2020-2021 Student | Parent Policy Guide This guide provides a review of some commonly addressed policies and is not meant to be a comprehensive or detailed report of state and local laws and policies. Recent and future legislation may require changes following publication. In the event of a conflict, federal, state and local laws, as well as Plano ISD’s “Policy On Line” prevail over the language of this guide. Questions about this guide should be directed to [email protected]. If you have difficulty accessing the information in this document because of disability, please contact Brionna Gray, Executive Assistant to the Assistant Superintendent for Student, Family and Community Services via email at [email protected]. Information regarding policies and procedures is also available from school principals. Important signature forms are provided at the back of this document as a reference. Please access the forms via Parent Portal for electronic signature. All electronic signatures are valid and binding. If parent or guardian is unable to access the forms electronically, the school can provide electronic access. Forms requiring signature are: • Statement of Consent. • Release of Student Directory Information (PTA uses a separate form). • Release Agreement for Publications, Video, Internet, Artwork Display. • Release of Student Record Information. • Yearbook Release Agreement. Link to Policy On Line: http://pol.tasb.org/Home/Index/312 Page 1 Letter from the Superintendent Dear Students and Parents, This publication contains a sampling of Plano ISD’s policies and procedures relevant to student admissions and attendance, student rights and responsibilities, student conduct, as well as other information. Included in this publication is the district’s Discipline Management Plan, including administrator, teacher, parent and student rights and responsibilities regarding student discipline. Please also review the Student Code of Conduct, which specifies school and district action which will be taken for student offenses. Plano ISD strives to provide schools that are safe for all of our students and for our staff members. We take very seriously our responsibility to maintain order and discipline on each and every campus while at the same time dedicating ourselves to our students’ successful growth and accomplishments while in our schools. Sincerely, Sara Bonser, Superintendent of Schools Plano Independent School District 2700 W. 15th Street, Plano, TX 75075 Link to Directory of Schools: https://www.pisd.edu/cms/lib/TX02215173/Centricity/Domain/1115/Maps/19- 20_Maps/2019-20_School_Locator_Map.pdf Page 2 The district reserves the right to revise or waive expectations and procedures under this Handbook to respond to the fluid and changing nature of the COVID-19 pandemic during the 2020-2021 school year. The District will post these additional restrictions on its website at www.pisd.edu. See COVID-19 Addendum. All expectations and/or consequences outlined in the Student / Parent Policy Guide and Student Code of Conduct apply in any district instructional setting, including virtual or online instruction.1 PLEASE NOTE: Access to required signature forms, as described below, is found on Parent Portal: https://parentportal.pisd.edu/Login.aspx. Important signature forms are provided at the back of this document as a reference. Please access the forms via Parent Portal for electronic signature. All electronic signatures are valid and binding. If parent or guardian is unable to access the forms electronically, the school can provide electronic access. Statement of Consent – Includes acknowledgement that the following have been made available: Student/Parent Policy Guide, Student Code of Conduct and Texas State Testing Requirements for Promotion and Graduation. Electronic signature is provided through Parent Portal. Parent / guardian signature required for all students. POLICIES EIE(LEGAL), EIF(LEGAL), EKB(LEGAL). Release of Student Directory Information – External requests for student information – includes release to military recruiters and institutions of higher learning. Please note: If you do not want Plano ISD to disclose directory information, as defined in Policy FL(LOCAL), from your child’s education records without your prior written consent, you must notify the district in writing within ten school days of your child’s first day of instruction for this school year. If this form is not returned within this specified timeframe, the district will assume that permission has been granted for the release of this information. POLICY FL(EXHIBIT A). (NOTE: PTAs have a separate PTA Student Information and Image Consent Form which is required to obtain consent for student information/image to be included in PTA- produced publications and projects including newsletter, directory, website, etc. Please contact your campus PTA for additional information. Electronic signature is provided via Parent Portal) Publicity & Student Release Information – Signature authorization for these forms is located on the Plano ISD Emergency Information/Authorization Form provided from schools and via Parent Portal. 1 Language added August 19, 2020 Page 3 Publications, Video, Internet, Artwork Display Consent and Release Agreement Plano ISD students are occasionally asked to be a part of school and/or district publicity, publications, social media, and/or public relations activities. In order to guarantee student privacy and ensure parent/guardian agreement for your student to participate, the district asks for parent/guardian signature. The form indicates approval for the student’s name, picture, work, voice, verbal statements or portraits (video or still) to appear in school publicity or district publications, videos or on the district’s website. For example, pictures and articles about school activities may appear in local newspapers or district publications and artwork may appear in public spaces. If the student and parent/guardian wish to rescind this agreement, they may do so at any time with written notice. POLICY CQ(EXHIBIT D). Electronic Transmittal of Student Record Information (Release Form for Student Records) – Parents can give permission and request the release of student record information to be provided to them electronically by the district. The transmittal of the material may not be available by secure methods and may be capable of observation, interception or monitoring by others. Further, the district cannot guarantee that the records will be received only by the requester at the e-mail address provided. This release assumes that the student records will be sent via e-mail or FAX rather than through direct access to the Internet. POLICY CQ(EXHIBIT E). Yearbook Consent and Release Agreement – This form is solely for the purpose of obtaining yearbook consent and is separate and apart from the “Publications, Video, Internet, Artwork Display Consent and Release Agreement.” Page 4 TABLE OF CONTENTS 2020-2021 STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT ............................................................... 13 Standards of Conduct ................................................................................................ 13 Discipline Management Techniques .......................................................................... 13 Prohibited Forms of Discipline ................................................................................... 14 Campus Discipline Management Offenses INCLUDE BUT NOT LIMITED TO: ......... 15 Out-of-School Suspension ......................................................................................... 16 Discipline Alternative Education Placement (DAEP) Offenses: .................................. 16 Mandatory DAEP Offenses [FOE(LEGAL); FOC(LEGAL)] ..................................... 16 Discretionary DAEP Offenses ................................................................................. 18 Expulsion Offenses: ................................................................................................... 19 Mandatory Expellable Offenses [FOD(LEGAL); FNCG(LEGAL); FNCG(LOCAL)] . 19 Discretionary Expellable Offenses [FOD(LEGAL); FOC(LEGAL)] .......................... 19 Length of Removal ..................................................................................................... 22 Considerations of Mitigating Factors .......................................................................... 22 Restrictions on Removal from Regular Setting .......................................................... 22 Restrictions on Students During Period of Removal .................................................. 23 Students with Disabilities ........................................................................................... 23 Campus Behavior Coordinator ................................................................................... 23 Notification ................................................................................................................. 23 Conference - DAEP.................................................................................................... 24 Hearing – Expulsion ................................................................................................... 24 Appeals ...................................................................................................................... 24 Withdrawal During the Disciplinary Process ............................................................... 25 Coursework and Transition Services ........................................................................