9/23/05
Williamson County
Schools
The
“To cultivate the
ability, intellect, and character of each student”
The
Vision
The
The
Goal
All students will
show at least one year’s academic growth each year.
Beliefs
We believe. . .
1. Education
is the cornerstone of democracy and civility.
2. All
students can learn more than they are currently learning.
3. Respect
for ourselves and others is demonstrated in our interactions.
4. Public
education strives to achieve a balance between academic, career and technical,
and extra-curricular activities.
5. All
constituencies work together to attain the strongest educational system
possible.
6. Our
educational system is a learning community where all personnel engage in
continuous growth opportunities.
7. All forms of data
are important in the determination of the present and future plans for public
education.
8. Public
education is a responsibility shared by schools, families, and members of the
community. For example. . .
a)
Students volunteer their attention and
commitment when they are supplied with an engaging curriculum. Students are the
primary focus of our schools.
b)
Teachers are leaders of students and
designers of engaging, high-quality work.
c)
Principals are “leaders of leaders” who
ensure that teachers have the ability, flexibility, resources, and support
required to design engaging work for each student.
d)
District office and other support personnel
serve to sustain the work of principals and teachers.
e)
The Director of Schools ensures that the
entire community is aware of the changing needs of the educational system and
of the kinds of support required for the district to pursue its mission.
f)
The school board members are advocates of
public education and support the efforts of the district as a whole to
accomplish the district’s mission.
g) All
members of the community will offer support in all possible ways when they
understand the benefits of the positive results of public education.
INTRODUCTION
This handbook has been compiled for
students to use during the current school year.
Plans are to have this handbook on line at the Williamson County Home
Page. This is an attempt to provide, in as few pages as possible, the policies,
rules, and regulations of the Williamson County Board of Education and the
Director of Schools which affect students.
From time to time, the Board or Director of Schools may amend, change,
or terminate without notice the provisions within this handbook and no
provision herein shall create or establish or be considered or construed as
creating or establishing any right, property, or contract or otherwise, in or
on behalf of any student.
We solicit your input for any
changes. Please submit any proposals in
writing to your principal, who will forward them to the Director of Schools,
with his recommendations. Also, the
door to the Director of School’s office is open to you. The Director of Schools wants to know your
thoughts and feelings relative to our mutual efforts.
"His", "man",
"men", or their related pronouns have often been used in this
handbook in their generic sense to include both male and female.
THE TENNESSEE LEGISLATURE DESIRES
THAT ALL PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN THE STATE ENSURE A SAFE AND SECURE LEARNING
ENVIRONMENT FREE OF DRUGS, DRUG PARAPHERNALIA, VIOLENCE AND DANGEROUS WEAPONS AND
THAT SWIFT, CERTAIN AND SEVERE DISCIPLINARY SANCTIONS ARE IMPOSED ON ANY
STUDENT WHO BRINGS A DRUG, DRUG PARAPHERNALIA OR A DANGEROUS WEAPON ONTO A
SCHOOL BUS, ONTO SCHOOL PROPERTY OR TO ANY SCHOOL EVENT OR ACTIVITY, OR WHO,
WHILE ON A SCHOOL BUS, ON SCHOOL PROPERTY OR WHILE ATTENDING ANY SCHOOL EVENT
OR ACTIVITY IS UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF A DRUG, OR POSSESSES A DRUG, DRUG
PARAPHERNALIA OR DANGEROUS WEAPON, OR ASSAULTS OR THREATENS TO ASSAULT A
TEACHER, STUDENT OR OTHER PERSON. PLEASE
REVIEW THIS HANDBOOK, AND OTHER NOTICES THAT MAY BE DISTRIBUTED DURING THE
SCHOOL YEAR, CAREFULLY TO BE KNOWLEDGEABLE OF THE WILLIAMSON COUNTY BOARD OF
EDUCATION'S POLICIES AND PROCEDURES AND ANY SCHOOL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES TO
ENSURE A SAFE AND SECURE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT.
The Williamson County Board of
Education does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, religion,
national origin, age, disability, or veteran status in provision of educational
opportunities and benefits, pursuant to requirements of Title VI of the Civil
Rights Act, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Public Law 92-318,
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Public Law 93-112, and the
Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990, Public Law 101-336,
respectively. This policy extends to
both employment by and admission to the school system. Inquiries or charges of violation of the
above policy should be directed to:
Title VI Coordinator Title
IX Coordinator
Williamson County Schools Williamson
County Schools
PH 615-472-4055 PH
615-472-4050
Section 504 Coordinator Title
II Coordinator
Williamson County Schools Williamson
County Schools
PH 615-472-4144 PH
615-472-4086
Low cost legal assistance for
families in middle
STUDENT HANDBOOK
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Goals and Objectives
Residence
Nonresident Student
Attendance Areas
Academic
Credit
Health
Transfers
Transportation
Student
Schedules
Board of Education State Guidelines Pledge
of Allegiance
Truancy
Assignment
of Pupils to Grades and Classes
Access
to Courses and Programs
Zero Tolerance: Drugs, Assault,
and Weapons
Zero Tolerance: Alcohol
Alcohol, drug use, and controlled substances
Denial or Suspension of
driving privileges by department of safety
Drug Free Youth Act (Juvenile Offender Act)
Request for
Administrative Review
Request for
a Hearing
Chancery
Court Review
Possession of Dangerous Weapon
Demonstrations and Strikes
Access to Electronic Media
Complaints
and Grievances
Complaints about Instructional Media
Student Records
Statement
of Rights
Locations
of Education Records
Procedures
to Inspect Education Records
Fees for
Copies of Records
Directory
Information
Procedures
to Seek to Correct Education Records
Lost or Damaged Materials or Property
Anti-
Harassment
of Students
Asbestos
Containing Materials
School Fees and Fines
Corporal
Punishment
Hearing Procedure
Academic Achievement
Grading
System
Homebound
Instruction
Family
Life Education
Testing for
Credit
Work Based Learning
Advanced Placement (AP) Programs
High
School Course Credit
Travel Study
College Credit for High School
Students
Promotion
and Retention
Semester and Final Exams
Graduation Requirements
Types of Diplomas
Summer School/Extended School Year
Student Welfare
Student Assistance Program
Driver Education Program
Physical Examinations
Communicable Diseases
Student Medication
Head Lice
Safety Equipment
Dismissal Precautions
Campus Vehicles
Participation
Clubs
Funds Management
Newspapers
Social Events
News Releases
Interscholastic
Athletics
A. Attendance
1. Compulsory Attendance Ages
a. Every
parent, guardian or other person residing within the state of Tennessee, having
control or charge of any child or children between the ages of 6 and 17 years,
both inclusive, shall cause such child or children to attend public or private
day school, and in event of failure to do so, shall be subject to the penalties
hereinafter provided. The provisions of
this section shall be applicable to children less than 6 years of age and their
parent, guardian, or other person in a parental relation when such parent,
guardian, or other person in a parental relation has enrolled the child in public
school; provided, however, that a child may withdraw within 6 weeks of initial
enrollment without penalty.
b. The
following classes of children between the ages of 6 and 17 years, both
inclusive, shall be temporarily excused from complying with the provisions of
this part, the local board of education to be sole judge in all such cases:
1)
Children
mentally or physically incapacitated to perform school duties (such disability
to be attested by a duly licensed physician in all cases);
2)
Children
who have completed high school and hold a high school diploma;
3)
Children
temporarily excused from attendance in school under rules and regulations
promulgated by the state board of education, which rules and regulations shall
not conflict with TCA 50-5-103, or any other law governing child labor in this
state;
4)
Children
who have attained their 18th birthday and whose continued compulsory attendance,
in the opinion of the board of education in charge of the school to which such
children belong and are enrolled results in detriment to good order and
discipline and to the instruction of other students and is not of substantial
benefit to such children.
5)
In
all such cases, the board of education shall first obtain the recommendation in
writing from the Director of Schools of the system and the principal of the
school to which such child or children belong.
(For
complete language see Board Policy 6.200)
2. Entrance Age
a.
Kindergarten
(1) A child entering kindergarten shall be no less
than 5 years of age on or before September 30.
However, a child does not have to enroll in school at 5 years of age,
but enrollment must occur no later than the child’s 6th birthday.
(2) Any child applying for admission who was
legally enrolled in an approved kindergarten in another state during the
preceding school year, who is 6 years of age no later than December 31 of the
current school year, and who could have enrolled in kindergarten in that state
during the current school, shall be enrolled.
(3) A child identified with special needs and
qualifies for special education services, may access early childhood
intervention and begin services on their 3rd birthday.
b.
First Grade
(1) No child shall be eligible to enter first
grade without having attended an approved kindergarten program, provided that a
child meeting the requirements for transfer and/or admission, may be admitted.
(2) Any transfer student applying for
admission who was legally enrolled as a first grade pupil in another state and
who will be 6 years of age no later that December 31 of the current school
year, shall be enrolled.
3. School Admission Requirements
a. Residence
(1) The
legal residence of the student must be in
(2) The
parent of each new student shall be required to sign an affidavit stating that
they reside within the
(For
complete language see Board Policy 6.203)
b. Students in Transition
(Homeless)
All schools in the
(See Board Policy 6.503)
B. Nonresident Student
(For
complete language refer to Board Policy 1.703, School Attendance Areas, Zoning
and Nonresident Students)
(1) The Williamson County Board of Education
will provide transportation to all students within an attendance zone per
county board policy.
(2) Except as provided below, no new
out-of-district students will be eligible to attend Williamson County Schools.
(3) A nonresident student may enroll in
Williamson County Schools if the parents provide to the Student Data Department
of the School Board prior to enrollment a bona fide contract documenting intent
to reside in the Williamson County School District during the forthcoming
semester, with supporting documentation submitted to the Director of Schools
to validate intent to reside. Approval
may be granted on a semester basis only.
A family tuition rate applicable to families who have shown this documentation
shall be established by the School Board prior to November 1 for the following
school year.
(4) Children of Williamson County Board of
Education professional staff that reside outside the County will be eligible to
attend any school within the high school feeder zone in which the teacher's
work assignment is located. High school
age children of
(5) Tuition will be paid in full by
nonresident students on a semester basis prior to enrollment in any semester
(e.g., 50% of annual tuition rate).
Tuition will be refunded in full for the semester when the student
establishes documented permanent residence within
(6) Any student (K-12) who moves out of the
county during the school year may complete that school year in the Williamson
County School System. No tuition will be
charged for a current semester in progress; however, tuition must be paid for
any new semester enrolled (e.g., student moves October 3 or November 10, no
tuition would be paid for first semester; tuition would be paid for second
semester).
(7) Any high school student classified as a
second semester junior or as a senior who moves out of the county may complete
the senior year, totally or in part, with the payment of tuition required on a
semester basis.
(8) Foreign students approved by the United
States Immigration Department as part of a registered foreign exchange program,
shall be enrolled without payment of tuition provided they establish local
residence or reside with a host family living within the
C.
Attendance Areas
(1) Students may attend a school outside the
attendance transportation zone provided that:
(a) The school is an open zoned school.
(b) Application
is made to both the zoned school principal (for acknowledgment signature only)
and requested out-of -zone school principal prior to May 15. The reason for the
request shall be stated in the application.
(c) Transportation
is provided by the parents or guardian to the school outside the attendance
transportation zone.
(d) Children of Williamson County Board of
Education employees that are residents of the County will be eligible to
attend any school within the high school feeder zone in which the employee's
work assignment is located. If there is more than one feeder school, the out of
zone approval is at the discretion of the principals of the feeder schools
involved.
(e) Children of Williamson County Board of
Education employees that reside outside the County will be eligible, with
tuition, to attend any school within the high school feeder zone in which the
teacher's work assignment is located. If there is more than one feeder school
possible, the out of zone process is used.
(f) When a student is approved to attend an out
of zone school, that student and his siblings may attend through the highest
grade level of that school unless rescinded by the principal for failure to follow
school procedures or overruled by the school board when policy revisions are
made. A sibling may only apply to attend
an out of zone school if there is a sibling currently attending that school.
(g) New students requesting to attend out-of-zone
schools may be denied if it would result in overcrowding or oversized classes.
(2) Transfers
for students with special needs from one county to another will be permitted
during the school year unless approved through the out of zone process
(3) Students
currently attending a school and who move out of their transportation zone and
maintain residence within the
(4) Any appeal for an exception to this policy
or determination of the proper
application of the policy shall be
reviewed by a special staff committee appointed by the Director of Schools.
Final appeal may be made to the Board of Education. All exceptions granted will
be reported to the Board in a timely manner.
D.
Academic Credit
(1) Principals
shall carefully examine all applications for credit work transferred from
other schools, both in-state and out-of-state schools, and shall allow such
credit only when substantiated by school official transcripts provided that
pupils transferring from schools which are not approved by the Tennessee
State Board of Education or by the comparable agencies shall be allowed credit
only when they have passed comprehensive written examinations approved,
administered, and graded by the principal or his designated representative.
(2) In
all cases of secondary school students, the examinations shall cover the
individual subjects appearing on the official transcripts, except that in
subjects of more than one such as English language arts, algebra, home
economics, typewriting, shorthand, bookkeeping, foreign languages, etc., the
examination need cover only the last unit completed. If a student transfers from another high
school with half units in courses for which a minimum of one unit courses in
the high school to which he transfers because of their not being offered or
because of scheduling difficulties, such half units may be counted toward
graduation.
(3) If
pupils are admitted to approved schools from unapproved schools by examination
papers, it shall be the duty of the principal thus receiving them to keep the
examinations papers on file for a period of at least one year.
(4) The
principal shall check pupil's records upon their entrance in the school and
classify accordingly.
The health services provided by Williamson
County Schools appraise, protect and promote the health of all students.