM PROCEDURES
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Be Quick·
Be Clean·
Be QuietPLAYGROUND PROCEDURES
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Be Safe – Use Equipment Properly·
Use your Lifeskills with Others·
Stay in Sight of the Teacher·
Pick up Two Pieces of Trash on Your Way In·
Wipe Your Feet before You Come InCAFETERIA PROCEDURES
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Find a Seat Quickly·
Use Quiet Voice·
Keep Your Hands, Feet, and other Objects to Yourself·
Make One Trip to Empty Trash and Tray·
Treat Your Café Monitor with RespectBUS DUTY PROCEDURES
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Always Walk While Entering, Leaving, or Inside the Gym·
Sit Quietly in Your Assigned Area Unless Directed to do Otherwise·
Ask for Permission Before Going to the Restroom or to Another Location·
Keep Your Hands, Feet, and other Objects to Yourself
DAILY STUDENT SCHEDULE
7:00 Students admitted to gym.
7:10 - 7:45 Breakfast.
7:45 Students dismissed to classrooms.
7:55 First Bell, Be in Classroom, Get Books, Supplies
Parents are requested to depart the building at 7:55
8:00 Second Bell. Classes begin.
2:55 Parent Pick-up Bell (students report to cafeteria)
3:00 Parent Pick-up begins FRONT PARKING LOT ONLY
3:00 Bus Bell – Bus riders report to Gym
SPECIAL NOTE TO PARENTS:
Students should not arrive at school before 7:00 a.m. The gym will not be opened until a teacher arrives for bus duty. In the afternoon, students should be picked up no later than 3:20.
Parents, you are always welcome at Findlay, but please follow the following procedures:
1. Teachers are on duty at 7:45 each morning. You may speak to a teacher then, but understand that they have supervision duties as well. If you need an extended conversation time, please make an appointment with them.
2. Always check in at the office. Additionally, please wait in the office area until the appropriate time.
3. We will try very hard not to interrupt classes in progress. Again, please make an appointment with the teacher.
4. Be prepared to present photo ID to school personnel upon arrival at the school. This is especially true if you are checking your child out of school.
RULES OF CONDUCT
Each student should:
1. respect and obey all teachers and adult staff members.
2. be on time.
3. keep the school building and grounds clean and free of litter.
4. use proper language at all times. Curse words, unkind remarks to or about other students, parents, teachers, or personnel are not allowed.
5. walk inside the school buildings unless participating in supervised physical education activities.
6. never disturb other classrooms while walking in the halls.
7. get along with others. No fighting with other students is allowed. You should report any fights or attempts to fight to a teacher.
8. not chew gum at school.
9. dress appropriately for school. Beach-type flip flops, clothing with obscene printing, tank tops, tops with spaghetti straps, shorts shorter than 4 inches from bend of knee or tight shorts should not be worn to school.
10. not bring cell phones, radios, cassette players, GameBoys, trading cards etc. or valuable personal items or toys to school (including basketballs, etc.) to school. Basketballs will be provided for each classroom.
11. never bring weapons of any kind to school.
12. not leave school premises without permission from the office.
13. never damage or take school property or property that belongs to another.
14. not wear a hat/cap in the building.
15. not possess or use tobacco products. The school resource officer or principal will issue offending students a citation.16. respect other students. Bullying and verbal or physical harassment will not be tolerated.
CONSEQUENCES
for violations of rules of the school may be as follows:
For minor infractions (such as classroom disturbances, tardiness, cheating, failure to do assignments, etc.) (Citizenship cards are pulled only after verbal warning)
Citizenship cards may be pulled
1 card 1 point loss in citizenship grade
2 cards Additional point lost in grade Loss of 15 minutes of recess
3 cards Additional point lost in grade Loss of recess
4 cards Additional point lost in grade Loss of recess & note home
5 cards Additional point lost in grade Sent to principal’s office
ALL CARDS ARE REPLACED DAILY – Additional consequences
1. Counseling the student
2. Restricting activities
3. Requiring special assignments
4. Time out (removal of student temporarily from classroom)
5. Behavior modification activities
6. Denial of class privileges including ice cream/ snack
For infractions whose frequency or seriousness disrupts the learning climate of the school (such as continuation of items in the above, disruptive classroom behavior, truancy, etc.):
1. In-school suspension
2. Detention after school
3. Suspension from school sponsored activities
4. Suspension from riding the bus
5. Corporal punishment
For infractions that are directed against persons or property (such as bullying and verbal or physical harassment, fighting, vandalism, stealing, etc.):
1. Temporary removal from class
2. In-School suspension
3. Detention after school
4. Corporal punishment
5. Out-of-school suspension
For infractions that result in violence to another person or property or which pose a direct threat to the safety of others in the school (such as assault/battery, etc.):
1. Out-of-school suspension
2. Expulsion
3. Other action by the Board of Education
NOTE: According to policies of the White County School Board, corporal punishment will be used only after other methods have been used and are unsuccessful. If parents object to the use of corporal punishment, such objection must be made in advance, in writing, to the principal of the school at the start of each school year. A student whose parents object to the use of corporal punishment ,when and if it is deemed necessary by the principal, may be suspended by the principal.
ATTENDANCE
Absences
The scholastic achievement attained by any student is directly related to his/her pattern of attendance. Parents, it is extremely important that your child be present every day possible. White County schools expect every child of school age to be in attendance, and on time, each day school is in session unless prevented by an excused absence. White County Schools has a 95 percent attendance guideline. If a student fails to meet this standard, then the student will be referred to the Supervisor of Attendance for White County.
Absences shall be classified as excused or unexcused as determined by the principal or his/her designee. Excused absences shall include:
1. Personal illness
2. Death in the family
3. Religious observances
4. Circumstances which, in the judgment of the principal, create emergencies over which the student has no control.
Absences will be excused by a doctor’s note or a hand written note by the parent. The school will only accept 5 parent notes as excused. After five parent notes, only a doctor’s note will be excused. Excuse notes from parents should clearly state the reason that the student has been absent or tardy. When a student accumulates 3 unexcused absences, an attendance letter is sent to the parents and the Supervisor of Attendance. If unexcused absences continue, the White County Attendance Supervisor will be notified and further absences will be considered truancy as defined by TCA 49-6-3007. The Attendance Supervisor shall follow legal procedures to ensure compliance with the law. A referral may be made to the court. State law, TCA 49-6-3009, states that a parent or guardian whose child violates the mandatory attendance law commits a Class C misdemeanor and will be subject to 30 days incarceration and a $50 fine for each unexcused day.
All missed class work or tests for excused absences may be made up provided the student makes the request immediately upon returning to school. Class work must be made up in a reasonable amount of time based upon the number of days absent. Principal and teacher will determine whether class work can be made up when absence is unexcused.
Tardiness
A tardy student is one who reports to school after the school day has begun at 8:00 a.m. or checks out of school before 2:55 p.m. If a student is tardy, a parent or guardian must accompany the student to the office to sign the student in. Tardies are excused only for illness or with a physician’s note. Chronic tardies will be considered an attendance problem. For Truancy purposes, time missed from school will be calculated and considered part of the student’s attendance record. Students will be referred to the Supervisor of Attendance and possible court referral for excessive tardiness.
BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM (Paid Program)
Before School Care is available beginning at 6:15 AM and After School Care ends at 5:45 each school day. If you would like more information, please call the school at 738-2412 or Before/After School Program at 739-2412. Cost is dependent upon the number of days per week that a child attends. These programs are dependent on adequate enrollment and may not be offered.
BOOKS
Students should be careful not to damage textbooks or library books. However, if school books happen to be misplaced or damaged, parents will be asked to pay for repair or replacement. School records, including report cards, will be held until all book debts are cleared.
BUS TRANSPORTATION
Bus transportation is provided to and from school by the White County Board of Education. Students are expected to follow behavior guidelines set forth by the driver. These guidelines provide for the safe transportation of all students. If a student's behavior is such that it hampers the driver’s ability to operate the bus safely or causes harm to another student, his/ her bus privileges may be revoked. In such cases, transportation to and from school will be the responsibility of the parent.
Students may not take balloons or glass containers on the bus. Any changes in bus routine requested by parents MUST be in writing. The classroom teacher and the principal or designee must also sign all notes requesting a change in bus assignment. This includes such requests as "Don’t ride the bus home today" "Get off the bus today at grandmother’s," etc. or when children spend the night with others.
CAFETERIA
Findlay Elementary School provides a well-balanced breakfast and lunch each day. Breakfast is served from 7:10 – 7:45 daily. Students arriving after 7:45 will not have time to eat breakfast. Your child's teacher will inform you of the time for lunch.
Students are discouraged from charging at breakfast or lunch. Parents will be notified when a student's meal balance is low. Notification may be by phone call or stamp on the student's wrist. If a student must charge a meal, permission must be given by the cafeteria manager.
To comply with Federal Guidelines, food or drink purchased at fast food establishments may not be brought into the Cafeteria during breakfast or lunch. No canned or glass bottled carbonated drinks are allowed in the Cafeteria during breakfast or lunch.
If a child has a documented medical reason why he/ she should not drink milk, water will be provided after a statement, signed by a physician, is provided to the cafeteria manager. Bottled water will be available for purchase through the serving line at an additional cost (50 cents as of August 8, 2011. Price is subject to change).
Meal Prices* for 2011-2012 are as follows:
Day Week Month
School Lunch (Full Paying) $1.25 $6.25 $25.00
Reduced Lunch .40 2.00 8.00
School Breakfast (Full Paying) .75 3.75 15.00
Reduced Breakfast .30 1.50 6.00
Extra Milk .30 1.50 6.00
Visitors 2.00
*Prices are subject to change
CHANGE OF ADDRESS OR PHONE NUMBER
Please send a note from home giving any change of address or phone number. Make sure there is at least one emergency number in case of an accident or illness.
CLASS PARTIES
All school holiday parties will be scheduled no earlier than 2:00 on a regular school day. Parents who help with class parties should arrive at 2:00 and sign in to get a visitor’s badge in the school office.
EARLY DISMISSAL FROM SCHOOL
Students will be allowed to leave school for the same reasons that excused absences are granted. A parent or guardian must check the student out by signing the check-out sheet in the school office. Please do not go directly to your child’s classroom. Only those indicated on the student’s check-out card will be allowed to take a child. If you must have someone else pick your child up, you must notify the school in advance. Be prepared to present a photo ID to school personnel. An early checkout is reported as a tardy and is a factor in determining truancy status.
FINDLAY FANS
The parent-teacher organization at Findlay School is called the Findlay Fans. Findlay Fans is a volunteer group of parents and friends established for the sole purpose of the betterment of the children at Findlay School. There are no dues. The officers for 2011-2012 school year are Melanie Roberts, President; Jennifer Cranford, Vice-President; Sarena Sparkman, Secretary; Christy Slone, Treasurer.
FINDLAY FAX
The Findlay Fax, the school newsletter, will be sent home on the last day of each school week. Information on the school calendar, upcoming events, news from the classroom teacher and a summary of the student’s school work and conduct will be included on the Findlay Fax. All parents are requested to sign the bottom portion of the Fax and return to the child’s teacher every Monday.The Findlay Fax is a valuable source of information. Please take the time to read the newsletter weekly.
GRADING SYSTEM (Grades 3-5)
93 - 100
A Outstanding85 - 92 B Above Average
75 - 84 C Average
70 - 74 D Below Average
0 - 69 F Unsatisfactory
An "I" on the report card denotes the grade as incomplete and must be made up before the next grading period.
Grades K-2 will utilize a Standards-Based Report card as mandated by the State Department of Education.
HOMEWORK
Home study is a necessary part of each student's educational program. Each student is expected to spend some time at home studying in addition to scheduled class instruction. Additionally, parents are encouraged to read aloud to their child at least 15 minutes each day.
HONOR ROLL
An Honor Roll will be announced each six-weeks. Students will make the Honor Roll who have all A's or all A's and B's during a grading period. Students who are on the Honor Roll each six-weeks will be recognized at the end of the school year. The citizenship grade is included as a factor in determining Honor Roll.
LIBRARY
All classes will have library time once every four days. Students are allowed to go to the library at other times with permission of their teacher. Books may be checked out for one week. Students are encouraged to use the library to check out books and as a place to study. Please take care of library books so that all students may enjoy them. The cost for damaged or misplaced library books will be paid by the parents.
HEAD LICE/ NITS
All students are checked for lice/nits every Monday.
Students who have lice or nits must leave school immediately. White County Board Policy states that a child cannot return to school without a note from the Health Department or health care provider stating that the child has been treated and is free of lice and nits. Absences related to lice are excused for up to two days per occurrence. All other absences related to nits/lice are unexcused.MEDICATION
If a child is required to take medication during the school day and the parent cannot be at school to administer the medication, only the principal or the principal's designee will administer the medication. A medication form is available from the school office and must be completed by the parent for medication to be given.
Medication must be delivered to the principal’s office by the parent/guardian of the student unless the medication must be retained by the student for immediate administration (i.e. students with asthma).
The school retains the discretion to reject requests for administration of medicine.
NUTRITIONAL STANDARDS FOR ALL FOOD BROUGHT INTO SCHOOL BETWEEN 7:15 A.M. and 3:30 P.M.
White County School Board Policy, Nutritional Guidelines, and a List of Foods in Compliance are available in the school office.
PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES
Parents are encouraged and welcomed to be actively involved in their child’s elementary school experience. However, it is very important that the following guidelines be adhered to:
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To schedule a conference with a teacher, please call the front office.·
Conferences and/or phone calls to teachers should be scheduled during a teacher’s planning time. Please ask your child’s teacher for the best time to call or schedule conferences.·
Teachers are scheduled to arrive at school at 7:45. They receive their students from the gym at 7:45. Parents are asked not to conference with teachers during arrival time unless an appointment has been made with the teacher before 7:45.PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Each child is required to participate in physical education unless a doctor's statement can be furnished. Students must participate in physical education activities in order to maintain an acceptable grade. Tennis shoes are required for physical education. Please do not wear black soles that scuff the gym and classroom floors. PE includes outdoor activities that occur all year, including the winter. Children should wear clothing appropriate to the season.
PICK UP/ DROP OFF PROCEDURES
All students who are car riders must be dropped off at the front entrance in the morning and picked up in the afternoon at the front entrance ONLY.
Please do not put your child into a hazardous situation by dropping him/her off in an unauthorized or unsupervised area.·
Please do not PARK in traffic lanes in front of the school during parent drop-off or pick-up. The church parking lot is available for parking.·
Please drive to the yellow line near the cafeteria doors of the pick-up area directly behind the car ahead of you before stopping to pick-up or drop-off your child. Your child should be ready to get out immediately when being dropped off. Children should not cross the pick-up area in the traffic pick-up lane unless accompanied by an adult.·
Children will be dismissed at 2:55 to the parent pick-up area (cafeteria). Car riders will not be allowed to wait in any other area.·
The gate on the Turntable Road will be closed at 7:45 and remain closed until 2:55 P.M. This drive will be available only for buses until 3:30. Do not park in the bus loading zones.·
Please, for the safety of students and staff alike, No cell phone use during parent pick-up or drop-off!·
Parents, please do not come to the cafeteria door to pick up your child. Wait in line.REPORT CARDS
Report cards will be issued on the fifth school day following the end of each six-weeks grading period.
SCHOOL CLOSING/ DELAYED OPENING
As soon as the decision to close White County Schools is made, the director of schools will notify the public media and request that an announcement be made. Please listen to radio or television announcements for school closing information. The school telephone must be kept available for emergencies. Do not call the school for school closing information. Please make sure you have signed up for School Messenger, which will be used to communicate this information directly to you.
Children will not be allowed to make phone calls to parents’ home or work to learn of instructions for early dismissal. Please state your request for early dismissal on the Student Information Sheet. Early dismissal will follow the same procedure for the normal school day. Parent pick-up will be at the front entrance only with children waiting in the café. The back parking area will be used ONLY for bus pick-up. If your child rides a bus, please make arrangements for someone to be home when school is dismissed early.
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When school opens 1 hour late, breakfast will be served.·
When school opens 2 hours late, breakfast will NOT be served.SEVERE WEATHER PROCEDURES
Findlay School monitors severe weather conditions. In the event of a Tornado Warning for White County, all students will be placed in the appropriate locations in the school. For the duration of the warning, Findlay School will not allow any student to leave the building. Parents are asked to refrain from coming to the school during these times. If the warning occurs during dismissal time, schools will not dismiss until the warning has cleared. These procedures are for the safety of students and adults alike.
TARDIES
Students arriving after 8:00 a.m. are considered tardy. Anyone arriving after 8:00 a.m. must report to the office with parent for admission to school. Students who have 6 or more tardies or checkouts during the school year will not be eligible for perfect attendance awards. Tardies and checkouts are recorded on the child’s official school attendance records. Three tardies or check-outs equal one day absent. 9 tardies/checkouts or 3 unexcused absences for a child will result in referral to the White County Attendance Supervisor.
TELEPHONE
Students are allowed to use the school telephone only in case of emergencies. Teachers must give permission for students to use the telephone. In order to minimize classroom interruptions, students should only be called at school for emergency reasons. Please inform your child of afternoon expectations (ride bus, parent pick-up, etc) before school.
VISITORS/VOLUNTEERS
All visitors/volunteers must report to the school office upon entering the school building, sign in and receive a visitor’s badge. When leaving, visitors must sign out and return the visitor’s badge. Parents are welcome to visit the school at any time. However, to avoid interrupting classroom instruction, please make an appointment when possible. Teachers cannot conference with parents during student instructional time.
WEB PAGE
The Findlay Elementary School web site can be found at:
www.findlayelementary.com
WITHDRAWALS
Students who plan to withdraw should notify school officials as soon as possible. Records will be transferred to the student's new school by mail upon receipt of a request for records by the new school. Before leaving Findlay Elementary School, all textbooks and library books must be returned to the school.
WORKBOOKS AND SUPPLIES
At the beginning of each school year, students will be given a list of supplies they will need and also the amount of money needed to purchase workbooks. Workbook fees should be paid as soon as possible after enrollment. Students who qualify for free or reduced lunch will not be required to purchase workbooks. They will be provided by the White County School System if a request for wavier of fees has been signed by parents/guardians.
ZERO TOLERANCE
Students may be expelled for a period of not less than one (1) calendar year for the following offenses:
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Weapons and dangerous instruments (including firearms, explosives, knives, slingshots, etc.)·
Drugs (Possession of any drug including controlled substance or legend drugs)·
Battery (Upon any teacher, principal, school resource officer or any other employee of the school)
REQUIRED NOTICES
Transfer Option for Students Victimized by Violent Crime at School
Under the Tennessee State Board of Education’s Unsafe School Choice Policy, any public school student who is the victim of a violent crime as defined under Tennessee Code Annotated 40-38-111 (g), or the attempt to commit one of these offenses as defined under Tennessee Code Annotated 30-12-101, shall be provided an opportunity to transfer to another grade-level appropriate school within the district.
Additional information regarding this option may be obtained by contacting Cindy Langford at (931) 836-2229.
Environmental Inspection
White County Schools has been inspected in compliance with AHERA (Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act) and the results of the inspection, along with the Management Plan, are on file at the White County Board of Education office. The report and plan may be reviewed during office hours. Call (931) 836-2229 to schedule a review and to discuss the cost per copy.
An additional copy is available at each school.
Child Advocacy
Tennessee Chapter of Children’s Advocacy Centers
1266 Foster Avenue
Nashville, TN 37210
Upper Cumberland Children’s Advocacy Center
30 E 1st St.
Cookeville, TN 38501
Child Advocacy Center for 31st District
1350 Sparta St.
McMinnville, TN 37110
WHITE COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM
PARENT INFORMATION
The White County School System is committed to providing the best education possible for each student. We realize that parents play a vital role in the accomplishment of this mission so we encourage their involvement and strive to keep them informed of their rights.
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White County School System does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, national origin, age, or handicap in the provision of educational opportunities, activities, or other administered programs.·
A parental involvement policy and parent-teacher-student compact will be distributed to parents by each Title I school. A copy of each document may also be obtained by contacting the school office. In schools eligible for Title I funds, a written parental involvement policy jointly with and distributed to parents of children participating in Title I programs. Each Title I school will also hold at least one annual meeting for parents to inform them of the school’s participation in programs funded under the No Child Left Behind Act. All elementary schools in White County are identified as school-wide Title I schools.·
Parents have the right to request information regarding the professional qualifications of classroom teachers who instruct their children. If students are provided services by paraprofessionals, parents may also request information regarding the qualifications of those paraprofessionals. Teacher certifications can be found by accessing the Tennessee Department of Education Teacher Licensing Web site (www.k-12.state.tn.us/tcertinf ) or by contacting the school principal or the school system’s federal projects director.·
Parents must receive notification if their child has been assigned or has been taught for four or more consecutive weeks by a teacher who is not highly qualified.·
Parents will have access to system and school report cards as developed by the State Department of Education (usually available in late fall of each year) through the web site (www.state.tn.us/education) or at the school and/or system office. Results will also be publicized through local media.·
Parents must receive information on the achievement level of their child on each of the state academic assessments as soon as is practically possible after the test is taken. Assessment results will be distributed by the child’s school.·
Parents have access to district and school information and reports through the media (local newspaper and radio), the System/School Report Cards available on the State Department of Education website ( ), or at the school or system’s administrative offices.·
Parents may visit the State Department of Education website (http://tennessee.gov/education/ci/standards/index.php ) or visit the school to access a description of the Tennessee Curriculum Standards, assessment information, and proficiency levels students are expected to meet.
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Parents must be notified if their child is enrolled in a school identified for improvement, corrective action, or restructuring.·
If a school fails to make adequate yearly progress, parents will be informed regarding the availability of school choice options and supplemental education services.·
Parents of a student identified as having limited English proficiency (ELL-English Language Learner) must be notified in a timely manner of the child’s participation in the ELL program, details of the program, right to waive participation, and specific information on the child’s level of English proficiency.·
Parents will be notified of their child’s eligibility for service in migrant, homeless, or Limited English Proficiency programs.·
Parents must be informed of and involved in violence and drug prevention efforts including program content and activities. Parents may request in writing their child’s exemption from participation in such activities.·
Parents will be notified regarding their rights before any third-party surveys are distributed to students.·
Schools in which at least 40% of the children are from low-income families have school-wide program authority under which schools may consolidate funds from federal, state, and local sources to upgrade the entire program of the school.·
Parents of secondary school students have a right to request that their child’s name, address, and telephone number not be released to a military recruiter without their prior written consent. Requests should be addressed to Federal Projects Director at White County Schools; 136 Baker Street, Sparta, TN 38583.·
Federal law affords parents and students over 18 years of age certain rights with respect to educational records. School Board Policy relating to student privacy and parental access to information is available in the School Board Policy Manual located at each school and at the central office. Notification of Rights and Release of Directory Information under FERPA (Family Education Rights and Privacy Act) will also be conducted through local media announcements.
WHITE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION
FAMILY INVOLVEMENT POLICY
The White County Board of Education is committed to providing a quality education for every child in the district and endorses the concept that families and school personnel must work together to improve the quality of education for all students. When schools and families form strong partnerships, all children’s potential for academic success improves significantly. Research has shown that when families and community stakeholders support education, the following student results are evident: improved attendance; increased motivation and better self-esteem; higher grades, test scores, and graduation rates; decreased usage of drugs and alcohol; fewer instances of violent behavior; and fewer suspensions from school. The White County School System will follow all requirements of the Title I regulations including involvement of families in all aspects (planning, implementation, and evaluation) of the district’s family engagement program. The LEA will exert effort to identify the desires of families and will act responsibly when considering those desires.
Through surveys, meetings, and/or personal consultation, this plan has been developed with and agreed upon by families of participating students. This plan will be reviewed annually and updated as needed and will be distributed to families by schools each school year through handbooks, annual meetings, etc. If the LEA plan is not satisfactory to the parents of participating students, the school district will submit any parent comments with the plan when the school district submits the plan to the State Department of Education. Each school has its own family involvement plan that will also be reviewed annually and will be distributed to families at the beginning of the school year.
The LEA will provide the coordination, technical assistance, and other support necessary to assist participating schools in planning and implementing effective family involvement programs and in building schools’ and families’ capacity for strong parent involvement. Support may include funding, materials and other resources, staff development, and family training.
The LEA will assist in coordinating and integrating family involvement with other programs including Head Start, Even Start, Pre-Kindergarten, Adult Basic Education, and Homeless Education. The types of coordination provided include provision of information to families about each program and information to each agency pertaining to family involvement programs/activities. Space for meetings and computer labs for training will also be provided.
Through family meetings and/or surveys, the LEA will conduct an annual evaluation of the family involvement program to 1) determine the effectiveness of the program in increasing the participation of families, 2) identify barriers to greater participation by families in such involvement activities, and 3) design strategies for school improvement and revision of family involvement plans if necessary.
Not less than 1% of the LEA’s Title I allocation shall be reserved to carry out family involvement activities. Through surveys, questionnaires, and/or meetings, families of participating students will be involved in the decisions regarding the allocation of these funds.
Findlay Elementary Family Involvement Policy
In an effort to improve our students’ educational opportunities, we, the families and staff agree on the necessity of working together closely as we develop the program at Findlay School. This policy outlines how families’ input and support is sought for the development of our school program through our parent school compact, advisory groups, family meetings, and written communications. This policy also attempts to show how the school provides families with the information and training needed to support their child’s educational progress and the role the community plays in the process.
PARENT SCHOOL COMPACT:
In order to support our belief that the education of students must be a joint effort of the school, the family and the student, the families and staff of Findlay School have jointly developed a parent school compact which outlines the responsibilities of each party. This compact is distributed to all families, students, and teachers. It is on file at the school and is used during parent-teacher and teacher-student conferences.
ADVISORY GROUPS:
We respect the advice and opinions of the families of the students at Findlay School. We seek their involvement in the planning, writing, revising and evaluating of our school wide plan which includes the parent school compact and the family involvement policy. Family members also serve on our advisory team which meets to give guidance and direction to our school.
COMMUNICATION:
We believe that communication between the home and school is vital at Findlay. We strive to encourage this communication through an annual meeting to explain the school wide project, family involvement policy, and parent school compact. At this meeting parents’ rights to be involved are explained and encouraged. Grade level meetings are held and written communications are provided which explain the curriculum, assessment measures and proficiency expectations. An individual child’s progress and family concerns are addressed through home visits, telephone calls, personal notes, mid-term progress reports and conferences. Families are informed of the total school’s progress, activities, and programs through newsletters sent home each week. We ensure that information related to school is sent in a format and language understood by all parents. Families are also encouraged to make visits to the school and to volunteer and become involved in our daily program whenever possible. Families’ opinions and assessment of our program are collected through an annual evaluation.
FAMILY MEETINGS AND TRAINING:
We offer opportunities for Findlay Elementary families to receive additional training and information through PTO meetings, family workshops and through individual help provided during home visits. A survey is conducted at the beginning of the school year to determine the most convenient days and times for these workshops and to identify barriers to family attendance.
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT:
Findlay seeks to involve our community by having representatives from the community involved in the school activities. We also encourage our families to use the resources of the community by referring them to available services and by using community members as resource speakers for our family meetings and workshops. Findlay has a very strong tie with our Partners in Education: Sonic Properties, Payless Pharmacy, Rhythm North America, Jeff’s Body Shop, J.A. Sergio and Sons, and Life Care Center of Sparta which provide many extra educational opportunities for our students.
Notification of Rights under FERPA
for White County Elementary and Secondary Schools
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords parents and students over 18 years of age ("eligible students") certain rights with respect to the student's education records. These rights are:
(1) The right to inspect and review the student's education records within 45 days of the day the School receives a request for access.
Parents or eligible students should submit to the School principal [or appropriate school official] a written request that identifies the record(s) they wish to inspect. The School official will make arrangements for access and notify the parent or eligible student of the time and place where the records may be inspected.
(2) The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the parent or eligible student believes are inaccurate.
Parents or eligible students may ask the School to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate. They should write the School principal [or appropriate school official], clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate. If the School decides not to amend the record as requested by the parent or eligible student, the School will notify the parent or eligible student of the decision and advise them of their right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the parent or eligible student when notified of the right to a hearing.
(3) The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student's education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.
One exception, which permits disclosure without consent, is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the School as an administrator, supervisor, instructor, or support staff member (including health or medical staff and law enforcement unit personnel); a person serving on the School Board; a person or company with whom the School has contracted to perform a special task (such as an attorney, auditor, medical consultant, or therapist); or a parent or student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks.
A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility.
Upon request, the School discloses education records without consent to officials of another school district in which a student seeks or intends to enroll.
(4) The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the School District to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the Office that administers FERPA are:
Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202-4605
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
White County School System
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), a Federal law, requires that White County School System, with certain exceptions, obtain your written consent prior to the disclosure of personally identifiable information from your child’s education records. However, White County School System may disclose appropriately designated "directory information" without written consent, unless you have advised the District to the contrary in accordance with District procedures. The primary purpose of directory information is to allow the White County School System to include this type of information from your child’s education records in certain school publications. Examples include:
A playbill, showing your student’s role in a drama production;
The annual yearbook;
Honor roll or other recognition lists;
Graduation programs; and
Sports activity sheets, such as for wrestling, showing weight and height of team members.
Directory information, which is information that is generally not considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if released, can also be disclosed to outside organizations without a parent’s prior written consent. Outside organizations include, but are not limited to, companies that manufacture class rings or publish yearbooks. In addition, two federal laws require local educational agencies (LEAs) receiving assistance under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to provide military recruiters, upon request, with three directory information categories – names, addresses and telephone listings – unless parents have advised the LEA that they do not want their student’s information disclosed without their prior written consent.
If you do not want White County School System to disclose directory information from your child’s education records without your prior written consent, you must notify the District in writing by September 15 of the current school year. White County School System has designated the following information as directory information:
-Student’s name -Participation in officially
-Address recognized activities and sports
-Telephone listing -Weight and height of members of
-Electronic mail address athletic teams
-Photograph -Degrees, honors, and awards
-Date and place of birth received
-Major field of study -The most recent educational
-Dates of attendance agency or institution
-Grade level attended
Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA)
White County School System
The Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA) affords parents certain rights regarding our conduct of surveys, collection and use of information for marketing purposes, and certain physical exams. These include the right to:
Consent before students are required to submit to a survey that concerns one or more of the following protected areas ("protected information survey") if the survey is funded in whole or in part by a program of the U.S. Department of Education (ED)-
1. Political affiliations or beliefs of the student or student’s parent;
2. Mental or psychological problems of the student or student’s family;
3. Sex behavior or attitudes;
4. Illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating, or demeaning behavior;
5. Critical appraisals of others with whom respondents have close family relationships;
6. Legally recognized privileged relationships, such as with lawyers, doctors, or ministers;
7. Religious practices, affiliations, or beliefs of the student or parents; or
8. Income, other than as required by law to determine program eligibility.
Receive notice and an opportunity to opt a student out of
-1. Any other protected information survey, regardless of funding;
2. Any non-emergency, invasive physical examination or screening required as a condition of attendance, administered by the school or its agent and not necessary to protect the immediate health and safety of a student, except for hearing, vision, or scoliosis screenings, or any physical exam or screening permitted or required under State law; and
3. Activities involving collection, disclosure, or use of personal information obtained from students for marketing or to sell or otherwise distribute the information to others.
Inspect
, upon request and before administration or use-1. Protected information surveys of students;
2. Instruments used to collect personal information from students for any of the above marketing, sales, or other distribution purposes; and
3. Instructional material used as part of the educational curriculum.
These rights transfer from the parents to a student who is 18 years old or an emancipated minor under State law.
White County School System has developed and adopted policies, in consultation with parents, regarding these rights, as well as arrangements to protect student privacy in the administration of protected information surveys and the collection, disclosure, or use of personal information for marketing, sales, or other distribution purposes. White County School System will directly notify parents of these policies at least annually at the start of each school year and after any substantive changes. Following is a list of the specific activities and surveys covered under this requirement:
Collection, disclosure, or use of personal information for marketing, sales or other distribution.
Administration of any protected information survey not funded in whole or in part by ED.
Any non-emergency, invasive physical examination or screening as described above.
Parents who believe their rights have been violated may file a complaint with:
Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20202-5920
Statement of Non-Discrimination
In accordance with Federal Law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.
To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA,, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call toll free (866) 632-9992 (Voice). Individuals who are hearing impaired or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339; or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Sarah White, State Director
School Nutrition Program
Division of Resources and Support Services
TN Department of Education
TPS Complex
1240 Foster Avenue
Nashville, TN 37243-0389
If by carrier, use zip of 37210
Phone: 615-532-4714 or
1-800-354-3663
Mobile: 615-727-4506
Fax: 615-532-0362
Email: sarah.c.white@tn.gov
It is the policy of the White County School System not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age or disability in its educational programs or employment policies as required by Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Equal Pay Act of 1973, Title IX (1972 Educational Amendments), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Furthermore, White County School System affirms that it will comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Title VI states:
No person in the United States shall on the grounds of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.
Anyone who believes that the school system has discriminated against them or another individual may file a complaint.
Inquiries or complaints regarding compliance with Title VI, Title IX, or the Americans with Disabilities Act should be directed to:
Title VI and Title IX Coordinator for
White County School System
Kemberly Marcum
And/ or
Lesley D. Farmer, ESQ, Director
Office of Civil Rights
Tennessee Departmeent of Education
And/ or
The Office of Civil Rights
U.S.Department of Education
PO Box 204B, 04-3010
Atlanta, GA 30301-2048
Inquiries or complaints regarding Section 504 should be directed to:
Section 504 Coordinator for White County School System
David Copeland
And/ or
Tiffany Baker Cox, ESQ, Director
Office of Civil Rights
Tennessee Department of Education
And/ or
The Office of Civil Rights
U.S. Department of Education
P.O. Box 204B, 04-3010
Atlanta, GA 30301-2048