COLLEGE CREDIT COURSES Students in grades 9–12 have opportunities to earn college credit through the following methods: Certain courses taught at the high school campus, which may include courses termed dual credit, Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), or college preparatory; Enrollment in an AP or dual credit course through the Texas Virtual School Network; Enrollment in Dual Credit courses is based on both local administrative guidelines and all conditions set by sponsoring institutions and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Enrollment in courses taught in conjunction and in partnership with Howard College and Texas State Technical College, which may be offered on or off campus; and Certain CTE courses. Note that if a student wishes to enroll in a community college course that also results in the award of high school course credit at a college that does not include the high school within its service area, the student is limited by state law to enroll in no more than three courses at that particular college. All of these methods have eligibility requirements and must be approved prior to enrollment in the course. Please see the school counselor for more information. Depending on the student’s grade level and the course, a state-mandated end-of-course assessment may be required for graduation. It is important to keep in mind that not all colleges and universities accept credit earned in all dual credit or AP courses taken in high school for college credit. Students and parents should check with the prospective college or university to determine if a particular course will count toward the student’s desired degree plan. COMPLAINTS AND CONCERNS Usually student or parent complaints or concerns can be addressed by a phone call or a conference with the teacher or principal. For those complaints and concerns that cannot be handled so easily, the district has adopted a standard complaint policy at FNG(LOCAL) in the district’s policy manual. A copy of this policy may be obtained in the principal’s or superintendent’s office or on the district’s website at . In general, the student or parent should submit a written complaint and request a conference with the campus principal. If the concern is not resolved, a request for a conference should be sent to the superintendent. If still unresolved, the district provides for the complaint to be presented to the board of trustees. CONDUCT Applicability of School Rules As required by law, the board has adopted a Student Code of Conduct that prohibits certain behaviors and defines standards of acceptable behavior—both on and off campus as well as on
Exploits an imbalance of power between the student perpetrator and the student victim through written or verbal expression or physical conduct; and Interferes with a student’s education or substantially disrupts the operation of a school. POLICY The Board shall adopt a policy, including any necessary procedures, concerning bullying that: Prohibits the bullying of a student; Prohibits retaliation against any person, including a victim, a witness, or another person, who in good faith provides information concerning an incident of bullying; Establishes a procedure for providing notice of an incident of bullying to a parent or guardian of the victim and a parent or guardian of the bully within a reasonable amount of time after the incident; Establishes the actions a student should take to obtain assistance and intervention in response to bullying; Sets out the available counseling options for a student who is a victim of or a witness to bullying or who engages in bullying; Establishes procedures for reporting an incident of bullying, investigating a reported incident of bullying, and determining whether the reported incident of bullying occurred; Prohibits the imposition of a disciplinary measure on a student who, after an investigation, is found to be a victim of bullying, on the basis of that student’s use of reasonable in response to the bullying; and Requires that discipline for bullying of a student with disabilities comply with applicable requirements under federal law, including the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. Section 1400 et seq.). The policy and any necessary procedures must be included annually in the student and employee handbooks and in the District improvement plan under Education Code 11.252. [See BQ] INTERNET POSTING The procedure for reporting bullying must be posted on the District’s Internet Web site to the extent practicable. Education Code 37.0832(a)–(e)
See also food allergies. asbestos, 48 assistance animals, 10 attendance, 15 college visits, 16 compulsory, 15 doctor’s note, 18 driver license, 18 extenuating circumstances, 17 failure to attend, 17 for credit, 17 for final grade, 17 military families, 11 official attendance-taking time, 18 parent’s note, 18 principal’s plan, 17 removing a student from the classroom, 6 students 18 or older, 15 unexcused absences, 16 attendance review committee, 17, 26 defined, 69 automatic admission, 22 awarding credit, 25 awards, 19 bacterial meningitis, 44 communicability, 45 defined, 45 prevention, 45 symptoms, 45 See also contagious diseases. bilingual programs, 11, 52 bullying, 19 counseling, 19 cyberbullying, 19 policy, 72 school safety transfer, 9 See also hazing. bus rules, 66 buses, 66 hazardous route pickup, 66 pick-up and drop-off locations, 66 required conduct, 66 routes and schedules, 66 cafeteria, 60 nutrition, 60 career and technical education (CTE), 20 college credit courses, 23 counseling, 25 nondiscrimination statement, 20 Celebrate Freedom Week, 8 celebrations, 20 cell phones, 32 certificate of attendance, 42 certificate of coursework completion, 42 child abuse, 20 class changes, 65 class rank, 21 class schedules, 22 partial vs. full-time, 22 schedule changes, 59 classroom parties, 20 clubs. See extracurricular activities. college admissions, 22 credit, 23 University of Texas at Austin, 22 visits, 16 communicable diseases See contagious diseases. community and student engagement parental evaluation, 4 complaints, 12, 23 conduct, 24 at social events, 24 before and after school, 60 disrupting school operations, 24 on school buses, 66 on school transportation, 24 use of hallways, 60 when school rules apply, 24 contagious diseases, 44 bacterial meningitis, 44 excluding from school, 44 leaving campus in case of illness, 51 corporal punishment, 8 correspondence courses. See distance learning. counseling academic, 25 personal, 25 postsecondary education, 25 psychological exams/treatment, 25
credit by exam, 26 for acceleration or advancement, 26 with prior instruction, 26 without prior instruction, 26 credit recovery, 26 for coursework, 25 partial credit, 25 dating violence, 27 Declaration of Independence excusing a student from reciting, 8 Department of Public Safety (DPS), 18 diabetes, 54 directory information, 2, 13 disabled students, 9 discrimination, 27 distance learning, 29 distribution, 30 nonschool materials by others, 31 by students, 30 school materials, 30 doctor’s appointments, 16 dress code, 31 driver license, 18 verification of enrollment form, 18 drug testing, 62 See also steroids. dual-credit programs, 23 early mental health intervention, 65 earning credit, 25 elections for student clubs and organizations, 35 electronic cigarettes, 48 electronic media contact between student and staff, 8 end-of-course (EOC) assessments, 63 special education, 43 students with disabilities, 43 English as a second language, 11, 52 English language learner, 11, 52 exams. See tests. extracurricular activities, 33 conduct, 34 eligibility, 34 fees, 35 meetings, 61 offices and elections for student clubs and organizations, 35 See also meetings of groups. fees, 35 graduation, 43 waivers, 36 fire drills, 59 Fitnessgram. See physical fitness assessment. food allergies, 46 management plan, 46 See also anaphylaxis. See also celebrations. foster care liaison, 64 foster students, 16, 64 foster care liaison, 64 foundation graduation program distinguished level of achievement, 39 endorsements, 39 performance acknowledgements, 40 personal graduation plans (PGP), 41 See also graduation programs. fund-raising, 36 gang-free zones, 36 gender-based harassment, 28 grades, 36 classification by credits, 36 grading guidelines, 36 graduation, 37 activities, 43 certificates of coursework completion, 42 end-of-course (EOC) assessments, 37 expenses, 43 individualized education program (IEP), 42 personal graduation plan (PGP) for middle school or junior high, 57 under the foundation graduation program, 41 programs, 38 advanced/distinguished level of achievement, 22, 39 foundation program, 39 requirements, 37
for automatic college admissions, 22 student speakers, 43 students with disabilities, 42 See also credit; grades; standardized tests. grants, 43 grievances. See complaints. grooming standards, 31 hall pass, 60 harassment, 27 gender-based, 28 investigation, 29 reporting, 28 retaliation, 28 sexual, 28 hazing, 44 See also bullying. head lice, 46 health education School Health Advisory Council, 3 health instruction, 6 health-related matters, 44 asbestos, 48 food allergies, 46 nutrition, 60 pest management, 48 physical fitness, 47 screenings, 55 sunscreen, 54 tobacco, 48 vending machines, 47 homeless students, 48 homework, 3, 48 electronic and social media, 8 See also makeup work. honors, 19 human sexuality instruction, 7 curriculum, 7 removing a child from class, 7 reviewing materials, 7 IEP. See individualized education program (IEP). illness leaving campus, 51 See also contagious diseases. immunization, 48 exemptions for reasons of conscience, 48 medical exemptions, 49 required immunizations, 49 individualized education program (IEP) and eligibility for extracurricular activities, 34 defined, 69 graduation, 42 instructional materials, 5, 6, 65 International Baccalaureate (IB) courses, 23 joint high-school and college programs, 23 laptops, 32 law enforcement, 49 notification of law violations, 50 questioning of students, 49 students taken into custody, 49 verification of officer’s identity and authority, 50 learning difficulties, 10 leaving campus, 50 during lunch, 51 in case of student illness, 51 signing a student out, 51 legal guardian defined, 1 liaison for homeless children and youths, 48 liaison for students in custody of the state, 64 library, 60 lice. See head lice. limited English proficiency (LEP), 52 STAAR-L, 63 lost and found, 52 makeup work, 52 during in-school suspension, 53 for absences, 52 in DAEP, 53 penalties, 53 medical emergency, 59 medicine, 53 allergies, 54 asthma, 54 diabetes, 54 herbal or dietary supplements, 54 nonprescription, 53 prescription, 53 psychotropic drugs, 54
sunscreen, 54 meditation, 56 meetings of noncurriculum-related groups, 61 mental health, 65 early intervention, 65 metal detectors, 62 military families, 11 military recruiters, 14 minimum program. See graduation programs minute of silence, 8, 56 in observance of September 11, 2001, 56 mobile phones, 32 multiple birth siblings, 9 National School Lunch Program, 60 netbooks, 32 newspaper (school newspaper), 30 No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act, 69 no pass, no play, 30, 34 nondiscrimination, 54 organizations, student. See extracurricular activities. parent access to student records, 11 being involved, 3 defined, 1 evaluating school and community engagement, 4 noncustodial, 8 organizations, 3 rights, 4 volunteering, 3, 68 parent involvement coordinator, 4 parenting and paternity awareness, 6 pediculosis. See head lice. personal appearance, 31 personal graduation plan (PGP) for middle school or junior high, 57 under the foundation graduation program, 41 pest management, 48 physical activity, 47 physical examinations, 5, 55 physical fitness assessment, 47 pledges of allegiance, 55 excusing a student from reciting, 8 police. See law enforcement. police dogs, 62 prayer, 56 privacy and personal telecommunications devices, 32 during an investigation of prohibited conduct, 29 FERPA, 69 on district-owned equipment and networks, 61 student records, 11, 12 programs before and after school, 59 progress reports, 58 prohibited conduct, 27 investigation, 29 reporting, 28 See also bullying; dating violence; discrimination; harassment; hazing; retaliation; sexting; vandalism; video cameras. promotion and retention, 56 personal graduation plan (PGP) for middle school or junior high, 57 STAAR, 56 See also credit; grades; standardized tests. protected information, 4 published material from outside sources, 31 from students, 30 school materials, 30 recommended program. See graduation programs recording permission, 6 without parental consent, 6 release of students from school. See leaving campus. religion and immunization, 48 and removal from the classroom, 6 and surveys, 4 holy days, 15 nondiscrimination, 54 report cards, 58
parent’s signature, 58 parent-teacher conferences, 58 See also grades. retaliation, 19, 28 rights noncustodial parent, 8 parental, 4 student, 4 safety, 58 emergency medical treatment and information, 59 emergency preparedness, 58 emergency school closing, 59 fire, tornado, and severe weather drills, 59 football helmets, 34 insurance, 59 on campus, 58 on district vehicles, 58 preparedness drills, 59 student conduct, 58 UIL rules, 34 video cameras, 67 SAT/ACT, 62 schedules. See class schedules. scholarships, 43 School Breakfast Program, 60 school closings, 59 school dances, 25 school facilities, 59 before and after school, 59 cafeteria, 60 meetings, 61 School Health Advisory Council, 7, 47 defined, 70 school nurse, 46, 49, 51, 53, 54 emergency medical treatment and information, 59 sending a student home in case of illness, 51 student exemption from immunization, 48 searches, 61 desks and lockers, 61 district-owned equipment and networks, 61 drug testing, 62 metal detectors, 62 personal electronic devices, 32, 61 trained dogs, 62 vehicles, 61 Section 504. See students with disabilities. service animals, 10 sex education. See human sexuality instruction. sexting, 33 sexual abuse of a child, 20 counseling options, 21 reporting, 21 warning signs, 20 sexual harassment, 28 SHAC. See School Health Advisory Council. signing a student out. See leaving campus. special education, 9, 10 graduation, 42 standardized tests, 43 special programs, 62 coordinator, 62 standardized tests, 62 end-of-course (EOC) assessments, 63 limited English proficiency (LEP), 52 SAT/ACT, 62 special education, 43 STAAR, 62 students with disabilities, 43 TSI assessment, 64 tutoring, 7 See also credit; grades; graduation; promotion and retention. State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR), 62 Alternate, 63 defined, 70 promotion and retention, 56 retaking, 57 STAAR-L, 63 steroids, 64 See also drug testing. Student Code of Conduct, 1, 8, 24, 31, 32, 33, 34, 44, 48, 58, 60, 61, 65, 66, 67, 69 student groups, 35, 36, 61 See also extracurricular activities. student illness
leaving campus, 51 See also contagious diseases. student records, 5, 11 colleges and postsecondary schools, 12 confidentiality, 11 copies, 12 corrections, 12 court orders, 12 custodian, 12 directory information, 13 driver license attendance verification, 18 government agencies, 12 institutions of higher education, 14 military recruiters, 14 released with permission, 12 school officials, 12 students 18 or older, 11 student speakers, 64 See also graduation, student speakers. student work display of, 5 publishing, 5 students with disabilities, 9 graduation, 42 nondiscrimination, 54 Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, 10, 54 standardized tests, 43 students with learning difficulties, 10 substance abuse prevention and intervention, 65 suicide awareness, 65 summer school, 65 surveys inspecting, 5 opting out, 4 tablets, 32 tardiness, 65 teacher qualifications, 5 technology, 32 acceptable use of district resources, 33 confiscated devices, 32 instructional use of personal electronic devices, 32 personal electronic devices, 32 personal telecommunications devices, 32 prohibited uses of district resources, 33 recording still and video images prohibited, 32 searches of personal devices, 32 unauthorized use, 32 test preparation. See tutoring. tests, 5, 6 confidentiality, 11 credit by exam, 26 exams for accleration or grade advancement, 26 personal electronic devices, 32 scores, 6 See also standardized tests. Texas Success Initiative (TSI) assessment, 64 Texas Virtual School Network (TxVSN), 23, 30 textbooks, 5, 65 Title IX Coordinator, 55 tobacco prohibited, 48 top 25 percent, 22 top ten percent, 22 tornado drills, 59 transfers, 65 multiple birth siblings, 9 safety reasons, 9 special education, 9 students who are victims of bullying, 19 students who engage in bullying, 9, 19 victims of bullying, 9 transportation, 66 school-sponsored trips, 66 truancy, 16 tutoring, 7 removal from classroom, 7 school services, 7 UIL. See University Interscholastic League. unexcused absences, 16 university admissions. See college admissions. University Interscholastic League (UIL), 34 condition of football helmets, 34 drug testing and athletic competition, 64 safety rules, 34 use of school facilities, 59
vandalism, 67 vending machines. See health, vending machines. video cameras, 67 visitors, 67 career day, 68 classroom observation, 67 parents, 67 vocational education. See career and technical education (CTE). volunteers, 3, 68 voter registration, 68 withdrawing from school, 68 yearbook, 30