2006-2007
Parent/Student Handbook
Banquete Jr. High School
Our School
Our Children
Our Future
To Students and Parents:
Welcome to school year 2006–2007! Education is a team effort, and we know that students, parents, teachers, and other staff members all working together will make this a successful year for our students.
The Banquete Junior High Student Handbook is designed to provide a resource for some of the basic information that you and your child will need during the school year. In an effort to make it easier to use, the handbook is divided into three sections:
Section I—IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR PARENTS—with information all parents will need about assisting their child and responding to school-related issues;
Section II—CURRICULUM-RELATED INFORMATION—to provide information to students and their parents about graduation programs, required courses, class rank, and extracurricular and other activities; and
Section III—GENERAL INFORMATION AND REQUIREMENTS—describing school operations and requirements such as safety procedures, the dress code, and fees that may be charged.
Each section has a Quick Reference component to serve as a guide for day-to-day questions that may arise.
Please be aware that the term "the student’s parent" is used to refer to the parent, legal guardian, or any other person who has agreed to assume school-related responsibility for a student.
Both students and parents must be familiar with the Banquete Junior High Student Code of Conduct, required by state law and intended to promote school safety and an atmosphere for learning. That document may be found as a separate document sent home to parents or available in the principal’s office.
The student handbook is designed to be in harmony with board policy and the Student Code of Conduct. Please be aware that the handbook is updated yearly, while policy adoption and revision may occur throughout the year. Changes in policy that affect student handbook provisions will be made available to students and parents through newsletters and other communications.
In case of conflict between board policy or the Student Code of Conduct and any provisions of student handbooks, the provisions of board policy or the Student Code of Conduct that were most recently adopted by the board are to be followed.
We encourage parents to review the entire handbook with their children and keep it as a reference during this school year. If you or your child has questions about any of the material in this handbook, please contact a teacher, the counselor, or the principal. Also, please complete and return the parental acknowledgment, student directory information, release of information to military recruiters and institutions of higher learning, and consent/opt-out forms so that we have a record of your choices. [See Obtaining Information and Protecting Student Rights on page 9 and Directory Information on page 16 for more information.]
Please note that references to alphabetical policy codes are included so that parents can refer to current board policy. A copy of the district’s policy manual is available for review in the school office or http://www.tasb.org/policy/pol/private/178913/
SECTION I
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR PARENTS
SECTION II
CURRICULUM-RELATED INFORMATION
SECTION III
GENERAL INFORMATION AND REQUIREMENTS
Accelerated instruction is an intensive supplemental program designed to address the needs of an individual student in acquiring the knowledge and skills required at his or her grade level.
ACT refers to one of the two most frequently used college or university admissions exams: the American College Test. The test may be a requirement for admission to certain colleges or universities.
Alternative assessment instrument, developed by the state, may be given to students in special education and students identified as limited English proficient.
ARD is the admission, review, and dismissal committee convened for each student who is identified as needing a full and individual evaluation for special education services. The eligible student’s parents are part of the committee.
Attendance Review Committee is responsible for reviewing a student’s absences when the student’s attendance drops below 90 percent of the days the class is offered. Under guidelines adopted by the board, the committee will determine whether there were extenuating circumstances for the absences and whether the student needs to complete certain conditions to master the course and regain credit lost because of absences.
DAEP stands for disciplinary alternative education program, a placement for students who have violated certain provisions of the Student Code of Conduct. Students in the DAEP will be separated from students not assigned to the program. The DAEP will focus instruction on English language arts, mathematics, science, history, and self-discipline, and provide for students’ educational and behavior needs, as well as supervision and counseling.
FERPA refers to the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act that grants specific privacy protections to student records. The law contains certain exceptions, such as for directory information, unless a student’s parent or a student 18 or older directs the school not to release directory information.
IEP is the written record of the Individualized Education Program prepared by the ARD committee for a student with disabilities who is eligible for special education services. The IEP contains several parts, such as a statement of the student’s present educational performance; a statement of measurable annual goals, with short-term objectives; the special education and related services and supplemental aids and services to be provided, and program modifications or support by school personnel; a statement regarding how the student’s progress will be measured and how the parents will be kept informed; modifications to state or district wide tests, etc.
ISS refers to in-school suspension, a disciplinary technique for misconduct found in the Student Code of Conduct. Although different from out-of-school suspension and placement in a DAEP, ISS removes the student from the regular classroom.
NCLB Act is the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.
Personal Graduation Plan (PGP) is required by state law for any student in middle school or higher who fails a section on a state-mandated test or is identified by the district as not likely to earn a high school diploma before the fifth school year after he or she begins grade 9.
SAT refers to one of the two most frequently used college or university admissions exams: the Scholastic Aptitude Test. The test may be a requirement for admissions to certain colleges or universities.
Section 504 is the federal law that prohibits discrimination against a student with a disability, requiring schools to provide opportunities for equal services, programs, and participation in activities. Unless the student is determined by an ARD committee to be eligible for special education services, appropriate regular educational services will be provided.
State-mandated tests are required of students at certain grade levels and in specified subjects. Successful performance sometimes is a condition of promotion, and the grade 11 exit-level test is a condition of graduation. Students have multiple opportunities to take the tests if necessary for promotion or graduation.
Student Code of Conduct is developed with the advice of the district-level committee and adopted by the board and identifies the circumstances, consistent with law, when a student may be removed from the classroom or campus. It also sets out the conditions that authorize or require the principal or another administrator to place the student in a disciplinary alternative education program. It outlines conditions for out-of-school suspension and for expulsion, and states whether self-defense is a consideration in suspension, DAEP placement, or expulsion. The Student Code of Conduct also addresses notice to the parent regarding a student’s violation of one of its provisions.
TAKS is short for the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills, the state’s current standardized achievement test given to students in certain subjects in grades 3–11.
UIL refers to the University Interscholastic League, the statewide voluntary non-profit organization that oversees educational extracurricular academic, athletic, and music contests.
[NOTE to district: In light of the U. S. Department of Education clarifying that it is not necessary to allow parents to mark off certain items on the district-designated list of directory information, we will recommend in Update 78 removal of the provision in policy FL(LOCAL) that permits parents to object to one or more categories of information. The following form has been developed with that change in mind. The redesigned forms will allow a parent to either object or consent to the release of all the student information the district has designated as directory information. It replaces the form that permitted parents to mark off certain categories of student information from the district’s list.
If the district’s policy FL(LOCAL) will continue to allow parents to object to the release of certain items on the directory information list, then please revise the parent response portions of this form. This form will also need to be revised if the board has not identified and designated certain school-sponsored purposes for which it will allow parents to control the use of students’ directory information; this option will also be mentioned in Update 78. If you would like us to include in your FL(LOCAL) at Update 78 a separate list for school-sponsored purposes, please contact you Policy Consultant/Analyst.]
[NOTE to district: State law requires that the following section be given to each parent and that it be printed in 14-point type or larger.]
State law requires the district to give you the following information:
Certain information about district students is considered directory information and will be released to anyone who follows the procedures for requesting the information unless the parent or guardian objects to the release of the directory information about the student. If you do not want Banquete SD to disclose directory information from your child's education records without your prior written consent, you must notify the district in writing within ten school days of child’s first day of instruction for this school year
This means that the district must give certain personal information (called "directory information") about your child to any person who requests it, unless you have told the District in writing not to do so. In addition, you have the right to tell the district that it may, or may not, use certain personal information about your child for specific school-sponsored purposes. The district is providing you this form so you can communicate your wishes about these issues.
For the following school-sponsored purposes: [list the uses that have been identified in FL(LOCAL)], [Name of school district] has designated the following information as directory information:
[NOTE to district: Revise the following list to include only those items listed as directory information for school-sponsored purposes in your FL(LOCAL).]Student's name
Address
Telephone listing
E-mail address
Photograph
Date and place of birth
Major field of study
Degrees, honors, and awards received
Dates of attendance
Grade level
Most recent school previously attended
Participation in officially recognized activities and sports
Weight and height, if a member of an athletic team
Directory information identified only for limited school-sponsored purposes remains otherwise confidential and will not be released to the public without the consent of the parent or eligible student.
Parent: Please circle one of the choices below:
I, parent of ______________________________ (student’s name), (do give) (do not give) the district permission to use the information in the above list for the specified school-sponsored purposes.
Parent signature Date
For all other purposes, [Name of school district] has designated the following information as directory information: [NOTE to district: Revise the following list to include only those items listed as directory information your FL(LOCAL) for purposes other than school-sponsored purposes.]
Student's name
Address
Telephone listing
E-mail address
Photograph
Date and place of birth
Major field of study
Degrees, honors, and awards received
Dates of attendance
Grade level
Most recent school previously attended
Participation in officially recognized activities and sports
Weight and height, if a member of an athletic team
Parent: Please circle one of the choices below:
I, parent of ______________________________ (student’s name), (do give) (do not give) the district permission to release the information in this list in response to request unrelated to school-sponsored purposes.
Parent signature Date
Federal law requires that the district release to military recruiters and institutions of higher education, upon request, the name, address, and phone number of secondary school students enrolled in the district, unless the parent or eligible student directs the district not to release information to these types of requestors without prior written consent.
Parent: Please complete the following only if you do not want your child’s information released to a military recruiter or an institution of higher education without your prior consent.
I, parent of ______________________________ (student’s name) requests that the District not release my child’s name, address, and telephone number to a military recruiter or institutions of higher education upon their request without my prior written consent.
Parent Signature Date
APPENDIX III
ACKNOWLEDGMENT FORM — AMENDMENT
My child and I have received a copy of the [school name] Student Handbook Amendment #______ dated ____________________.
Print name of student:
Signature of student:
Signature of parent:
Date:
APPENDIX IV
CONSENT/OPT-OUT FORM
[Note to school administrators: In order to meet district (or campus) obligations under the NCLB Act (see page 6 of the Model Student Handbook) you must at least annually at the beginning of the school year notify parents of the specific or approximate dates when the following will occur or are expected to occur:
A survey, analysis, or evaluation that concerns student-protected information as described below in Section I. For those surveys that will be funded in whole or in part by U.S. Department of Education funds, the district must receive a parent’s consent. For those surveys not funded by the USDE, the district must allow a parent to opt-out.
Any planned nonemergency, invasive physical examinations or screenings required as a condition of attendance, administered and scheduled by the school in advance and not necessary to protect the immediate health and safety of the student, other than hearing, vision, scoliosis screenings or any physical exam or screening permitted or required under state law. See policies EF and FFAA. The district must allow a parent to opt-out of these examinations or screenings.
School activities involving the collection, disclosure, or use of personal information collected from a student for the purpose of marketing or selling that information. Depending on what personal information is being collected, disclosed, or used, the district must either receive consent or allow a parent to opt-out of these activities.
Should any of the above surveys or activities arise during the school year as part of campus or classroom activities, these guidelines should again be used to determine appropriate notices and consent/opt-out forms to be sent to parents before the surveys or activities are conducted.]
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To the Parents of _________________________:
The district is required by federal law to notify you and obtain your consent or denial (opt-out) for your child to participate in certain school activities. The activities include any student survey, analysis, or evaluation that concerns one or more of the following eight areas, known as "protected information surveys."
Political affiliations or beliefs of the student or student's parent;
Mental or psychological problems of the student or student's family;
Sex behavior or attitudes;
Illegal, antisocial, self-incriminating, or demeaning behavior;
Critical appraisals of others with whom respondents have close family relationships;
Legally recognized privileged relationships, such as with lawyers, doctors, or ministers;
Religious practices, affiliations, or beliefs of the student or parents; or
Income, other than as required by law to determine program eligibility.
This requirement also applies to the collection, disclosure, or use of student information for marketing purposes ("marketing surveys"), and certain physical exams and screenings.
Following are activities requiring parental notice and consent or opt-out for the 2006–2007 school year. Please note that this notice and authority to consent transfer from the parent to the student when the student reaches 18 or is an emancipated minor under state law.
[Include modified text blocks below as appropriate.]
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[This sample text may be adapted for any survey concerning the private information listed above.]
Date: On or about ______________________
Grades: 5 and 6
Activity: ABC Survey of At-Risk Behaviors
Summary: This is an anonymous survey that asks students questions about behaviors such as drug and alcohol use, sexual conduct, violence, and other at-risk behaviors. The survey also asks questions of a demographic nature concerning family makeup, the relationship between parents and children, and use of alcohol and drugs at home.
To consent [include this paragraph for USDE funded, protected information surveys only]: A parent must sign and return this consent form no later than [date] so that your child may participate in this survey.
To opt-out [include this paragraph for any non-USDE funded, protected information survey]: Contact [school official] at [telephone number, e-mail, address, etc.] no later than [date] if you do not want your child to participate in this activity.
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[This sample text may be adapted for school activities involving the collection, disclosure, or use of personal information collected from a student for the purpose of marketing or selling that information.
For marketing activities limited to "directory information," the district’s form for directory information in Appendix I satisfies the district’s obligations.
Schools that permit marketing activities, such as the one in the sample below, that collect, use, or disclose both "directory information" and "non-directory information," may not use an opt-out procedure and must obtain prior written consent in accordance with Subsection 99.30 of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).]
Date: 2006–2007 School Year
Grades: 9–12
Activity: Student-Based Commercial Services
Summary: [School] collects, or allows businesses to collect, use, and disclose personal information on students, including names, addresses, telephone listings, and Social Security numbers. These businesses provide student-based products and services, such as computer equipment, sports clothing, school jewelry, and entertainment products.
To consent: A parent must sign and return the consent form no later than [date] so that your child may participate in this activity.
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[This sample text may be adapted for any nonemergency, invasive physical examination or screening required as a condition of attendance, administered and scheduled by the school in advance and not necessary to protect the immediate health and safety of the student. This is not required for hearing, vision, or scoliosis screenings, or any other screening/exams required by state law.]
Date: _________________________
Grades: 1–6
Activity: Flu Shots
Summary: The County Department of Public Health Services will administer flu shots for influenza types A and B.
To opt-out: Contact [school official] at [telephone number, e-mail, address, etc.] no later than [date] if you do not want your child to participate in this activity.
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If you wish to review any survey instrument or instructional material used in connection with any protected information or marketing survey, please submit a request to [school official, address]. [School official] will notify you of the time and place where you may review these materials. You have the right to review a survey and/or instructional materials before the survey is administered to a student.
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I, ____________________ (parent's name), give my consent for ____________________ (child's name) to participate in the following surveys (check those for which you give consent):
[name or description of survey and approximate date]
[name or description of survey and approximate date]
[name or description of survey and approximate date]
______________________________
Parent's signature
Please return this form no later than [date] to the following school official: [name and mailing address].