Howe ISD Student Handbook 2019–20 School Year If you have difficulty accessing the information in this document because of disability, please contact the district at 903-532-3204. © 2019 by Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may be reproduced for use solely by and within the member school district for noncommercial purposes. Howe ISD Student Handbook Table of Contents Howe ISD Student Handbook ...................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. Preface ..................................................................................... 7 Accessibility .............................................................................................................................. 8 Section I: Parental Rights .......................................................... 9 Consent, Opt-Out, and Refusal Rights ..................................................................................... 9 Participation in Third-Party Surveys ....................................................................................... 11 Removing a Student from Instruction or Excusing a Student from a Required Component of Instruction .............................................................................................................................. 12 Right of Access to Student Records, Curriculum Materials, and District Records / Policies . 14 A Student with Exceptionalities or Special Circumstances .................................................... 19 Section II: Other Important Information for Parents and Students 25 Absences / Attendance .......................................................................................................... 25 Accountability under State and Federal Law (All Grade Levels) ............................................ 30 Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery Test ................................................................. 30 Awards and Honors (All Grade Levels) ................................................................................... 31 Bullying (All Grade Levels) ...................................................................................................... 31 Career and Technical Education (CTE) Programs (Secondary Grade Levels Only)................. 32 Celebrations (All Grade Levels) .............................................................................................. 33 Child Sexual Abuse and Other Maltreatment of Children (All Grade Levels) ........................ 33 Class Rank / Highest-Ranking Student (Secondary Grade Levels Only) ................................. 34 Class Schedules (Secondary Grade Levels Only) .................................................................... 36 College and University Admissions and Financial Aid (Secondary Grade Levels Only) ......... 37 College Credit Courses (Secondary Grade Levels Only) ......................................................... 38 Communications—Automated .............................................................................................. 38 Complaints and Concerns (All Grade Levels) ......................................................................... 39 Conduct (All Grade Levels) ..................................................................................................... 39 Counseling .............................................................................................................................. 41 Course Credit (Secondary Grade Levels Only) ....................................................................... 41 Credit by Examination If a Student Has Taken the Course / Subject (All Grade Levels) ........ 42 Credit by Examination for Advancement / Acceleration If a Student Has Not Taken the Course / Subject ...................................................................................................................... 42 Kindergarten Acceleration ..................................................................................................... 42 Page 2 of 103 Howe ISD Student Handbook Dating Violence, Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation (All Grade Levels) ................ 43 Discrimination ........................................................................................................................ 46 Distance Learning ................................................................................................................... 46 Distribution of Literature, Published Materials, or Other Documents (All Grade Levels) ..... 47 Dress and Grooming (All Grade Levels).................................................................................. 48 Electronic Devices and Technology Resources (All Grade Levels) ......................................... 48 End-of-Course (EOC) Assessments ......................................................................................... 50 English Learners (All Grade Levels) ........................................................................................ 50 Extracurricular Activities, Clubs, and Organizations (All Grade Levels) ................................. 51 Fees (All Grade Levels) ........................................................................................................... 52 Fundraising (All Grade Levels) ................................................................................................ 53 Gang-Free Zones (All Grade Levels) ....................................................................................... 53 Gender-Based Harassment .................................................................................................... 53 Grade-Level Classification (Grades 9–12 Only) ...................................................................... 53 Grading Guidelines (All Grade Levels) .................................................................................... 54 Graduation (Secondary Grade Levels Only) ........................................................................... 54 Harassment ............................................................................................................................ 59 Hazing (All Grade Levels) ........................................................................................................ 59 Health-Related Matters .......................................................................................................... 60 Homeless Students (All Grade Levels) .................................................................................... 65 Homework (All Grade Levels) ................................................................................................. 65 Illness ...................................................................................................................................... 65 Immunization (All Grade Levels) ............................................................................................ 65 Law Enforcement Agencies (All Grade Levels) ....................................................................... 66 Leaving Campus (All Grade Levels) ........................................................................................ 67 Lost and Found (All Grade Levels) .......................................................................................... 68 Makeup Work ......................................................................................................................... 69 Medicine at School (All Grade Levels) .................................................................................... 70 Nondiscrimination Statement (All Grade Levels) ................................................................... 71 Nontraditional Academic Programs (All Grade Levels) ............. 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Parent and Family Engagement (All Grade Levels) ................................................................ 72 Physical Examinations / Health Screenings ............................................................................ 73 Pledges of Allegiance and a Minute of Silence (All Grade Levels) ......................................... 73 Page 3 of 103 Howe ISD Student Handbook Prayer (All Grade Levels) ........................................................................................................ 74 Promotion and Retention ...................................................................................................... 74 Release of Students from School ........................................................................................... 76 Report Cards / Progress Reports and Conferences (All Grade Levels) .................................. 76 Retaliation .............................................................................................................................. 76 Safety (All Grade Levels) ......................................................................................................... 76 SAT, ACT, and Other Standardized Tests................................................................................ 78 Schedule Changes (Middle / Junior High and High School Grade Levels) Error! Bookmark not defined. School Facilities ...................................................................................................................... 78 School-sponsored Field Trips (All Grade Levels) .................................................................... 79 Searches ................................................................................................................................