2020-2021 STUDENT HANDBOOK

Columbia High School 901 Ironville Pike, Columbia, PA 17512 717-684-7500 www.columbiabsd.org

Dr. Michael Smith High School Principal

Mr. Robert Kedney Assistant Principal (7-12)/Director of Extracurricular Activities

Ms. Molly Jones Mrs. Raegan Mellinger Counselor (9-12) Counselor (7-12)

Mrs. Laura Pavelko Ms. Alaina Melendez School Nurse Food Service Director

Mrs. Sarah Yohe Mrs. Deborah Nissley Administrative Assistant to Principal Extracurricular Activities Secretary

Mrs. Deb Arnold Mrs. Brenda Brown Student Services Secretary Attendance Secretary

*** Note: This handbook is for general information applying to the high school. All Covid-19 information, resources, and plans can be found on the district website. ***

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Academics……………….………………..11 Harassment……………………….…….…16 Administrative Detentions…………..……20 Health Services……...…………………...... 6 Alcohol/Controlled Substances………...... 15 Hotlines for Students…………….…………6 Alma Mater……………………………..….4 Illness and Injury…………………...... …..6 Alternative Education Program………..….22 Immunizations……………………………...6 AM Cafeteria Procedures………………...... 8 In-School Suspension…………....………..21 Announcement Exercises …………...... 5 Instructional Support………….…………....6 Assembly Behavior…...……………………8 Late to School/Class…………………..…..26 Athletic Teams………………………..…..27 Level I - IV Violations……………...... 23 Attendance……………………….………..25 Lockers……………………………...... 7 Behavior Management…………………....20 Lunch Detentions………...……………….20 Belief Statements………………….…….…4 Mandated Services…………..…...………...7 Bell Schedules ………...... 3 Medication Policy………………………….7 Bullying……………………………..……17 Mission Statement……………………….…4 Cafeteria Conduct/Rules……………...……8 One Time/Special Events…………..……..28 Care of District Technology…………….....9 Operational Guidelines …………….…...... 7 Cheating Plagiarism…………………....…15 Out of School Suspension……………...…22 Computer Internet Usage …..….………...... 9 Personal and School Property……..…….....8 Confidentiality of Records………...….....…6 Portal to Portal……………………………..7 Core Purpose …………………..………..…4 SAP………………………...…….………...5 Corporal Punishment………………….…..16 Schedule Change Policy…………………..13 Course Selection Procedures…………...…12 School Absence and Extra-curricular..……27 Crimson Code of Conduct……….…….….31 School Absences Procedures…….………..26 Dress Code………………………………..20 School Colors…………………………..…..4 Dropping and Adding Courses…….….…..13 School Nickname……………..……………4 Drug Testing………………….………...…28 School Truancy……………………….…..27 Educational Trips……………...…....….…26 Searches…………………….…...………...17 Electronic Devices…………….…...... 10 Service Learning………….....………..…..12 Emergency Forms……………………...…...7 Smoking Policy…………………………...19 Emergency Closing of Schools...………...... 5 Special Education……….………...……….5 Emergency Drills & Procedures…...... 5 Student Behavioral Policies…….…………15 Equal Opportunity Education………………4 Student Graduation Project………...... 12 Exemption from Instruction……………....14 Student Records Policy………………..….11 Expulsion………………..………………...22 Students Experiencing Homelessness…….39 Extracurricular Activities………...... 27 Summer School…………………………...14 Fire Drills……………………...... ………..5 Title One Information……………………..30 Discipline Matrix………………………….29 Use of Bicycles & Motor Vehicles……...... 8 Food/Drink Guidelines…………...………..8 Vision Statement……………….…………..4 Foreword…………………………….....…..5 Weapons……………………………….… 19 General Information………….………….....5 Grade Level of Student……….……….…..12 Graduation Requirements…………………12 Half Day Absences………………….…….27 Hall Traffic……………………..…………..8

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Regular Bell Schedule Period Time 2 Hour Delay Homeroom 8:00 - 8:10 Period Time B1 8:13 - 9:36 B1 10:00-10:30 B1A 8:13-8:53 B1A 10:00-10:13 B1B 8:56-9:36 B1B 10:16-10:30 B2 9:39 - 11:02 B2 10:33-11:02 B2A 9:39-10:19 B2A 10:33-10:46 B2B 10:22- 11:02 B2B 10:49-11:02 Lunch A 11:05 - 11:35 Lunch A 11:05 - 11:35 B3L1-3L4 11:05 -12:28 B3L1-3L4 11:05 -12:28 B3L1-2 11:05-11:45 B3L1-2 11:05-11:45 B3L3-4 11:48-12:28 B3L3-4 11:48-12:28 B3L2-3L5 11:38 - 1:01 B3L2-3L5 11:38 - 1:01 B3L2-3 11:38-12:18 B3L2-3 11:38-12:18 B3L4-5 12:21-1:01 B3L4-5 12:21-1:01 Lunch C 12:31 -1:01 Lunch C 12:31 -1:01 B4 1:04 - 2:27 B4 1:04 - 2:27 B4A 1:04-1:44 B4A 1:04-1:44 B4B 1:47-2:27 B4B 1:47-2:27 Student Dismissal 2:27 Student Dismissal 2:27

Early Dismissal Lunch A Lunch B Homeroom 8:00-8:05 Homeroom 8:00-8:05

B1-A 8:08-8:35 B1-A 8:08-8:35 B1-B 8:38-9:06 B1-B 8:38-9:06

B2-A 9:09-9:37 B2-A 9:09-9:37

B2-B 9:40-10:08 B2-B 9:40-10:08 B4-A 10:11-10:39 B4-A 10:11-10:39

B4-B 10:42-11:10 B4-B 10:42-11:10 Lunch A 11:13-11:43 B3L1-2 11:13-11:50 B3L3-4 11:53-12:27

B3L2-3 11:46-12:23 B3L4-5 12:26-1:00 Lunch C 12:30-1:00 Student Dismissal 1:00

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and to develop their individual talents. Columbia High School ▪ All students and their parents/guardians must be responsible and active Tide Guide 2020 - 2021 participants in the educational process. ▪ All students and staff are entitled to a We believe every teacher has the right to teach, safe and secure environment. and every student has the right to learn. We also ▪ All students and staff should be able to believe that the Columbia HS is the best-kept use technology as an integral part of secret in Lancaster County. Our teachers, parents, their teaching, learning, and individual and students are the best. We look forward to an productivity. ▪ All students need to be prepared for exciting and rewarding year. Because we are lifelong learning and a variety of careers responsible for creating a safe and orderly in a diverse global society. environment, we have developed this Tide Guide. ▪ A highly qualified and dedicated staff is You are responsible for adhering to all guidelines essential to the learning process. included in this Tide Guide. Equal Opportunity Institution The Columbia Borough School District is an equal **All policies referenced within this document opportunity educational institution and will not may be reviewed by contacting the building discriminate on the basis of race, color, national principal or through the district’s web page. origin, sex, and handicap in any of its activities, programs, employment policies or practices as Core Purpose required by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of Mission Statement 1974, Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of The Columbia Borough School District provides a 1973 or the American Disabilities Act of 1990. learning environment where every student can Please direct equal opportunity inquires to The excel to his/her highest potential of academic Columbia Borough School District, Office of the achievement. The District, in partnership with the Superintendent, 200 North Fifth Street, Columbia, community, will prepare each student to become Pennsylvania 17512 or call (717)684-2283. an independent life-long learner and a responsible School Colors: Crimson and Gold caring citizen. School Nickname: Crimson Tide

Vision Statement Alma Mater The Columbia Borough School District will Come, let us sing together continue to grow as a progressive and dynamic Once more our ringing song; educational organization by providing quality Sing for the Columbia High School education that secures the future of our children With voices true and strong, and community For we are her loving daughters,

And we are her sons so bold. Shared Values Hurrah for Columbia High School, We believe: Hurrah for the Crimson and Gold! • All students possess the ability to learn. Soon from this dear old High School ▪ Education is a partnership between Out to the world we go; family, school and community. There to reap the harvest ▪ All students and staff are treated Of what we here shall sow, equally, fairly, and with respect. But we, her loving daughters ▪ All students and staff are accepted and And we, her sons so bold, appreciated for their individuality and Will be true to the Columbia High School diversity. Yes, true to the Crimson and Gold! ▪ All students should be given the

opportunity to reach their full potential 4

Foreword referral form found next to the SAP mailboxes in The Administration and staff wish to welcome all the library and on the second floor outside of room students to the Columbia High. This handbook has 220. been prepared to acquaint students and parents with the necessary rules, regulations and policies Fire/Emergency Drills and Procedures of our school. Parents are requested to contact the Teachers will indicate to students the designated Principal’s office for clarification of any issue not exit in case of a fire/drill and obtain the covered in this handbook. The principal has the classroom’s 911 and class roster prior to leaving ability to make changes to the handbook at his/her the classroom. discretion when needed during the school year. It 1. Teachers are to escort their students to the is the responsibility of the students and parents to designated safe area. read this handbook. Columbia High School is 2. If an exit is barred, use the next nearest exit. always open to parents and residents. All teachers 3. In the event of fire, students or teachers may be reached via e-mail or through the voice should pull the nearest fire alarm! mail system by calling the office line at 717-684- 7500. Emergency Closing of School School closure and delays will be announced General Information through our Automated Phone System and email as well as over the following stations and websites: Announcement Exercises / Flag Displays Each student shall be encouraged to salute the flag Television Radio and recite the Pledge of Allegiance during WGAL TV WROZ 101.3 announcement exercises. A student may refuse to ABC 27 WARM 103 recite and choose to remain silent during the FOX 43 WSBA 910 AM Pledge of Allegiance or salute the flag based on WHP TV 21 WDAC 94.5 religious conviction or personal belief. A student CW TV 15 WHP 580 AM who declines to participate in opening exercises WRVV 97.3 shall follow the procedure the administration deems necessary. The building principal shall LNP Online https://lancasteronline.com/ provide written notice to parents/guardians of a District Website: www.columbiabsd.org student who refuses to remain silent and salute the Hotlines for Students flag or recite the Pledge of Allegiance. A copy of Here are some recommended hotlines for students the full policy may be obtained by contacting the who feel they need help. Except where noted, all building principal or from the district’s website. lines are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. • Depression and suicide – The National Hotline Network Student Assistance Program (SAP) (See Board (800-784-2433) Policy 236 for more information) • Drug abuse – U. S. Department of SAP is a systematic process using effective and Health and Human Services, accountable professional techniques to mobilize Substance Abuse Services school resources to remove the barriers to learning Administration (800-662-4357) and academic achievement and, when the problem is beyond the scope of the school, to assist the parent/guardian and student with information so Special Education they may access services within the community. Barriers to learning may include, but are not The following section provides a brief description limited to depression, anger, drugs and alcohol, of the process used to assist students who are and problems at home. If you or anyone you experiencing difficulty in regular education know are having difficulties in school, you can classes. In addition, procedures for evaluating contact a teacher, counselor, nurse, home and students and determining if special education school visitor, psychologist, or administrator. programs are needed is shared. Students can refer themselves or a friend using a 5

Speech and Language Support - Service and In addition to the information about our programs programs for exceptional students who are speech noted below, please read the "Child Find" and language impaired. guidelines the District uses for identifying needs Hearing Impaired Support - Service and of students located on the School District’s programs for exceptional students who are deaf or Administrative Web Page. For more information hearing impaired. regarding special education programs and Visually Impaired Support - Service and services, contact the Special Education programs for exceptional students who are blind Coordinator at the District Administration Center, or visually impaired. 200 North Fifth Street, Columbia, PA 17512 or Gifted Support - Service and programs for call 717-684-2283. exceptional students identified as gifted.

Confidentiality of Records The school district protects the rights of confidentiality, access to, and destruction of pupil Health Services records. School board policy outlines the ways in which confidentiality and privacy are protected in The primary function of school health services is the maintenance and dissemination of pupil preventative in nature. Through classroom records. presentations and health screening activities, nurses try to teach sound health habits and detect health problems early. Health room care is Type of Program and Services available for students who become ill or are A full range of special education programs and injured while in school. Please do not expect the services is provided by Columbia Borough School school to handle sickness or injury occurring District. Some are operated directly by the district, outside of school. If you are having difficulty in and others are provided through contracts with the finding or providing care for your child, the school Lancaster-Lebanon Intermediate Unit 13. nurses may be able to assist you in obtaining Depending upon identified needs, exceptional proper care. Health Clinic Services are not students may be in classes or receive services in available in school. the following categories: Illnesses and Injuries Learning Support - Service and programs for Students are to report to the school nurse if they exceptional students whose primary identified are not feeling well or an injury occurs on the need is academic support. school property. The school nurse will determine Emotional Support - Service and programs for if emergency care is needed or if the parent needs exceptional students whose primary identified to pick up the student. NO STUDENT is need is for emotional support. released to go home from the Health Room Life Skills Support - Service and programs for unless the school nurse has obtained permission exceptional students whose primary from an adult listed on the emergency card. identified need is for functional academics and If a student is ill or has an injury requiring the skills for independent living. student to miss school for an extended time, Physical Support - Service and programs for inform the school nurse and the attendance officer. exceptional student who need special education If the student needs assistance upon returning to modifications due to physical disabilities. school, call the nurse. Elevator keys are available Multiple Disabilities Support - Service and in the Health Room. programs for exceptional students who have multiple disabilities. Immunizations Autistic Support - Service and programs for The Department of Health requires that all exceptional students who are autistic. children in any grade, K-12, including all public, private, parochial, intermediate unit and home- schooled students, show proof of required immunizations before they can attend school in 6

the Commonwealth. If the requirements are not pharmacy-labeled container and kept in a locked met, the school administrator shall undertake cabinet designated for storage of medication. A suspension procedures. medication Information Form must be completed and signed by the physician and the Emergency Forms parent/guardian. On the first day of enrollment to CHS, each student will receive an Emergency Information sheet. Both sides are to be completed and signed Portal-to-Portal by a parent/guardian. These cards must be Recent changes in State Law limit the returned to the Homeroom Teacher within ONE responsibility of School Districts for the safety of WEEK of enrollment. It is the responsibility of all students, to those times that students are on the parent/guardian to update the information school property. When a student leaves school as needed. Emergency Contacts listed on this property, the responsibility to ensure the safety of form can only pick up a student with the student shifts to the parent or guardian; this permission form the parent/guardian. includes transportation of the student to and from school. The District is not responsible for any accident or incident that occurs away from school Mandated Services property or during travel times by the student to and from school. Physical Exams: The School Health Law requires Physical Exams for children upon original entry to school, Grade 6, and Grade 11. The exam may be performed by the school physician or private doctor. Completed and signed forms must be Operational Guidelines returned to the school by the designated date. Lockers (no lockers for 2020-2021) Dental Exams: The School Health Law requires Students may use their locker at their discretion Dental Exams for children upon original entry to before or after scheduled classes. Locker usage is school, grade 3 and 7. The exam may be not an acceptable reason for being late to class. performed by the school dentist or private dentist. The Board of Education has authorized the Completed and signed forms must be returned to administration to conduct sweeps of the school the school by the designated date. property/premises (including lockers and vehicles) for detecting any unauthorized substances as Growth Screening including BMI (Body Mass defined by the Drug and Alcohol Policy. No prior Index): Grades K – 12. notice will be given to students regarding the time Vision Screening: Grades K-12; referral letters or date when a sweep is scheduled. Students are sent to parent/guardian for failures responsible for anything found in their lockers. Hearing Screenings: Grades K,1,2,3,7,11, all School authorities may search a student’s locker special ed. students; referral letters sent to or vehicle and seize any illegal material. Such parent/guardian for failures. materials may be used as evidence against the Scoliosis Screening: Grades 6 and 7; referrals student in disciplinary, juvenile or criminal sent to parent/guardian for concerns. proceedings.

Medication Policy (See Board Policy 210 for Students are not permitted to share lockers. more information) The District’s Policy requires that a signature from The school is not responsible for lost or stolen the prescribing physician must be documented for items. Students may not write on or inside medication to be administered to a student. All lockers. Students are strongly encouraged not to medication shall be brought to the nurse’s office, share locker combinations with other students. or the main office if the nurse is in another Lockers are to be decorated externally with only building, by the parent/guardian or by another school appropriate artwork. Personal items may be adult designated by the parent/guardian. All medication shall be stored in the original 7

displayed on the inside of the locker if the material 3. The breakfast line will be closed at 7:45 a.m. is school appropriate. Students who arrive late will be provided the opportunity for breakfast but must eat quickly Food/Drink in Classes so they do not miss class time. Individual teachers will determine the gum policy 4. Students who finish eating may go outside. for their classrooms. No gum is allowed in the Students who remain in the cafeteria will be gym, cafeteria, auditorium, or library. Food/Drink dismissed by a monitor to enter the main is not permitted in the classroom or hallways hallway. except for certain situations (celebrations) or at the 6. All students must exit the cafeteria by 7:55 discretion of the nurse or administration. Clear a.m. 16-18oz water bottles may be carried. 7. No food or drink is to be taken out of the cafeteria. 8. Students who act inappropriately or fail to Personal and School Property follow proper cafeteria procedures will be Students are responsible for all school equipment assigned administrative consequences. and materials issued to them by the school. If any of the items are lost, stolen and/or damaged, the Hall Traffic student to whom they were issued will be held All students in the hall between classes are asked financially responsible for repair or replacement of to move to their next class as quickly and as the item. orderly as possible. Students are asked to stay to the right side of the halls and stairways. Students Assembly Behavior are also asked not to congregate in the hallways. 1. Remain quiet for all assemblies. Traffic returning from the cafeteria needs to cause 2. Refrain from shouting. as little disruption as possible. Failure to follow 3. Remain attentive during the entire assembly. this rule may result in a referral to the office. 4. Applaud at the end of a speech or Any student in the hall during class, for any performance regardless of your personal reason, must have a completed and signed hall feelings about the event. pass. Students must show their pass to any staff 5. Observe rules of etiquette. member who asks to see it. A student in the hall for more than five (5) minutes after the pass is Students who disrupt the assembly will be asked issued may be referred to the office. to leave the assembly, report to the in-school suspension room, or report to the office where Students in grades 9, 10, 11, and 12 should not further disciplinary consequence may be assigned. be in the Middle School Wing. Students who abuse this request will be issued disciplinary Cafeteria Conduct, Rules and Guidelines consequences. Students in the Cafeteria are asked to maintain reasonable behavior always. The cafeteria Use of Bicycles, Skateboards, and Motor monitors are in charge. Vehicles (See Board Policy 223 for more

information) Stealing food/drink or not paying for it will result in administrative consequence, and the Driving privileges are extended to students student may be charged by the police. receiving approval by the building principal. Only students who have been issued a parking permit A.M. Cafeteria Procedures through the principal’s office are permitted to use 1. The exterior entrance to cafeteria is the only school district parking facilities. Students may entrance that is to be used and will open at apply for a parking permit by following the 7:15 a.m. application process. When there is probable 2. Doors to the cafeteria will be locked at 7:45 cause, a student’s vehicle parked on school a.m. and students must enter at the front of property is subject to a search. A student’s the building. vehicle may only park in student-designated areas.

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The school-issued parking permit must be Application Process: displayed in the designated area of the vehicle 1. Students must complete the appropriate always. application for the Parking Permit. 2. Applications may be obtained from the high Rules and Regulations school office. Students must have a valid driver’s license to 3. Students must show their valid driver’s complete an application. Once as application is license at the time of application. approved, the student may begin parking in the 4. Proof of proper insurance/liability coverage student lot. & Parent/Guardian consent is required for consideration of any application. 1. Students are not permitted to sit in their cars 5. The following items may be used by the during posted school hours. building principals to determine approval of 2. Motorcycles and bicycles are to be parked in an Parking Permits: area identified by the building principal. a. Student grade point average. 3. A fifteen (15) miles per hour speed limit must b. Student discipline record. be observed on campus. c. Proper and complete documentation. 4. Bicycles and skateboards are to be walked on 6. No student with an outstanding obligation at school property and are to be parked in assigned the time of application will be considered for locations. Failure to walk the bicycle on school a Parking Permit. property will result in loss of the bicycle privilege. 7. Submission of an application does not 5. Hoverboards are prohibited. guarantee a parking permit.

A student’s parking permit, bike, or skateboard privilege may be revoked at any Computer/Internet Usage time. The district shall ensure that students and staff use the computer and internet resources Penalties and Fees: responsibly. Prior to student and employee use of 1. Students parking without a permit or with the computer/internet, an Acceptable Use Policy an expired permit may be fined $25.00 for the Agreement shall be distributed. Administrators, first two (2) offenses. Additional offenses will teachers, and staff have a professional incur a Columbia Borough parking citation and responsibility to work together to help students applicable fees. develop the intellectual skills necessary to 2. Students will have ten days to pay their discriminate among information sources, to parking fines. Non-compliance will lead to a identify information appropriate to their age and deficiency with the school and the matter developmental levels, and to evaluate and use the forwarded to the magistrate. information to meet their educational goals. 3. A replacement fee of $15.00 will be charged for lost or damaged permits. The building administrator shall have the authority 4. The building principal or designee will to determine what is inappropriate use in supervise enforcement of parking privilege accordance with Board Policy 815. guidelines and traffic conduct. 5. Failure to follow proper traffic patterns Consequences for inappropriate use could include and speed limits on school property as well as any or all of the following: any other discipline violations may result in 1. Suspension of access privileges. driving privileges being revoked. 2. Restitution for damages. 3. Notification of legal authorities. The administration reserves the right to 4. Other disciplinary or legal action. impose school detentions in lieu of penalties or fines. Care of District Technology District information service resources are valuable. They require time and effort to acquire, configure, and maintain. Vandalism and theft 9

require the use of Technology Department Resource Officer. Violations of this policy by a resources to recover from these activities, and the student shall result in disciplinary action and shall affected resources are unavailable to other district result in confiscation of the electronic device. users until restored. Because of this, vandalism will result in the termination of the user’s access Exceptions and cancellation of the privilege of using District The building administrator may grant approval for information services resources. Vandalism possession and use of an electronic device by a includes but is not limited to damage to student for the following reasons: Health, safety or equipment, opening or disassembling equipment emergency reasons, an individualized education without authorization, altering or deleting program (IEP), classroom or instructional-related components of installed programs or operating activities or other reasons determined appropriate systems, altering or attempting to alter settings on by the building principal. The building individual machines or the network without administrator may grant approval for possession permission and any other activity that is deemed and use of a telephone paging device/beeper by a harmful or detrimental to district resources. student for the following reasons: Student is a member of a volunteer fire company, ambulance or rescue squad, student has a need due to the Electronic Devices (See Board Policy 237 for medical condition of an immediate family member more information) or other reasons determined appropriate by the Electronic devices shall include all devices that building principal. In either instance, devices can take photographs; record audio or video data; shall be registered with the principal’s office, store, transmit or receive messages or images; or accompanied by proper documentation of need. provide a wireless, unfiltered connection to the Cell phones and other electronic communication Internet. Examples of these electronic devices devices are to be turned off during school hours include, but shall not be limited to, radios, and while in attendance of school events. walkmans, CD players, iPods, MP3 players, DVD players, handheld game consoles, Personal Digital Electronic devices that are found in violation of Assistants (PDAs), cellular telephones, smart these procedures will have the following phones, and laptop computers, as well as any new consequences: technology developed with similar capabilities. 1. Warning by teacher 2. Taken for the class period by teacher The use by students of electronic devices shall be and returned at end of class prohibited during the academic school day unless 3. Taken for the day by the teacher and monitored by a teacher for academic purposes. returned at the end of the day, and Such devices shall be turned off or made parents contacted inoperable during the academic school day. 4. Student will be sent to the office and the Cell phones are not to be used in school during the phone will be taken and held in the academic school day unless monitored by a office and a detention will be assigned teacher for academic purposes; however, after 5. Continued offenses – the phone will be dismissal they may be used. The district shall not taken that day and given to the office. be liable for the loss, damage or misuse of any Students may be suspended and the electronic device. phone picked up the following day.

Electronic Images and Photographs Refusal to hand over an electronic device to The Board prohibits the taking, storing, school staff or administration may result in disseminating, transferring, viewing, or sharing of administrative consequences including obscene, pornographic, lewd, or otherwise illegal suspension. images or photographs, whether by electronic data transfer or other means, including but not limited The school district will not be liable for any to texting and emailing. lost, damaged, or stolen devices.

All violations that constitute a crime under state and/or federal law will be reported to our School 10

Earbuds/Headphones are NOT permitted in 4. CHS will forward to the armed services the the classrooms unless for instructional use and names and addresses of juniors and seniors approved by teachers or administrators. on a yearly basis. If you do not wish your child’s name included, please contact the Electronic Devices (Exceptions) Superintendent at the beginning of the school The above policy on electronic devices will not year. apply in the following cases provided that the 5. There are two types of record classification: building principal approves in advance the Administrative (Name, address, phone, presence of a telephone or fire company pager and parent name, etc.) and Supplementary the device is registered in the principal’s office: (standardized test scores, observations, etc.) • A student who is a member of a volunteer fire company, ambulance or High/Honor Roll Requirements rescue crew. High Honors – an average of 93% or above with • A student who has a need for an no grade lower than an 85% electronic device due to the medical Honors – an average of 89% or above with no condition of a family member. grade lower than 80%

Grading Scale

A = 100-90 B = 80-89 C = 70-79

D = 60-69 F = 59 and below

Academics Graduation Requirements

Minimum requirements for graduation have been Student Records Policy (See Board Policy 216 established by Columbia High School in for more information) conjunction with the requirements established by The Columbia Borough School Board has adopted the Pennsylvania Department of Education. These a records policy, a copy of which may be obtained requirements must be met before a high school by contacting the building principal or visiting the diploma may be issued. The following courses district website. The essentials of this policy are: taken in grades 9 through 12 are required: 1. Parents of eligible students shall have the

right to review their child’s records by English 4 credits submitting a written request to the Social Studies 4 credits Superintendent. The school shall comply Mathematics 4 credits within thirty days. Science 4 credits 2. The district respects the confidentiality of Health 0.5 credit each student’s records. The parent must give Physical Education 1 credit written permission for release of the school Personal Choices 0.5 credits records to all persons or agencies except for Career Choices 1 0.5 credit several state and national agencies. If a Career Choices 2 0.5 credit student is transferring to another school, Speech 0.5 credit records will be forwarded when CHS Electives 6.5 credits receives notification from the new school.

3. Parents have the right to challenge any Total credits to graduate: 26.0 Credits information in their child’s records by

submitting a written statement describing the Personal Choices, Career Choices 1, Career specific information to which the parent Choices 2, and Speech must be completed with a objects and the reason for the objection to the passing grade to meet graduation requirements. Superintendent. Parents will receive a reply

to their request within ten (10) working days. 11

No student may participate in graduation • Develop a sense of responsibility to the ceremonies prior to completing all the school and to the organizations they requirements for graduation. In addition to the represent. graduation requirements listed above, the Columbia Borough School Board also has adopted • Develop a sense of the individual's the following two non-credit requirements for importance to the community. graduation from Columbia High School: • Develop abilities and talents while serving the community and school.

I. Student Graduation Project Requirement Students are encouraged to begin their service The Senior Project requirement will be fulfilled in learning hours in the seventh grade and to Personal Choices, Career Choices 1, Career accumulate at least ten hours each year in Choices 2, and Speech Class. Students will grades seven through ten to achieve the complete and present documents from their Career required forty hours. Choices 10-year plan. Students will be required to complete an oral presentation during their Speech A running total of service learning hours class. Transfer students may have to complete an completed in grades seven through twelve will be alternative project depending on when they enter shown on the quarterly report cards. The sign-off Columbia High School. forms will be maintained in the Student Services Office as the official record until graduation.

Grade Level of Students

Each student’s grade level will be determined by

II. Service Learning Graduation Requirement the number of credits earned in accordance with the 26-credits required for graduation. Forty (40) hours of Service Learning are required of all Columbia students as a prerequisite for Homerooms will be based on the levels of credits graduation. Transfer students who have not earned from grades 9 through 12. Students must accumulated service learning hours at other make up all failed required courses before schools will be required to earn hours based on the proceeding to take courses that are more number of years left until graduation, (i.e., advanced. seventh, eighth and ninth graders are still required to earn 40 hours, tenth graders are required to have 30 hours, eleventh graders are required to have 20 Course Selection Procedures hours and seniors are required to have a minimum 1. The counselor will meet with students in of 10 hours). classes to distribute the course selection guide and/or course selection forms. Service Learning means making a difference Explanations of both the course through actions of caring for others through selection process and the appropriate personal contact, indirect service, or civic action, selection of programs and courses either in the school or in the community. It also needed for careers will be given at this includes offering time and energy to address a time. need without expectation of financial or material 2. The course selection guide and course gain. The service-learning requirement is selection sheets will be taken home for intended to help the students: completion and parental signature. • Develop a sense of pride in themselves and These must also include the teacher the community. signature for math, science, ELA, social studies and world languages courses.

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The course selection sheets should be elected only if prerequisites were met returned to the homeroom teacher or to for the previous year's work. the school counselor during the individually scheduled counselor Schedule Change Policy conferences. School officials cannot properly plan schedules for teachers, students, and classrooms unless they 3. If there are problems scheduling the know that student course selections are final and required courses, the counselors will binding. Changes to first semester schedules must contact the student and parents to be completed within the first three (3) days of the discuss the problem. first semester. Changes to second semester 4. If the course selection sheets are not schedules must be made within the first three (3) returned before or during the student's days of the second semester. After the first three (3) days of each semester, no student-initiated scheduled conference or make-up schedule changes will be made unless conference, the counselor will complete accompanied by a schedule change request form the schedule. filled out and signed as appropriate for one or 5. To provide a better program for more of the following reasons: students, some required classes will be 1. A change in educational needs. assigned by counselors. Teacher 2. A student's inability to perform course recommendations, test scores, and the requirements as determined by the teacher, counselor, or principal. student's achievement will determine 3. A school-related error in the schedule. these assignments. Schedule changes will only be considered once the Because the small size of our school population following consent is obtained: limits the number of sections offered for each 1. Pre-approval by Principal course, certain combinations of courses may be 2. Approval of the Counselor impossible to schedule. Students should have 3. A consent form signed by parents/guardians alternatives in mind and be prepared to discuss at a scheduled parent meeting with the these with the counselors during their scheduling School Counselor interview. The selection of alternates will be 4. Final approval by the Principal required for elective courses and should be carefully considered. All students are required to Schedule changes cannot be made if courses are schedule a minimum of seven credits. already full.

The following points should be considered when Dropping and Adding Courses making course selections: At the beginning of the next school year, a student may request to drop or change a course only a. All students in grades 9, 10, 11, and 12 during the first three (3) days of school or with the approval of the administration. Subjects required are required to schedule a minimum of for graduation may not be dropped. seven (7) credits each year. b. No credit is given for a half-year's work For all changes after the third (3) day, the in a course scheduled for an entire year student/counselor must have received pre- without administrative approval. approval from the building principal, and they c. All world language courses should be must follow the following steps: taken in a minimum of two-year 1) a consent form signed by his/her parents, sequences. Three-year or four-year 2) approval of the subject teacher(s) sequences are recommended. 3) approval of the counselor, and d. In sequential academic subjects the 4) the final approval of the principal. second, third, or fourth year should be 13

Students transferring to CHS and/or students the time the student is excused. The only whose schedule changes are required by law may permissible educational activity for this purpose enter courses after the first ten days of school. shall be instruction that is consistent with the goals set for the course, and the action must not require If, due to unusual circumstances, a subject is the provision of any extra resources by the changed within the first 2½ weeks of school, no District. record will be kept. After 2½ weeks, the grade earned at the time the subject is dropped is 5.The building principal shall determine where the recorded, but no credit is given. Course changes student shall report during the time the student is may affect extra-curricular eligibility and may excused. affect the student's eligibility for honor roll during the marking period in which the subject is 6.All students excused from specific instruction dropped. With rare exceptions, no course may be shall be required to achieve the learning outcomes dropped after the progress reports of the first established by the District necessary for marking period. In the case of extenuating graduation. circumstances, the decision will be made by the administration. 7.Students excused from specific instruction shall be required to achieve the learning outcomes Exemption from Instruction established by the District necessary for The District will excuse any student from specific graduation instruction when the following conditions are met: Summer School Requirement 1.To assist the school district in ensuring that the A student who fails a course during the school student is excused from the specific instruction, year must have a minimum final grade of 50% to the request must be made in writing and must qualify for summer school when or if CBSD describe the specific instruction from which the offers a summer school program. If the final student is to be excused. grade is below 50% the student may not make up the course through summer school. 2.The written request for exemption from • Summer school is not mandated or instruction should be sent by the qualifying parent guaranteed by the school district and or student to the building administration. may be modified as circumstances change. Students are always free to take 3. It is not the responsibility of the District to classes (at their own expense) from local ensure that the student exercises his/her right to be schools or online courses that are excused. It is the responsibility of the student to approved by the district. ask permission to leave class when the specific instruction objected to is being presented or is State Testing Requirements about to be presented. When a student seeks to be excused, administrator is to excuse the child if a) Proficiency Requirement the administrator has a copy of the written request, To graduate from the Columbia Borough School or if; (b) the written request adequately describes District, students must score proficient or the instruction that is taking place or is about to advanced on the Keystone Exams. Students who take place. do not score proficient or advanced will receive

remediation prior to a re-test of the course. The written request must contain a statement that Students who do not score proficient or advanced the specific instruction described in the written on the re-test must meet one of the following request conflicts with the religious beliefs of the criteria to graduate: student or that of the parent.

• Score proficient or advanced on the 4. The parent and/or student shall designate, on the Benchmark assessments given in twelfth request to be excused, replacement educational grade in both reading and math. activities in which the student shall engage during 14

• English Language Learners may demonstrate English language This policy shall also apply to student conduct that proficiency through growth on the PDE occurs off school property and would violate the required ELL assessment or the district Code of Student Conduct if: There is a nexus adopted ELL standardized assessment. between the proximity or timing of the conduct in English Language learners must relation to the student's attendance at school or demonstrate math proficiency by scoring school-sponsored activities, the student is a proficient or advanced on the math member of an extracurricular activity and has been PSSA or math benchmark assessment. notified that particular off-campus conduct could result in exclusion from such activities, student Statewide graduation requirements outlined in expression or conduct materially and substantially Act 6 and Act 158 will take effect for the disrupts the operations of the school, or the Graduating class of 2022. Students will have administration reasonably anticipates that the Multiple pathways to demonstrate readiness expression or conduct is likely to materially and for postsecondary success. substantially disrupt the operations of the school, the conduct has a direct nexus to attendance at school or a school-sponsored activity, such as an Student Behavioral Policies agreement to complete a transaction outside of school that would violate the Code of Student Conduct or the conduct involves the theft or Controlled Substances/Paraphernalia (Please vandalism of school property. see board Policy 227 for more information) The Board recognizes that the abuse of controlled Anabolic Steroids substances is a serious problem with legal, The Board prohibits the use of anabolic steroids physical and social implications for the whole by students involved in school-related athletics, school community. As an educational institution, except for a valid medical purpose. Bodybuilding the schools shall strive to prevent abuse of and muscle enhancement of athletic ability are not controlled substances. For purposes of this valid medical purposes. Human Growth Hormone policy, controlled substances shall include all (HGH) shall not be included as an anabolic controlled substances prohibited by federal and steroid. Students shall be made aware annually of state law, look-alike drugs, alcoholic beverages, the dangers of steroid use; that anabolic steroids anabolic steroids, drug paraphernalia, any volatile are classified as controlled substances; and that solvents or inhalants, such as but not limited to their use, unauthorized possession, purchase, or glue and aerosol products, and prescription or sale could subject students to suspension, patent drugs, except those for which permission expulsion and/or criminal prosecution. for use in school has been granted pursuant to Board policy. For purposes of this policy, under Reasonable Suspicion/Testing the influence shall include any consumption or If based on the student's behavior, medical ingestion of controlled substances by a student. symptoms, vital signs or other observable factors, the building principal has reasonable suspicion The Board prohibits students from using, that the student is under the influence of a possessing, distributing, and being under the controlled substance, the student may be required influence of any controlled substances during to submit to drug or alcohol testing. The testing school hours, at any time while on school may include but is not limited to the analysis of property, at any school-sponsored activity, and blood, urine, saliva, or the administration of a during the time spent traveling to and from school Breathalyzer test. and school-sponsored activities. The Board may require participation in drug counseling, Cheating / Plagiarism rehabilitation, testing or other programs as a Cheating and/or Plagiarism can be described as condition of reinstatement into the school's using the work of another for your own benefit. educational, extracurricular or athletic programs This can include looking at other student’s resulting from violations of this policy. assignments, using cell phones to text test 15

answers, not providing credit to sources obtained, Confidentiality of all parties shall be maintained, etc. When a student has been found engaging in consistent with the district's legal and investigative cheating or plagiarism the following procedure obligations. No reprisals nor retaliation shall will be followed: occur because of good faith charges of 1. The first offense will result in a grade of zero harassment. being given. The teacher will notify an administrator and contact the parent and may For purposes of this policy, harassment shall schedule a conference with the parent, student, consist of verbal, written, graphic or physical and teacher. conduct relating to an individual's race, color, 2. Additional incidents will also be reported to national origin/ethnicity, sex, age, disability, the appropriate principal and counselor for sexual orientation or religion when such conduct: further investigation and disciplinary follow- Is sufficiently severe, persistent or pervasive that it up. A parent conference will be held to discuss affects an individual's ability to participate in or the situation. benefit from an educational program or activity or 3. All plagiarism will be considered actionable creates an intimidating, threatening or abusive for members of the National Honor Society. educational environment; Has the purpose or effect of substantially or Corporal Punishment/Student Discipline (See unreasonably interfering with an individual's Board Policy 218 for more information) academic performance; or Otherwise adversely The Board prohibits the use of corporal affects an individual's learning opportunities. punishment by district staff to discipline students for violations of Board policies and district rules For purposes of this policy, sexual and regulations. Teaching staff and other district harassment shall consist of unwelcome sexual employees responsible for students shall have the advances; requests for sexual favors; and other authority to take reasonable actions necessary to inappropriate verbal, written, graphic or physical control the conduct of students in all situations and conduct of a sexual nature when: Submission to in all places where students are within the such conduct is made explicitly or implicitly a jurisdiction of this Board, and when such conduct term or condition of a student's academic status; interferes with the educational program of the Submission to or rejection of such conduct is used schools or threatens the health and safety of as the basis for academic or work decisions others. Reasonable force may be used by teachers affecting the individual; Such conduct deprives a and school authorities under any of the following student of educational aid, benefits, services or circumstances: to quell a disturbance, obtain treatment or Such conduct is sufficiently severe, possession of weapons or other dangerous objects, persistent or pervasive that it has the purpose or for self-defense, and for the protection of persons effect of substantially interfering with the student's or property. school performance or creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive educational environment.

Students shall be informed that they may choose Unlawful Harassment (See Board Policy 248 for to report harassment and/or discrimination more information) complaints to: Building principals, Teachers, The Board strives to provide a safe, positive Counselors, Nurses or Administrators. All learning climate for students in the schools. employees who receive harassment and/or Therefore, it shall be the policy of the district to discrimination complaints from a student shall maintain an educational environment in which report such to the Compliance Officer. harassment in any form is not tolerated. The Board encourages students and third parties who Complaints of harassment shall be investigated have been harassed to promptly report such promptly and corrective action shall be taken if incidents to the designated employees. The Board allegations are verified. Confidentiality of all directs that complaints of harassment shall be parties shall be maintained, consistent with the investigated promptly, and corrective action be district’s legal and investigative obligations. taken when allegations are substantiated. Neither reprisals nor retaliation shall occur 16

because of good faith charges of harassment. Exclusion from school-sponsored activities, Extreme or repeated offenses may result in police Detention, Suspension, Expulsion or Referral to involvement. A copy of the full policy may be law enforcement officials. obtained by contacting the building principal or from the district’s website. Searches (See Board Policy 226 for more information) The Board acknowledges the need to respect the Bullying/Cyberbullying (See Board Policy 249 rights of students to be free from unreasonable for more information) searches and seizures while fulfilling the district’s The Board is committed to providing a safe, interest in protecting and preserving the health, positive learning environment for district students. safety and welfare of the school population, The Board recognizes that bullying creates an enforcing rules of conduct, and maintaining an atmosphere of fear and intimidation, detracts from appropriate atmosphere conducive to learning. the safe environment necessary for student learning, and may lead to more serious violence. School officials have the authority to lawfully Therefore, the Board prohibits bullying by district search students or their belongings, including students. lockers, automobiles, electronic devices, purses, backpacks, clothing, and other possessions, Bullying means an intentional electronic, written, without a warrant, when in school, on school verbal or physical act or series of acts directed at grounds or when otherwise under school another student or students, which occurs in a supervision, if there is a reasonable suspicion that school setting that is severe, persistent or the place or thing to be searched contains pervasive and has the effect of doing any of the prohibited contraband, material that would pose a following: Substantial interference with a threat to the health, safety and welfare of the student’s education; Creation of a threatening school population, or evidence that there has been environment, or Substantial disruption of the a violation of the law, Board policy, or school orderly operation of the school. rules. The scope and extent of searches must be reasonable in relation to the nature of the Bullying, as defined in this policy, includes suspected evidence, contraband or dangerous cyberbullying. School setting means in the material and to the grounds for suspecting that it school, on school grounds, in school vehicles, at a may be found in the place or thing being searched. designated bus stop or at any activity sponsored, supervised or sanctioned by the school. The district has a compelling interest in protecting and preserving the health, safety and welfare of The Board encourages students who have been the school population, which under certain bullied to promptly report such incidents to the circumstances may warrant general or random building principal or designee. The Board directs searches of students and their lockers, vehicles or that complaints of bullying shall be investigated other belongings without individualized suspicion, promptly, and corrective action shall be taken for finding or preventing entry onto school when allegations are verified. Confidentiality of property of controlled substances, weapons or all parties shall be maintained, consistent with the other dangerous materials. district’s legal and investigative obligations. No reprisals or retaliation shall occur because of good The Board authorizes the administration to faith reports of bullying. conduct searches of students or their belongings, including lockers, automobiles, electronic devices, Each student shall be responsible to respect the purses, backpacks, clothing, and other possessions rights of others and to ensure an atmosphere free in accordance with the standards set forth in this from bullying. A student who violates this policy policy. shall be subject to appropriate disciplinary action consistent with the Code of Student Conduct, Individualized Suspicion Searches which may include: Counseling within the school, Students or their belongings, including lockers, Parental conference, Loss of school privileges, automobiles, electronic devices, purses, 17

backpacks, clothing, and other possessions, may forced to disrobe, partially or completely by any be searched without a warrant when in school, on school administrator. If such conditions exist that school grounds or when otherwise under school would warrant such a search, the administrator supervision, if there is a reasonable suspicion that should isolate the student and contact the police the place or thing to be searched contains for their assistance. Parent(s)/guardian should prohibited contraband, material that would pose a also be notified of the suspicion and intended threat to the health, safety and welfare of the action of district officials school population, or evidence that there has been a violation of the law, Board policy, or school Locker Inspections and Searches rules. The scope and extent of searches must be Lockers are assigned to or otherwise made reasonable in relation to the nature of the available to students as a convenience for the safe suspected evidence, contraband or dangerous storage of books, clothing, school materials and material and to the grounds for suspecting that it limited personal property, and to facilitate may be found in the place or thing being searched. movement between classes and activities and to In determining whether reasonable suspicion and from school. Such lockers are and shall exists, the principal or designee always should be remain the property of the school district, and to able to articulate what is being looked for, and the extent students have any expectation of why it is thought to be in the particular place to be privacy of lockers at all, it is very limited. No searched. The scope of a search should be limited student may place or keep in a locker any to the place or places the item sought is believed substance or object that is prohibited by law, to be. Examination by school staff of text Board policy or school rules, or that constitutes a messages, call logs, files, images or other data threat to the health, safety or welfare of the contained in a student’s mobile telephone or other occupants of the school building or the building electronic device, without the student’s consent, itself. Students are required to ensure that their normally constitutes a search that must be justified lockers do not contain spoiled food items or by reasonable suspicion that material in violation beverages, or soiled clothing which may attract of law, district policy or school rules, or evidence pests, create odors or cause unhealthy conditions. of such a violation, is contained in the particular A student locker may be opened and inspected for files, directories or other data locations being cleanliness, with or without the consent of the examined in the device. student, whenever there are odors, pests or other indications that a locker contains spoiled food, 1. Searches of personal effects of students, such as soiled clothing in need of laundering or similarly gym bags, handbags, purses or similar items, may unhealthy matter. Students are exclusively be conducted by the building administrator and responsible for locking their assigned lockers to shall be performed in the presence of another ensure the security of their personal belongings authorized school official whose function shall be and school property entrusted to them. Students to witness the search. Contraband items found in are permitted to secure their assigned lockers only the possession of the student may be used as with locks provided by the district, or if the district evidence against the student in disciplinary, does not provide locks, personal combination juvenile, or criminal proceedings. The search locks for which the combination has been must be based on reasonable suspicion and cannot provided to designated school staff. Prior to an be random in nature. individual locker search or inspection, the student to whom the locker is assigned shall be notified 2. Searches of a student’s person shall be limited and be given a reasonable opportunity to be to and meet the following guidelines: (a) Students present. However, when there is a reasonable may be requested to empty the contents of his/her suspicion that a locker contains materials which pockets and/or turn their pockets inside out based pose a threat to the health, welfare or safety of the upon reasonable belief that their pockets contain school population, student lockers may be items which violate provisions contained in this searched without prior notice to the student. The policy. Their failure to cooperate with district principal or a designated staff person shall be officials could warrant contact of the police for present whenever a student locker is inspected for assistance by the building administrator; (b) Under cleanliness or is searched. The principal or no circumstances shall students be requested or 18

designee shall maintain written records of all process. Possession of weapons in the school occasions when a locker is searched or inspected. setting is a threat to the safety of students and staff Such records shall include the reason(s) for the and is prohibited by law. Weapon - the term shall search, persons present, objects found and their include but not be limited to any knife, cutting disposition. A copy of the full policy may be instrument, cutting tool, nunchaku, firearm, obtained by contacting the building principal or shotgun, rifle, replica of a weapon, and any other from the district’s website. tool, instrument or implement capable of inflicting serious bodily injury. Possession - a student is in Tobacco (See Board Policy 222 for more possession of a weapon when the weapon is found information) on the person of the student; in the student's The Board recognizes that tobacco presents a locker; and under the student's control while on health and safety hazard that can have serious school property, on property being used by the consequences for both users and nonusers and the school, at any school function or activity, at any safety and environment of the schools. For school event held away from the school, or while purposes of this policy, tobacco includes a lighted the student is coming to or from school. The or unlighted cigarette, cigar, pipe or other smoking Board prohibits students from possessing and product or material and smokeless tobacco in any bringing weapons and replicas of weapons into form. The Board prohibits possession, use or sale any school district buildings, onto school property, of tobacco by students at any time in a school to any school-sponsored activity, and onto any building and on any property, buses, vans and public vehicle providing transportation to school vehicles that are owned, leased or controlled by or a school-sponsored activity or while the student the school district. The Board prohibits is coming to or from school. possession, use or sale of tobacco by students at The Board shall expel for a period of not less than school-sponsored activities that are held off school one (1) year any student who violates this property. weapons policy. Such expulsion shall be given in In the case of a student with a disability, including conformance with formal due process proceedings a student for whom an evaluation is pending, the required by law and Board policy. The district shall take all steps required to comply with Superintendent may recommend modifications of state and federal laws and regulations, the such expulsion requirement on a case-by-case procedures set forth in the memorandum of basis. In the case of a student with a disability, understanding with local law enforcement and including a student for whom an evaluation is Board policies. The Superintendent or designee pending, the district shall take all steps required to shall notify the parent/guardian of any student comply with state and federal laws and directly involved in an incident involving regulations, the procedures set forth in the possession, use or sale of tobacco immediately, as memorandum of understanding with local law soon as practicable. The Superintendent or enforcement and Board policies. designee shall inform the parent/guardian whether the local police department that has jurisdiction The Superintendent or designee shall notify the over the school property has been or may be parent/guardian of any student directly involved in notified of the incident. The Superintendent or an incident involving weapons as a victim or designee shall document attempts made to reach suspect immediately, as soon as practicable. The the parent/guardian. A student convicted of Superintendent or designee shall inform the possessing or using tobacco in violation of this parent/guardian whether the local police policy may be fined up to fifty dollars ($50) plus department that has jurisdiction over the school court costs or admitted to alternative adjudication property has been or may be notified of the in lieu of imposition of a fine. In addition, incident. The Superintendent or designee shall disciplinary consequences may be assigned. document attempts made to reach the parent/guardian. Weapons (See Board Policy 218.1 for more information) When the school district receives a student who The Board recognizes the importance of a safe transfers from a public or private school during an school environment relative to the educational expulsion period for an offense involving a 19

weapon, the district may assign that student to an 7. Manufactured holes in clothing must be alternative assignment or may provide alternative covered with a second layer of clothing if the hole education, provided the assignment does not is above fingertip length. exceed the expulsion period. 8. Coats, jackets, and other similar outdoor wear must remain in student lockers during the school Dress and Grooming (See Board Policy 221 for day. Hooded, zipped sweatshirts are not more information) considered jackets. The Board recognizes that each student's mode of 9. Book bags/backpacks/pocket books/totes. dress and grooming is a manifestation of personal These items must remain in the student lockers style and individual preference. The Board has during the school day. Pocket books must be no the authority to impose limitations on students' larger than a textbook. dress in school. The Board will not interfere with 10. Gym bags may only be used on days when the right of students and their parents/guardians to students have gym classes and should only be used make decisions regarding their appearance, except for gym related clothing. when their choices disrupt the educational 11. No Sunglasses or designed contacts program of the schools or constitute a health or 12. No exposed undergarments. safety hazard. The Board authorizes the 13. No shoes/sneakers containing wheels and Superintendent to enforce school regulations shoes must have soles appropriate for outdoor use. prohibiting student dress or grooming practices 14. Leggings may be worn only if shirts, which: Present a hazard to the health or safety of sweaters, or sweatshirts reach fingertip length, the student him/herself or to others in the school, both in the front and the back. materially interfere with school work, create 15. Flip-flops are permitted at the individual disorder, or disrupt the educational program, teacher’s discretion due to safety concerns (P.E., Cause excessive wear or damage to school Tech Ed., Science, etc.) property. Prevent the student from achieving 16. Clothing with inappropriate or suggestive his/her own educational objectives because of lettering or drawings. Anything dealing with sex, blocked vision or restricted movement. Students drugs, alcohol, tobacco, profanity, may be required to wear certain types of clothing weapons/firearms in regard to terrorism and while participating in physical education classes, anything that may be considered gang affiliated. technical education, extracurricular activities, or other situations where special attire may be The administration has the final decision on required to ensure the health or safety of the questionable clothing content. student.

The following are not allowed: Behavioral/Discipline Management Procedures

1. Shirts and blouses baring midriff or cleavage, Administrative/After-School shirts exposing shoulders (includes varieties of Detention/Saturday Detention tank tops-3 fingertip width or muscle shirts), see Administrative detention will be held after school through or mesh tops with undershirt. for thirty minutes or on Saturdays for three hours. 2. Boxers, running, or biking shorts. Students assigned to serve administrative 3. Shorts and skirts must reach 6” above the detention are responsible for their own knee or be at fingertip length or they will transportation. A detention slip will be given to require leggings under them. the student to remind them of the date/time of 4. Hats, hoods, bandanas, doo-rags, head scarfs, their detention. The number of days assigned will and all other head coverings worn inside of be based on the offense of the student and buildings. They also may not be worn around the determined by the school administration. Skipped neck or hanging from pockets. detentions may result in a double detention or a 5. Hooded sweatshirts may be worn, but the hood full day of in-school or out of school suspension. must remain down during the school day. 6. Slippers or pajamas (tops or bottoms). Lunch Detention Lunch detention will be assigned during the 20

student’s regularly scheduled lunch period. The shall be informed of the reasons for the suspension student will report directly to the lunch detention and given an opportunity to respond. Assignment room after purchasing their lunch. If a student to in school suspension shall not exceed ten does not report to the lunch detention room within consecutive (10) days. Parents are to be notified the first 10 minutes, they will be assigned an of the reasons for the in-school suspension and the additional lunch detention for being late. A student length of time the student will be assigned to the may bring a lunch from home, (no candy, soda, in-school suspension program. power drinks, or fast food is permitted) or purchase the school lunch. A student who is absent on the day that a lunch detention is Columbia MS/HS ISS Rules assigned will have it rescheduled for the next day that the student is in attendance. Refusal to 1. Students must sign in upon entering the attend or cooperate with lunch detention will room. result in further consequences. 2. No cellphones can be utilized during ISS or lunch detention. Detention Rules 3. Students must sit in the seat assigned by 1. Students are to report to detention promptly. the ISS supervisor and this seat may be 2. All students will have assigned seats given by changed at any time. the monitor. Students must accept assigned 4. Students may use technology at ISS seats without question. monitor’s discretion and only for academic 3. Students should use the lavatory prior to purposes. reporting to detention. 5. Students are not permitted to have/use 4. Students will remain quiet during the entire food or gum. detention. Students may ask questions or 6. Students may not sleep, must be sitting make requests only by raising their hands. up straight and must keep heads up. 5. Students may not leave their seats without 7. Students must keep hoods down and prior permission from the monitor and/or faces visible. administration. 8. Students may not leave assigned seats 6. Students will clean the area at which they are without permission. seated before leaving detention. 9. Students must be working on 7. Students will be expected to do school work appropriate subject materials or behavior and/or read for the entire detention period. modifications at all times. 10. Students are encouraged to have Violation of these rules may result in additional independent reading material with them. consequences being assigned. 11. Students will receive two group restroom/water breaks per day. In School Suspension 12. Students may not receive/ use hall In School Suspension (ISS) is a constantly passes unless exceptions have been made by supervised program in which the student must an administrator, counselor, or nurse. follow explicit rules and is restricted to a separate 13. Students must be escorted to the nurse’s self-contained classroom. Students work on office. assignments as specified by their classroom 14. Students must remain quiet or raise their teachers. hand to talk with the ISS monitor. 15. Students who fail to comply with all ISS While serving ISS or OSS, students may not rules or refuse to work in ISS will receive attend or participate in any extracurricular further disciplinary action. activities. Absence from school does not excuse the student The school principals have the option of issuing in from serving assigned time. Students are to report school suspension rather than out of school directly to the office on their first day back from suspension depending on the offense and the an absence. Students that misbehave or refuse student’s prior record of misconduct. The student to work in ISS will be sent home for the remainder of the day, 21

placed in the AEDY Program due to an expulsion, Out of School Suspension they must fulfill all expulsion requirements before When students commit an offense that warrants being considered eligible for transition to a out of school suspension (OSS), they will be general education setting. assigned to OSS for one to ten days. While serving their out of school suspension, students Expulsions may not attend or participate in any school Students may be recommended for expulsion activities, and they may not trespass on any school under the following conditions: grounds. The student can make up schoolwork that they missed during his/her suspension. The 1. The administration and other appropriate suspension is in effect from the time the student is staff members meet to review the student’s escorted out of the building until 7:30 a.m. of the discipline. date of return. While our desire is to keep all 2. A hearing may be scheduled and parents are students in school to receive a good education, notified, in writing, of the time and place. there are situations where OSS is warranted. 3. The Board of Education conducts the Students who are in OSS for 4 or more days hearing. will be required to attend a due process hearing 4. The Board of Education directs what prior to their return to school. steps are to be taken regarding the student’s educational placement. Alternative Education for Disruptive Youth 5. The Board of Education makes a final Program (River Rock Academy) decision regarding disciplinary action. “Disruptive students who pose a clear threat to the 6. Parents are notified of the Board’s safety and welfare of other students or the school decision by mail. staff, who create an unsafe school environment or whose behavior materially interfere with the Board hearings are held for presenting evidence learning of other students or disrupts the overall and hearing student’s responses. The educational process” may warrant the administration presents evidence in the form of administration to recommend placement in the discipline, attendance records, academics, and CHS alternative education program. Reasons for personal anecdotes. Parents/students are given the referral include the following: opportunity to respond to the charges. At the conclusion of the hearing, a decision is rendered, • Disregard for school authority, including and parents are informed in writing within ten (10) persistent violation of school policy and rules days. If the decision is made to remove the • Display of or use of controlled substances on student from school, the exclusion may range in school property or during school-affiliated length from ten (10) days to a year. activities • Violent or threatening behavior Student Code of Conduct on school property or during school- affiliated activities Rules governing student conduct shall require • Possession of a weapon on school property, students to: as defined under18 Pa. C.S. §912 • Conform to reasonable standards of socially • Commission of a criminal act on school acceptable behavior. property or during school-affiliated • Respect the rights, person, and property of activities others. • Misconduct that would merit suspension or • Preserve the degree of order necessary to the expulsion under school policy educational program in which they are engaged. • Obey constituted authority and respond to Students are placed in the alternative education those who hold authority. program until they have achieved their behavioral goals developed at the informal hearing unless Any student disciplined by a district employee receiving a full year expulsion. If a student is shall have the right to notice of the infraction and 22

a hearing before the building principal prior to 7. Contact parent by phone, e-mail, or being disciplined. letter 8. Teacher detention Procedure: 9. Parent conference 1. When a student has committed Level II, III, and IV violations, parents will be notified of Level II Violations the offense and consequences. The Level II Violation is to be handled by the 2. The discipline policy also applies to students classroom teacher with the assistance of the high involved in any school activity. school administration. This type of violation is 3. Parents will be notified if their child is more serious in nature than Level I. The suspended in or out of school. administration is mainly responsible for handling 4. A student serving school suspension, in or this type of violation. Level I misbehaviors may out, will not be eligible to participate in or be moved to this level if the situations are not attend any events or extra-curricular activities corrected. Misbehaving at this level tends to during the term of suspension. This includes disrupt the learning climate of the school. activities that occur on weekends. However, these infractions do not represent a 5. The administration shall follow procedures direct threat to the health and safety of others. for gathering documentation on all violations Procedure: as needed or required for future use. There is immediate intervention by the staff 6. Parents are encouraged to contact the high member who is supervising the student or who school office regarding discipline actions observes the misbehavior. A proper and accurate incurred by their child. record of the offense is maintained by the staff member and submitted to the building Level I Violations administrator. The Level I Violation is to be handled at the teacher level. This type of violation results in an The administration will meet with the student unacceptable disruption of classroom activity. and/or teacher to determine the most appropriate Teachers will complete a referral for any Level I consequence. The teacher and parents/guardian Violations. are informed of the administration’s action.

Examples of Level I Violations: Examples of Level II Violations: • Cheating – 1st offense • Continuation of Level I offenses • Classroom misconduct/misbehavior • Assembly misconduct • Classroom tardiness • Cafeteria Misconduct • Failure to follow directions • Dress code violation • Neglecting to return school/class forms • Electronic device violation • Violations of food, drink or gum. (Gum • Failure to report to teacher detention is not permitted in the following areas: • Gambling / Card playing / Arm Auditorium, Library, Gym or Computer wrestling labs.) • Hall/Lav. pass misconduct/abuse • Food is not permitted in classrooms. • Horseplay (any physical contact without serious intent) Consequences may include, but are not limited • Inappropriate displays of affection to the following: • Middle School hall violation 1. Verbal warning • Misbehavior at school sponsored 2. Student conference activities 3. Special assignment related to area of • Misconduct/misbehavior outside the concern classroom 4. Change of seats / Assigned seat in the • Possession of inappropriate material cafe 5. Apology to teacher/student • Skateboard on school property 6. Restriction of privileges • Tardiness 23

• Use of profanity/obscene gestures • Malicious verbal, physical and/or written harassment of students or school Consequences may include, but are not limited personnel including libel and slander to: • Possession of lighters/matches 1. Continuation of Level I consequences • Possession and/or use of smoke or stink 2. Lunch detention/After School devices detention/Saturday Detention • Possession of or participation in a “slam 3. Confiscate electronic devices, food book” and/or drink, playing cards, inappropriate materials, lighters/matches 4. Referral to school counselor and/or Consequences may include, but not limited to: outside agency 1. Continuation of Level II consequences 5. In School Suspension 2. In School Suspension 6. Revoked driving privileges 3. Out of School Suspension 4. Full restitution for damages Level III Violations 5. Suspension of privileges Level III violations are to be handled by the high 6. Temporary removal from class with school administration. This type of violation is an administrative authorization extreme disruption of the classroom and school 7. Removal and possible suspension from atmosphere. The safety of others in the school extra-curricular activities may be threatened. 8. Referral to building Discipline Procedure: Committee The administration initiates disciplinary action by 9. Referral to SAP investigating the infraction and conferring with 10. Revoked driving privileges staff on the extent of consequences. The 11. Alternative Learning Program administration meets with the student and/or 12. Involvement of Police parents regarding this misconduct. Level IV Violations Examples of Level III Violations: The Level IV violation is the most serious • Continuation of unmodified Level I and violation of school conduct and is handled by the Level II offenses administration with the probability of involving • Abuse of bike or skateboard privileges local, state and federal law enforcement agencies. Abuse of bus privileges This type of violation may also be referred to the • Abuse of driver/rider privileges Board of Education for further action. These acts • Physical Altercation – serious physical result in violence against a person or property or contact that results in a general pose a direct threat to others in the school. disruption of school activity and where physical harm is a definite possibility. Procedure: • Blatant Insubordination - defiant refusal The administration verifies the offense, confers to obey a reasonable request with the staff and meets with the student. The • Consumption of prescribed or over-the- student may be removed from the school counter medication without following environment. Parents/Guardian are notified. school procedures School officials contact law enforcement agencies • Failure to park in student designated and assist in prosecuting offenders. A complete areas and accurate report is submitted to the • Forgery superintendent when Board action is required. The • General safety hazard student may be given a full due process hearing before the Board of Education. • Leaving an assigned location. This

includes a class cut Examples of Level IV Violations: • Leaving school without permission • Assault - bodily harm or injury inflicted by one student to another student or school 24

personnel (suspension, police notification, 7. Expulsion from school (ten days/until and charges filed with District Justice) the end of school) must apply to • Extortion Superintendent for re-admission • Fighting - aggressive physical contact 8. Referral to SAP (Student Assistance involving two or more students where Program) and student must follow the physical harm is intended, and each student is recommendations of the formal engaged in physical contact. (suspension, assessment police notification, and charges filed with 9. Referral to building Discipline District Justice for everyone involved) The Committee rationale of self-defense is not justification 10. Revoked Driving Privileges for physical contact 11. Alternative Education Program • Furnishing, selling, or possession of unauthorized substances and devices. This Attendance includes “look-alikes” The Board understands the importance of a • Institutional Vandalism is any defacing or student’s attendance to his/her school success. It destruction of a public building or property, also fully understands the laws governing student including a school (includes school pranks) attendance. Therefore, the District will do This violation may be prosecuted as a everything within its power to encourage and felony. expect proper attendance. • Involvement in bomb threat and/or false fire alarm, including use of smoke bombs Definitions: • Libel and/or slander involving issues that Excused Absence – Any absence from school due may threaten a person’s safety, reputation, or to illness, family emergency, death in the family ability to continue in the school. that is accompanied by a completed, valid excuse blank signed by the student’s parents/guardian and • Possession or sale of stolen property submitted within three days of the absence. • Possession of weapons and/or “look-alikes”

• Theft Unexcused Absence – Any absence without a • Threatening a school official parental excuse that is not submitted within 3 • Unauthorized entry in school buildings/on days, or any absence not accompanied by a grounds doctor’s excuse after a student has accumulated • Use/possession of tobacco products/vaping ten days of excused absences in an academic year. products (suspension and fine) No make-up work will be allowed for unexcused • Use/possession of alcohol absences and zeros will be given for all • Vandalism - destruction of school or personal assignments. property • Violation of local, state, or federal laws Doctor’s Excuse – A doctor’s excuse is required for any subsequent absences after a student has Possible Consequences: accumulated 10 absences within the academic 1. Full restitution for damages year. 2. Out of School Suspension (one to ten days) Excessive Absence – Pa. attendance law requires 3. Referral to local, state or federal schools to address attendance issues by having a authorities School Attendance Improvement Plan Meeting 4. School board hearing (SAIP) 5. Indefinite exclusion from all extra- curricular and other school related After ten days of consecutive unexcused absences, activities the student will be dropped from the rolls if the 6. Other Board action, which results in student is 17 or older. appropriate placement Subsequent Unlawful Absence Unexcused absences after the School Attendance 25

Improvement Plan Meeting (SAIP) meeting will given school year. At least five (5) days prior to result in one or more of the following: the trip, the student must submit a completed • Referral to school or community-based Education Tour/Trip Request form to the Main attendance improvement program Office. These forms are available in the Main • Referral to the Office of Children and Office. Students will be responsible for all work Youth missed during their absences. All requests are • Truancy Citation filed subject to approval of the Administration and no trips will be approved during CHS Mid- Truancy Citations: term/Final Exams and Keystone Exam Testing Citations will continue to be issued for all days. subsequent unlawful absences. College Visitations Students who request to be excused from school School Absence Procedure: for a college visitation must adhere to the 1. Parents are required to have accurate following procedures: addresses, phone numbers, emergency 1. Complete a College Visitation Request form. numbers and work place information, These forms are available in the Main Office. including phone numbers, on file in the 2. Submit the completed form to the Main office. Office for approval at least one (1) day prior 2. Parents or guardians must call the school to the visitation date. An official note from between the 7:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. to the college will be required upon the verify that their son or daughter will be student’s return to school. absent from school that day. Students, A maximum of three (3) days per school year may whose parents have called in their be used for this purpose. College visitations will absence, must still provide a written be recorded as educational trips. Any student who excuse for the absence within the fails to follow the outlined procedures will be required time frame. charged with an unexcused absence and will be 3. An excuse form must be completed and subject to the appropriate disciplinary action. All submitted to the office. Students are requests are subject to approval of the expected to hand in an excuse form the day Administration and no trips will be approved they return from an absence. Students who during Keystone Exams and CHS Mid-Term/Final fail to return an excuse form by the third Exams. day will receive an unexcused absence. Students, whose parents have called in Late to School their absence, must still provide a written When a student does not make it through the glass excuse for the absence within the doors separating the lobby from the main building, required time frame. that student is late to school and the student must 4. For each legal day of absence, each student report to the attendance officer to get a “Late to will be given two days to complete missed School” pass before going to their locker or first assignments for one to five days absent. If a period class. Students who arrive 5 or more student is absent for more than five minutes late will follow the following procedure: consecutive days, make up work must be 1. The 1st through 3rd incidents in a semester arranged with the individual subject are recorded and the student is warned about teachers in a time frame acceptable to each future consequences. teacher. Important Note to Parents: 2. The 4th through 6th incident in a semester Securing make up work is the responsibility results in a lunch detention. of the student. Teachers will make every 3. The 7th through 8th incident in a semester effort to accommodate and help students in results in a week of lunch detentions. this process. 4. The 9th and 10th incident in a semester results in an after-school detention being assigned. Educational Trips 5. Any incident in a semester after the 10th No student may spend more than a total of five (5) incident will result in a counselor and school days on approved educational trips in any administrator referral and additional 26

discipline may be assigned including A student must attend school no later than 8:10am Saturday Detention or In-School Suspension. to be able to participate in any extra-curricular 6. Driving privileges may be revoked for the activity that day. A student that leaves school remainder of the semester for students who early due to illness may not participate in any drive. extra-curricular activity. Doctors’ appointments 7. After 192 accumulated tardy or unexcused or other special circumstances must be pre- early dismissal minutes, a half-day unexcused approved by the Director of Extracurricular absence will be documented. Activities. 8. Tardy minutes will accumulate and when a student reaches 380 minutes, an unexcused Fall day will be added to the attendance record. Sr. High: Cheerleading, Cross Country, Football, 9. This procedure starts fresh at the beginning Girls Tennis. Girls Volleyball, Golf (Co-op) of each new semester. Jr. High: Cross Country, Girls Volleyball

Half-Day Absences Winter Students arriving after 10:30 a.m. or leaving Sr. High: Bowling (co-ed), Boys Basketball, Girls before 12:30 p.m. will be issued a one half-day Basketball, Cheerleading, Wrestling, Unified absence. Bocce Jr. High: Boys Basketball, Girls Basketball, Early Dismissals Cheerleading, Wrestling Any student who is leaving school early for any reason must have a written note from a Spring parent/guardian stating the reason for the dismissal Sr. High: Baseball, Softball, Boys & Girls Track, and time. This must be turned in prior to leaving. Girls Lacrosse (Co-op), Unified Cheerleading Students leaving for appointments must submit a Jr. High: Boys & Girls Track doctor’s note upon their return of it will be Organizations considered unexcused. No phone calls will be Marching Band Student Council accepted for early dismissals. Quiz Bowl Drama Productions National Honor Society e-Sports School Truancy Students who are absent from school without their Criteria to Hold a Position of Honor in a parent’s knowledge, who are seen by school Recognized Organization / Activity, or for personnel or the police during the school day, and Student Participation in a Non-Educational do not have a legitimate excuse, and students who Field Trip leave school without permission will receive an 1) Student must be in attendance for a school unexcused or unlawful absence and will be day prior to the event/activity. assigned administrative consequence which may 2) Students must be a full-time student in the include Saturday detention, suspension and/or Columbia Borough School District. citation. Students may not register for a field trip without Extra/Co-Curricular having met required registration procedures and Activities/Absence criteria for the trip as determined by the trip Students who are absent from school are not organizer. Any exceptions will be determined in allowed to participate in any extracurricular advance by the administration. activity until he/she has been in attendance for an entire school day. Exceptions can be made for Activities Included in This Policy funerals, college visitations, or other reasons if Homecoming Court & Escorts prior written notice is provided to administration Non-Senior Class Trips for approval. Class Officers Team Captain Partial Day Activity Participation Graduation speakers

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Drama Productions: Students must secure a procedural application from the Director of Extracurricular Activities office.

A student who is failing more than one block (9-12) or one major subject (7-8) at the time of sign-ups or auditions will be required to contact the subject teacher immediately for possible assistance. Failure to cooperate and demonstrate sincere effort throughout the duration of the production (as determined by the subject teacher and Dean), will result in a teacher recommendation to the administration for termination from the activity.

One Time Special Events

These events are defined as those “once in a life- time” experiences that Columbia students can attend. These events will remain open to students if they have not received more than ten in or out of school suspensions for the year. These events fall into this category: Sr. Class trips, Prom, HS Dances

Drug and Alcohol Testing for Athletic and Extracurricular Participation (See Board Policy 227.1 for more information) The Board shall conduct random, suspicion less, drug testing of all student athletes and extra- curricular participants in accordance with applicable law. Students choosing to participate in athletics and extracurricular activities are expected to also accept the responsibilities, which accompany this privilege. Among these responsibilities is the obligation to be drug-, alcohol, nicotine and steroid-free on a year-round basis. Therefore, students participating in district athletics and extra-curricular activities are required to agree to test for drugs and/or alcohol in accordance with this policy. Homebound, home school, Cyber School or other recognized off- campus alternatives are subject to the same rules of testing.

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Columbia High School - Discipline Matrix

BE SAFE, BE RESPECTFUL & BE RESPONSIBLE

INFRACTION Potential action to be taken

First Offense Second Offense Additional Offenses Insubordination/disrespect/ ▪ Warning ▪ After-school ▪ After-school directed profanity ▪ Lunch or lunch detentions detentions detentions ▪ Saturday ▪ After-school ▪ Saturday Detention detentions Detention ▪ ISS ▪ Parent ▪ ISS ▪ OSS notification ▪ Parent ▪ Parent notification notification

Bullying/harassment ▪ Warning ▪ After-school ▪ After-school ▪ Lunch detentions detentions (The School Resource detentions ▪ Saturday ▪ Saturday Officer may be involved as ▪ After-school Detention Detention necessary) detentions ▪ ISS ▪ ISS ▪ Parent ▪ Parent ▪ OSS notification notification ▪ Parent notification Dress code violation ▪ Change ▪ Change ▪ Change personal personal personal clothes clothes clothes ▪ Change to ▪ Change to ▪ Change to CHS issued CHS issued CHS issued items items items ▪ ISS ▪ ISS ▪ Saturday ▪ Parent Detention notification ▪ ISS ▪ Parent notification Cell phone/electronic ▪ Warning ▪ Phone sent ▪ Phone sent devices violation ▪ Teacher to office to office confiscates ▪ Phone ▪ Parents must phone for returned at pick up period end of the phone ▪ Phone sent to day ▪ After-school office ▪ Parents must detentions pick up ▪ Saturday phone Detention ▪ After-school ▪ ISS detentions ▪ OSS ▪ Saturday Detention

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Title One Information Education Act of 1956 (ESEA) includes additionally right to know requests. At any time,

parents and family members can request: The Columbia Borough School District has three • Information on policies regarding student Title I buildings. Please reference the District participation in assessments and procedures for website for the following Title I information: opting out, and • • Right to Know Information on required assessments that include: • Title One Complaint Procedure - subject matter tested, • Parent Involvement Policy - purpose of the test, - source of the requirement (if applicable), Sample Copy of Right-to-Request Teacher - amount of time it takes students to complete Qualifications letter the test, - time and format of disseminating results. Parents (in Title I schools only) are notified annually that they may request information Our staff is committed to helping your child regarding the professional qualifications of their develop the academic knowledge and critical child's teacher(s), and of paraprofessionals who thinking he/she needs to succeed in school and provide instructional services to their children. beyond. That commitment includes making sure that all our teachers and paraprofessionals meet Dear Parents: applicable Pennsylvania state requirements. As a parent of a student attending a school that is receiving Federal Title I dollars, you have the We look forward to the upcoming school year, and right to know the professional qualifications of the together we will make a difference in your child’s teacher(s) and instructional paraprofessional(s) life. who instruct your child. Sincerely, Federal law requires every Title I school district to comply and to provide you with the requested Dr. Smith information in a timely manner.

We are happy to provide this information to you. CBSD Parent Involvement At any time, you may ask: Procedures In recognition that the parent is the child's first and • Whether the teacher met state qualifications and most important teacher and that the parent's certification requirements for the grade level and continued involvement is essential for the success of subject he/she is teaching, • Whether the teacher students, The Columbia Borough School District received an emergency or conditional certificate (CBSD) is committed to building a strong parent- through which state qualifications were waived, school partnership. Furthermore, federal regulations and • What undergraduate or graduate degrees the state that funds may be received only if programs, teacher holds, including graduate certificates and activities, and procedures for the involvement of additional degrees, and major(s) or area(s) of parents of participating children are implemented. concentration. Such activities shall be planned and implemented with meaningful consultation with parents of participating You may also ask whether your child receives children. Consultation shall be ongoing and timely. help from a paraprofessional. If your child receives this assistance, we can provide you with At the beginning of each school year, this policy shall information about the paraprofessional’s be distributed to parents of Title students and, to the qualifications. extent possible, provided in a language the parents can understand. This policy shall also be made The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) which available to the community and reviewed annually. was signed into law in December 2015 and Parents will be involved in the timely review and reauthorizes the Elementary and Secondary update of the policy. 30

approved, by the Board of School Directors but All buildings in the CBSD operated a school-wide are not awarded credit towards graduation. Title I plan, making every parent eligible to Examples of such activities include, but are not participate in all Title I functions and meetings. limited to athletic teams, marching and pep bands, Parents of each Title I student are given the student council, dramatic productions, opportunity to participate in at least one parent- homecoming court, mayday court, spring king, teacher conference and any additional conferences class officer, and quiz bowl. Co-curricular and needed to ensure understanding and cooperation extracurricular activities are open to participation among the parents, students, and respective school by all students regardless of individual officials so that students will fully profit from all differences. school experiences. The Columbia Borough School District Board of Directors recognizes that the primary purpose of To improve student achievement and to maintain its schools is to provide every student with a strong school/family/community partnerships, the quality education that prepares the student for the CBSD shall do the following: future. It also recognizes the importance of extra- curricular activities in the life of the schools and in • Annual Title I Meeting in Oct. the lives of many of its students. These activities • Periodic parent steering committee meetings at can help to develop important characteristics such each building to inform parents of their as teamwork, discipline, self-sacrifice, and school’s participation in the Title I program. leadership. All of these are characteristics of a The school will explain its requirements and successful individual. While extra-curricular the parent’s right to be involved activities can be a compliment to the educational • Offer several meetings throughout the school process, they are secondary to the school’s main year purpose. Teachers, students, parents, and administrators must strive to keep the focus The Columbia High School will also provide clearly on the education of the students. A quality parents of Title I students with the following: education is the right of every student in the district. Extra-curricular activities are a • Timely information about the program privilege that grows out of the educational • If requested, provide a description and experience. The Columbia Borough School explanation of the curriculum in use at the District will maintain an educational based school, the forms of assessment used to extracurricular program where extracurricular measure student progress, and the proficiency activities are an extension of the regular levels students are expected to meet classroom, compliment the educational • If requested by parents, opportunities for experience, and enhance the academic mission. regular meetings to formulate suggestions and Co-curricular and extracurricular participants are to participate as appropriate, in decisions often in the public eye, so, their personal conduct relating to the education of their children, and must be of the highest standard. They have an to respond to any such suggestions. obligation to project at all times a positive image • Conduct any of the following: of themselves and the Columbia community they - Back to School Nights represent. The school district adheres to all the - Parent Steering Committee Meetings regulations set forth by the Lancaster-Lebanon - Parent Conferences in November League and the Pennsylvania Interscholastic - Book Bloom in the spring Athletic Association, Inc. (PIAA) as listed in their - College Visits for students constitution and by-laws. In addition, the regulations stated in this policy will determine a Crimson Code of Conduct for student’s ability to participate in extra-curricular Co-curricular & Extracurricular Participation activities for the Columbia Borough School For purposes of this policy, the terms “co- District. It is also understood that a coach/advisor curricular and/or extracurricular” shall mean those has the authority to hand out additional student activities, which are sponsored or consequences within his/her program. 31

athletic department with the name of the Scope of the Crimson Code of Conduct program they are using, along with a contact

To ensure consistent enforcement of the Crimson name and telephone number or e-mail address.

Code of Conduct, it applies to all students 3. It is the responsibility of the Charter, Cyber participating in co-curricular and extracurricular Charter School and the Supervisor of the activities enrolled in grades 7 through 12. The Home-Schooling Program to notify the terms of this policy apply throughout the year to attendance officer of each building by 1:00 conduct occurring on or off school property. This p.m. of any student’s absence. Code of Conduct shall not prevent coaches or advisors from developing and enforcing additional 4. Transportation to and from all practices, rules and regulations, which are reasonable and activities, and the school for games will be the specific to their activity. responsibility of the parent. Charter, Cyber Charter, and Home-School students are Students participating in co-curricular and/or expected to travel to and from away games extracurricular activities will be subject to the with the team. following rules 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year. 5. A student who is absent on the last day of a week may not participate in any Students will be required to comply with these extracurricular activity until the student rules starting with their seventh-grade year and attends a day of school or provides a doctor’s continuing until they end their high school note stating that the student is well enough to education. The penalties imposed against a participate. The doctor’s note must be given to student for violating any of these rules will be the coach/advisor who will then forward it to enforced beginning with the day that the the school administration. Absences that have administrative decision is made. A student will be prior administrative approval as stated above allowed to sign up for any co-curricular and/or are exempt from this requirement. extracurricular activity during a period of Administration will make the final decision for suspension, but will not be able to participate until student absences. the suspension has been served in full. If “cuts” have been made in the activity prior to the 6. A student who leaves school early due to student’s reinstatement date, then the student is illness may not participate in any considered “cut” and not able to participate in that extracurricular activity until the student particular activity until the next time it is offered. attends school again.

A. School Attendance Requirements 7. A student who is suspended (In-school or Out- of-School) or expelled from school for any 1. A student must attend school no later than infraction may not attend or participate in co- 8:10am to attend or participate in any curricular and/or extracurricular activities for activity, practice, or contest that day. the duration of the suspension or expulsion. Exceptions can be made for funerals, college visitations, medical appointments 8.A student who has four or more unlawful or and other reasons if written notice has been unexcused absences from school during the school provided to the administration for approval year will be ineligible to participate in any prior to the day of absence. The extracurricular activities for two weeks following administration will notify the coach/advisor the fourth unexcused absence. For each additional of the student’s eligibility based on unexcused absence, there will be an additional two attendance. weeks of suspension from extracurricular activities. Any student who is absent for twenty or 2. Students involved in Charter, Cyber Charter more days during a semester, whether excused or Schools or in Home-Schooling may participate unexcused, is ineligible for extracurricular in extracurricular activities that occur outside activities until he/she is in attendance for sixty the normal school day. Any of the students consecutive school days beyond the twentieth day who wish to participate must provide the of absence. 32

B. Attendance for Co-curricular and 2. The grades used to determine academic Extracurricular Activities eligibility will be the cumulative weekly grades, except in the case of report card 1. Participants in co-curricular and eligibility. Grades will be as of the close of extracurricular activities are expected to attend school on the last day of the school week. The all in-season and post-season practices, Director of Extracurricular Activities or his performances, meetings and contests that are designee will use the student information included with the particular activity. software to access the students’ class grades.

a) Participants who have an unexcused 3. It is the responsibility of the Charter, Cyber absence from a practice will be assigned Charter School and the Supervisor of the appropriate consequences by the Home-Schooling Program to send written coach/advisor as outlined in the rules and notification of the student’s grades to the regulations for the specific activity. Loss of Director of Extracurricular Activities by 1:00 performance time is a possibility. p.m. of the last day of the school week, based b) Participants who have an unexcused on the Columbia Borough School District’s absence from a contest or performance will schedule. The notification may be faxed to the be required to meet with the coach/advisor attention of the Director of Extracurricular and a school administrator to determine the Activities at the Columbia Jr./Sr. High School participant’s ability to remain in the activity. office.

c) Participants can get practice and 4. A student who is failing more than one class performance schedules well in advance, so will be declared academically ineligible for outside activities should not be scheduled participation in co-curricular and that conflict with these activities. extracurricular activities. The ineligibility period will be one week and will begin on a 2. Participants are expected to be prepared and Monday and end the following Sunday. A ready to participate at the time scheduled by student may not return to eligible status mid- the coach or advisor. week unless it has been determined that the 3. Participants who are late for practice or a failing grade is the result of a reporting error. contest/performance will be assigned While ineligible, the student is expected to appropriate consequences by the coach/advisor practice but may not participate in public. An as outlined in the rules and regulations for the ineligible student may not wear a school specific activity. issued uniform or costume and may not travel with an extracurricular organization. An 4. Exceptions will be made for participants who academically ineligible student may be were getting additional academic help and who reinstated when her/his academic problems provide a written pass from a teacher that have been corrected. includes the date and time that the participant left the classroom. When possible, prior 5. A student who has been declared academically notification should be given to the coach or ineligible for three or more consecutive weeks advisor. may be removed from an extra-curricular activity by the school administration. The 5. Repeated attendance problems will result in Director of Extracurricular Activities or a participant being removed from the designee will meet with each ineligible student activity. in person, to explain his/her academic eligibility status. C. Academic Eligibility 6. A student not meeting the eligibility 1. To be academically eligible to participate in an requirements on his/her report card will become extra-curricular activity a student cannot be ineligible for a period of fifteen school days failing more than one class. starting with the day that the report card is issued.

The student may practice but may not participate 33

in public for the duration of the fifteen-day 5. Any team member who demeans a ineligibility period. This period does carry over teammate or coach through verbal or written from one school year to the next. Eligibility may communication – including social media – be re-established by making up credits in summer shall be subject to the disciplinary penalties school. for violation of the Crimson Code.

6. Any team member who engages in conduct D. Sportsmanship that reflects negatively on the team or the 1. Students representing the Columbia school shall be subject to the disciplinary Borough School District in co-curricular penalties for violation of the Crimson Code. and extracurricular activities are required to always show respect to all participants, 7. Students may be required to meet with the coaches/advisors, and spectators. Director of Extracurricular Activities and/or the Principal at any time and additional 2. Specific examples of behavior not tolerated consequences may be assigned based on the by this policy include, but are not limited to: behavior. profanity, mockery, intimidation, or malicious contact.

3. A coach who witnesses any E. Multiple Co-Curricular and/or unsportsmanlike behavior will bench the Extracurricular Activities

students involved for an amount of time Being a small public school has definite consistent with the misbehavior and the advantages and disadvantages. Students in the student’s history of behavior. Columbia Borough School District can participate 4. The School Board of Directors has in many different activities. This allows them to developed the following stipulations as part experience many things during their school of this policy and they must be included into careers, but can also lead to an overwhelming the rules of each co-curricular and schedule as some students attempt to “do it all”. extracurricular activity: The Columbia Borough Board of School Directors encourages its students to take advantage of all a) Any student removed from a contest by their opportunities at school. For many, it will be an official for a sportsmanship violation the last chance that they will have to participate in shall not be allowed to participate in the some of these activities. To help protect the next contest and must complete all students from over-committing themselves, the assignments given by the coaches and the Board has set the following regulations. administration. 1. Multiple Co-Curricular and/or Extracurricular b) Any student removed by officials from a activities during the Same School Year total of two (2) contests in a single school year for sportsmanship violations shall be a) Students, who are involved in a school sport removed from participation in all sports that is in-season, are to refrain from for the remainder of the school year. The participating in out-of-season workouts for removals could occur in more than one another sport. An exception will be made sport. for participation in League associated All- Star games and League associated c) The calls made by an official are final and recognition activities. Exceptions will also shall not be reconsidered by any school be made when the coach of the in-season district personnel. sport agrees to allow the athlete to d) The head coach shall notify the student’s participate in non-physically demanding or parent/guardian and the Director of strength training activities. Extracurricular Activities within twenty- b) Students who are involved in a varsity sport four (24) hours in regard to any that qualifies for the postseason and who sportsmanship violations. also intend to participate in a sport the following season are exempt from 34

participation in the second sport for up to or performance and the administration three calendar days following the final agrees. contest of the postseason. F. Quitting c) It is expected that students involved in a school program will put that program before 1. For this policy, quitting is defined as a student any out-of-school program. Absences due ending their participation in a school activity to attendance at an out-of-school activity, prior to the official completion of that activity including any type of employment, must be for the season in question. The official approved by the head coach prior to the completion date includes any post-season absence. An absence from a contest or activities that the organization may qualify. performance due to attendance at an out-of- school activity will be counted as an 2. Completion of the season, including post- unexcused absence and the student will be season, playoffs, tournaments, exhibitions and required to meet with the head coach and an events is required for a student to be eligible administrator to discuss the student’s future for the awarding of a varsity letter or other with the program. team and individual awards. The obvious exception to this policy is when injury or 2. Multiple Co-Curricular and/or Extracurricular illness limits participation. In such a case, the activities during the Same Season awarding of a varsity letter or other honors a) A student may participate in more than one will be at the discretion of the advisor/coach. co-curricular and/or extracurricular activity 3. A student may only quit one activity and during the same season if the participate in another during the same season coaches/advisors agree to such participation. prior to the completion of the first two weeks This includes sports with music, drama of practice for that season. This type of and/or other school activities or any change can only take place with the combination of these activities. Activities administration’s consent, and the consent of that have the same practice and/or contest the coach/advisor of the activity that the schedule will not work for this type of student is leaving. The coach’s consent must arrangement. be received during a face-to-face discussion b) The student must complete the Multiple with the student. The student’s parents may be Activities form and have it signed by a present during this discussion if they so parent or guardian and appropriate coaches choose. and advisors. This form designates which 4. A student who quits an activity must have all activity will be considered the “Prime” the equipment that was issued to them for that activity and that activity will take activity returned to the coach/advisor or to the precedence when scheduling conflicts arise. athletic office within one week of the date that This form must be completed prior to the they stopped participating in that activity. start of the specific activities and kept on file in the Athletic Office. The coaches and 5. Any student who quits twice (either the same advisors will be responsible to work out the activity two times or two different activities schedules for the student’s involvement in once each) during their career at CHS, must these activities and to provide that schedule meet with the Director of Extracurricular to the student and to the Athletic Office. Activities and the appropriate coaches and advisors to receive approval prior to his/her d) Regardless of which activity is listed as participation in any future activities. the “Prime” activity, contests and

performances will take precedence over G. School Issued Equipment practices or rehearsals unless prior permission is given by the coach/advisor Students may be issued equipment as part of their of the activity that is having the contest participation in a co-curricular and/or extracurricular activity. Students are responsible 35

for properly maintaining all such equipment and 2. Prior arrangement made in writing between the returning it in good condition upon the completion participant’s parent/guardian and the school of the activity. If a student fails to fulfill this administration for the student to ride with the obligation regarding equipment, he/she may not parent/guardian or those specified by the participate in any other future activity until all parent/guardian. A copy of this obligations have been satisfied. communication signed by the administrator must be provided to the coach/advisor prior to H. School Athletic Lockers the event.

Student athletic lockers are school district 3. When school transportation is not provided property. Student lockers may be searched by and alternate means are approved by the advisors, coaches, or administrators when school administration. reasonable cause exists that a student is concealing evidence of an illegal act, illegal substance or J. School Behavior other violation of school rules. The school authorities may seize any illegal or unauthorized Participants in co-curricular and extracurricular materials found during a search. activities are expected to set the example in regard to proper school behavior. Violations of the Tide Circumstances justifying a reasonable cause Guide can lead to consequences of the Crimson search also authorize school district personnel to Code of Conduct: require students to submit to a thorough search of clothing, handbags, and wallets to seize any 1. Level 4 offenses are flagrant violations of the unauthorized material. Students who do not Tide Guide and are not acceptable for student cooperate with a reasonable cause search will be participants. Any Level 4 violation of the Tide suspended immediately from the co-curricular Guide will result in the student being subject and/or extracurricular program. All searches to the disciplinary penalties for violation of the conducted by school personnel shall be consistent Crimson Code. with school district policy. School officials may 2. Any student who violates the terms of an inspect the content of student lockers as part of Academic/Behavior Contract will be subject to routine maintenance inspections. Students are the disciplinary penalties for violation of the responsible for all items in their locker and are Crimson Code. expected to secure all valuables. The school district and its employees are not responsible for 3. Repeated Level 2 violations will result in a items that are lost or stolen from a locker. meeting with the student, the Director of Students are advised to keep their locker locked Extracurricular Activities, an additional whenever they are not in direct supervision of the administrator and possibly the coach. The locker and to not share the combination of their administration will determine an action plan locker with any other student. Students are also and consequences. advised not to keep valuables in the locker, but to give them to their coach or advisor for K. Tobacco supervision. 1. The use or possession of any form of tobacco I. Transportation to Extracurricular Activities or related tobacco products (lighters, matches,

Students must use school provided transportation pipes, papers, etc.) is prohibited always for to travel to and from activities away from the students involved in co-curricular and/or Columbia Jr./Sr. High School or its approved extracurricular activities. Any reasonable home facilities. The only exceptions are as evidence of smoking shall justify disciplinary follows: action under this policy. Direct observation of smoking is not required. 1. Injury to a participant, which requires alternate 2. For a first offense, the participant will receive transportation. a ten-school day suspension from all co- curricular and/or extracurricular activities and a SAP referral. 36

3. All students participating in co-curricular 3. Any additional offense will result in the and/or extracurricular activities are subject to consequences of this Code of Conduct being random, suspicion less drug testing in initiated, starting with Consequence 1. following with Board Policy 227.2.

L. Drugs

1. Any drug use by an extra-curricular participant M. Theft and/or Vandalism

is covered by this policy, regardless of when Students are expected to show respect for the or where it takes place. The administration will property owned by the School District, other determine if allegations warrant investigating. schools, private individuals and other private or Parent permission does not exempt a student public entities. Theft and/or vandalism denote from this policy. Any drug use, which occurs poor school citizenship and any student involved in school, on school property or during a in such activity will be referred to the school school-sponsored activity, will also be handled administration for disciplinary action. In addition as dictated by the Columbia Borough School to the consequences listed for violation of this District Discipline Policy. The consequences policy, the student will be subject to the outlined in this Code may be implemented, disciplinary guidelines of the school. This could even if the school takes no disciplinary action. result in possible suspension or expulsion from For purposes of this Code, the term drug shall school. include but not be limited to:

a. Alcohol in any form. N. Criminal Violations

b. Narcotics. The students are expected to abide by all local, state and federal laws and regulations. If the c. Steroids or any performance enhancing school district receives verified information that a substances. student engaged in criminal conduct (school or non-school) as defined by the Pennsylvania d. Any mood-altering substance, unless Crimes Code or a similar state or federal statute, under the supervision of a doctor. the student shall be subject to the disciplinary penalties for violation of this policy. e. Prescription drugs used in a manner that does not agree with the prescribed O. Hazing directions. The School District will not tolerate or condone f. Look-alike substances. any type of team or individual hazing or initiation where mental stress, embarrassment, or physical 2. All students participating in co-curricular harm may take place. Any student found to be and/or extracurricular activities are prohibited involved in the hazing of fellow students shall be from engaging in the following conduct: subject to the disciplinary penalties listed for

a. The possession, use, or distribution of any violation of this policy of drug or drug paraphernalia. P. Authority b. Being present at any gathering where the student knows, or reasonably should know, The High School Principal shall have full that other underage individuals are in authority to institute this policy. Notification of a possession of, using, or distributing any student's suspension will be made to the unauthorized drug. (It is the expectation Superintendent, Board President and that a student should exit the area or Extracurricular Committee Chairperson. The premises where these products or Director of Extracurricular Activities and the behaviors are evident) respective head coach may be involved in the notification of action with the student. Parent(s)

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will be notified, by both mail and personal contact, under the Crimson Code of Conduct until the of the action and its rationale. administration has determined that the student has violated the regulations. The following procedures apply to reports of alleged violations of the Crimson Code of Conduct:

Q. Consequences for Violations of This Policy a) Any reports of alleged violations of the Crimson Code of Conduct are to be made to Consequence 1 - a first offense the student will be the Director of Extracurricular Activities or suspended from all co-curricular and/or High School Principal. extracurricular activities for 20 school days.

Consequence 2 - a second violation of this policy b) The High School Administration shall (it does not have to be for the same violation) will investigate all reported or suspected result in a suspension from all co-curricular and/or violations of the Crimson Code of Conduct extracurricular activities for 45 school days. to determine their credibility.

Consequence 3 - a third violation of this policy (it c) If a report is determined to be credible, the does not have to be for the same violation) will High School Principal and the Director of result in a suspension from all co-curricular and/or Extracurricular Activities shall meet with extracurricular activities for 90 school days. the student to explain the information and to allow the student to respond. The Consequence 4 - a fourth violation of this policy administration will ultimately decide (it does not have to be for the same violation) will whether the student violated the Crimson result in a suspension from all co-curricular and/or Code of Conduct and what consequence is extracurricular activities for 180 school days. appropriate as defined by the Crimson Code. Consequence 5 – any additional violation of this policy (it does not have to be for the same d) If the administration finds the student violation) will result in a total suspension from all violated the Crimson Code of Conduct, the co-curricular and/extra-curricular activities for the student's parents/guardians shall be verbally remainder of the student’s scholastic career. informed of the violation and the resulting consequence. They will also be informed of SAP Referral – depending on the violation, the the appeal process. Notice of the situation administration may require a SAP referral for shall be provided to the appropriate coach or assessment and intervention. Recommendations advisor. Written notification to the student's from the SAP team will be sent to the parent(s) or parents/guardians will follow up the verbal guardian(s) and must be adhered to for the notice. participant to return to eligible status. e) The student and the parent/guardian then Officer or Captain – a student shall not be have 5 calendar days from the verbal allowed to hold an office or be a captain in a co- notification to file a written appeal with the curricular and/or extracurricular activity during a High School principal. period of suspension from activities. If the student already holds such a position when the suspension f) The High School principal will then reply to is assigned, the student will be stripped of said the parents within 48 hours to schedule an position. The student will not forfeit any position appeal hearing. The hearing shall be run by where the term of the position was completed the principal and heard by three coaches prior to the issuing of the suspension. and/or advisors who are not involved in the student's activities. The original S. Grievance Procedure consequence shall remain in place until the

1. No student shall be suspended from co- appeal has been decided. curricular and/or extracurricular activities

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g) The appeal board shall review the • In a homeless or domestic violence information provided by the Director of shelter or transitional housing placement Extracurricular Activities and the student, to • Outside of his/her home as an determine if the original decision was valid. unaccompanied youth The appeal board does not determine any • In any of the situations listed above as alternate consequences. Any appeal board the child of a migrant family. recommendation shall be subject to the final

approval of the building principal. Children and youth experiencing homelessness

have the right to: 2. For purposes of the Crimson Code of Conduct, "verified information" means the accuracy of • Continue their education in their current information is confirmed by any of the school, and receive transportation OR enroll following methods: immediately in the school where they are a) self-admitted involvement by the student temporarily housed, even if lacking the paperwork normally required b) student involvement witnessed by an • Participate in all applicable school advisor, coach, sponsor, school district programs, including supplemental services employee, or other credible witness • Receive free lunch • Receive assistance with school-related c) acknowledgment by a parent/guardian of expenses their child's involvement • If you or your family are experiencing d) an official police report given to the school homelessness or are in jeopardy of losing housing, please contact Columbia Borough School District e) Notification of an adjudication, a Home and School Visitor Kelly Smith 717-684- delinquency finding or other admission of 7500 extension 3515 or wrongdoing before a court [email protected].

Students Experiencing Homelessness The Education for Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness program (ECYEH) is an initiative of the Pennsylvania Department of Education, and is based on the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. This federal legislation ensures that homeless children and youth have access to a free, appropriate, public education.

Children and youth are eligible for services under the McKinney-Vento Act if they have been displaced from their homes and are living in a place that is not fixed, regular, or adequate, such as: • Sharing the housing of others due to a loss of housing, economic hardship, or similar reason • In a place not designated as regular sleeping accommodation, such as a vehicle, park, hotel or campground

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