Annual

Notifications

The Madison School District is required to provide parents annual notifications of different policies, procedures, rules, and laws that pertain to educating students. Below is a list of items that may contain a link to a school board policy or include text with the procedural or rule information. For any questions regarding this items, please reach out to SAU 13 School Superintendent.

Annual Notification of Specific School Board Policies

AC- Non Discrimination

ADB/GBEC - Drug-Free Workplace & Drug-Free School

Policy ADC/GBED – Tobacco Products Ban Use and Possession

Policy EFAA - School Lunch Meal Payment Policy

Policy IJNDB - School District Internet Access for Students

Policy JFAB - Admission of Tuition and Non-Resident Students

Policy JH - Attendance, Absenteeism and Truancy

Policy JICFA - Hazing

Policy JICD - Student Discipline and Due Process

Policy - JICK Pupil Safety, Bullying/Harassment & Violence Prevention

Policy JICL - School District Internet Access for Students ; Acceptable Use Agreement

Policy JKAA - Use of Physical Restraint, Seclusion, and Intentional Physical Contact

Policy JLCC - Pediculosis (Head Lice)

Policy JLCF - Wellness

Policy JLCJ - Concussion and Head Injuries

Policy JLF - Reporting Child Abuse

Policy JLCDA - Life Threatening Allergy Policy

Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA):

All known asbestos has been abated from Madison Elementary School. The AHERA plan is available in the school office.

FAMILY EDUCATIONAL RIGHTS AND PRIVACY ACT (FERPA)

Notification of Rights under FERPA For Elementary and Secondary Schools

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords parents and students over 18 years of age ("eligible students") certain rights with respect to the student's education records. These rights are:

(1) The right to inspect and review the student's education records within 45 days of the day the School receives a request for access.

Parents or eligible students should submit to the School principal [or appropriate school official] a written request that identifies the record(s) they wish to inspect. The School official will make arrangements for access and notify the parent or eligible student of the time and place where the records may be inspected.

(2) The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the parent or eligible student believes are inaccurate.

Parents or eligible students may ask the School to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate. They should write the School principal, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate. If the School decides not to amend the record as requested by the parent or eligible student, the School will notify the parent or eligible student of the decision and advise them of their right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the parent or eligible student when notified of the right to a hearing.

(3) The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student's education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.

One exception, which permits disclosure without consent, is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the School as an administrator, supervisor, instructor, or support staff member (including health or medical staff and law enforcement unit personnel); a person serving on the School Board; a person or company with whom the School has contracted to perform a special task (such as an attorney, auditor, medical consultant, or therapist); or a parent or student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks.

A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility.

Upon request, the School discloses education records without consent to officials of another school district in which a student seeks or intends to enroll. [NOTE: FERPA requires a school district to make a reasonable attempt to notify the parent or student of the records request unless it states in its annual notification that it intends to forward records on request.]

(4) The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the Madison School District to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the Office that administers FERPA are: Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20202-5901

IDEA, SECTION 504, AND ADA CHILD FIND NOTICE

It is the policy of the Madison School District to generate public awareness of the rights of students with disabilities and to ensure that all students with disabilities are referred to the School District. All referrals will be directed to the Building Principal and the child’s parent or guardian will be notified of any referral.

Children eligible for Special Education include those children with disabilities who have an intellectual disability, autism, deaf-blindness, emotional disturbance, hearing impairment, multiple disabilities, orthopedic impairment, other health impairment, specific learning disability, speech or language impairment, traumatic brain injury, visual impairment, or developmental delay and who, because of such an impairment, need special education services.

Children eligible for Section 504 accommodations or services include those children who have physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity.

If you suspect your child has a disability and may need special education services or 504 accommodations, or if you would like additional information, please reach out to the school principal who will connect you with the appropriate staff member.

The Madison School District provides special education, related services and accommodations to eligible children with disabilities who reside within the District. Madison School District desires to identify, locate, and provide notice of its responsibilities to every qualified child with disabilities in its jurisdiction, including children who are homeless, who are wards of the state, and who are being homeschooled. Madison School District also seeks to identify and locate children with disabilities attending private schools located with the District.

If you suspect that your child or any child living within the boundaries of this school district, ages 0-22, is or might be a student with disabilities, please contact the Building Principal.

As amended, RSA 186-C:2, I, expands the definition of the term “Child with a disability” to incorporate individuals who are 21, inclusive. Therefore, school districts are now required to provide a free appropriate public education (FAPE) to individuals who are receiving special education through age 21 until their 22nd birthday. Access the new definition as provided by RSA 186-C:2, I, here: http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/bill_status/billinfo.aspx?id=2139&inflect=2

INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES EDUCATION ACT (IDEA)

In 1975, Congress enacted the law now known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). This law was reauthorized in 1977, 1997 and 2004 and provides eligible children from ages 3 to 22 who have a disability adversely impacting their educational progress, with a free and appropriate education via a special education program and related services.

The law establishes a two-prong eligibility standard. Special education and related services of IDEA are available to students who have documented disabilities and who need special assistance to benefit from education. Once a child is found eligible, a team including the child’s parents and representatives of the public education system develops and individualized education program (IEP) or individualized family service plan (IFSP) that includes the services and supports necessary to meet each child’s unique needs. The Madison School District fully complies with this law. For more information or to initiate a referral for your child, contact the Building Principal. A description of parents’ rights under the IDEA can be found at the New Hampshire Department of Education website by clicking on the Procedural Safeguards Handbook link or by contacting your local school to receive a hard copy.

PARENT’S RIGHT TO KNOW

Under the U.S. Department of Education’s “ESSA” Act, we are required by law to provide you with an annual report related to assessments, accountability, and teacher quality in the Madison School District. It is with pleasure that we provide that information to you.

The staff members including classroom teachers, specialists, and any others who deliver direct instruction at Madison Elementary School have met New Hampshire’s state qualifications for the grade levels and subject areas in which the teacher provides instruction. A certified teacher supervises highly qualified paraprofessionals at Madison Elementary School. Parents may request information regarding the professional qualification of the student’s classroom teachers, including, at the minimum, the following:

Whether the teacher is teaching under emergency or other professional status that the state has waived.
The degree major of the teacher and any other graduate certification or degree held by the teacher and the field of discipline of the certification or degree.
Whether the child is provided services by paraprofessionals, and if so, their qualifications.

Additionally, Madison Elementary School provides to each individual parent:

Information on the level of achievement the child has made on all state assessments.
Timely notice that the parent’s child has been assigned or taught for 4 or more consecutive weeks by a teacher who is not highly qualified.

Parents may contact the principal for information relative to the concept of Highly Qualified Teachers.

PROTECTION OF PUPIL RIGHTS AMENDMENT (PPRA)

The Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA) affords parents certain rights regarding our conduct of surveys, collection and use of information for marketing purposes, and certain physical exams. These include the right to:

• Consent before students are required to submit to a survey that concerns one or more of the following protected areas (“protected information survey”) if the survey is funded in whole or in part by a program of the U.S. Department of Education (ED)–

1. Political affiliations or beliefs of the student or student’s parent;

2. Mental or psychological problems of the student or student’s family;

3. Sex behavior or attitudes;

4. Illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating, or demeaning behavior;

5. Critical appraisals of others with whom respondents have close family relationships;

6. Legally recognized privileged relationships, such as with lawyers, doctors, or ministers;

7. Religious practices, affiliations, or beliefs of the student or parents; or

8. Income, other than as required by law to determine program eligibility.

•Receive notice and an opportunity to opt a student out of –

1. Any other protected information survey, regardless of funding;

2. Any non-emergency, invasive physical exam or screening required as a condition of attendance, administered by the school or its agent, and not necessary to

protect the immediate health and safety of a student, except for hearing, vision, or scoliosis screenings, or any physical exam or screening permitted or required under State law; and

3. Activities involving collection, disclosure, or use of personal information obtained from students for marketing or to sell or otherwise distribute the information to others.

•Inspect, upon request and before administration or use –

1. Protected information surveys of students;

2. Instruments used to collect personal information from students for any of the above marketing, sales, or other distribution purposes; and

3. Instructional material used as part of the educational curriculum.

These rights transfer from the parents to a student who is 18 years old or an emancipated minor under State law.

There are no activities requiring parental notice and consent of opt-out for the upcoming school year. However, if surveys and activities are scheduled after the school year begins; the Madison School District will provide parents, within a reasonable period of time prior to the administration of the surveys and activities, notification of the surveys and activities and be provided an opportunity to opt their child out, as well as an opportunity to review the surveys.

PUBLIC COMPLAINTS (See School Board Policies: KE, KEB, KED)

The Board believes that complaints and grievances are best handled and resolved by the parties directly concerned. Therefore, the proper channeling of complaints involving instruction, discipline or learning materials will be as follows:

1. Teacher

2. Principal

3. Superintendent

4. Board of Education

5. New Hampshire Department of Education *

Any complaint presented to the Board about school personnel shall be referred back through proper administrative channels. The Board will not hear complaints from individuals until such complaints have first been brought forth through the appropriate and applicable administrative procedures. Exceptions to this provision are for complaints that relate solely to Board actions or Board operations.

STUDENT RECORDS (See School Board Policy JRA)

Parents may have access to their child’s records and may have copies of any information in the record. If parents wish to review their child’s record, they must first ask the building principal. The principal will then supervise the gathering of records and meet with the parents to review the contents. The parent must give a minimum of 24 hours notice before reviewing records.

TITLE I: PARENT/GUARDIAN INVOLVEMENT (See School Board Policy KB)

This parent involvement policy was developed in cooperation by the administrative team at Title I schools, parents of participating students and the school district. It will be made available to all parents/guardians of participating students.

District Requirements:

Annually Title I Program staff will involve parents in the development of the Title I Plan and Title I Program Evaluation through feedback from surveys and interpersonal communication. The Title I staff will continue to solicit their involvement in school improvement efforts.
The school district and administration team will build school and parent capacity for strong parental involvement. The team will also provide technical and advisory assistance in development and implementation of the plan and effective parent involvement activities.
The school district staff will coordinate and integrate Title I parental involvement strategies with other programs.

Title I School Requirements:

The Title I School will hold an annual meeting in a timely manner to inform participating families about the program, parental rights and responsibilities, and opportunities for partnership between the school and the home in building the student’s academic skills. At the initial meeting the staff will….

-ensure that all parents receive the Parent's’ Right to Know document, regarding teacher qualifications;

-provide information about the assessments used in determining eligibility and the nature and content of specific programs that will be used to supplement classroom instruction;

-provide written information about the results of their particular student’s assessment and the content of the program in which their child will be participating within one week of the start date for their child’s instruction; and

-follow-up with phone calls to clarify any information needed.

PARENTS RIGHT-TO- KNOW

Title I, Part A of ESEA (The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001)

Parent’s Right To Know - (Section 1111(h)(6)(A-C))

Qualifications: At the beginning of each school year, a LEA that receives Title I funds must notify parents of each student attending any Title I school that the parents may request, and that agency will provide the parents on request (and in a timely manner) information regarding the professional qualification of the student’s classroom teachers, including at minimum the following:

♦ Whether the teachers has met State qualifications for the grade levels and subject areas in which the teacher provides instruction;

♦ Whether the teacher is teaching under emergency or other professional status that the State has waived;

♦ The degree major of the teacher and any other graduate certification or degree held by the teacher and the field of discipline of the certification or degree; and

♦ Whether the child is provided services by paraprofessionals and if so their qualifications.

Additional Information - A school that receives Title I funds must provide to each individual parent –

♦ Information on the level of achievement the child has made on all state assessments; and

♦ Timely notice that the parent’s child has been assigned or taught for 4 or more consecutive weeks by a teacher who is not highly qualified.

Format – The notice and information provided to parents under this paragraph shall be in an understandable and uniform format and, to the extent practicable, provided in a language that the parents can understand.

Parents will be informed of meetings in writing and if possible, invited personally via phone call. If there is a need expressed for childcare or transportation the Title I program will make arrangements for students (when appropriate) and siblings to be cared for on-site during the meetings free of charge to the parents. If needed, transportation will be made available to parents wishing to attend.
Additional meetings may be scheduled during the year to provide an opportunity for parents to ask questions and gain information about academic development and strategies to help their students succeed. Meetings will be geared toward meeting the expressed needs of the parents with regard to their student’s academic development and skills.
Parent feedback will be gathered to assess the program’s effectiveness and to help inform future decisions about its scope and content.

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