2019-2020 Recognized by The Illinois State Board of Education and AdvancEd NCA CASI/SACS CASI (North Central Association of Public and Private Schools and Colleges) 7350 W. 93rd Street, Bridgeview, IL 60455 Phone (708) 599-4100 Fax (708) 599-1588 www.Universalschool.org TABLE OF CONTENTS I. HISTORY OF UNIVERSAL SCHOOL ................................................................................................... 3 II. PHILOSOPHY OF UNIVERSAL SCHOOL .......................................................................................... 4 III. UNIVERSAL SCHOOL ANTICIPATED CALENDAR AND HOLIDAYS ........................................ 5 IV. ADMISSION POLICIES ....................................................................................................................... 6 V. ACADEMIC POLICIES ......................................................................................................................... 9 A. HOMEWORK POLICY: ................................................................................................................. 9 B. GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS: .............................................................................................11 C. VALEDICTORIAN: .......................................................................................................................13 D. ADD/DROP POLICY: ....................................................................................................................13 E. EARLY GRADUATION: ...............................................................................................................13 F. TRANSFER CREDITS: ..................................................................................................................14 G. INDEPENDENT STUDY CREDITS: ............................................................................................14 H. STUDENT GUIDANCE SERVICES: ............................................................................................14 I. PROMOTION AND RETENTION POLICY: ................................................................................15 ACADEMIC ACCELERATION FOR NEWLY ADMITTED STUDENTS ...........................................15 K. ACADEMIC PROBATION POLICY: ...........................................................................................15 L. REPORT CARD PICK-UP .............................................................................................................16 M. GRADING POLICY: ......................................................................................................................16 N. HOMEWORK/TEST MAKE-UP POLICY: ...................................................................................17 O. SEMESTER EXAMS: ....................................................................................................................17 P. REGULAR COURSES: ..................................................................................................................17 Q. HONOR COURSES: ......................................................................................................................17 R. POLICY FOR ADVANCED PLACEMENT COURSES: .............................................................17 S. WEIGHTED GRADES: ..................................................................................................................18 T. GRADING SCALE: ........................................................................................................................19 ST TH U. HIGH HONOR AND HONOR ROLL: (1 – 12 GRADE) ........................................................19 VI. UNIVERSAL SCHOOL INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAMS AND SERVICES ..................................19 I. INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAMS: PHILOSOPHY AND CURRICULUM .........................................19 VII. HEALTH ISSUES AND POLICIES .....................................................................................................39 A. Health Records .......................................................................................................................................39 B. Health Safety Policies .............................................................................................................................40 C. School Exclusion Policy for Communicable Illness ...............................................................................40 D. Emergency Policies ................................................................................................................................40 ACCIDENTS .................................................................................................................................41 CONCUSSIONS ...........................................................................................................................41 FIRE AND TORNADOS ..............................................................................................................41 BUS EVACUATION DRILL ........................................................................................................41 LOCK- DOWN DRILL .................................................................................................................41 PERSONAL SAFETY ..................................................................................................................41 EMERGENCY SCHOOL CLOSING ...........................................................................................42 VIII. DISCIPLINE AND ATTENDANCE POLICY ..................................................................................42 A. ATTENDANCE ..............................................................................................................................42 1. Drop off and pick up:...........................................................................................................................42 2. Tardies: ................................................................................................................................................42 3. Absences: ..............................................................................................................................................43 th th 8 -12 Grade Absences: ............................................................................................................................43 4. Early Dismissal: ...................................................................................................................................44 IX. DISCIPLINE/PBIS POLICY ............................................................................................................44 st th A. ELEMENTARY (1 – 5 Grade) .......................................................................................................44 th th B. MIDDLE SCHOOL DISCIPLINE POLICY (6 – 8 Grade) ............................................................47 i Universal School Parent and Student Handbook RV 2/21/2020 C. HIGH SCHOOL DISCIPLINE POLICY...........................................................................................50 DETENTION/SATURDAY DETENTIONS ................................................................................62 SUSPENSION ...............................................................................................................................62 EXCESSIVE CLASSROOM DISRUPTION POLICY ................................................................62 GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE .......................................................................................................63 DISCIPLINARY PROBATION ....................................................................................................63 EXPULSION PROCEDURES ......................................................................................................64 CELL PHONES AND OTHER ELECTRONIC DEVICES .........................................................64 ANTI-BULLYING POLICY .........................................................................................................66 X. STUDENT WELFARE-CHILD ABUSE POLICY ................................................................................72 XI. UNIFORM POLICY FOR STUDENTS ...............................................................................................74 UNIFORM SPECIFICATIONS MIDDLE/HS GIRLS & BOYS .................................................................76 XII. STUDENT DRIVING POLICY ............................................................................................................77 XIII. STUDENT LOCKERS POLICY..........................................................................................................78 XIV. COMMUNICATION ...........................................................................................................................78 XV. EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES ...............................................................................................79 XVI. FIELD TRIPS ....................................................................................................................................80 XVII. FUNDRAISING ...............................................................................................................................80 XVIII. PARENT ORGANIZATIONS .......................................................................................................81 XIX. VOLUNTEER PROGRAM ..............................................................................................................81 XX. STUDENT RECORDS .......................................................................................................................82