Student Handbook 2020-2021
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Student Handbook 2020-2021 High Schools: Elementary Schools: Amarillo High Forest Hill Caprock Glenwood Palo Duro Hamlet Tascosa Humphrey’s Highland AACAL Lamar North Heights Landergin Lawndale Middle Schools: Mesa Verde Austin Oak Dale Bonham Olsen Park Bowie Paramount Terrace Crockett Park Hills De Zavala Pleasant Valley Fannin Puckett Houston Ridgecrest Mann Rogers Travis San Jacinto Allen 6th Sanborn Bowie 6th Sleepy Hollow Travis 6th South Georgia South Lawn Elementary Schools: Sunrise Avondale Tradewind Belmar Western Plateau Bivins Whittier Carver Academy Wills Carver Early Childhood Academy Windsor Coronado Wolflin Eastridge Woodlands Emerson Amarillo Independent School District 7200 Interstate 40 West • Amarillo, TX 79106-2598 Doug Loomis Superintendent Notification Letter Dear Parent/Guardian: I want to welcome you and your child to Amarillo Independent School District. Please be assured that Amarillo ISD diligently works to provide a safe place for children to learn and grow. Since our future is dependent upon every child in our community growing up to become a productive, contributing member of society, our focus is on academic achievement, independent thinking and problem solving, as well as good character and citizenship. These goals can only be accomplished through a combined effort on the part of students, parents and school personnel. We welcome you to be part of a terrific team! This Student Handbook is designed to inform you and your child of the type of conduct expected in the Amarillo Independent School District. It contains the Student Code of Conduct and Code of Ethical Behavior for Extracurricular Activities for our school district. The Student Handbook is available online at www.amaisd.org or it may be accessed at your child’s school. If you have any questions or concerns regarding your child’s education, please do not hesitate to call the campus principal. Sincerely, Doug Loomis Table of Contents PREFACE………………………………………………………………………………. 1 Accessibility…………………………….………………….………………....…… 2 SECTION I: PARENTAL RIGHTS……………………………………..…………...... 2 CONSENT, OPT-OUT, AND REFUSAL RIGHTS................................................... 2 Consent to Conduct a Psychological Evaluation or Provide a Mental Health Care Service………………………………………………………………………. 2 Consent to Display a Student’s Original Works and Personal Information………. 3 Consent to Receive Parenting and Paternity Awareness Instruction if Student is under Age 14………………………………………………………..…………... 3 Consent to Video or Audio Record a Student When Not Otherwise Permitted by Law……………………………………………………………………………. 3 Corporal Punishment………………………………………………………….….. 3 Limiting Electronic Communications with Students by District Employees.……. 3 Participation in Third-Party Surveys....................................................................... 4 Consent Required Before Student Participation in a Federally Funded Survey, Analysis, or Evaluation…………………………………………………………… 4 REMOVING A STUDENT FROM INSTRUCTION OR EXCUSING A STUDENT FROM A REQUIRED COMPONENT OF INSTRUCTION………………………. 4 Human Sexuality Instruction……………………………………………..………. 4 Reciting a Portion of the Declaration of Independence in Grades 3-12................... 5 Reciting the Pledges to the U.S. and Texas Flags……………………………….… 5 Religious or Moral Beliefs……………………………………………………..…. 6 Tutoring or Test Preparation………………………………………………...….…. 6 RIGHT OF ACCESS TO STUDENT RECORDS, CURRICULUM MATERIALS AND DISTRICT RECORDS/POLICIES………………………..…………………. 6 Instructional Materials……………………………………….…………..……….. 6 Notices of Certain Student Misconduct To Noncustodial Parent……….…..…….. 7 Participation in Federally Required, State-Mandated, and District Assessments…. 7 Student Records…………………………...………………………………………. 7 i Amarillo Independent School District Student Handbook 2020-2021 Accessing Student Records…………………………...…………………………... 7 Authorized Inspection and Use of Student Records…………………………......... 7 Special Education Records………………………………………………………. 11 Teacher and Staff Professional Qualifications…………….…..…………………. 11 STUDENTS WITH EXCEPTIONALITIES OR SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES……………………………………………..……………….… 11 Children of Military Families……………………………………..………..…… 11 Parental Role in Certain Classroom and School Assignments……………..….… 12 Multiple Birth Siblings……………………………………………………..….… 12 Safety Transfers/Assignments……………………………………………..…..… 12 Student Use of a Service/Assistance Animal……………………………………. 13 A Student in the Conservatorship of the State (Foster Care)………….…………. 13 A Student Who is Homeless…………….………………………………..…...…. 14 A Student Who Has Learning Difficulties or Who Needs Special Education or Section 504 Services……………………………………….……… 14 Special Education Referrals……………..………………………………………. 15 Contact Person for Special Education Referrals…………………………………. 15 Section 504 Referrals…………………….………………………………………. 16 Contact Person for Section 504 Referrals………..………………………………. 16 Notification to Parents of Intervention Strategies for Learning Difficulties Provided to Students in General Education………………………………………. 16 A Student Who Receives Special Education Services with Other School Aged Children in the Home……………………………………………………………. 17 A Student Who Speaks a Primary Language Other than English……….……... 17 A Student with Physical or Mental Impairments Protected Under Section 504.... 17 SECTION II: OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR PARENTS AND STUDENTS…………………………………………………………….……….. 17 ABSENCES/ATTENDANCE……………………………………………….….….. 18 Absences Requested by Parents………………………………………….……… 18 Middle and High School……..……………………………………………..… 18 Virtual Learning Attendance Taking Methods………………………...………… 18 ii Amarillo Independent School District Student Handbook 2020-2021 Remote Synchronous……………………………………………….………… 18 Remote Asynchronous……………………….…………………….………… 18 Compulsory Attendance……………………………………………….………… 19 Prekindergarten and Kindergarten,…………………………………………… 19 Between Ages 6-18…..……………………………………………….……… 19 Age 19 and Older……..……………………………………………………… 19 Exemptions to Compulsory Attendance………………………………………… 19 All Grade Levels……..…………………………………………………….… 19 Secondary Grade Levels……..……………………………………………...... 20 Failure to Comply with Compulsory Attendance…………………………….…. 21 All Grade Levels……………………………………………………………… 21 Students with Disabilities……………………………….………….………… 21 Between Ages 6-18…………………………………………………………… 21 Age 19 and Older…………………………………………………………..… 22 Attendance for Credit or Final Grade…………………………………..…..…… 22 Official Attendance Taking Time…………………………………………….…. 23 Documentation after an Absence………………….……………………….….… 24 Doctor’s Note after an Absence for Illness……………………………………… 24 Tardiness…………………………………………………………..……….……. 24 Elementary School…….…………………………………………………...… 24 Middle School………..……………………………………………………… 24 High School………….…………………………………………………….… 25 Truancy….………………………………………………………………………. 25 Driver License Attendance Verification………………………………………… 25 Accountability under State and Federal Law……………………………………. 25 Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery Test……………………………… 26 ACADEMIC PROGRAMS……………………………………………………..…. 26 ADVANCED PLACEMENT COURSES…………………………………………. 26 BULLYING…………………...…………………………………………………… 26 CAREER GUIDANCE PROGRAM………………………………………………. 28 iii Amarillo Independent School District Student Handbook 2020-2021 CAREER & TECHNICAL EDUCATION (CTE) PROGRAMS……………….… 29 CELEBRATIONS…………………………………………………..……………… 29 CHECK-IN AND CHECK-OUT PROCEDURES………………………………… 30 Check-In…………………….………………………………………………….... 30 Check-Out …………………………………………………………………..…... 30 During Lunch……………….………………………………………………….... 31 High School…………..………………………………………………………. 31 At Any Other Time During the School Day……………………………..…….... 31 CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE, TRAFFICKING AND OTHER MALTREATMENT OF CHILDREN.......................................................................................................... 31 Warning Signs of Sexual Abuse…………………….……………………….…... 31 Warning Signs of Trafficking…………………….…………………….……...... 31 Reporting and Responding to Sexual Abuse, Trafficking, and Other Maltreatment of Children…………………………………………………...….... 33 Further Resources on Sexual Abuse, Trafficking, ad Other Maltreatment of Children…………………….…………………………………………….….... 33 CLASS RANK/HIGHEST RANKING STUDENT……………………….….……. 33 CLASS SCHEDULES…………………………………………………………..….. 34 COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY ADMISSIONS AND FINANCIAL AID……….. 34 COLLEGE CREDIT COURSES…………………………………………………… 35 COMMUNICATIONS - AUTOMATED…………………………………………... 35 Emergency…………………….…………………………………………….….... 35 Nonemergency…………………….………………………………….………….. 35 COMPLAINTS AND CONCERNS…………………………………………..……. 36 CONDUCT…………………………………………………………………..….…. 36 Applicability of School Rules………………………………………………….... 36 Campus Behavior Coordinator………………………………………………..… 36 Deliveries…………………….………………………………………………..… 39 Disruptions of School Operations……………………………………………..… 39 Social Events…………………………………………………………………..… 40 iv Amarillo Independent School District Student Handbook 2020-2021 CORRESPONDENCE COURSES………………………………..………….……. 40 COUNSELING…………………………………………………………………….. 40 Academic Counseling………………………………………………….………… 41 Personal Counseling…………………………………………………….……….. 42 COURSE CREDIT…………………………………………………………………. 42 CREDIT BY EXAMINATION– If a Student Has Taken the Course/Subject …...... 42 CREDIT BY EXAMINATION FOR ADVANCEMENT/ACCELERATION– If a Student Has Not Taken the Course/Subject…..................................................… 43 DATING VIOLENCE, DISCRIMINATION, HARASSMENT, AND RETALIATION………………………………………………………………….… 43 Dating Violence………………………………………………………………….. 43 Discrimination…………………………………………………………………… 44 Harassment……………………………………………………………………….