Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD 2011-2012 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT HANDBOOK AND CODE OF CONDUCT Table of Contents PREFACE ....................................................................................................................................... 1 SECTION I: PARENTAL RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES ................................................ 3 PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT.................................................................................................. 3 Working Together ................................................................................................................... 3 Parent Involvement Coordinator ............................................................................................. 4 Obtaining Information and Protecting Student Rights............................................................ 4 “Opting Out” of Surveys and Activities ................................................................................. 4 Inspecting Surveys .................................................................................................................. 4 Requesting Professional Qualifications of Teachers and Staff ............................................... 5 Reviewing Instructional Materials .......................................................................................... 5 Displaying a Student’s Artwork and Projects ......................................................................... 5 Accessing Student Records ..................................................................................................... 5 Granting Permission to Video or Audio Record a Student ..................................................... 6 Granting Permission to Receive Parenting and Paternity Awareness Instruction .................. 6 Removing a Student Temporarily from the Classroom .......................................................... 6 Removing a Student from Human Sexuality Instruction ........................................................ 6 Excusing a Student from Reciting the Pledges to the U.S. and Texas Flags .......................... 7 Excusing a Student from Reciting a Portion of the Declaration of Independence ................. 7 Requesting Limited or No Contact with a Student through Electronic Media ....................... 7 Requesting Notices of Certain Student Misconduct ............................................................... 7 Prohibiting the Use of Corporal Punishment .......................................................................... 7 School Safety Transfers .......................................................................................................... 8 Requesting Classroom Assignment for Multiple Birth Siblings............................................. 8 Parents of Students with Disabilities ...................................................................................... 8 Request for the Use of a Service Animal ................................................................................ 8 Options and Requirements for Providing Assistance to Students Who Have Learning Difficulties or Who Need or May Need Special Education Services ..................................... 9 Opciones y requisitos para proporcionar ayuda a los estudiantes que tienen dificultades en el aprendizaje o que necesitan o pueden necesitar educación especial ....................................... 9 Parents of Students who speak a Primary Language Other than English ............................. 10 Accommodations for Children of Military Families ............................................................ 10 Student Records .................................................................................................................... 10 Directory Information ........................................................................................................... 12 i Directory Information for School-Sponsored Purposes ........................................................ 13 Release of Student Information to Military Recruiters and Institutions of Higher Education ............................................................................................................................................... 13 SECTION II: OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS AND PARENTS.. 14 ABSENCES/ATTENDANCE .................................................................................................. 14 Compulsory Attendance........................................................................................................ 14 Exemptions to Compulsory Attendance ............................................................................... 14 Failure to Comply with Compulsory Attendance ................................................................. 15 Attendance for Credit ............................................................................................................ 15 Parent’s Responsibility in Notifying the School of an Absence ........................................... 16 Doctor’s Note after an Absence for Illness ........................................................................... 16 Excused / Unexcused Absences ............................................................................................ 17 Partial Day Absences / Entering or Leaving the Campus during the Day ............................ 18 Driver License Attendance Verification ............................................................................... 19 ACADEMIC PROGRAMS ...................................................................................................... 19 ACTIVITIES, AWARDS AND HONORS (HIGH SCHOOL) ............................................... 19 Letter Jackets ........................................................................................................................ 19 Band ...................................................................................................................................... 19 Choir ..................................................................................................................................... 19 Drill Team ............................................................................................................................. 20 Varsity Athletics ................................................................................................................... 20 Varsity Cheerleaders, Spirit Techs and Mascot .................................................................... 20 U.I.L. Literary and Academic Awards .................................................................................. 20 Career and Technology Education ........................................................................................ 20 National Honor Society......................................................................................................... 20 Texas Scholars ...................................................................................................................... 21 ACTIVITIES, AWARDS AND HONORS (MIDDLE SCHOOL) .......................................... 22 Camp Goddard ...................................................................................................................... 22 Cheerleaders .......................................................................................................................... 22 Student Council ..................................................................................................................... 23 National Junior Honor Society.............................................................................................. 24 ADMITTANCE ........................................................................................................................ 24 ANIMALS ................................................................................................................................ 24 BULLYING .............................................................................................................................. 24 CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION (CTE) PROGRAMS ....................................... 25 ii CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE AND OTHER MALTREATMENT OF CHILDREN .................. 26 CLASS RANK / HIGHEST RANKING STUDENT ............................................................... 27 CLASS SCHEDULES .............................................................................................................. 27 COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY ADMISSIONS .................................................................... 27 COLLEGE CREDIT COURSES .............................................................................................. 27 COMPLAINTS AND CONCERNS ......................................................................................... 28 CONDUCT ............................................................................................................................... 28 Applicability of School Rules ............................................................................................... 28 Assaults ................................................................................................................................. 28 Detention ............................................................................................................................... 29 Disruptions of School Operations ......................................................................................... 29 Special Assignment Class ....................................................................................................