| District Policies Section 400 |
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
POLICY 400
STUDENT POLICIES
410 STUDENT POLICIES GOALS
411 DISCRIMINATION AND HARASSMENT PROHIBITED
411 RULE STUDENT DISCRIMINATION AND HARASSMENT COMPLAINT PROCEDURES
412 FULL-TIME STUDENTS
Special Students
420 SCHOOL ADMISSIONS
420 RULE GUIDELINES FOR ADMISSION OF TRANSFER STUDENTS
Placement
Transfer of Credits and Graduation
421 ENTRANCE AGE
421 RULE GUIDELINES FOR EARLY ADMISSION TO KINDERGARTEN OR FIRST GRADE
422 ADMISSION OF NONRESIDENT STUDENTS OTHER THAN NON-OPEN ENROLLMENT STUDENTS
423 PUBLIC SCHOOL OPEN ENROLLMENT
Application Requirements
Reapplication Procedures
Non-Resident Open Enrollment Students
Resident Open Enrollment Students
423-RULE PROCEDURES FOR DEALING WITH PUBLIC SCHOOL OPEN ENROLLMENT APPLICATIONS
Non-Resident Student Open Enrollment Applications
Resident Student Open Enrollment Applications
Appeal of Rejection
424 PARTICIPATION OF NON-PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS (SHARED SERVICES) IN PROGRAMS, DISTRICT SERVICES
431 STUDENT ATTENDANCE
431-RULE STUDENT ATTENDANCE PROCEDURES
School Attendance Officer
Excused Absences
Requests to be Excused from Regular School Attendance
432 SCHOOL ATTENDANCE BOUNDARIES
433 ASSIGNMENT TO TEACHERS AND CLASSES
440 STUDENT RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES –FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
441 STUDENT SURVEYS
442.1 STUDENT BOARD REPRESENTATIVES
443 STUDENT CONDUCT
443-RULE CODE OF CLASSROOM CONDUCT
Statement of Principle
Reasons for Student Removal from Class
Procedures
Short Term Placement
Long Term Placement
Parent(s)/Guardian Notification Procedures
443.1 STUDENT DRESS
443.2 STUDENT CONDUCT ON SCHOOL BUSES
443.2-RULE BUS CONDUCT
Parent Responsibilities
Student Responsibilities
Student Control on Buses
Steps and Action in Revoking a Student’s Riding Privilege
Bus Driver Guidelines
443.3 SMOKING
443.4 STUDENT USE OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES
443.4-RULE DISCIPLINARY MEASURES FOR STUDENT USE OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES
443.5 CARE OF SCHOOL AND PERSONAL PROPERTY BY STUDENTS (VANDALISM)
443.6 STUDENT USE OF TWO-WAY COMMUNICATION OR PAGING DEVICES
443.7 STUDENT ACTIVISM
443.8 WEAPONS ON SCHOOL PREMISES
443.9 CHEATING
443.9 RULE(1) - CHEATING GUIDELINES
Consequences:
443.9 RULE (2) – PLAGIARISM GUIDELINES
444 MARRIED STUDENTS/SCHOOL-AGE PARENTS
445 RELATIONS WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES
445-RULE PROCEDURES FOR CONDUCTING STUDENT-LAW ENFORCEMENT INTERVIEWS ON SCHOOL PREMISES
445.1 STUDENT LOCKERS
445.1-RULE GUIDELINES FOR LOCKER SEARCHES
446 STUDENT DISORDERS
446-RULE PROCEDURES FOR HANDLING STUDENT DISORDERS
447 STUDENT DISCIPLINE
447-RULE STUDENT DISCIPLINE PROCEDURES
447.1 PHYSICAL FORCE AND CORPORAL PUNISHMENT
447.2 STUDENT SUSPENSION AND EXPULSION
Suspension
Expulsion
Early Reinstatement of Expelled Student
Determining Whether Expelled Student Has Met Early Reinstatement
448 STUDENTS OF LEGAL AGE
450 STUDENT HEALTH AND WELFARE
451 STUDENT INSURANCE PROGRAM
452 STUDENT AID PROGRAMS
453 STUDENT HEALTH SERVICES
453.1 EMERGENCY NURSING SERVICES
453.1-RULE STUDENT ACCIDENT/ILLNESS PROCEDURES
453.2 STUDENT IMMUNIZATIONS
453.3 COMMUNICABLE DISEASE
453.3-RULE COMMUNICABLE DISEASE PROCEDURES
453.4 ADMINISTERING MEDICATIONS TO STUDENTS
453.4-RULE MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION PROCEDURES
453.41 MEDICATION DISPOSAL
454 CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT REPORTING
455 STUDENT SAFETY
455.1 SUPERVISION OF STUDENTS
455.11 SAFETY PATROLS
456 STUDENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
457 SUICIDE PREVENTION PROGRAM
458 STUDENT WELLNESS POLICY
School Nutrition Guidelines
Physical Education / Activity Guidelines and Standards
Evaluation
458 RULE NUTRITION GUIDELINES
460 STUDENT AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIPS
460-RULE STUDENT AWARD GUIDELINES
Individual School Awards
System-Wide Awards
470 STUDENT FEES AND FINES
491 PHOTOGRAPHING OF STUDENTS
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410 STUDENT POLICIES GOALS
The focus of the school system is on the learner, the student. His/her educational development is the central concern of the Board’s policies and administrative regulations.
Therefore, the Board expects the positive involvement of students and staff in the many learning opportunities making up the educational program. Administrators and teachers are expected to devote their time and effort to sound preparation and management of instruction and its many related learning activities. The Board also expects a reasonable amount of commitment and effort on the part of all students, commensurate with their ability and skill development. The Board desires every student to have an opportunity whereby he/she may achieve the maximum benefit from his/her school education.
CROSS REF.: 411, Discrimination and Harassment Prohibited
APPROVED: November 11, 1974
REVISED: August 13, 2001
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411 DISCRIMINATION AND HARASSMENT PROHIBITED
1. The School District of Wisconsin Rapids is committed to equal educational opportunity for all district students.
2. The Wisconsin Rapids Public School District will not deny any person admission to, participation in, or the benefits of any curricular, extra-curricular, pupil services, recreational or other program or activity because of a person’s gender, race, national origin, ancestry, creed, pregnancy, marital or parental status, sexual orientation or physical, mental, emotional or learning disability. The District specifically prohibits staff members, students and volunteers from discriminating against or harassing others based on any of the characteristics described in this paragraph. This policy does not; however, prohibit the District from placing a student in a school, class, program or activity based on objective standards of individual performance or need.
a. For purposes of paragraph one, ‘discrimination’ means any action, policy or practice, including bias, stereotyping and pupil harassment, that is detrimental to a person or group of persons and differentiates or distinguishes among persons, or that limits or denies a person or group of persons opportunities, privileges, roles or rewards based, in whole or in part, on gender, race, national origin, ancestry, creed, pregnancy, marital or parental status, sexual orientation or physical, mental, emotional or learning disability, or any other characteristic identified in paragraph one, above, or that perpetuates the effects of past discrimination.
b. For purposes of paragraph one, ‘Harassment’ means behavior towards students or staff members based, in whole or in part, on gender, race, national origin, ancestry, creed, pregnancy, marital or parental status, sexual orientation or physical, mental, emotional or learning disability, or any other characteristic identified in paragraphs 1 and (a), above, that substantially interferes with a student’s school performance or a staff member’s work performance or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive school and/or work environment.
3. The District offers fair and equal employment opportunities, and prohibits discrimination and harassment based on an employee’s or applicant’s age, race, color, creed, religion, disability, marital status, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, arrest record, conviction record, pregnancy, membership in the national guard, state defense force or any other reserve component of the military forces of the United States or Wisconsin, or use or nonuse of lawful products off District premises and away from District-sponsored activities, as required by law.
4. Discrimination and harassment can arise from a broad range of physical or verbal behavior which can include, but is not limited to, the following:
a. Physical or mental abuse;
b. Racial, ethnic or religious insults or slurs;
c. Unwelcome sexual advances or touching;
d. Sexual comments, jokes, stories or innuendos;
e. Display of sexually explicit or otherwise offensive posters, calendars or materials;
f. Making sexual gestures with hands or body movements;
g. Intentionally standing close or brushing up against a student or employee;
h. Inappropriately staring at a student or employee or touching his or her clothing, hair or body; and
i. Asking personal questions about a student or employee’s sexual life.
5. These activities are offensive and inappropriate in the school environment. This is a serious issue not just for the District, but also for each individual. The District specifically prohibits discriminatory or harassing conduct, condoning such conduct by allowing it to go on, and pre-judging harassment or discrimination complaints. District staff members may be held individually liable for harassment or for allowing students to harass each other, and may be subject to the penalties imposed upon employers under state or federal law. The District’s policy prohibiting harassment applies to all students, staff members and volunteers whether at school, at school-sponsored co-curricular, extracurricular or social functions, or otherwise. In particular, staff members should understand that they are “on duty” whenever they are with students, even if they are not at school or not at a school-sponsored event.
6. Any District staff member who engages in harassment or discrimination, or retaliates against another person because of a harassment/discrimination report or participation in an investigation, is subject to immediate discipline, up to and including discharge. Any student who engages in harassment or discrimination, or retaliates against another person because of a harassment/discrimination report or participation in an investigation, is also subject to immediate discipline, up to and including suspension and expulsion from the District. Any volunteer who engages in harassment or discrimination, or retaliates against another person because of a harassment/discrimination report or participation in an investigation, may be prohibited from volunteering for the District in any capacity.
7. If any student, staff member or volunteer is aware of a possible violation of this policy, he or she must respond immediately and not ignore the problem. Students, staff members and volunteers should follow the reporting procedures outlined below as soon as possible. It is important that students, staff members and volunteers inform designated administrators about inappropriate conduct as soon as possible, because the District cannot do anything to remedy the problem if the District does not know that the problem exists.
8. This policy prohibiting discrimination and harassment applies to the acceptance and administration of gifts, bequests, scholarships and other aids, benefits, or services to students from private agencies, organizations or persons. It also applies to school sponsored food service programs, the selection of instructional and library media materials, and the methods, practices and materials used for testing, evaluating and counseling students.
9. This policy does not, however, prohibit the use of special testing or counseling materials or techniques to meet the individual needs of students. Furthermore, this policy does not prohibit separate locker rooms, showers and toilets for males and females, although the District will maintain comparable separate facilities. Finally, this policy does not prohibit separate programs in interscholastic athletics for males and females, although the District will provide programs that are comparable in type, scope and District support.
LEGAL REF.: Wisconsin Statutes Section §118.13 - Pupil Discrimination Prohibited
PI 9 Wisconsin Administrative Code – Pupil Nondiscrimination
PI 41 Wisconsin Administrative Code – Accommodation of Religious Beliefs
Wis. Stat. §111.321 – Prohibited Bases of Discrimination
Wis. Stat. §111.322 – Discriminatory Actions Prohibited
Wis. Stat. §111.325 – Unlawful to Discriminate
Title VI of the Civil rights Act of 1964
Title IX, Educational Amendments of 1972
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Amendments of 1997
Civil Rights Act of 1991
CROSS REF.: 411 Rule, Student Discrimination and Harassment Complaint Procedures
333, Parent Rights and the Curriculum
386, Religion in the Schools
431 Rule, Student Attendance Procedures
APPROVED: September 1985
REVISED: August 1987
September 12, 1988
December 1992
August 13, 2001
January 8, 2007
February 11, 2008
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411 RULE STUDENT DISCRIMINATION AND HARASSMENT COMPLAINT PROCEDURES
If any person believes that a student has been harassed or discriminated against, and for all other alleged violations of Policy 411, paragraph (2), he or she should follow these procedures:
Step 1. The District will allow a complainant the opportunity to resolve discrimination and harassment complaints on an informal basis, if the complainant asks to do so. Upon a complainant’s request, the building principal will facilitate a meeting between the complainant and the alleged harasser/discriminator. If the parties resolve the matter, the principal will prepare a written statement outlining the resolution. If the complainant is not satisfied with the outcome of the meeting, the District will formally investigate the complaint.
Step 2. To begin the formal complaint process, a complainant must submit a written complaint to the District Administrator. If reporting to this person would not be appropriate under the circumstances, the complainant may submit a complaint directly to the Director of Human Resources or the Director of Pupil Services. The District Administrator or his/her designee will send the complainant written acknowledgment of the complaint within 5 days after receiving the complaint. Complainants should send complaints to the following address:
Wisconsin Rapids School District
District Administrator
510 Peach Street
Wisconsin Rapids WI 54494
Step 3. The District will investigate harassment and discrimination complaints promptly, thoroughly, and impartially. The District Administrator or his/her designee shall conduct the investigation or appoint an investigative team or independent consult to do so. The District Administrator or designee will prepare a written report regarding the investigation, including a description of the District’s conclusions and any action taken, within 40 days after the District receives the complaint. The District Administrator or designee shall send a copy of the report to the complainant, the alleged harasser, the superintendent and the school board.
Step 4. If either party is not satisfied with the results of the investigation report or the District Administrator’s decision, he or she may appeal the decision to the Board of Education. To appeal the decision, a party must submit a written appeal to the Board within 10 days after the District sends the investigation report to the parties. The Board of Education will hold a private conference with the parties within 30 days after the Board receives the written appeal. In response to the appeal, the Board will send a written decision to the parties and the District Administrator within 10 days after the private conference.
Step 5. Either party may appeal the Board of Education’s decision to the state superintendent. Parties should send appeals to the following address:
State Superintendent
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
P.O. Box 7841
Madison WI 53707-7841
Students with a disability under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act may also request a Section 504 due process hearing pursuant to School Board Policy 411.
At any time, students may also file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights at the following address:
Office for Civil Rights, Chicago Office
U.S. Department of Education
111 North Canal Street, Suite 1053
Chicago, IL 60606-7204
Copies of the complaint procedures shall be kept in each building office. Reference to policies and procedures for filing a complaint are included in student handbooks and sent home to all parents annually.
APPROVED: September 1985
REVISED: December 1992
August 13, 2001
January 8, 2007
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412 FULL-TIME STUDENTS
A full-time student at the high school level shall be enrolled in four and one-half or more academic credits per year or be enrolled under the special student classification.
A full-time student at the junior high school level shall be enrolled in five or more academic credits per year or be classified under the special student classification.
Special Students
Students may have less than the minimum program if they are enrolled in an alternative program approved by the Board and supported by school district funds. Such students may include, but are not limited to: students with exceptional educational needs, children at risk, truants, school-age parents, homebound students and students who are excused from school attendance to participate in a program leading to high school graduation or high school equivalency.
Resident students attending public school in another school district under the full-time public school open enrollment law shall be considered full-time district students.
LEGAL REF.: Sections 121.004(5) and (7) Wisconsin Statutes
118.51
APPROVED: December 1980
REVISED: August 13, 2001
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420 SCHOOL ADMISSIONS
Children will be admitted to kindergarten or first grade who have attained minimum age specified in the law. Exceptions from routine admission may be made on the basis of established early admission standards.
It shall be the responsibility of the parent of each child entering the district to complete official registration forms prior to assignment by the principal to a grade or schedule of classes.
Students who have attended other school systems are required to provide a transcript of academic accomplishments at the previous school or the address from which this data may be secured. An official transcript is required in order to award transfer credits.
Children who apply for initial admission to the district’s schools from non-public schools or from schools outside the district will be placed initially on the grade level they would have reached elsewhere pending their observation and evaluation by classroom teachers, guidance personnel and the school principal. After such observations and evaluations have been completed, the principal will determine the final grade placement of the children.
Each school principal shall be responsible for establishing students’ residence at the time of admission, and annually thereafter, by recording the student’s home address and reason for residing in the district.
Parents/guardians of students admitted to the district’s elementary and or secondary schools shall present immunization records as required by law.
The Wisconsin Rapids Public Schools, in accordance with state law, is not required to enroll a student during the term of his/her expulsion from another school district.
The School District of Wisconsin Rapids does not discriminate in admissions to any school, class, program or activity or in facilities usage on the basis of gender, race, color, national origin, ancestry, creed, religion, pregnancy, marital or parental status, sexual orientation, physical, mental, emotional or learning disability or handicap.
Discrimination complaints shall be processed in accordance with established procedures.
LEGAL REF.: Sections 118.13 Wisconsin Statutes
118.14
118.145
118.15
118.16
120.13(1)(f)
120.44
252.04
PI 9.03 (1), Wisconsin Administrative Code
CROSS REF.: 420-Rule, Guidelines for Transfer Students
421, Entrance Age
893, Relations with Private Schools and Home-Based Private Educational Programs
Special Education Handbook
APPROVED: April 9, 1979
REVISED: September 12, 1988
November 11, 1991
August 13, 2001, February 11, 2008
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420 RULE GUIDELINES FOR ADMISSION OF TRANSFER STUDENTS
Placement
1. All transfer students from out of district schools, private schools, or home-based private educational programs, are required to provide transcripts or other records evidencing their level of academic achievement, subjects completed, credits earned, and results of standardized testing.
a. At the time a student transfers to a school in this district from one outside the district, a request shall be made to the sending school district requesting all records on the student (cumulative records, physical health record, test scores, etc.)
2. If such records are unavailable or incomplete, the district may administer standardized and or academic tests before making a placement decision. Such tests will insure that all transferring students are placed according to age, at a level commensurate with their ability, and where the best opportunity for successful learning can occur.
3. The grade placement shall be determined by the principal of the school to which the student would normally be assigned, or his/her designee.
4. Once a placement decision is made, a student is subject to a probationary period of 90 days. If school officials determine the placement needs to be revised, the school may make a placement revision at any time following notification of the parent/guardian.
5. In the event that there is an appeal on behalf of the student regarding the placement, the district appeal process must be followed. The appeal and supporting rationale shall be in written form and shall progress as follows until resolution is reached:
a. Building Principal
b. Director of Curriculum
c. Superintendent
d. Board of Education
Transfer of Credits and Graduation
If the placement is made at the ninth grade level or higher, school officials may allow equivalent courses toward high school graduation as long as the courses contain the same time allotment and substantially the same objectives as the courses required by law for graduation.
Credits earned at a recognized and accredited public or private high school may be accepted as recorded by said school. Religion courses are not accepted.
Courses taken while in a home-based private educational program shall be recorded on the student’s permanent record.
a. Credits earned in a home-based private instructional program shall be recorded as satisfactory (home-based grades will not be recorded on the admitting high school transcripts). Grades and grade point averages from home-based instruction will not be used for class standing.
b. In the event that the home-based student has attended a recognized and accredited public or private high school for single or multiple semesters or years, the credits earned at such school(s) may be accepted as recorded by said school.
LEGAL REF.: Sections 118.15(4) Wisconsin Statutes
118.165(1)
118.33
APPROVED: November 10, 1986
REVISED: August 13, 2001
June 17, 2002
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421 ENTRANCE AGE
No child may be admitted to a five-year-old kindergarten unless he or she is five years old on or before September 1 in the year he or she proposes to enter school.
No child may be admitted to the first grade unless he or she is six years old on or before September 1 in the year he or she proposes to enter school.
One of the following documents shall be provided as legal evidence of age:
1. Certificate of birth
2. Baptismal certificate
3. Passport
4. Immigration certificate
Each school principal shall be responsible for verifying each applicant’s eligibility for initial entrance into kindergarten or first grade in accordance with state law and regulations.
Early admission to kindergarten and first grade will be permitted in the School District of Wisconsin Rapids when such admission is in the best educational interest of the student and the school district and in accordance with established procedures.
LEGAL REF.: Section 118.14 Wisconsin Statutes
118.15
120.12(25)
120.44
CROFF REF.: 421-Rule, Guidelines for Early Admission to Kindergarten or First Grade
APPROVED: April 9, 1979
REVISED: October 12, 1981
November 11, 1991
August 13, 2001
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421 RULE GUIDELINES FOR EARLY ADMISSION TO KINDERGARTEN OR FIRST GRADE
Requests for early admission to kindergarten or first grade shall be submitted and evaluated as follows:
1. Parents who wish early admission for their students in kindergarten or grade one must make application to the Director of Pupil Services prior to May 1.
2. A personal interview between the Director of Pupil Services, or his/her designee, and the parents shall be held to determine the parental reasons for requesting early admission.
3. An evaluation of the child’s potential for long-term advanced performance shall be required.
a. The evaluation shall consider the child’s emotional stability, and social and mental maturity.
b. The evaluation shall be conducted by a certified school district psychologist in conjunction with other Pupil Services Department staff.
c. The evaluation shall be conducted at no cost to the parents.
4. After the evaluation has been completed, a conference shall be held with the parents to consider the appropriateness of early admission.
5. The Board will have final authority to authorize early admission based on the following conditions:
a. Kindergarten
1. The child demonstrates the social, emotional, physical, and mental maturity normally expected for advanced performance in kindergarten and beyond.
b. First Grade
1. The child was admitted to and successfully completed kindergarten under (a) above; or
2. The child successfully completed a program for five-year-old children which the school district deems equivalent to kindergarten; or
3. The child demonstrates the social, emotional, physical, and mental maturity normally expected for advanced performance in first grade and beyond.
6. The decision may be appealed by the parents to the Superintendent of Schools.
7. The Wisconsin Rapids Public Schools does not discriminate in the methods, practices and materials used for evaluating students on the basis of gender, race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, creed, pregnancy, marital or parental, sexual orientation or physical, mental, emotional or learning disability or handicap in its educational programs or activities.
APPROVED: April 9, 1979
REVISED: October 12, 1981
November 11, 1991
August 13, 2001
December 10, 2001, February 11, 2008
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422 ADMISSION OF NONRESIDENT STUDENTS OTHER THAN NON-OPEN ENROLLMENT STUDENTS
Students from other school districts may attend the schools of our district by approval of the Board, so long as there is room for them without undue crowding, and they or their sending district pays a tuition fee to be established by the Board in accordance with state law. A new state law establishes a statewide tuition rate for parents that is based on the statewide average per student cost in certain areas.
The School Board shall permit a pupil who was a resident of the school district on the 3rd Friday in September or the 2nd Friday in January of the current school year and who has been enrolled in the school district for at least 20 school days during the current school year to complete the current school year at the school he or she is attending without payment of tuition, even though the pupil is no longer a resident of the school district. The Board may permit a student who is enrolled and is a resident of the school district at the beginning of the school year to complete the school year at the school he or she is attending, without payment of tuition, even though the student is no longer a resident of the school district.
The School Board shall permit a pupil to whom all of the following apply to attend school in the school district in the current school year without payment of tuition:
1. The pupil was a resident of the school district on the 2nd Friday in January of the previous school year.
2. The pupil was enrolled in the school district continuously from the 2nd Friday in January of the previous school year to the end of the school term of the previous school year.
3. The pupil ceased to be a resident of the school district after the first Monday in February of the previous school year.
4. The pupil continues to be a resident of this state.
Upon written request of a student’s parent or guardian, the Board shall permit a student who has gained twelfth grade status at Lincoln High School and is a resident of the school district at the time of gaining such status, to complete twelfth grade at the Lincoln High School without payment of tuition, even though the student is no longer a resident of the school district.
The Board may permit a foreign exchange student to attend school in the school district without payment of tuition.
The School Board is not required to enroll a student during the term of his/her expulsion from another school district.
Determination of optional tuition waivers shall be made by the district administrator or designee, with subsequent Board approval, after consideration of classroom enrollments, family circumstances, personal, social, and emotional history, academic standing, past history, etc.
LEGAL REF.: Sections 120.13(1)(f) Wisconsin Statutes
120.44
121.77
121.81 – 121.84
CROSS REF.: 354, Travel and Exchange Program
APPROVED: November 11, 1974
REVISED: February 10, 1992
August 13, 2001
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423 PUBLIC SCHOOL OPEN ENROLLMENT
This policy shall be administered in accordance with the state public school open enrollment law.
Application Requirements
Application requirements shall be according to state law and established procedures.
Reapplication Procedures
Once a non-resident is accepted as an open-enrollment student in the district, the student will not be required to reapply again during their tenure with the district unless there is a break in enrollment.
Non-Resident Open Enrollment Students
A non-resident student may apply for full-time enrollment in a district school or program under the open enrollment program in accordance with state law. The district shall consider the following criteria when accepting or rejecting a non-resident student’s application for full-time enrollment.
A. Determination of Which Students to Accept
1. The Board will review class size limits, student-teacher ratios, non-resident students currently attending District schools whose tuition is paid by other school districts, or enrollment projections established by the Board.
a. If the District receives more non-resident student applications for full-time or part-time enrollment than there are spaces available, determination of which students to accept shall be made on a random basis.
b. The District shall give preference in accepting full-time enrollment applications to any non-resident students already attending school in the District and their siblings.
2. Student Expulsions/Disciplinary Proceedings:
The District will not accept a student who has been expelled by a school district during the current school year or preceding two school years for conduct specified in the law or who has disciplinary proceedings pending on such conduct. Conduct specified in the law includes endangering the health, safety or property of others under certain conditions, conveying or causing to be conveyed a “bomb” threat involving school property, and possessing a “dangerous weapon” while at school or under the supervision of a school authority. If any of the above disciplinary actions occur after initial acceptance of the student and prior to the student starting school in the District, the District will deny the enrollment of the non-resident student.
3. Special Education
In considering the admission of a student with exceptional education needs, the District will consider whether the special education program or related services described in the student’s IEP are available in the District or whether there is space available in the special education program identified in the student’s IEP including any class size limits, student-teacher ratios, or enrollment projections established by the Board.
If a non-resident student’s IEP changes after the student begins attending the District and the special education program or services required by the IEP are not available in the District, or there is no space available in the special education program identified in the IEP, the District will discontinue allowing the student to attend school in the District.
The District will consider whether the student has been screened by his/her resident district to determine if there is reasonable cause to believe that the student is a child with a disability.
The District will also consider whether the student has been reported to the student’s resident district or identified by the student’s resident school district but not yet evaluated by an IEP team in the student’s resident district.
B. Assignment to School, Program, Class
The District will give preference in assigning students to attend a school, program, class or grade to resident students who live outside the school’s attendance area.
C. Transportation to Non-Resident Students Participating in the full-time Enrollment Program
The District will provide transportation to non-resident students participating in the full-time enrollment program only from a scheduled stop within the District on approval of the district’s transportation department, and under the District’s “pay to ride” provisions.
The District will provide transportation to non-resident students with disabilities participating in the full-time enrollment program if it is required in their IEP with the responsibility for transportation costs agreed upon by the non-resident and the resident districts.
D. Part-Time Enrollment
A non-resident public high school student may apply for enrollment in a course(s) in the District in accordance with state law and established procedures. The District shall use the same criteria for accepting and rejecting course applications for non-resident students as resident students, except preference may be given in attendance in a course to a resident student.
If the District receives more non-resident applications for a course than there are spaces available, students will be accepted on a random basis.
E. Non-Resident Open Enrollment Students Rights and Privileges
Non-resident open enrollment students attending school or classes in the District have all the rights and privileges of resident students and are subject to the same rules and regulations as resident students.
Resident Open Enrollment Students
Resident students may apply for full-time enrollment in another public school district in accordance with state law.
The District will limit the number of District resident students that will be allowed to attend school in another public school district to the maximum limit established by the law. If the District receives more applications than the maximum allowable, acceptance will be determined on a random basis, except preference will be given to resident students already attending public school in the district to which they are applying and their siblings.
The District will deny attendance in another school district if costs of special education services required in the student’s IEP would place an undue financial burden on the District. If a resident student’s IEP changes after the student begins attending a non-resident school district and the costs of the special education program or services required by the IEP would place an undue financial burden on the District, the District will discontinue allowing the student to attend school in the non-resident district.
The District will not provide transportation to resident students participating in the full-time open enrollment program.
The District will NOT permit non-resident districts to enter into this district for the purpose of picking up and dropping off open enrollment students.
District high school students may apply for enrollment in no more than two courses in other public school districts in accordance with state law. The District will reject a student’s application to attend a course in another public school district if the course conflicts with the student’s individual educational program (IEP), or if the application to attend a course in another public school district would impose an undue financial burden on the District.
LEGAL REF.: Sections 118.13 Wisconsin Statutes
118.51
118.52
121.54 (1))
121.58 (2)(a)
Chapter 115, Subchapter V
Wis. Act 68
CROFF REF.: 343.2, Class Size
411, Discrimination and Harassment Prohibited
420, School Admission
432, School Attendance
ADOPTED: December 8, 1997
REVISED: August 13, 2001
December 11, 2006
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423-RULE PROCEDURES FOR DEALING WITH PUBLIC SCHOOL OPEN ENROLLMENT APPLICATIONS
Non-Resident Student Open Enrollment Applications
1. Full-Time Enrollment
a. The parent(s)/guardian(s) of a non-resident student who wishes to attend school in the District shall submit the required application to the Wisconsin Rapids Public Schools, Director of Human Resources. The application may include a request to attend a specific school or program offered by the District. The application shall be submitted no earlier than the first Monday of February and not later than the third Friday in February in the school year immediately preceding the school year in which the student wishes to attend. The District shall send a copy of the application to the student’s resident school board and to the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) on the fourth Monday of February.
b. Applications may be submitted to no more than 3 non-resident school boards in any school year, effective with applications submitted for attendance in the 2001-20002 school year.
c. Upon receipt of the application it will be forwarded to the Director of Human Resources for review and recommendation. All applications shall be reviewed using the acceptance/rejection criteria outlined in Board policy. The Director of Human Resources shall submit recommendations regarding acceptance or rejection of applications to the Board for action. No action shall be taken on any application until after the third Friday in February.
d. On or before the first Friday following the first Monday in April following receipt of the application, the applicant shall be notified, in writing, or whether the application has been accepted. If the application is rejected, the notice shall include the reason(s) for the rejection.
e. If the application has been accepted by the District, and not rejected by the student’s resident School Board, the Director of Human Resources will determine which school or program the non-resident student may attend in the following year. This determination shall be made in consultation with other appropriate staff and in accordance with established District policies and procedures. On or before the second Friday following the first Monday in May following receipt of the application, the applicant shall be notified, in writing, of the specific school or program that the student may attend in the following school year.
f. The non-resident student’s parent(s)/guardian(s) shall notify the Board of the student’s intent to attend school in the District in the following school year. This must be done on or before the first Friday following the first Monday in June following receipt of the notice of acceptance.
g. Annually, by June 30, the resident district school boards shall be notified of the names of the students from the resident district who will be attending school in the District the following school year.
2. Part-Time Enrollment
a. The parent(s)/guardian(s) of a non-resident public high school student who wishes to take a course(s) in the District shall submit the required application to the Board. The application shall specify the course that the student wishes to attend and may specify the school(s) at which the student wishes to attend the course. The application shall be submitted no later than six weeks prior to the date the course is scheduled to commence. The District shall send a copy of the application to the student’s resident board.
b. Upon receipt of the application, it will be forwarded to the Director of Human Resources for review and action. All applications shall be reviewed and acted upon using the acceptance/rejection criteria outlined in related Board policies and procedures. No later than one week prior to the date the course is scheduled to commence, the Director of Human Resources shall notify the applicant and the resident school board, in writing, of whether the application has been accepted and the school at which the student may attend the course. If the application is rejected, the notice shall include the reason for the rejection. If accepted, the acceptance applies only for the following semester, school year, or other session in which the course is offered.
c. The parent(s)/guardian(s) of a non-resident student accepted for enrollment shall notify the District of the student’s intent to attend a course in the District prior to the date the course is scheduled to commence.
Resident Student Open Enrollment Applications
1. Full-Timer Enrollment
a. Upon receipt of a copy of a resident student’s application to attend a school or program in another public school district, school office staff shall forward it the Director of Human Resources for review and recommendations.
b. All applications shall be reviewed using the criteria outlined in Board policy. The Director of Human Resources shall submit recommendations regarding acceptance or rejection of applications to the Board for action. If the application is rejected, the applicant and the non-resident school board shall be notified, in writing, that the application has been rejected. This notification shall be made on or before the first Friday following the first Monday in April. The notice shall include the reason(s) for the rejection.
2. Part-Time Enrollment
a. Upon receipt of a copy of a resident high school student’s application to attend a course(s) in another public school district, school office staff shall forward it to the Director of Human Resources for review and action.
b. All applications shall be reviewed using the criteria outlined in Board policy. If the application is rejected, the applicant and the non-resident school board shall be notified, in writing, that the application has been rejected. This notification shall be made no later than one week prior to the date the course is scheduled to commence. The notice shall include the reason(s) for the rejection.
If the application is accepted, the Director of Human Resources shall determine whether or not the course(s) satisfied District graduation requirements. If it is determined that the course does not satisfy District graduation requirements, the Director of Human Resources shall notify the applicant of that fact no later than one week prior to the date the course is scheduled to commence.
Appeal of Rejection
If an application for enrollment is rejected as outlined above, the student’s parent(s)/guardian(s) may appeal the decision to the DPI within 30 days after the decision.
APPROVED: December 8, 1997
REVISED: August 13, 2001
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424 PARTICIPATION OF NON-PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS (SHARED SERVICES) IN PROGRAMS, DISTRICT SERVICES
Residents of the School district of Wisconsin Rapids enrolled in a private, parochial school, or home-schooled private educational program may participate in public school courses, programs, or activities as follows:
1. A non-public school student may participate in a course or activity program when specifically required by law, (i.e., Special Education or Title I).
2. A non-public school student may take up to two courses during the school year provided the following conditions are met:
a. The student is eligible for secondary school admission;
b. The student resides in the District; and
c. There is sufficient space in the classroom.
3. A non-public school student may participate in the District music program, provided there is space available and the District would not incur any additional cost due to such accommodation.
4. The guidelines and regulations of the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) must be followed when making decisions regarding non-public school student participation in interscholastic competition. Co-Curricular involvement and participation will be determined on an individual basis based on the guidelines of specific co-curricular organizations.
5. Transportation to and from District course, program, or activity shall be the responsibility of the student’s parent(s)/guardian(s), except as otherwise specifically provided.
Testing
Home-based students may, upon written request, participate in the district’s norm referenced and criterion referenced testing program and state-system achievement testing. A fee will be charged for each test administered. Testing is to occur at school at the same time as the student’s peer group is being tested.
The School District of Wisconsin Rapids does not discriminate in the participation of any school or class, program or activity or in facilities usage on the basis of gender, race, color, national origin, ancestry, creed, religion, pregnancy, marital or parental status, sexual orientation, physical, mental, emotional, or learning disability or handicap. Discrimination complaints shall be processed in accordance
LEGAL S REF.: Sections 118.13 Wisconsin Statutes
118.52
118.145
ADOPTED: October 12, 1977
REVISED: December, 1980
August, 1987
September, 1989
January 8, 1990
June 3, 1999
August 13, 2001
June 17, 2002
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431 STUDENT ATTENDANCE
Any person having under his/her control, a child who is between the ages of 6 and 18 years of age shall cause the child to attend school during the full period and hours, religious holidays excepted, that the school in which the child should be enrolled is in session until the end of the school term, quarter or semester of the school year in which the child becomes 18 years of age, unless they have a legal excuse, fall under one of the exceptions outlined in the state statutes, or have graduated from high school.
The Board encourages the staff to consider the effects of the total environment of the school on students attending. The question of each student’s attendance should, so far as law will allow, be viewed in light of what is best for him/her educationally. Since compulsion is the least educationally effective method of securing regular attendance, the staff is urged to make the school program so attractive to each student that he/she will not wish to miss school.
Any student who has reached the age of 16 may be excused from school attendance in accordance with state law and established procedures.
Procedures shall be developed by the administration to enhance the full attendance requirement and to determine appropriate action to serve as a deterrent to truancy. These procedures shall be in accordance with municipal ordinances and state law, and shall be approved by the Board.
The School District of Wisconsin Rapids shall not deny student credit in a course or subject solely because of a student’s unexcused absences.
LEGAL REF.: Sections 118.15 Wisconsin Statutes
118.153
118.16
118.162
118.165
Municipal Ordinances
Truancy Plan
CROSS REF.: 431 Rule, Student Attendance Procedures
342.3, Programs for Children At Risk
342.6, Alternative Programs
APPROVED: December 1980
REVISED: September 12, 1988
August 13, 2001
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431-RULE STUDENT ATTENDANCE PROCEDURES
School Attendance Officer
1. The building principal or the principal’s agent at each of the district’s schools is designated to deal with matters relating to school attendance and truancy.
2. The school attendance officer shall prepare, in writing, a list of the school’s rules and procedures designed to meet the standards of the law and the variables which exist in each building. These rules shall be consistent with the general policies of the Board and shall be submitted to the superintendent and included in the Board’s attendance policy. Each student shall be informed by the school attendance officer of the attendance rules and policies, and copies will be made available upon request.
3. Each school shall determine daily which students enrolled in the school are absent from school and whether that absence is excused in accordance with Board policy and established procedures.
4. Annually, on or before, August 1, the school attendance officer shall determine how many students enrolled in each school in the district were absent in the previous year and whether the absences were excused. This information will be submitted to the superintendent who shall notify the State Superintendent of Public Instruction of the determination.
5. The school attendance officer, or designee, shall notify the parent or guardian of a child who has been truant of the child’s truancy and direct the parent or guardian to return the child to school no later than the next day on which school is in session or to provide an excuse. The notice under this paragraph must be given before the end of the second school day after receiving a report of an unexcused absence. Notice by personal contact or telephone must be attempted before notice by mail may be given,
“Truancy” means any absence of part or all of one or more school days during which the school attendance officer or teacher has not been notified of the legal cause of such absence by the parent or guardian of the absent student, and also means intermittent attendance carried on for the purpose of defeating the intent of the compulsory attendance law.
6. The school attendance officer or designee shall notify the parent or guardian of a student who is a habitual truant in accordance with procedures outlined in the district’s truancy plan. “Habitual truant” means a student who is absent from school without an acceptable excuse for part or all of five or more days on which school is held during a school semester.
7. The school attendance officer or designee may visit any place of employment in the school district to ascertain whether any minors are employed there contrary to state law and shall report such cases to the Department of Workforce development.
8. The school attendance officer or designee will provide the State Superintendent of Public Instruction with information regarding the attendance of any child between ages 6 and 18 who is a resident of the school district or who claims or is claimed to be in attendance at a private school or home-based private educational program located in the school district.
9. The attendance officer or designee may contact home-based private educational programs to attempt to discover whether such programs meet the program criteria established by law. All such contacts shall be documented.
10. The attendance officer or designee shall furnish student attendance information to appropriate agencies. Student attendance information shall only be released if appropriate “release of confidentiality” forms have been signed by parents/guardians and filed with the district in accordance with provisions of the student records law and Board policy.
11. The attendance officer or designee shall inform students and their parents/guardians annually of their right to request program or curriculum modifications and of the types of program or curriculum modifications which can be made. When a request for a program or curriculum modification is made, in writing, by a student or his/her parent or guardian, a decision regarding the request must be made within 90 days of the request except as otherwise specifically provided. If the request relates to a student who has been examined by an IEP team and has not been recommended for special education, the decision must be within 30 days of the request. If a request is denied, the reasons for the denial must be given.
Excused Absences
1. No student shall be allowed to leave school during the day without permission of the principal. No student who has entered school premises in the morning or afternoon shall leave again before the close of the sessions without the permission of the principal.
2. Teachers shall require students to present an admittance slip from the office or a written excuse from a parent/guardian in all cases of absence, including absence for temporary illness or dismissal before the close of school.
3. Students may be excused by the principal/designee for:
a. Personal illness
b. Severe illness or death in the family
c. Religious observance – Students may be excused from school upon written request from parent or guardian for any major religious holidays and within the confines of state law. Students will be given the right to make up tests and will not be deprived of any awards.
d. Extreme weather conditions
e. Court appearances
f. School-sponsored activities
g. College visitations or job interviews
h. Other reasonable causes approved by the principal or his/her designee, preferably in advance.
1) Medical and dental appointments may be made during school time with the approval of the principal or his/her designee; however, it is strongly recommended that appointments be made outside the regular school day.
2) The staff should cooperate with parents who wish to take their children on trips. Parents are requested to make arrangements in advance with the principal.
4. Parent excused absences
a. Parents may excuse their child from school attendance for any reason, up to a maximum of 10 days in a school year, provided they notify the school in writing prior to the absence. The School Board shall require a child excused under this section to complete any course work missed during the absence.
5. Physical Education Excuses
a. Students not in physical condition to participate in physical education for an extended amount of time must present a statement from a physician.
b. Students may receive permission to be excused from participation on a daily basis from the principal or school nurse.
6. Make-Up Work
a. Students with an excused absence are entitled and responsible to make up the work missed, including tests, to the best of his/her ability.
1) When the school administration has given approval for students to participate in such activities as music programs, dramatics, student government, athletics, etc., students should not be penalized for not being present to take tests and participate in the daily work. They should be given an opportunity to make up work missed.
b. Students with an unexcused absence may not be allowed to make up work missed.
Requests to be Excused from Regular School Attendance
1. Any child who is 16 years of age may be excused from regular school attendance by the Board upon the child’s request and with the written approval of the child’s parent or guardian if the child and his/her parent or guardian agree, in writing, that the child will participate in a program or curriculum modification leading to the child’s high school graduation.
Any child who is 17 years of age or over may be excused from regular school attendance by the Board upon the child’s request and with the written approval of the child’s parent or guardian if the child and his/her parent or guardian agree, in writing, that the child will participate in a program or curriculum modification leading to the child’s high school graduation or leading to a high school equivalency diploma.
Program or curriculum modifications for the purpose of this requirement include the following:
a. Modifications within the child’s current academic program;
b. A school work training or work study program;
c. Enrollment in an alternative public school or program located in the school district in which the child resides;
d. Enrollment in any nonsectarian private school or program located in the school district in which the child resides which complies with the requirements of 42 USC 20000d (Title VI of the Civil Rights Act – non discrimination on the basis of race, color or national origin). Enrollment in such school or program shall be pursuant to a contractual agreement which provides for the payment of the child’s tuition by the school district;
e. Home-bound study, including nonsectarian correspondence courses or other courses of study approved by the Board or nonsectarian tutoring provided by the school in which the child is enrolled; or
f. Enrollment in any public educational program outside the school district in which the child resides. Enrollment of a child in such program may be pursuant to a contractual agreement between school districts.
2. A written agreement is required between the child, his/her parent or guardian, the Board and a representative of the high school equivalency program or program leading to the child’s high school graduation prior to a child’s admission to such program(s). The agreement must state the services to be provided, the time period needed to complete the high school equivalency program or program leading to high school graduation and how the performance of the student will be monitored.
3. The Board is responsible for monitoring the written agreement on a regular basis. In no case; however, can the agreement be monitored less frequently than once per semester. If the Board determines that a child is not complying with the agreement, the Board is expected to notify the child, his/her parent or guardian and the high school equivalency program or program leading to high school graduation that the agreement may be modified or suspended in 30 days.
4. The administration may establish reasonable withdrawal and re-admittance dates so as to minimize program disruptions in the school. The student has the right to be readmitted to school upon request as long as the student remains of school age. The building principal shall be responsible for re-admittance and the datelines. Parental approval for re-admittance is not required.
5. Upon the student’s request and with the written approval of the student’s parent/guardian, any student who is 16 years of age or over and who meets the statutory definition of children at risk, may attend a technical college in lieu of high school or on a part-time basis.
6. Upon the child’s request and with the written approval of the child’s parent or guardian, any child who is 17 years of age or over shall be excused by the Board from regular school attendance if the child began a program leading to a high school equivalency diploma in a secured correctional facility or a secured child caring institution, a secure detention facility or a juvenile portion of a county jail.
APPROVED: December 1980
REVISED: September 12, 1988
August 13, 2001
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432 SCHOOL ATTENDANCE BOUNDARIES
The Board of Education recognizes the importance of parental involvement in the education of the students of the District. That involvement is recognized to include determining to which school in the District a child shall attend.
The Board of Education will establish school boundaries for each elementary and junior high school. Such boundaries are established in order to maintain accessible, equal educational opportunity for education, and in order to be able to staff and program each school appropriately. Such boundaries shall be prepared by members of the administrative staff designated by the superintendent of Schools.
All children grades K through 9, living within the designated boundary lines of a given elementary or junior high school, must attend this given school unless a written exception is granted.
Exceptions may be made to the District Superintendent or persons designated by the Superintendent. Such exceptions may be made in order:
1. To equalize pupil-teacher ratio among given schools.
2. To provide especially designed instructional programs, or to meet specific educational or social needs, which cannot be effectively met otherwise.
3. To permit a pupil to complete the school year in the given school in which the pupil is enrolled at the time of change of residence. Transportation in cases of this nature will be provided by the parent or guardian.
4. To permit a pupil to enroll in a given school where it is known the pupil will become a resident within a period not to exceed 45 school days. Transportation will be provided by the parent or guardian of the pupil granted this exception.
5. To accommodate family concerns such as child care.
All requests for exceptions to attendance boundaries must be made in writing to the Director of Human Resources. Such requests must be made on an annual basis. Approvals will be based on class size(s) at the requested school and on student attendance and behavior records in school and on school approved activities, including bus transportation. Exceptions will not be approved if such approval will result in additional costs relating to staffing or transportation.
Once permission for a boundary exception has been granted, the same provision will be granted to other family members.
When a boundary exception at parent request is permitted, transportation will be provided by the parent or guardian of the pupil granted this exception, either privately or by purchasing bussing services from the district under the administrative non-mandated bus guidelines.
If objection on the part of a parent or guardian is such that it is felt serious contingencies need exploration, the parent or guardian may appeal their request for an exception to the Superintendent, and subsequently to the Board of Education.
LEGAL REF.: Section 121.545 Wisconsin Statutes
CROSS REF.: 343.2, Class Size
ADOPTED: March 10, 1976
REVISED: September, 1982
October, 1987
November 12, 1990
January 8, 1996
August 13, 2001
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433 ASSIGNMENT TO TEACHERS AND CLASSES
Principals shall determine all grade placements of students, with the assistance of teachers. In general, students will be placed at the grade level to which they are best adjusted academically, socially, and emotionally.
CROSS REF.: 420, School Admission
APPROVED: November 11, 1974
REVISED: August 13, 2001
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440 STUDENT RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES –FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
Provision for expression of differences of opinion as provided in the First Amendment shall be adequately provided and protected. Prohibition of a particular expression of opinion, or means of expression, shall be based upon something more than a mere desire to avoid the discomfort and unpleasantness that always accompany an unpopular point of view.
However, no person, whether he/she is a parent, teacher or student, has an absolute right to freedom of speech. It is a myth to say that any person has a constitutional right to say what he/she pleases, where and when he/she pleases. Uncontrolled and uncontrollable liberty is an enemy to domestic peace.
Freedom of speech in our schools is limited by Board policy, canons of good taste as acceptable in the community, and legal considerations.
The primary liberties in a student’s life have to do with the process of inquiry and learning, of acquiring and imparting knowledge, and of exchanging ideas. This process requires that students have the right to express opinions, to take stands, and to support causes, publicly or privately. There should be no interference in the school with these liberties, or with the student’s access to or expression of controversial points of view, except as provided below:
1. Bulletin Boards
School authorities may restrict the use of certain bulletin boards to school announcements. Ample bulletin board space shall be provided for the use of students and student organizations, including a reasonable area for notices relating to out-of-school activities or matters of general interest to students. There shall be no prior censorship or requirement of approval of the contents or wording of notices or other communications, but the following general limitations on posting may be applied:
a. School authorities shall prohibit material which is obscene according to current legal definitions; which is libelous; or which inflames or incites students so as to create a clear and present danger of the commission of unlawful acts or of physical disruption to the orderly operation of the school.
b. Identification shall be required on any posted notice of the student or student group issuing same.
c. The school shall require that notices or other communications be officially dated before posting and that such material be removed after a prescribed reasonable time to assure full access to the bulletin boards.
2. Distribution of Printed Material and Circulation of Petitions
Students shall be free to distribute handbills, leaflets and other printed material and to collect signatures on petitions concerning either school or out-of-school issues, whether such materials are produced within or outside the school.
There shall be no prior censorship or requirement of approval of the contents or wording of such materials, but the following general limitations may be applied.
a. The time of such activity shall be limited to periods before school begins, after dismissal and during lunch time, if such limitation is necessary to prevent interference with the school program.
b. The place of such activity shall be reasonably restricted to permit the normal flow of traffic within the school and at exterior doors.
c. The manner of conducting such activity shall be restricted to prevent undue levels of noise, or to prevent the use of coercion in obtaining signatures on petitions. The danger of littering is not a sufficient ground for limiting the right of students to distribute printed material.
d. The school shall require that all printed matter and petitions distributed or circulated on school property bear the name of the sponsoring organization or individual.
e. The school shall prohibit the distribution of material within the restricted categories of paragraph 1a above.
3. Buttons and Badges
The wearing of buttons, badges, or armbands bearing slogans or sayings shall be permitted as another form of expression, unless the message thereof falls within the restricted categories of paragraph (1a) above. No teacher or administrator shall attempt to interfere with this practice on the ground that the message may be unpopular with students or faculty.
In imposing limitations on student expression for any of the foregoing provisions, the school must ensure that its rules are applied on a nondiscriminatory basis and in a manner designed to assure maximum freedom of expression to the students.
Any student or student group believing they have been deprived of freedom of expression under any of these provisions shall have the right to request a hearing to determine whether such deprivation is justified under these rules. Such a hearing must be held as soon as possible after request before an impartial body, including representatives of the faculty and student body. The hearing shall provide for a full and fair opportunity for both sides to present evidence and argument as to the propriety of the application of the regulation in question.
LEGAL REF.: Section 118.13 Wisconsin Statutes
CROSS REF.: 372, Student Publications
411, Discrimination and Harassment Prohibited
443.7, Student Activism
854, Display and Distribution of Materials on School Property
APPROVED: November 11, 1974
REVISED: August 13, 2001
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441 STUDENT SURVEYS
The School Board respects the privacy rights of parents and their children. No student shall be required to participate in any survey associated with a school program or the District’s curriculum, or which is administered by a third party in the schools, if the survey includes one or more of the following items:
- political affiliations or beliefs of the student or the student’s parent;
- mental and psychological problems of the student or the student’s family;
- sex behavior or attitudes;
- illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating or demeaning behavior;
- critical appraisals of other individuals with whom students have close family relationships;
- legally recognized privileged or analogous relationships such as those of lawyers, physicians and ministers;
- religious practices, affiliations or beliefs of the student’s parent; or
- income other than that required by law to determine eligibility for participation in a program or for receiving financial assistance under such a program.
The building principal shall notify parents/guardians at the beginning of each year of the specific or approximate dates during the school year when such survey activities are scheduled involving their children. Parents/guardians shall be given the opportunity to request that their child not participate in a survey containing the above information. If a survey containing any of the above information is funded in whole or in part by a program administered by the U.S. Department of Education, written consent shall be obtained from the student or, in the case of a minor student, the student’s parent/guardian before the student participates in the survey.
Parents/guardians may, upon request, inspect a survey containing any of the above information and any survey created by a third party before the survey is administered or distributed to a student. They may also request to inspect any instructional materials used in connection with the survey or any instructional material used as part of the educational curriculum for the student. Requests to inspect a survey or instructional materials should be made to the building principal or his/her designee. Survey inspection requests should be made prior to the date in which the survey is scheduled to be administered to students. The principal or designee shall respond to such requests without delay.
This policy shall be published annually in student handbooks. The policy must also be distributed to parents/guardians and employees in the District.
LEGAL REF.: No Child Left Behind Act of 2001
Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment
CROSS REF.: 333-Parent Rights in the Curriculum
347-Student Records
347-Rule(1)-Guidelines for the Control and Maintenance of Student Records
347-Rule(2)-Student Record Files
348-Research and Surveys in the Schools
349-Parent Rights and District Programs/Activities
491-Photographing of Students
850-Public Solicitations in the Schools
APPROVED: November 11, 2002
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442.1 STUDENT BOARD REPRESENTATIVES
A member of the junior or senior class shall be elected annually to serve as student representative to the Board, in accordance with established guidelines.
1. A student representative to the Board will be a member of the junior or senior class, elected at large by the student body.
2. The student representative’s term shall be for one year, commencing on July 1 of the year of election.
3. The student representative shall be notified of all full Board and committee meetings, which are not executive sessions.
4. The student representative shall receive all information normally sent to Board members, except items dealing with the personnel matters or items of a highly confidential nature.
5. The student representative shall sit at the Board table and participate in all appropriate discussion and debate, providing the insights and the feelings of the student body to the members of the Board.
6. The student representative shall not be permitted to vote on any issue.
CROSS REF.: 442.1-Rule, Guidelines for Student Board Representative
330, Curriculum Development
APPROVED: August 13, 2001
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443 STUDENT CONDUCT
A student’s conduct is a personal matter which should be kept within reasonable bounds that apply equally to all members of the community. Students should have freedom and encouragement to express their individuality in school in any way so long as such conduct does not intrude upon and endanger the freedom of others to behave as they wish – especially upon the freedom of other students to receive instruction. The Board’s intent is to try to establish a rational position between freedom for each individual and the necessity for sufficient order to permit the operation of the instructional program.
Respect for the individuality of students argues against attempts by the school to force student behavior into a common mold. Our Board-approved statement of school goals emphasizes our schools’ responsibility for helping each student to develop his/her unique abilities to the maximum.
The Board recognizes that implementation of this policy calls for sensitive, tolerant, intelligent action on the part of the school staff so that fostering of individuality is not incompatible with educationally sound group effort. In each instance in which an employee acts to help a student conduct him/herself properly, emphasis shall be placed upon the growth of the student in ability to discipline him/herself.
All students, on the other hand, should recognize the consequences of their conduct, including their actions toward each other, language, dress, and manners.
Students, both individually and in groups, shall comply with school regulations until needed changes are made through due process and shall recognize the authority of the teachers. Disobedience or open defiance of the teacher’s authority shall constitute sufficient cause for disciplinary action.
Students are also expected to abide by the code of conduct and behavior as outlined in the Board-approved Code of Classroom Conduct. Any student who violates the Code of Classroom Conduct may be subject to removal from class and/or disciplinary action.
The School District of Wisconsin Rapids does not discriminate in standards and rules of behavior, including student harassment, on the basis of gender, race, color, national origin, ancestry, creed, religion, pregnancy, marital or parental status, sexual orientation or physical, mental, emotional or learning disability or handicap. Discrimination complaints shall be processed in accordance with established procedures.
LEGAL REF.: Sections 118.13 Wisconsin Statutes
118.164
120.13(1)
120.44
PI 9.03(1), Wisconsin Administrative Code
CROSS REF.: 310, Instructional Goals and Objectives
447, Student Discipline
411-Rule, Student Discrimination and Harassment Complaint Procedures
443-Rule, Code of Classroom Conduct
371- Student Organizations
APPROVED: November 11, 1974
REVISED: December 1980
August 13, 2001
February 11, 2008
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443-RULE CODE OF CLASSROOM CONDUCT
Statement of Principle
The Wisconsin Rapids Public School District recognizes and accepts its responsibility to create, foster, and maintain a positive and safe class environment, conducive to teaching and to the learning processes. Every member of the school community is expected to cooperate in this central mission. Administrators, teachers, and other staff must use their training, experience, and authority to create school and classes where effective learning is possible. Students are expected to come to school, and to every class, ready and willing to learn. Parents should be aware of their children’s activities, performance and behavior in school. They are asked to cooperatively work with educators and make contact with the school to prevent or address problems.
The District shall attempt to make its schools as free as possible of the dangers of violence, weapons, drugs, and other behavior harmful to the educational environment.
Student behavior that is dangerous, disruptive or unruly or that interferes with the teacher’s ability to teach effectively will not be tolerated. Student’s exhibiting such behavior as outlined in this Code, may be removed from class in accordance with established procedures within this Code. This removal serves the multiple purposes of eliminating (or minimizing) the disruption, or reinforcing the District’s strong commitment to an appropriate educational environment, and of allowing a “time out” period, for disciplinary or other reasons, short of suspension or expulsion.
Beginning August 1, 1999, a teacher employed by the District, may remove a pupil from the teacher’s class if the pupil violates the terms of this Code of Student Classroom Conduct (the “Code. Removal from class under this Code does not prohibit the District from pursuing or implementing other disciplinary measures including, but not limited to, detentions, suspension or expulsion, with the student who was removed.
Reasons for Student Removal from Class
A teacher may remove a student from class for any of the following reasons:
1. Acts of Violence (Student/Staff)
- Physical or verbal threats or confrontations
- Fighting/Threats
- Intimidation – Physical/Psychological
- Weapons
- Vandalism or Theft of School Property
2. Acts of Inciting
- Inciting
- Gang Posturing
- Creating a Hostile Environment
3. AODA Issues
- Under the Influence of Illegal Substances
- Possession of Illegal/or Implied to be Illegal Substances
4. Classroom Disruption (Behavior which disrupts the learning environment)
- Disruptive Behavior
- Disruptive Talking (insubordination)
- Dressing/Grooming That Creates a Hostile Environment
- Repeated Violation of Classroom Rules
A student may be removed from class for conduct or behavior which:
1. violates the District’s policies regarding suspension or expulsion;
2. violates the behavioral rules and expectations set forth in the Student Handbook;
3. is disruptive, dangerous or unruly;
4. otherwise interferes with the ability of the teacher to teach effectively; or
5. interrupts the effective teaching and learning process.
Removal is a serious measure, and should not be imposed in an arbitrary, casual or inconsistent manner. It is neither possible nor necessary to specify every type of improper or inappropriate behavior, or every inappropriate circumstance that would justify removal under this Code. A teacher’s primary responsibility is to maintain an appropriate educational environment for the class as a whole. The teacher should exercise his or her best judgment and use building practices and policies when deciding whether it is appropriate to remove a student temporarily from class.
(A student with a disability may be removed from class and placed in an alternative educational setting only to the extent authorized by state and federal laws and regulations. IDEA)
Removal is to be understood as a teacher giving control of the student over to a principal or designee as the teacher has exhausted their means of behavior management and wants the student processed as a Code of Conduct violation. Each violation will be written up on the Code of Conduct violation form.
Procedures
Introduction
Removing a student from class is a serious matter and should not be taken lightly by the teacher, student, or the parent/guardian. Teachers must immediately notify the principal/designee of the reason for such action. The principal or his/her designee will evaluate the situation and take appropriate action. Students who are removed by their teachers must immediately go, or be taken, to the main office. When the student arrives at the main office, the principal or designee will give the student an opportunity to briefly explain the situation. If the principal or designee is not available immediately upon the student’s arrival, the student should be taken to the short term removal area, and the principal or designee should speak to the student as soon as possible.
Within twenty-four (24) hours or one school business day of the removal, whichever is longer, the teacher shall submit to the principal or designee a short, concise, and specific written explanation of the basis of the removal. Such information may be submitted on a form provided by the principal or designee.
Short Term Placement
For the duration of the removal, the student shall stay in the short-term removal area or in an area specified by the principal or designee. In general, the student should spend the time working on classroom assignments or an assignment relating to the misconduct (e.g. writing an account of what happened or an apology). In no event should the student’s time in removal be recreation or other free time.
In general, a student shall remain in the short-term removal area for at least the duration of the class or activity from which she or he was removed. Prior to allowing the student to return to his/her normal schedule the principal or designee will speak to the student to determine whether the student is, or appears to be, ready and able to return to class without a recurrence of the behavior for which the student was removed.
In the event it is not deemed appropriate to return the student to the regular class, the principal or designee shall either retain the student in the short-term removal area, or, if necessary, appropriate and practicable, utilize suspension alternatives.
Long Term Placement
Long-term placement in another class, instructional setting or alternative program following removal from the classroom is an extremely serious step that should not be undertaken hastily or for less than compelling reasons. Such a step could have profound consequences for the affected student and his or her class, as well as any new class or teacher to which the student may then be assigned. For these reasons, long term placement should not ordinarily be considered or implemented except after a thorough consultation, including a thorough consideration of alternatives between the teacher(s), parents and the principal or designee. For the same reasons, long-term placement should not ordinarily be considered on the basis of a single incident. Decisions regarding placement following removal from class rests with the principal.
If a teacher believes the best interest of the student and/or the class requires placement in a setting other than return to the classroom, the teacher should so notify the principal in writing. The statement should include, as clearly and completely possible:
a. the basis for the removal request;
b. the alternatives, approaches and other steps considered or taken to avoid the need for placement, i.e., parental intervention;
c. the impact, positive and negative, on the removed student; and
d. the impact, positive and negative, on the rest of the class.
Upon receipt of the written statement, the principal may consult with the teacher and/or District staff. In most cases, it is appropriate to inform and consult with the parent(s)/guardian of the student, and the student involved.
in a long-term removal.
Following consideration of the teacher’s statement and any other pertinent information, the principal shall, at his/her discretion, place the student into one of the following:
a. an alternative education program as defined by law;
b. another class in the school or another appropriate place in the school, as determined by the principal or designee;
c. another instruction setting; or
d. the classroom from which the student was removed if the program has been resolved.
The student in a long-term alternative placement shall receive an educational program and services comparable to, though not necessarily identical with, those of the class from which he or she was removed. The program does not need to be in the exact academic subjects of the former class.
Long-term placement is an administrative decision and therefore is not subject to a formal right of appeal. However, the parent(s)/guardian of the student, and/or student shall have the right to meet with the principal and teacher(s) who made the request for removal. Where possible, the meeting should take place within three (3) business days of the request of the meeting. At the meeting, the principal shall inform the parent(s)/guardian and/or student as fully as possible regarding the basis for the removal, the alternatives considered, and the basis for any decision. However, nothing in this Code shall prevent the principal from implementing a removal to another classroom, placement or setting prior to any meeting, even if the parent(s)/guardian or student objects to the removal.
Parent(s)/Guardian Notification Procedures
Under Code of Classroom Conduct Violations
1. The building principal or designee (teacher) shall attempt to notify the parent(s)/guardian of a minor student by personal contact or telephone call when a student is removed from class. Written notification shall follow within two business days of the removal. This notification shall include the reasons for the student’s removal from class, the duration of the removal, and the placement decision involving the student.
2. If the removal from class and change in educational placement involves a student with a disability, parent(s)/guardian notification shall be made consistent with state and federal laws and regulations.
3. If the student removed from the class is also subject to disciplinary action for the particular classroom conduct (i.e., suspension or expulsion), the student’s parent(s)/guardian shall also be notified of the disciplinary action in accordance with legal and policy requirements.
ADOPTED: June 14, 1999
REVISED: August 13, 2001
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443.1 STUDENT DRESS
A student’s dress or hair style, like his/her conduct is and should be a personal matter as long as such dress does not endanger students’ health or safety or interfere with instruction. In any situation, good personal grooming is an asset.
In essence, one’s personal appearance should not attract undesirable attention but should be neat, clean, in good taste and above all, appropriate. If necessary, the administration may establish more definitive guidelines.
Specific student dress expectations will be outlined in school Student Planners.
LEGAL REF.: Sections 120.13(1)(a) Wisconsin Statutes
120.44
CROSS REF.: School Student Planners
APPROVED: November 11, 1974
REVISED: August 13, 2001
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443.2 STUDENT CONDUCT ON SCHOOL BUSES
Parents/guardians and students must realize that the school bus is an extension of the classroom. The bus driver, as the teacher in the classroom, has the responsibility for the safety and welfare of the student while under his her charge.
Students must obey all rules that apply to bus riding for their own safety and protection as well as others aboard the school bus. Students and parents/guardians alike should be informed that misbehavior will not be tolerated. Student’s who misbehave on the school bus can be suspended from riding the school bus, in accordance with established procedures.
LEGAL REF.: Sections 120.13(1) Wisconsin Statutes
120.44
121.52(2)
CROFF REF.: 443.2-Rule, Guidelines for Student Conduct on School Buses
751.21, Use of Video Cameras on the School Bus
APPROVED: September 11, 1978
REVISED: August 13, 2001
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443.2-RULE BUS CONDUCT
The following guidelines have been developed for all school-sponsored activities and for the protection and safety of all involved.
Parent Responsibilities
1. Students will ride on assigned buses. Parents must request, in writing, an exception from this rule. Requests shall be made to the administrator in charge of the transportation at the school.
2. Students will board and disembark from their assigned bus at selected designations unless written permission from the building administrator in charge of transportation is granted to be let off at other than the regular stop. The bus driver must be presented such written request, signed by the administrator. Parents will assume the responsibility of the child when such a request is made and granted.
3. Parents are encouraged to contact the respective school official regarding any problems with school bus transportation. It is imperative that parents, school officials, and bus drivers work cooperatively together to solve any problems, thus providing a safe ride for all.
Student Responsibilities
1. Before loading –
a. Be on time at the designated school bus stops. Help keep the bus on schedule.
b. Stay off the road while waiting for the bus. Bus riders should conduct themselves in a safe manner while waiting.
c. Wait until the bus comes to a complete stop before attempting to board the bus. Line up in an orderly, single-file manner. Do not rush to get on the bus.
d. Be courteous. Don’t take advantage of younger children in order to get a seat.
e. If there is no sidewalk or path, walk on the side of the road facing traffic to get to the bus stop.
f. Use the handrail and watch your step when boarding the bus.
While on the bus
a. Keep hands and head inside the bus at all times.
b. Remember, loud talking and laughing or unnecessary confusion diverts the driver’s attention and may result in a serious accident.
c. Treat bus equipment as valuable furniture in your home. Damage to seats, etc., must be paid for by the offender or person assigned to that seat.
d. Eating on the bus is prohibited by State law.
e. A musical instrument will be allowed on the bus if the case can be held on the student’s lap or between that student’s legs. They MAY NOT be in the aisle. Large instruments may be taken on the bus if there is room; it must be tied-down in the seat next to the student. Days of athletic contests would provide the best opportunities to transport large instruments that must be tied down. Collaboration with the route bus driver must occur prior to transportation.
f. No pets allowed on the bus at any time.
g. Never tamper with the bus or any of its equipment.
h. Leave no books, lunches or other articles on the bus.
i. Keep books, packages, coats and all other objects out of the aisles.
j. Remain in the bus in case of road emergency, unless directed to do otherwise by the bus driver.
k. Do not throw anything out of the bus window. Windows are not to be opened unless authorized by the bus driver.
l. Smoking on the bus is prohibited by State law.
m. Smoking or possession of a controlled substance will result in an immediate and indefinite suspension.
n. Always remain in your seats while the bus is in motion. No standing up or changing seats.
o. Always be courteous to fellow pupils, the bus driver, and to passers-by.
p. Keep quiet when approaching a railroad crossing stop.
q. The driver will not discharge rider at places other than the regular bus stops unless a permit is obtained from a school official.
r. Buses will run whenever and wherever weather permits. In the event of inclement weather, announcements will be made on the local radio station by 6:30 a.m. as to whether or not buses will run.
s. Only regular riders are allowed to ride the bus; no other students will be permitted on the bus unless a permit is obtained from a school official.
t. Obey all rules listed by your school bus driver.
u. Use of smokeless tobacco is prohibited by State law.
v. Lighting matches on the bus is prohibited by State law.
After leaving the bus
a. Cross the road at least 10 feet in front of the bus but only after checking to be sure no traffic is approaching and/or after receiving a signal from the driver.
b. Never walk behind the rear of the bus.
c. If you can touch the bus after unloading, you are too close and are in potential danger.
d. Help look after the safety and comfort of small children.
Student Control on Buses
Students must obey all rules that apply to bus riding for their own safety and protection as well as others aboard the school bus. Students and parents alike should be informed that misbehavior will not be tolerated. Students who misbehave on the school bus can be suspended from riding their school bus. The following procedures will be followed by the bus company and school officials when appropriate. It is of course possible that a student may have to be removed immediately for the safety of all involved. If and when this should happen, the bus driver shall contact the bus company who will contact the Wisconsin Rapids Police Department or pick the student up and release them to the parent or legal guardian.
Steps in General Student Control on School Buses
1. The driver will first attempt to talk with the student individually whenever possible to resolve the problems. A description of the problem may be written up at this time and forwarded to the District’s Transportation Department.
2. If talking with the student should prove ineffective, the student may be assigned to a specific seat by the driver for a period of time. The problem may be written up and forwarded to the District’s Transportation Department.
3. If #1 and #2 have been tried unsuccessfully and the problem continues, the parent and/or school shall be contacted for further disciplinary action.
4. For serious infractions, steps #1, #2, and #3 can be eliminated.
Steps and Action in Revoking a Student’s Riding Privilege
1. The following behaviors will merit suspensions from riding the school bus. Such suspensions will be determined by the respective school officials.
a. Insubordination: Defined to mean a direct refusal to follow the instructions of the bus driver or others in charge.
b. Violations of policies on smoking, drugs, and alcohol: Defined to mean any act leading to or participating in these activities.
c. Fighting: Defined to mean any act leading to aggression or harm, or physical assault upon a person or persons, regardless of whether or not promoted by the action of others.
d. Profane Language: Defined to mean abusive or derogatory remarks intended to be uncomplimentary or unacceptable.
e. Destruction of the Bus: Defined to mean any act relating to the marring, cutting, tearing, or general destruction of the bus facilities.
f. Repeated Offenders: Defined to mean students who have been referred for minor infractions of bus safety not less than once nor more than three times inclusively.
2. The following suspension guidelines will be followed for students who have their bus riding privilege revoked. The parents will be contacted by school principal via the District’s Transportation Department whenever a bus riding suspension is involved.
Recommended Steps:
1st offense: warning
2nd offense: final warning/parent conference
3rd offense: 5 day suspension
4th offense: 5 day suspension
5th offense: expulsion from riding the bus
Bus Driver Guidelines
1. The bus driver is responsible for discipline on the bus.
2. The driver may use his/her discretion in not allowing students to ride in the morning. However, the District’s Transportation Department should contact the parent the night before to explain the reason for this action.
3. The driver may, in extreme cases of a serious nature, notify the police and have a student removed from the bus.
4. The driver may (in cases not as serious as #3) contact the District’s Transportation Department to have a student removed from the bus.
5. Drivers shall not refuse a student transportation home after school unless #3 or #4 above are in effect.
6. Drivers are encouraged to talk to students and parents, if necessary, to try to resolve a problem.
7. Drivers are encouraged to meet with the school officials, parents and the student in cases of misbehavior.
8. Drivers may assign students to seats on the bus.
9. Drivers may write misconduct reports on students and turn those reports into the transportation company who will forward the reports to the District’s Transportation Department for action.
RULE APPROVED: September 11, 1978
REVISED: August 12, 1996
REVISED: August 13, 2001
June 11, 2007
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443.3 SMOKING
The policy on smoking applies to the students, staff, and community as well. Therefore policy on smoking on and in the school district is listed in Section 800, specifically 831.
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443.4 STUDENT USE OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES
No student shall possess, use, be under the influence of, sell or distribute alcohol or controlled substances, or be involved in incidents involving drug paraphernalia (as defined by state law) in school, on school premises or during school-sponsored activities.
In response to violations of this policy, the school district shall take positive action through education, counseling, parental involvement, medical referral, disciplinary action up to and including suspension or expulsion, and police referral.
A student may be required to submit to a breath test to determine the presence of alcohol if a school official or law enforcement officer has reasonable suspicion that the student has alcohol in his/her system in violation of this policy. Such test shall be administered by a law enforcement officer and shall meet state law requirements. A student may be disciplined for refusing to submit to such test.
LEGAL REF.: Sections 118.125 Wisconsin Statutes
118.126
118.24(2)(f)
118.257
118.45
120.13(1)
120.44
125.02(8m)
125.037
125.09(2)
Chapter 961
CROSS REF.: 443.4-Rule, Disciplinary Measures for Student Use of Controlled Substances
445.1, Student Lockers
456, Student Assistance Program
Activities Code (Grades 7-12)
APPROVED: November 1974
REVISED: March 11, 1991
August 13, 2001
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443.4-RULE DISCIPLINARY MEASURES FOR STUDENT USE OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES
The administration shall practice the following procedures relative to student alcohol and drug use and abuse:
1. Use of Medication
a. No internal medication is to be administered by school personnel except as authorized, in accordance with established Board policy and procedures.
b. Dangerous and narcotic drugs which a student has on prescription and carries on to school property for ingestion as prescribed by a doctor, must be in their original containers and will be kept in the nurse’s or principal’s office, or wherever designated by the principal.
2. Suspected Drug Abuse
Principals, counselors, nurses, teaching staff and police liaison officers are involved in the procedures for dealing with students who may be abusing drugs. The following procedures are recommended for use b y school personnel in dealing with students who may be abusing drugs:
a. If a staff member observes a student displaying unusual physical or behavioral symptoms, he/she should report this matter to the school nurse or principal. Students who are exhibiting unusually severe and bizarre symptoms should be referred immedi | | |
