Victory Charter School

Parent Involvement Policy

Amended: 9/23/2008 (for 2008-2009 school year)

Amended: 6-22-2010

Recognizing that parental involvement is key to academic achievement, Victory Charter School (VCS) seeks to involve parents in an effective home-school partnership that provides the best possible education for our students. VCS provides coordination, technical assistance and other supports necessary to aid in the planning and implementation of parent involvement activities. VCS encourages parent involvement and supports this partnership by providing information about standards and assessments; providing training and materials for parents to help their children; educating school personnel about involving parents and the value of parent contributions; and developing roles for community organizations and businesses to work with parents and our school.

1. This jointly developed and agreed upon written policy is distributed to VCS parents of through website distribution and annually as an attachment to the weekly Attendance Note News.

2. Annual meetings are held for all VCS parents to share and explain Title I activities at school. Notifications of the meetings will be sent to the homes.

3. VCS Parents are given assistance in understanding the Title I requirements, standards, and assessments through the annual meetings and parent-teacher conferences.

4. VCS Parents receive an explanation of the school’s performance profile, the forms of academic assessment used to measure student progress, and the expected proficiency levels in the annual progress report distributed to all parents through individual reports given to parents at conference times, and through report cards, and either a) on the website, or b) as an annual attachment to the weekly Attendance Note News.

5. Parent recommendations are encouraged and responded to in a timely manner. Verbal or written responses will be given for all recommendations.

6. A parent/school compact will be jointly developed with input from parents and school personnel and will outline how parents, the entire school staff, and students all share in the responsibility for improved student achievement. The parent/school compact also describes the means by which the school and parents will build and develop a partnership to help children achieve our school’s high academic and behavior standards. The parent/school compact will be distributed either in the Annual Enrollment Packets or as an attachment to the weekly Attendance Note News and is reviewed at the annual meetings.
   
    

Victory Charter School

Parent Involvement Policy – Amended 10-2008/June 2010, p. 2

7.  The Title I program provides opportunities for parents to become partners with the school in promoting the education of their children both at home and at school. Parents are given help monitoring their student’s progress and provided assistance on how to participate in decisions related to their student’s education. The school also provides other reasonable support for parental involvement activities as requested by parents. Parents are encouraged to participate as volunteers in the school setting. Individual conferences will also be held upon request. The Title I teacher coordinator will maintain parent support materials for checkout to assist their children in Title I activities.

8. VCS will continue to coordinate and integrate, to the extent feasible and appropriate, the parent involvement policy and other programs and activities within the district.

9. An annual evaluation of this parental involvement policy shall be conducted to determine its effectiveness. Findings will be used to consider and design strategies for school improvement and/or revision of policies. The annual spring meeting will serve as the site for the discussions of possible program adjustments.

Providing all Victory Charter School children with equal access to quality education is of primary purpose. It is crucial that all partners (students, parents, educators, and communities) have the opportunity to provide input and offer resources to meet this purpose. As these partnerships are mutually beneficial, developing cooperative efforts will ensure improved academic achievement for all students.

Victory Charter School

Policy: Cyber Bullying

The Victory Charter School Board of Directors, administrator and staff strive to provide a safe and positive learning climate for their students. Therefore, Victory Charter School will maintain an educational environment in which cyber bullying of any kind will not be tolerated.

Definition:  Cyber bullying includes, but is not limited to, the following misuses of technology:  harassing, teasing, intimidating, threatening, slandering or terrorizing another student or staff member, Governing Board or Victory Charter School by way of any technological tool, such as sending or posting inappropriate or derogatory email messages, instant messages, text messages, digital pictures or images, or website postings (including blogs) which has the effect of: 

1. Physically, emotionally or mentally harming the reputation of a student, staff, Governing Board Member or Victory Charter School;

2. Placing a student, staff member or Governing Board Member in reasonable fear of physical, emotional or mental harm;

3. Placing a student, staff member, Governing Board Member in reasonable fear of damage to or loss of personal property; or

4. Creating an intimidating or hostile environment that substantially interferes with a student’s educational opportunities.

All forms of bullying are unacceptable and, to the extent that cyber bullying actions are disruptive of the educational process at Victory Charter, offenders will be subject to appropriate disciplinary action.

Students who have been cyber bullied can report such incidents to the administrator or any staff member. Complaints of cyber bullying will be investigated promptly, and corrective action will be taken when a complaint is verified.  Neither reprisals nor retaliation shall occur as a result of the submission of a complaint. The administrator/designee will inform the parents or guardians of the victim and also the parents or guardians of the accused and report to law enforcement if appropriate.

The School District will inform students in the school’s student handbook that cyber bullying of students will not be tolerated.

How to report cyber bullying:

A student can report a complaint of cyber bullying, orally or in writing, to the administrator or a staff member. If a parent initiates the complaint, the administrator/designee will follow-up with the student. Information will be gathered by the administrator/designee to determine if the alleged bullying or cyber bullying conduct occurred. After gathering the information, the administrator and/or board will determine the need for further investigation or the appropriate intervention, including disciplinary action, to ensure that the conduct ceases. 

A violation of this Policy will subject the offending student to appropriate disciplinary action, consistent with the school’s discipline policy, which will include a 4-hour Saturday School, suspension, or expulsion depending of the severity of the bullying.

Adopted:

Amended:

Posted: 8/2/10 

Victory Charter School

New Busing  Policy posted 4/30/2010

Student Safety –  Parental Permission Restrictions

Students will be allowed to ride their designated bus only.  Parental permission slips to the bus driver will no longer be allowed.   Parents of both the visiting child and the host child will send dated notes to the principal or designee that the child can visit, have the distance from the bus stop to the home and the bus stop identified in the note. 

Students riding home on buses with friends will be able to do so only with a principal permission slip.   

Rationale:

Victory Charter School utilizes group bus stops.  Because of this, there may be longer distances to walk.  A parent can send a note giving a child permission to ride home with a friend without knowing the distance from the bus stop to the house.  Many families have two working parents which may mean that they don’t know that anyone is coming home with their child.  This is a liability for Victory Charter School. 

Policy # 1

Policy: Homeless Students

The Victory Charter School Board of Trustees recognizes the right of all students residing within the school’s boundaries, including those who are homeless, the opportunity to enroll in, and participate in Victory’s educational and support programs.

Student Rights

Homeless students who are enrolled in Victory Charter School have the right to:

1.      Equal access to all educational programs and services, including transportation and school nutrition programs;

2.      Continue to attend Victory Charter School for the duration of homelessness or the current school year, whichever ends first;

3.      Attend Victory Charter School while homeless, unless there exists a legitimate reason for requiring attendance at another school; and

4.      Receive all educational services for which they are eligible (i.e., special education, gifted and talented, and LEP).

District Responsibilities

Victory Charter School will develop strategies for meeting the needs of homeless students and eliminating barriers to their attendance at school, including identification, and the provision of appropriate support services.

Transportation

Victory Charter School shall provide homeless students with transportation services comparable to those offered to other students at the school.

If a homeless student attending school at Victory Charter moves to a shelter outside of its school boundaries, the superintendent or designee may arrange transportation that enables the student to continue attending Victory, through the services of Victory, the new home district, or an outside agency.

Legal Reference:

Elementary and Secondary Education Act (2001)

McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (2001, Section 724(g))

Idaho Code Section 33-1404

Adoption: 12/04/2007 Victory Charter School

Policy: Homeless Students

The Victory Charter School Board of Trustees recognizes the right of all students residing within the school’s boundaries, including those who are homeless, the opportunity to enroll in, and participate in Victory’s educational and support programs.

Policy # 2

POLICY FOR READMITTANCE OF STUDENTS

          The teachers and staff have encountered substantial difficulties with the reintegration into Victory’s curriculum and culture of students who had attended Victory, left to attend another school and then re-matriculated.  The Board finds that the readmittance of such students is frequently disruptive and demands an inordinate amount of staff and faculty time.  The Board has determined that the adoption of the following policy is in the best interest of the school and in maintaining a positive learning atmosphere.

Any student who has attended Victory Charter School, subsequently un-enrolls, and then applies for readmittance into the school curriculum may not be readmitted unless and until the Board reviews the application and, in light of all the relevant facts and circumstances, determines that the readmittance of the student would not be unduly disruptive and would be in the best interests of Victory Charter School and the learning experience of the student body.

Policy # 3

Revocation or Denial of Student Enrollment Status

Victory Charter School reserves the right to remove or deny admittance to a student at the time school personnel learn that the student had been expelled, assigned to an alternative placement school or the student left a school after learning that he/she would have to go through due process before returning to that school.

Policy #4

School Wellness Policy

In accordance with the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004, Victory Charter School wellness policy includes goals for nutrition education and physical activities designed to promote student wellness.  Nutritional guidelines for all foods available at Victory Charter School are available.  These guidelines insure that reimbursable school meals will not be less restrictive than federal guidelines.

The following goals and guidelines will assist our students in establishing healthy lifestyles:

Nutrition educational goals are to provide 30 minutes of health instruction per week, annual staff wellness in-service, and provide parent nutrition information upon request.

Physical activity goals are to provide 120 minutes per week of physical education grades 1-8 and two credits of physical education/health

grades 9-12.

The Food Service Supervisor and Wellness Committee members, consisting of a school board member, administrator, parent and teacher will meet annually to review the nutritional education and physical activity goals as set forth in this policy.

Policy #5

 Title IX/Sexual Harassment Policy

Adopted 01/13/2009

“The philosophy of Victory Charter School is grounded in the belief that when there is low threat and content is highly challenging, accelerated learning takes place.”

Title IX Policy Statement

It is the policy of Victory Charter School in subscribing to and promoting the principles of equal protection under the law, that neither the Board of Directors, nor its designated agents, will discriminate in employment or in the equal delivery of educational services and opportunities against any person because of race, color, sex, religion, age, birth, ancestry, national origin, family relationship, personal or political patronage or handicap.

Sexual Harassment

It is the policy of Victory Charter School to maintain a learning environment that is free from sexual harassment. It is a violation of this policy for any Victory employee to harass a student or for any student to harass another student through conduct or communication of a sexual nature.

For the purpose of this policy, sexual harassment is defined as any unwanted or unwelcomed verbal, written, or physical conduct of a sexual nature that interferes with a student's right to learn, study, work, achieve, or participate in a comfortable and supportive educational atmosphere.

It is the expressed purpose of this policy to see that no student is subjected to language or harassment that makes him/her feel uncomfortable or unsafe. Students who believe they are being harassed should report the situation to a teacher, or the administrator immediately. Disciplinary action for violation of this policy may involve up to and include suspension and/or expulsion. Victory Charter School officials will follow appropriate state and federal laws, and refer to the following Idaho Codes as appropriate: I.C. 33-1280A, I.C. 33-512(4), I.C. 18-1501, I.C. 18-1506, I.C. 18-6101, I.C. 18-6108, I.C. 18-6608.

Policy # 6

 Cyber Bullying

The Victory Charter School Board of Directors, administrator

 and staff strive to provide a safe and positive learning climate

 for their students. Therefore, Victory Charter School will

 maintain an educational environment in which cyber bullying of

 any kind will not be tolerated.

Definition:  Cyber bullying includes, but is not limited to, the

following misuses of technology:  harassing, teasing

, intimidating, threatening, or terrorizing another student or

 staff member by way of any technological tool, such as

 sending or posting inappropriate or derogatory email

 messages, instant messages, text messages, digital pictures

 or images, or website postings (including blogs) which has the

 effect of: 

1. Physically, emotionally or mentally harming a student;

2. Placing a student in reasonable fear of physical, emotional or mental harm;

3. Placing a student in reasonable fear of damage to or loss of personal property; or

4. Creating an intimidating or hostile environment that substantially interferes with a student’s educational opportunities.

All forms of bullying are unacceptable and, to the extent that cyber bullying actions are disruptive of the educational process at Victory Charter, offenders will be subject to appropriate disciplinary action.

Students who have been cyber bullied can report such incidents to the administrator or any staff member. Complaints of cyber bullying will be investigated promptly, and corrective action will be taken when a complaint is verified.  Neither reprisals nor retaliation shall occur as a result of the submission of a complaint. The administrator/designee will inform the parents or guardians of the victim and also the parents or guardians of the accused and report to law enforcement if appropriate.

The School District will inform students in the school’s student handbook that cyber bullying of students will not be tolerated.

How to report cyber bullying:

A student can report a complaint of cyber bullying, orally or in writing, to the administrator or a staff member. If a parent initiates the complaint, the administrator/designee will follow-up with the student. Information will be gathered by the administrator/designee to determine if the alleged bullying or cyber bullying conduct occurred. After gathering the information, the administrator and/or board will determine the need for further investigation or the appropriate intervention, including disciplinary action, to ensure that the conduct ceases. 

A violation of this Policy will subject the offending student to appropriate disciplinary action, consistent with the school’s discipline policy, which may include suspension, expulsion, or notification to the appropriate authorities.

Committee Members