Series 4000 - Student Services topics

4000 -EQUAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL STUDENTS

There shall be equal educational opportunity for all students regardless of race, sex, religion, creed, disability, or national origin.

4100 -STUDENT ATTENDANCE

The purpose of this policy is to encourage daily attendance in all classes.

4101 -COMPULSORY ATTENDANCE

Every parent/guardian or other person residing within the Durham Public Schools district having charge or control of a child between the ages of 7 and 16 years, or a child younger than seven if enrolled in school, shall cause such child to attend school continuously for a period equal to the time which the Durham Public Schools shall be in session

4103 -TARDINESS

 

4104 -MAKEUP WORK

Students are entitled to make up work from an excused absence (as defined in policy 4101) without receiving penalties to their marks or grades.

4105 -PROVIDING SUPPORT TO STUDENTS WITH EXCESSIVE ABSENCES

The principal and school staff shall take appropriate action to help prevent excessive absences and provide counseling for students with a history of excessive absences.

4106 -EXAM EXEMPTION

Seniors may be exempt from their non-EOC/VoCATS final exams if they meet the following condition:

4107 -DROPOUT PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION

A serious dropout problem exists both nationally and in the Durham community.

4108 -RELEASING A STUDENT FROM SCHOOL

In no case shall a person other than an authorized parent/guardian be permitted to take a student from school until or unless the principal is satisfied that such person has the approval of the authorized parent/guardian.

4109 -STUDENTS SIGNING OUT FROM SCHOOL

Students who leave school during the school day may do so only in accordance with school procedures for signing out of school.

4115 -SCHOOL ADMISSION

Students are entitled to admission to the Durham Public Schools if they meet the following requirements:

4120 -IMMUNIZATION

No child shall be permitted to attend school unless a certificate of immunization indicating the child has received the immunizations.

4125 -KINDERGARTEN HEALTH ASSESSMENT

No child shall be permitted to enter kindergarten unless a current health assessment form is presented to the principal on or before the child's first day of attendance.

4130 -SCHOOL ASSIGNMENT

A student shall be assigned to the appropriate school in the attendance zone where the student's parent/guardian or custodian is domiciled, in accordance with the Durham Public Schools Student Assignment Plan.

4131 - MAGNET SCHOOLS

The Board of Education is committed to providing educational settings for students that promote diversity to foster understanding of cultural and economic differences so that students may be successful citizens in our pluralistic society.

4132 - STUDENT TRANSFERS

Students who wish to transfer from their assigned school into another school, other than a magnet school, may request one of the following types of transfer:

4133 -YEAR-ROUND SCHOOLS

Access to year-round schools is available at the elementary and middle school levels.

4134 -IMMEDIATE TRANSFER WHEN CRIMINAL CHARGES ARE PENDING

Whenever a student is charged with a criminal offense.

4135 -TRANSFER OF ASSAULTIVE STUDENTS

Any student who is at least 13 years of age and who assaults a school system employee or an adult or another student on school property or at a school activity, is subject to transfer.

4136 -ALTERNATIVE SCHOOLS

The Board is committed to the goal of providing a safe, orderly and inviting learning environment at each school.

4137 -HOMEBOUND/HOSPITALIZED STUDENTS

Students who are unable to attend school for health reasons will be provided with homebound or hospital school services.

4200 -STUDENT RECORDS

School personnel will maintain student records in compliance with federal law, state law and Board policy.

4201 -OFFICIAL STUDENT RECORDS

Principals shall compile and maintain an official record for each student that shall contain, as a minimum, a birth certificate, attendance data, standardized test results, and grading and promotion data.

4202 -TEMPORARY STUDENT RECORDS

School personnel may maintain a file of temporary records.

4203 -EXCEPTIONAL CHILDREN'S PROGRAM RECORDS

A confidential folder shall be maintained for each child evaluated for or receiving exceptional children's services.

4204 -ACCESS TO STUDENT RECORDS

The natural parents/legal guardians of a child, or an individual acting as parent in the absence of a parent or legal guardian, have the right to review the contents of the child's student record as defined in Policy 4200.

4205 -RIGHT TO CHALLENGE CONTENTS OF RECORDS

Challenges shall be processed as follows:

4206 -CONFIDENTIALITY OF STUDENT RECORDS

Apart from directory information, personally identifiable information about a student shall not be released from a student's record without the prior written consent of the parent/guardian or emancipated student, except to the following persons:

4207 -DIRECTORY INFORMATION

Directory information from a student's record may be released upon request.

4208 -DISPOSITION OF RECORDS

The Superintendent shall establish a system to maintain permanent official student records by microfilming or by use of other technologies as approved by the N.C. Division of Archives and History.

4209 -RECORDS OF MISSING CHILDREN

Upon notification by a law enforcement agency or the North Carolina Center for Missing Persons of a child's disappearance, the Superintendent or his designee shall have that child's student record distinctively marked .

4300 -STUDENT DISCIPLINE

The principal shall have authority to exercise discipline over the pupils of the school.

4301 -CODE OF STUDENT CONDUCT

Each student in the Durham Public Schools is responsible for exhibiting the highest standards of behavior.

4302 -MANDATORY LONG-TERM SUSPENSIONS

The following disciplinary measures are mandatory for violations of the specified provisions of the Code of Student Conduct.

4303 -SUSPENSION AND EXPULSION

Students may be suspended or expelled from school only in compliance with law and Board policy.

4310 -CORPORAL PUNISHMENT

No principal, teacher, substitute teacher, voluntary teacher, teacher assistant, student teacher, or staff member may use corporal punishment to discipline a student.

4320 -STUDENT SEARCHES

To maintain order and discipline in the schools and to protect the safety and welfare of students and school personnel, school authorities may search a student, student lockers, or student automobiles under the circumstances outlined below and may seize any illegal, unauthorized, stolen, or contraband materials discovered in the search.

4116 HOMELESS STUDENTS

In accordance with the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act and the North Carolina State Plan for Educating Homeless Children, the Board of Education shall provide a free appropriate education to each homeless child or youth living within Durham County.

4401 -ALCOHOL AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION

Philosophy A serious substance abuse problem exists both nationally and in our community.

4321 -INVESTIGATIONS AND ARRESTS BY LAW ENFORCEMENT

If law enforcement officers need to come to a school for official business, they first should contact the school administration.

4325 -REFERRAL OF DISRUPTIVE STUDENTS

If, after a teacher has requested assistance from the principal two or more times because of a student's disruptive behavior, the teacher finds that the student's disruptive behavior continues to interfere with the academic achievement of that student or other students in the class, then the teacher may refer the matter to a school committee designated by the principal.

4326 USE OF SECLUSION AND RESTRAINT

It is the policy of the Durham Public Schools to promote the safety of all students, staff, and visitors in its schools.  To further this policy, school personnel may, in compliance with G.S. 115C-391.1 and state and local policies and procedures, employ reasonable restraint or seclusion techniques with students.

4330 -DISPOSAL OF CONFISCATED WEAPONS, DRUGS OR ALCOHOL

Any school employee who confiscates a weapon, drugs, or alcohol from a student shall promptly deliver the item to the school principal, or secure the item in a safe manner and immediately notify the principal.

4340 -SCHOOL UNIFORMS

The Board of Education will authorize schools to implement programs in which students are required to wear uniforms to school during the regular school day.

4400 -ADMINISTRATION OF MEDICATION TO STUDENTS

The Durham Public Schools Board of Education discourages administration of medication to students during the school day when medicine could be taken outside of school hours.

4402 -COMMUNICABLE DISEASES OR CONDITIONS/STUDENTS

t is the policy of the Durham Public Schools Board of Education to attempt to provide a safe and secure environment for all students and employees.

4403 -HEAD LICE

When a case of head lice is found in an elementary school, the following procedures will apply:

4404 -FIRST AID

Before school starts each year, the principal shall determine which persons at the school will provide emergency first aid treatment for pupils injured in connection with school activities.

4410 -SEXUAL HARASSMENT

All employees and students are entitled to work and study in school-related environments that are free of sexual harassment.

4405 -STUDENT ACCIDENT INSURANCE

A student accident insurance program shall be made available annually to all students on a volunteer basis. The premium will be assumed by the respective parent/guardian.

4415 -PROHIBITED RELATIONSHIPS WITH STUDENTS

All employees, volunteers, and student teachers of the Durham Public Schools Board of Education are prohibited from dating, courting, or entering into a romantic or sexual relationship with any student while enrolled in the Durham Public School system.

4420 -IDENTIFYING AND REPORTING CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT

North Carolina requires reporting of suspected child abuse or neglect:

4700 -FUNDRAISING

The Durham Public Schools Board of Education recognizes the need for school-sponsored organizations to have adequate financial support for their programs.

4800 -STUDENT OR PARENT/GUARDIAN GRIEVANCES

Care must be taken at all times to ensure that students are treated fairly and that adequate provision is made for responding to grievances.

4900 -HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT ADVISORY COUNCIL

To encourage active and meaningful communication between the Board and Durham Public Schools students, the board establishes a High School Student Advisory Council.