Student-Parent Information Guide 2019-2020 School Year
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STUDENT-PARENT INFORMATION GUIDE 2019-2020 SCHOOL YEAR WELCOME TO THE TUSCALOOSA COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM WHERE STUDENTS LEARN, GROW, AND ACHIEVE Every school system has its own story to tell. The context in which teaching and learning takes place influences the processes and procedures by which our system makes decisions around curriculum, instruction, and assessment. The context also impacts the way our system stays faithful to our vision. Our system bears the great responsibility of educating young minds. Our goal is to prepare young people for their first big step into an adult world, a world that demands self-discipline and social skills as well as academic and work skills. Every effort within all of our programs, initiatives, professional development sessions, parental involvement programs, and community outreach is geared toward the idea that we keep students first. Program reviews and the work we do on a daily basis is predicated on the belief that every student has great potential, is worthy of every effort, and that our role as educators is to prepare them to be successful high school graduates. That success is to be measured by the fact that they will be well prepared for college or to enter the work force as a productive citizen and leader of tomorrow. This Student-Parent Information Guide is designed to assist parents and students to better understand the daily operations and policies of the Tuscaloosa County School System so that they may effectively use all the resources our schools offer. The Tuscaloosa County School System’s Policy Manual is available on the system website at www.tcss.net. MISSION Our mission is to educate and empower all students to be college and career ready graduates – prepared to make positive contributions to our global society. BELIEFS High expectations are necessary to achieve goals and expand opportunities for all. Education is a shared responsibility that positively impacts the quality of life. Equity, fairness, accountability, and fiscal responsibility are foundations of our decision-making. Safe, well-equipped, student-centered schools support student success. Diversity and individual learning needs are respected, included, and valued. EVERY CHILD A GRADUATE - EVERY GRADUATE PREPARED FOR LIFE - 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS GENERAL SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION ................ 4-7 High School Curriculum ................................................................................ 18 School Calendar/Important Dates ................................................................... 4 Career Clusters, Pathways, and Coursework ............................................... 18 The Tuscaloosa County Board of Education ................................................... 5 Central Office Administration Directory ........................................................... 5 PROMOTION, EARNING CREDITS AND GRADING .................... 19-22 School Administration Directory ..................................................................... 6 Promotion and Retention Policies (Grades K-5) ........................................... 19 Equal Education and Employment Opportunity Statement ............................. 6 Promotion and Retention Policies (Grades 6-8) ............................................ 19 School Opening and Closing Times ................................................................ 6 Promotion and Retention Policies (Grades 9-12) .......................................... 19 Extended Day Program ................................................................................... 7 Promotion of Special Education Students ..................................................... 19 School Visitors ................................................................................................ 7 High School Early Exit/Early Graduation ....................................................... 19 Student Visitors ............................................................................................... 7 Credit Improvement (Grades 9-12) .......................................................... 20-21 Checking Students Out of School ................................................................... 7 Credit Acceleration-Advancing Credit ..................................................... 20 Parent Involvement Policy ............................................................................... 7 Credit Acceleration-Obtaining Credit ...................................................... 20 Board Meetings ............................................................................................... 7 Recovering Credit ................................................................................... 20 Repeating Credit ..................................................................................... 21 ENROLLING IN A TUSCALOOSA COUNTY SCHOOL ................... 8-11 Virtual Learning Program .............................................................................. 21 General Requirements .................................................................................... 8 Summer Programs ........................................................................................ 21 Online Registration – INFOSNAP ................................................................... 9 Uniform Grading Scale .................................................................................. 21 Residency Requirements ................................................................................ 9 Report Cards ................................................................................................. 21 Definition of Residence ............................................................................. 9 INOW Parent Portal ...................................................................................... 21 Establishing Residency ............................................................................. 9 Final Course Grade (Grades 9-12) ............................................................... 22 District Requirements and Non-Compliance ............................................. 9 Half-Credit, Two Nine-Week Courses ..................................................... 22 Locating School Zones, Bus Routes, and Bus Stops – Infofinder I ................. 9 Full Credit, Two Nine-Week Courses ...................................................... 22 Placement and Athletic Eligibility of Transfer Students ............................ 10-11 Full-Credit, Four Nine-Week Courses ..................................................... 22 Students Transferring from a Different Academic Calendar ................... 10 Dropping Courses ......................................................................................... 22 Transfers from Accredited Schools ......................................................... 10 GPA Determination for Transfers from Accredited Schools .................... 10 REQUIRED AND OPTIONAL EXAMINATIONS ............................ 23-24 Transfers from Non-Accredited School Settings ..................................... 10 Required Examinations – School Generated ................................................ 23 Senior Transfer Students ........................................................................ 10 Exam Exemption (Grades 6-12) ............................................................. 23 Students who have not attended any school previously this year .......... 10 Required Examinations – System and State Generated .......................... 23-24 Athletic Eligibility for Transfers according to AHSAA .............................. 11 Civics Test .............................................................................................. 23 Homeless, Migrant, Non-English Speaking, or Disabled .............................. 11 ACT plus Writing ................................................................................ 23-24 Dispute Resolution Procedures for McKinney-Vento Students ............... 11 ACT WorkKeys ....................................................................................... 24 Immunizations ............................................................................................... 11 Optional College and Career Readiness Examinations ................................ 24 PSAT ....................................................................................................... 24 THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OUR STUDENTS ....................... 12-17 PSAT 8/9................................................................................................. 24 The Child Nutrition Program .......................................................................... 12 SAT and SAT Subject Tests ................................................................... 24 School Health Services and School Health Information ................................ 12 ASVAB .................................................................................................... 24 Medication ..................................................................................................... 12 Digital Device Policy in a Standardized Test Setting .................................... 24 School Health Screenings ............................................................................. 13 Student Illness Guidelines ............................................................................. 13 COURSE TEXTBOOKS, DEVICES AND FEES ..................................25 Homebound Services ...................................................................................