Illinois law requires that whoever has custody or control of any child between six (by September 1st) and seventeen years of age shall assure that the child attends school in the district in which he or she resides, during the entire time school is in session (unless the child has already graduated from high school).
Illinois law also requires that whoever has custody or control of a child who is enrolled in the school, regardless of the child’s age, shall assure that the child attends school during the entire time school is in session.
Refer to your resident district parent-student handbook for certain exceptions to the attendance requirement.
Parents/guardians have a major responsibility for seeing that their students attend school on a regular basis. On the day of a student’s absence, a parent/guardian is required to notify school officials as early as possible. School telephone lines are equipped with voicemail for calls received before or after school hours. When leaving a voicemail message concerning your child’s absence, please state your name, the child’s name, the date of the absence, reason for absence, and a contact number where you can be reached if further clarification is needed. If a student is absent and a call to the school is not received by 10:00 am, verification of the absence will be made by school personnel who will contact the parent/guardian to verify the student’s absence and circumstances.
In instances of chronic absences, the school may place a student on a Student Attendance Contract and may request a physician’s statement to certify the absences. Chronic unexcused absences may be referred to the County Truancy Office.
Student Absences
Subject to specific requirements in State law, the following children are not required to attend public school: (1) any child attending a private school (including a home school) or parochial school, (2) any child who is physically or mentally unable to attend school (including a pregnant student suffering medical complications as certified by her physician), (3) any child lawfully and necessarily employed, (4) any child over 12 and under 14 years of age while in confirmation classes, (5) any child absent because of religious reasons, including to observe a religious holiday, for religious instruction, or because his or her religion forbids secular activity on a particular day(s) or time of day, and (6) any child 16 years of age or older who is employed and is enrolled in a graduation incentives program.
Students who are excused from school will be given a reasonable timeframe to make up missed homework and classwork assignments. If a student’s absence is excused or if a student is suspended from school, he/she will be permitted to make up all missed work, including homework and tests/exams, for equivalent academic credit.
Pre-arranged excused absences must be approved by the Program Administrator.
The school may require documentation explaining the reason for the student’s absence.
Before 9:30 a.m. on the day of the student’s absence, the Parent/Guardian must report their student’s absence.
For all Southeast students, call (630) 778-4510
For all other SASED programs and students, call (630) 778-4500
The Parent/Guardian should report their student’s name, their name and relationship to student, the date of the absence, the reason for the absence, and a contact number in case clarification is needed.
As early as possible on the day of their student’s absence, the parent/guardian must call their student’s transportation company to report their student’s absence.
Note: In instances of chronic absences, SASED may place a student on a Student Attendance Contract and may request a physician’s statement to certify the absences. Chronic unexcused absences may be referred to the County Truancy Office.
Note: Individual cases of extended absences can be documented via a mutual agreement between the parent/guardian and administrator.
Diagnostic Procedures for Identifying Student Absences and Support Services to Truant or Chronically Truant Students
State law requires every school district to collect and review its chronic absence data and determine what systems of support and resources are needed to engage chronically absent students and their families to encourage the habit of daily attendance and promote success. This review must include an analysis of chronic absence data from each attendance center.
Furthermore, State law provides that school districts are encouraged to provide a system of support to students who are at risk of reaching or exceeding chronic absence levels with strategies and are also encouraged to make resources available to families such as those available through the State Board of Education's Family Engagement Framework to support and engage students and their families to encourage heightened school engagement and improved daily school attendance.
SASED will utilize the following diagnostic procedures for identifying the causes of unexcused student absences: Interviews with the student, his or her parent/guardian and any school officials who may have information about the reasons for the student’s attendance problems.
Supportive services to truant or chronically truant students include parent conferences, student counseling, family counseling, and information about existing community services.
Students arriving late to school will receive an unexcused tardy. Family car trouble, personal and/or family errands, failure to awaken or be awakened, missing the bus, or a family member assuming responsibility for a late arrival to school will be considered an unexcused tardy. A student who has an unexcused tardy will receive a program specific intervention. Parents/guardians should keep in mind that an excused tardy can only be issued by the principal. For example, if students riding the school bus arrive late due to inclement weather, the student’s tardy will be considered excused.
ACCEPTABLE USE OF THE COOPERATIVE’S ELECTRONIC NETWORKS
All use of SASED/member districts’ electronic networks shall be consistent with the goal of promoting educational excellence by facilitating resource sharing, innovation, and communication. These procedures do not attempt to state all required or prohibited behavior by users. However, some specific examples are provided. The failure of any user to follow these procedures will result in the loss of privileges, disciplinary action, and/or legal action.
All use of the SASED/member districts’ electronic network must be: (1) in support of education and/or research, and be in furtherance of the goals stated herein, or (2) for a legitimate school business purpose. Use is a privilege, not a right. Students and staff members have no expectation of privacy in any material that is stored, transmitted, or received via SASED/member districts’ electronic network or SASED/member districts’ computers. General rules for behavior and communications apply when using electronic networks. SASED/member districts’ administrative procedure, Acceptable Use of SASED’s Electronic Networks, contains the appropriate uses, ethics, and protocol. Electronic communications and downloaded material, including files deleted from a user’s account but not erased, may be monitored or read by school officials.
Each staff member must sign SASED and the host member districts’ Authorization for Access to the District’s Electronic Networks as a condition for using SASED/member Districts’ electronic network. Each student and his or her parent(s)/guardian(s) must sign both Authorizations before being granted unsupervised use.
Terms and Conditions
The term electronic networks includes all of SASED’s technology resources, including, but not limited to: (1) SASED’s local-area and wide-area networks, including wireless networks (Wi-Fi), SASED provided Wi-Fi hotspots, and any SASED servers or other networking infrastructure; (2) Access to the Internet or other online resources via SASED’s networking infrastructure or to any SASED-issued online account from any computer or device, regardless of location; (3) SASED-owned and SASED-issued computers, laptops, tablets, phones, or similar devices.
Acceptable Use - Access to SASED’s electronic networks must be: (1) for the purpose of education or research, and be consistent with SASED’s educational objectives, or (2) for legitimate business use.
Privileges - Use of SASED’s electronic networks is a privilege, not a right, and inappropriate use may result in a cancellation of those privileges, disciplinary action, and/or appropriate legal action. The system administrator or Program Administrator will make all decisions regarding whether or not a user has violated these procedures and may deny, revoke, or suspend access at any time. His or her decision is final.
Unacceptable Use - The user is responsible for his or her actions and activities involving the electronic networks. Some examples of unacceptable uses are:
Using the electronic networks for any illegal activity, including violation of copyright or other intellectual property rights or contracts, or transmitting any material in violation of any State or federal law.
Using the electronic networks to engage in conduct prohibited by board policy.
Unauthorized downloading of software or other files, regardless of whether it is copyrighted or scanned for malware.
Unauthorized use of personal removable media devices (such as flash or thumb drives).
Downloading of copyrighted material for other than personal use.
Using the electronic networks for private financial or commercial gain.
Wastefully using resources, such as file space.
Hacking or attempting to hack or gain unauthorized access to files, accounts, resources, or entities by any means.
Invading the privacy of individuals, including the unauthorized disclosure, dissemination, and use of information about anyone that is of a personal nature, such as a photograph or video.
Using another user’s account or password.
Disclosing any network or account password (including your own) to any other person, unless requested by the system administrator.
Posting or sending material authored or created by another without his/her consent.
Posting or sending anonymous messages.
Creating or forwarding chain letters, spam, or other unsolicited messages.
Using the electronic networks for commercial or private advertising.
Accessing, sending, posting, publishing, or displaying any abusive, obscene, profane, sexual, threatening, harassing, illegal, or knowingly false material.
Misrepresenting the user’s identity or the identity of others.
Using the electronic networks while access privileges are suspended or revoked.
Network Etiquette - The user is expected to abide by the generally accepted rules of network etiquette. These include, but are not limited to, the following:
Be polite. Do not become abusive in messages to others.
Use appropriate language. Do not swear or use vulgarities or any other inappropriate language.
Do not reveal personal information, including the addresses or telephone numbers, of students or colleagues.
Recognize that SASED’s electronic networks are not private. People who operate SASED technology have access to all email and other data. Messages or other evidence relating to or in support of illegal activities may be reported to the authorities.
Do not use the networks in any way that would disrupt their use by other users.
Consider all communications and information accessible via electronic networks to be private property.
No Warranties - SASED makes no warranties of any kind, whether expressed or implied, for the service it is providing. SASED will not be responsible for any damage the user suffers. This includes loss of data resulting from delays, non-deliveries, missed deliveries, or service interruptions caused by its negligence or the user’s errors or omissions. Use of any information obtained via the Internet is at the user’s own risk. SASED specifically denies any responsibility for the accuracy or quality of information obtained through its services.
Indemnification - By using SASED’s electronic networks, the user agrees to indemnify SASED for any losses, costs, or damages, including reasonable attorney fees, incurred by SASED relating to, or arising out of, any violation of these procedures.
Security - Network security is a high priority. If the user can identify or suspects a security problem on the network, the user must promptly notify the system administrator or Program Administrator. Do not demonstrate the problem to other users. Keep user account(s) and password(s) confidential. Do not use another individual’s account without written permission from that individual. Attempts to log-on to the network as a system administrator will result in cancellation of user privileges. Any user identified as a security risk may be denied access to the networks.
Vandalism - Vandalism will result in cancellation of privileges and other disciplinary action. Vandalism is defined as any malicious attempt to harm or destroy data of another user, the Internet, or any other network. This includes, but is not limited to, the uploading or creation of malware, such as viruses and spyware.
Telephone Charges - SASED assumes no responsibility for any unauthorized charges or fees, including telephone charges, texting or data use charges, long-distance charges, per-minute surcharges, and/or equipment or line costs.
Copyright Web Publishing Rules - Copyright law and SASED policy prohibit the re-publishing of text or graphics found on the Internet or on SASED’s website or file servers/cloud storage without explicit written permission.
For each re-publication (on a website or file server) of a graphic or a text file that was produced externally, there must be a notice at the bottom of the page crediting the original producer and noting how and when permission was granted. If possible, the notice should also include the web address of the original source.
Students engaged in producing web pages must provide library media specialists with email or hard copy permissions before the web pages are published. Printed evidence of the status of public domain documents must be provided.
The absence of a copyright notice may not be interpreted as permission to copy the materials. Only the copyright owner may provide permission. The manager of the website displaying the material may not be considered a source of permission.
The fair use rules governing student reports in classrooms are less stringent and permit limited use of graphics and text.
Student work may only be published if there is written permission from both the parent/guardian and student.
Use of Email – SASED’s email system, and its constituent software, hardware, and data files, are owned and controlled by SASED. SASED may provide, if appropriate, an email to aid students in fulfilling their duties and responsibilities, and as an education tool.
SASED reserves the right to access and disclose the contents of any account on its system, without prior notice or permission from the account’s user. Unauthorized access by any student to an email account is strictly prohibited.
Each person should use the same degree of care in drafting an email message as would be put into a written memorandum or document. Nothing should be transmitted in an email message that would be inappropriate in a letter or memorandum.
Electronic messages transmitted via SASED’s Internet gateway carry with them an identification of the user’s Internet domain. This domain is a registered name and identifies the author as being a part of SASED. Great care should be taken, therefore, in the composition of such messages and how such messages might reflect the name and reputation of SASED. Users will be held personally responsible for the content of any and all email messages transmitted to external recipients.
Any message received from an unknown sender via the Internet, such as spam or potential phishing emails, should either be immediately deleted or forwarded to the system administrator. Downloading any file attached to any Internet-based message is prohibited unless the user is certain of that message’s authenticity and the nature of the file so transmitted.
Use of SASED’s email system constitutes consent to these regulations.
Internet Safety
Internet access is limited to only those acceptable uses as detailed in these procedures. Internet safety is supported if users will not engage in unacceptable uses, as detailed in these procedures, and otherwise follow these procedures. Staff members will supervise students while students are using SASED’s Internet access to ensure that the students abide by the Terms and Conditions for Internet access contained in these procedures.
Each SASED computer with Internet access has a filtering device that blocks entry to visual depictions that are: (1) obscene, (2) pornographic, or (3) harmful or inappropriate for students, as defined by the Children’s Internet Protection Act and as determined by the Executive Director or designee.
The system administrator and Program Administrators shall monitor student Internet access.
Students and Parent(s)/Guardian(s) need to annually sign this Authorization for Internet Access while enrolled in SASED programs.
Equal Educational Opportunities Board Policy 7:10
Discrimination and harassment on the basis of race, color, or national origin negatively affects a student’s ability to learn and an employee’s ability to work. Providing an educational and workplace environment free from such discrimination and harassment is an important SASED goal. SASED and its host districts do not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, or national origin in any of its education programs or activities and comply with federal and State non-discrimination laws.
Examples of Prohibited Conduct
Examples of conduct that may constitute discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin include: disciplining students more harshly and frequently because of their race, color, or national origin; denying students access to high-rigor academic courses, extracurricular activities, or other educational opportunities based on their race, color, or national origin; denying language services or other educational opportunities to English learners; and assigning students special education services based on a student's race, color, or national origin.
Harassment is a form of prohibited discrimination. Examples of conduct that may constitute harassment on the basis of race, color, or national origin include: the use of racial, ethnic or ancestral slurs or stereotypes; taunts; name-calling; offensive or derogatory remarks about a person's actual or perceived race, color, or national origin; the display of racially offensive symbols; racially-motivated physical threats and attacks; or other hateful conduct.
Making a Report or Complaint; Investigation Process
Individuals are encouraged to promptly report claims or incidents of discrimination or harassment based on race, color, or national origin to the Nondiscrimination Coordinator, a Complaint Manager, or any employee with whom the student is comfortable speaking. Reports will be processed under SASED’s Uniform Grievance Procedure.
Reports and complaints of discrimination or harassment will be confidential to the greatest extent practicable, subject to SASED’s duty to investigate and maintain an educational environment that is productive, respectful, and free of unlawful discrimination, including harassment.
Federal and State Agencies
If SASED fails to take necessary corrective action to stop harassment based on race, color, or national origin, further relief may be available through the Illinois Dept. of Human Rights (IDHR) or the U.S. Dept. of Education's Office for Civil Rights. To contact IDHR, go to: https://dhr.illinois.gov/about-us/contact-idhr.html or call (312) 814-6200 (Chicago) or (217) 785-5100 (Springfield).
Prevention and Response Program
SASED maintains a prevention and response program to respond to complaints of discrimination based on race, color, and national origin, including harassment, and retaliation. The program includes procedures for responding to complaints which:
Reduce or remove, to the extent practicable, barriers to reporting discrimination, harassment, and retaliation.
Permit any person who reports or is the victim of an incident of alleged discrimination, harassment, or retaliation to be accompanied when making a report by a support individual of the person's choice who complies with SASED’s policies and rules.
Permit anonymous reporting, except that an anonymous report may not be the sole basis of any disciplinary action.
Offer remedial interventions or take such disciplinary action as may be appropriate on a case-by-case basis.
Offer, but do not require or unduly influence, a person who reports or is the victim of an incident of harassment or retaliation the option to resolve allegations directly with the accused.
Protects a person who reports or is the victim of an incident of harassment or retaliation from suffering adverse consequences as a result of a report of, investigation of, or a response to the incident.
Enforcement
Any SASED employee who is determined, after an investigation, to have engaged in conduct prohibited by this policy will be subject to remedial action and/or disciplinary action, up to and including discharge.
Any SASED student who is determined, after an investigation, to have engaged in conduct prohibited by this policy will be subject to remedial action and/or disciplinary action, including but not limited to, suspension and expulsion, consistent with the student discipline information in this handbook.
Any third party who is determined, after an investigation, to have engaged in conduct prohibited by this policy will be addressed in accordance with the authority of the Board in the context of the relationship of the third party to SASED, e.g., vendor, parent, invitee, etc. Any person making a knowingly false accusation regarding prohibited conduct will likewise be subject to remedial and/or disciplinary action.
Retaliation Prohibited
Retaliation against any person for bringing complaints, participating in the complaint process, or otherwise providing information about discrimination or harassment based on race, color, or national origin is prohibited.
Individuals should report allegations of retaliation to the Executive Director, an administrator, the Nondiscrimination Coordinator, and/or a Complaint Manager.
Please refer to SASED Board Policy 7:20 Harassment of Students Prohibited for additional information.
Harassment Prohibited
No person, including a school or school district employee or agent, or student, shall harass, intimidate, or bully a student on the basis of actual or perceived: race; color; national origin; military status; unfavorable discharge status from military service; sex; sexual orientation; gender identity; gender-related identity or expression; ancestry; age; religion; physical or mental disability; order of protection status; status of being homeless; actual or potential marital or parental status, including pregnancy; physical appearance; socioeconomic status; academic status; association with a person or group with one or more of the aforementioned actual or perceived characteristics; or any other distinguishing characteristic. SASED will not tolerate harassing, intimidating conduct, or bullying whether verbal, physical, sexual, or visual, that affects the tangible benefits of education, that unreasonably interferes with a student’s educational performance, or that creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive educational environment. Examples of prohibited conduct include name-calling, using derogatory slurs, stalking, sexual violence, causing psychological harm, threatening, or causing physical harm, threatened or actual destruction of property, or wearing or possessing items depicting or implying hatred or prejudice of one of the characteristics stated above.
Sexual Harassment Prohibited
SASED/member districts shall provide an educational environment free of verbal, physical, or other conduct or communications constituting harassment on the basis of sex as defined and otherwise prohibited by State and federal law.
Teen Dating Violence Prohibited
Engaging in teen dating violence that takes place at school, on school property, at school-sponsored activities, or in vehicles used for school-provided transportation is prohibited. For purposes of this policy, the term teen dating violence occurs whenever a student who is 13 to 19 years of age uses or threatens to use physical, mental, or emotional abuse to control an individual in the dating relationship; or uses or threatens to use sexual violence in the dating relationship.
For more information about this issue, please see the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s educational materials at www.cdc.gov/injury/features/dating-violence/index.html.
Making a Report or Complaint
Students are encouraged to promptly report claims or incidences of bullying, intimidation, harassment, sexual harassment, or any other prohibited conduct to the Nondiscrimination Coordinator, Executive Director, or a Complaint Manager, or any employee with whom the student is comfortable speaking. A student may choose to report to an employee of the student’s same gender.
Non-Discrimination Coordinator:
Dr. Julia Wheaton
Assistant Director of Human Resources 2900 Ogden Avenue
Lisle, IL 60532
630-955-8107
jwheaton@sased.org
Complaint Managers:
Dan Lawler
Technology Director
2900 Ogden Avenue
Lisle, IL 60532
630-955-8105
dlawler@sased.org
Dr. Elizabeth Vander Woude
Assistant Director of Programs and Services
2900 Ogden Avenue
Lisle, IL 60532
630-955-8102
evanderwoude@sased.org
Any person making a knowingly false accusation regarding prohibited conduct will likewise be subject to discipline.
Investigation Process
Reports and complaints of discrimination or harassment will be confidential to the greatest extent practicable, subject to SASED’s duty to investigate and maintain an educational environment that is productive, respectful, and free of unlawful discrimination, including harassment.
Enforcement
Any SASED employee who is determined, after an investigation, to have engaged in conduct prohibited by this policy will be subject to remedial action and/or disciplinary action, up to and including discharge.
Any SASED student who is determined, after an investigation, to have engaged in conduct prohibited by this policy will be subject to remedial action and/or disciplinary action, including but not limited to, suspension and expulsion, consistent with the student discipline information in this handbook.
Any third party who is determined, after an investigation, to have engaged in conduct prohibited by this policy will be addressed in accordance with the authority of the Board in the context of the relationship of the third party to SASED, e.g., vendor, parent, invitee, etc. Any person making a knowingly false accusation regarding prohibited conduct will likewise be subject to remedial and/or disciplinary action.
Retaliation Prohibited
Retaliation against any person for bringing complaints, participating in the complaint process, or otherwise providing information about discrimination or harassment based on race, color, or national origin is prohibited.
Individuals should report allegations of retaliation to the Executive Director, an administrator, the Nondiscrimination Coordinator, and/or a Complaint Manager.
Please refer to SASED Board Policy 7:185 Teen Dating Violence Prohibited for additional information.
Child sexual abuse, grooming behaviors, and boundary violations harm students, their parent/guardian, SASED’s environment, its school communities, and the community at large, while diminishing a student’s ability to learn.
Warning Signs of Child Sexual Abuse
Warning signs of child sexual abuse include the following:
Physical signs:
● Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) or other genital infections
● Signs of trauma to the genital area, such as unexplained bleeding, bruising, or blood on the sheets, underwear, or other clothing
● Unusual weight gain or loss Behavioral signs:
● Excessive talk about or knowledge of sexual topics
● Keeping secrets
● Not talking as much as usual
● Not wanting to be left alone with certain people or being afraid to be away from primary caregivers
● Regressive behaviors or resuming behaviors that the child had grown out of, such as thumb sucking or bedwetting
● Overly compliant behavior
● Sexual behavior that is inappropriate for the child’s age
● Spending an unusual amount of time alone
● Trying to avoid removing clothing to change or bathe Emotional signs:
● Change in eating habits or unhealthy eating patterns, like loss of appetite or excessive eating
● Signs of depression, such as persistent sadness, lack of energy, changes in sleep or appetite, withdrawing from normal activities, or feeling “down”
● Change in mood or personality, such as increased aggression
● Decrease in confidence or self-image
● Anxiety, excessive worry, or fearfulness
● Increase in unexplained health problems such as stomach aches and headaches
● Loss or decrease in interest in school, activities, and friends
● Nightmares or fear of being alone at night
● Self-harming behaviors or expressing thoughts of suicide or suicidal behavior
● Failing grades
● Drug or alcohol use
Warning Signs of Grooming Behaviors
School and District employees are expected to maintain professional and appropriate relationships with students based upon students’ ages, grade levels, and developmental levels.
Prohibited grooming is defined as (1) any act, including but not limited to, any verbal, nonverbal, written, or electronic communication or physical activity, (2) by an employee with direct contact with a student, (3) that is directed toward or with a student to establish a romantic or sexual relationship with the student. Examples of grooming behaviors include, but are not limited to, the following behaviors:
● Sexual or romantic invitations to a student
● Dating or soliciting a date from a student
● Engaging in sexualized or romantic dialog with a student
● Making sexually suggestive comments that are directed toward or with a student
● Self-disclosure or physical exposure of a sexual, romantic, or erotic nature
● Sexual, indecent, romantic, or erotic contact with a student
● Failing to respect boundaries or listening when a student says “no”
● Engaging in touching that a student or student’s parents/guardians have indicated is unwanted
● Trying to be a student’s friend rather than filling an adult role in the student’s life
● Failing to maintain age-appropriate relationships with students
● Talking with students about personal problems or relationships
● Spending time alone with a student outside of their role in the student’s life or making up excuses to be alone with a student
● Expressing unusual interest in a student’s sexual development, such as commenting on sexual characteristics or sexualizing normal behaviors
● Giving a student gifts without occasion or reason
● Spending a lot of time with a student
● Restricting a student’s access to other adults
Warning Signs of Boundary Violations
School and District employees breach employee-student boundaries when they misuse their position of power over a student in a way that compromises the student’s health, safety, or general welfare. Examples of boundary violations include:
● Favoring a certain student by inviting the student to “hang out” or by granting special privileges
● Engaging in peer-like behavior with a student
● Discussing personal issues with a student
● Meeting with a student off-campus without parent/guardian knowledge and/or permission
● Dating, requesting, or participating in a private meeting with a student (in person or virtually) outside of a professional role
● Transporting a student in a school or private vehicle without administrative authorization
● Giving gifts, money, or treats to an individual student
● Sending a student on personal errands
● Intervening in a serious student problem instead of referring the student to an appropriately trained professional
● Sexual or romantic invitations toward or from a student
● Taking and using photos/videos of students for non-educational purposes
● Initiating or extending contact with a student beyond the school day in a one-on-one or non-group setting
● Inviting a student to an employee’s home
● Adding a student on personal social networking sites as contacts when unrelated to a legitimate educational purpose
● Privately messaging a student
● Maintaining intense eye contact with a student
● Making comments about a student’s physical attributes, including excessively flattering comments
● Engaging in sexualized or romantic dialog
● Making sexually suggestive comments directed toward or with a student
● Disclosing confidential information
● Self-disclosure of a sexual, romantic, or erotic nature
● Full frontal hugs
● Invading personal space
If you believe you are a victim of child sexual abuse, grooming behaviors, or boundary violations, or you believe that your child is a victim, you should immediately contact the Executive Director, a school counselor, or another trusted adult employee of the school.
Additional Resources include:
1. National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
2. National Sexual Abuse Chatline at https://hotline.rainn.org/online
3. Illinois Department of Children and Family Services Hotline at 1-800-25-ABUSE (2873)
Targeted School Violence Prevention Program
Threats and acts of targeted school violence harm SASED’s environment and school community, diminishing students’ ability to learn and SASED’s ability to educate. Providing students and staff with access to a safe and secure environment is an important goal of SASED and its host districts. While it is not possible to completely eliminate threats, SASED and its host districts maintain a Targeted School Violence Prevention Program and a Threat Assessment Team to reduce these risks to its environment.
Parents/guardians and students are encouraged to report any expressed threats or behaviors that may represent a threat to the community, school, or self. Reports can be made to any school administrator, law enforcement authorities, or the Safe2Help Illinois helpline (http://www.safe2helpil.com)
Students and parents are urged to participate in behavioral threat assessment and intervention programs if the Behavioral Threat Assessment Team believes that intervention is necessary to prevent a student from harming themselves or others. However, if for some reason there is a reluctance to participate in the process by the threat maker(s) or parent/guardian(s), the threat assessment process will continue in order to ensure a safe and caring learning environment for all.
Student safety is SASED’s top priority. To maximize safety, the Cooperative uses a threat assessment process to identify threats and prevent targeted school violence. This process is part of the Targeted School Violence Prevention Program (Program). For more information, see Board policy 4:190 -Targeted School Violence Prevention Program. The Program is part of the preparedness and response phases of the School Emergency Operations and Crisis Response Plan, which in turn is part of SASED’s Comprehensive Safety and Security Plan.
SASED wishes to create a climate that encourages sharing any information about a safety concern with a trusted adult who can help. Sharing information about threats and safety concerns is everyone’s responsibility: students, parents/guardians, staff, and community members. The question-and-answer section below is designed to help students, parents/guardians, and staff understand when school officials want individuals to share information about a safety concern.
What Is a Threat?
A threat is a concerning communication or behavior that indicates that an individual poses a danger to the safety of school staff or students through acts of violence or other behavior that could cause harm to self or others. It may be expressed/communicated orally, visually, in writing, electronically, or in another way. Threats may be direct (“I’m going to beat you up” or “I’m going to blow this place up!”) or indirect (“Come and watch what I am going to do to her.”). A threat can be vague (“I’m going to hurt him.”) or implied (“You better watch out.”). Any possession of a weapon or mention of one is a possible threat.
A threat is a threat regardless of whether it is observed by or communicated directly to the target of the threat or is observed by or communicated to a third party; and regardless of whether the target of the threat is aware of the threat.
Sometimes students make threats that may seem funny or “just kidding,” but sometimes a threat is very serious and/or criminal. When you are in doubt as to whether the statement is kidding or serious, the responsible thing to do is to tell the Executive Director, Program Administrator, or other responsible staff member.
What Is Targeted School Violence?
Targeted School Violence includes school shootings and other school-based attacks where the school was deliberately selected as the location for the attack and was not simply a random site of opportunity. Individuals who have committed targeted violence did not “just snap,” but engaged in a process of thought and escalation of action over days, weeks, months, and even years.
In the majority of incidents of targeted violence, perpetrators did not directly threaten their targets, but they did communicate their intent and/or plans to others before the violence. This indirect expression or third-party communication of intent to cause harm is often referred to as leakage. Reporting leakage is key to preventing targeted school violence. If you see something, say something.
Who Is Required to Report Threats?
All Cooperative staff, volunteers, and contractors are required to report any expressed threats or behaviors that may represent a threat to the community, school, or self to the Building Principal. Parents/guardians and students are also encouraged to report any such threats to the Building Principal, any school administrator, law enforcement authorities, or the Safe2Help Illinois helpline (www.safe2helpil.com)
Reported threats are assessed by the school’s Threat Assessment Team (TAT). Each TAT includes people with expertise in counseling, instruction, school administration, and law enforcement. The goal of the threat assessment process is to take appropriate preventive or corrective measures to maintain a safe and secure school environment, to protect and support potential victims, and to provide assistance, as needed, to the individual being assessed.
The threat assessment process does not preclude anyone from acting immediately to address an imminent threat.
What Can Staff and Parents/Guardians Do?
The TAT will provide guidance to students and staff regarding recognizing concerning, aberrant, threatening, and prohibited behaviors to be reported. While there is no one list or behaviors that may cause concern, examples include, but are not limited to:
● Threatening statements or gestures
● Persons with ongoing, unresolved grievances with members of the school community
● Atypical, unusual, or bizarre communications or behavior
● Significant changes in behavior
● Increased focus or fixation on aspects of violence, harm, or death
● Information about someone expressing thoughts, plans, or preparations for violence
● Concerns that someone may harm themselves
● Behavior that significantly disrupts the learning or working environment
● Behavior that seems troubling or disturbing
● Persons seeming isolated and alienated from others
● Anyone unknown to the school
Staff and parents/guardians can reinforce this guidance by discussing with students what a threat is, encouraging students not to make threats or “joking” statements in the first place, and reiterating that seeking help to prevent someone from getting hurt or hurting another by reporting threats is appropriate.
STUDENT DRESS CODE
Our student dress code is designed to accomplish several goals:
Allow students to wear clothing of their choice that is comfortable.
Allow students to wear clothing that expresses their self-identified gender.
Allow students to wear religious attire without fear of discipline or discrimination.
Prevent students from wearing clothing or accessories with offensive images or language, including profanity, hate speech, and pornography.
Prevent students from wearing clothing or accessories that denote, suggest, display or reference alcohol, drugs or related paraphernalia, or other illegal conduct or activities.
Prevent students from wearing clothing or accessories that will interfere with the operation of the school, disrupt the educational process, invade the rights of others, or create a reasonably foreseeable risk of such interference or invasion of rights.
Prevent students from wearing clothing or accessories that reasonably can be construed as being or including content that is racist, lewd, vulgar, or obscene, or that reasonably can be construed as containing fighting words, speech that incites others to imminent lawless action, defamatory speech, or threats to others.
Ensure that all students are treated equitably regardless of race, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion, cultural observance, household income or body type/size.
Dress Code
Basic Principle: Certain body parts must always be covered for all students.
Clothes must be worn in a way such that genitals, buttocks, chest, and navel are fully covered with opaque fabric. All items listed in the “must wear” and “may wear” categories below must meet this basic principle.
Students Must Wear*, while following the basic principle of Section 1 above:
A Shirt (with fabric in the front, back, and on the sides under the arms), AND
Pants/jeans or the equivalent must be worn around the hip/waist (for example, a skirt, sweatpants, leggings, a dress, or shorts), AND
Shoes, AND
Protective or supportive clothing when needed to maintain a safe learning environment in classes (i.e. PE, cooking, science labs)
*Courses that include attire as part of the curriculum (for example, professionalism, public speaking, and job readiness) may include assignment-specific dress. Activity-specific shoes requirements are permitted (for example, athletic shoes for PE).
Students May Wear, as long as these items do not violate Section 1 above:
Hats facing straight forward or straight backward. Hats must allow the face to be visible to staff, and not interfere with the line of sight of any student or staff
Religious headwear
Hoodie sweatshirts (wearing the hood overhead is allowed, but the face and ears must be visible to school staff)
Fitted pants, including opaque leggings, yoga pants and “skinny jeans”
Pajamas
Ripped jeans, as long as underwear and buttocks are not exposed
Tank tops, including spaghetti straps; halter tops
Athletic attire
Visible waistbands on undergarments that do not expose the entire undergarment or visible straps on undergarments worn under other clothing (as long as this is done in a way that does not violate Section 1 above)
Students Cannot Wear:
Violent language or images
Images or language depicting/suggesting gangs, drugs, alcohol, vaping, or paraphernalia (or any illegal item or activity)
Bullet proof vest, body armor, tactical gear, or similar
Hate speech, profanity, pornography
Images or language that creates a hostile or intimidating environment based on any protected class or consistently marginalized groups
Any clothing that reveals visible undergarments (visible waistbands and visible straps are allowed)
Swimsuits
Accessories that could be considered dangerous or could be used as a weapon
Any item that obscures the face or ears (except as a religious observance)
Coats designed for outdoors when indoors (for example a winter coat or raincoat)
Any items that reasonably can be construed as containing fighting words, speech that incites others to imminent lawless action, defamatory speech, or threats to others
Any item that reasonably leads school authorities to forecast substantial disruption of school operations or that invades the rights of others
Dress Code Enforcement
To ensure effective and equitable enforcement of this dress code, school staff shall enforce the dress code consistently using the requirements below. School administration and staff shall not have discretion to vary the requirements in ways that lead to discriminatory enforcement.
Students will only be removed from spaces, hallways, or classrooms as a result of a dress code violation as outlined in Sections 1 and 4 above. Students in violation of Section 1 and/or 4 will be provided three (3) options to be dressed more to code during the school day:
Students will be asked to put on their own alternative clothing, if already available at school, to be dressed more to code for the remainder of the day.
Students will be provided with temporary school clothing to be dressed more to code for the remainder of the day.
If necessary, students’ parents may be called during the school day to bring alternative clothing for the student to wear for the remainder of the day.
No student should be affected by dress code enforcement because of racial identity, sex assigned at birth, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, ethnicity, cultural or religious identity, household income, body size/type, or body maturity.
In accordance with Illinois School Code, SASED does not prohibit hairstyles historically associated with race, ethnicity, or hair texture, including, but not limited to, protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists.
School staff shall not enforce the school’s dress code more strictly against transgender and gender nonconforming students than other students.
Students should not be shamed or required to display their body in front of others (students, parents, or staff) in school. This includes, but is not limited to:
kneeling or bending over to check attire fit.
measuring straps or skirt length; asking students to account for their attire in the classroom or in hallways in front of others.
calling out students in spaces, in hallways, or in classrooms about perceived dress code violations in front of others; in particular, directing students to correct sagged pants that do not expose the entire undergarment, or confronting students about visible bra straps, since visible waistbands and straps on undergarments are permitted.
accusing students of “distracting” other students with their clothing.
These dress code guidelines shall apply to regular school days and summer school days, as well as any school-related events and activities. Any students participating in classes or activities at their home school must follow the institution's dress code policy.
Students who feel they have been subject to discriminatory enforcement of the dress code should contact the SASED’s Executive Director.
The primary responsibility for a student’s attire resides with the student and their parent(s) or guardian(s).
School-Sponsored Publications and Web Sites
School-sponsored publications, productions, and web sites are part of the curriculum and are not a public forum for general student use. School authorities may edit or delete material that is inconsistent with SASED’s educational mission.
All school-sponsored communications shall comply with the ethics and rules of responsible journalism. Text that is libelous, obscene, vulgar, lewd, invades the privacy of others, conflicts with the basic educational mission of the school, is socially inappropriate, is inappropriate due to the maturity of the students, or is materially disruptive to the educational process will not be tolerated.
The author’s name will accompany personal opinions and editorial statements. An opportunity for the expression of differing opinions from those published/produced will be provided within the same media.
Non-School Sponsored Publications and Web Sites Accessed or Distributed at School
Students are prohibited from accessing and/or distributing at school any written or electronic material, including material from the Internet that:
Will cause substantial disruption of the proper and orderly operation and discipline of the school or school activities.
Violates the rights of others, including but not limited to material that is libelous, invades the privacy of others, or infringes on a copyright.
Is socially inappropriate or inappropriate due to maturity level of the students, including but not limited to material that is obscene, pornographic, or pervasively lewd and vulgar, or contains indecent and vulgar language.
Is primarily intended for the immediate solicitation of funds.
Is distributed in kindergarten through eighth grade and is primarily prepared by non-students unless it is being used for school purposes. Nothing herein shall be interpreted to prevent the inclusion of material from outside sources or the citation to such sources as long as the material to be distributed or accessed is primarily prepared by students.
The distribution of non-school-sponsored written material shall occur at a time and place and in a manner that will not cause disruption, be coercive, or result in the perception that the distribution or the material is endorsed by SASED.
Accessing or distributing “at school” includes accessing or distributing on school property or at school-related activities. A student engages in gross disobedience and misconduct and may be disciplined for: (1) accessing or distributing forbidden material, or (2) for writing, creating, or publishing such material intending for it to be accessed or distributed at school.
Student-Created or Distributed Written or Electronic Material Including Blogs
A student engages in gross disobedience and misconduct and may be disciplined for creating and/or distributing written or electronic material, including Internet material and blogs, that causes substantial disruption to school operations or interferes with the rights of other students or staff members.
Refer to your student’s specific program and site location information for school breakfast and lunch times and lunch/milk purchase information.
Pursuant to the Hunger-Free Students’ Bill of Rights Act, 105 ILCS 123/10(a): Every school in this State shall provide a federally reimbursable meal or snack to a student at that school who requests the meal or snack, regardless of whether the student has the ability to pay for the meal or snack or owes money for earlier meals or snacks. The school may not provide a student requesting a meal or snack under this subsection (a) an alternate meal or snack that is different from the other meals or snacks provided to students in that school and may not prohibit or prevent a student from accessing the school's meal or snack services.
SASED is participating in federally funded National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs as an approved Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) school for the current school year FY26. Under CEP, all students enrolled at SASED may participate in the breakfast and lunch program at no charge, if meals are available at their attending school. Household applications for free and reduced-price meals will not be collected, but alternate income forms may be distributed by the school to collect household income data for other programs that require this information.
If available, students may participate in the lunch program available at their attending school. See attending school registration packet for more information.
Once at school, on a bus bound for school, or returning home on the bus from school, students are not permitted to leave the school building/property or bus unless given permission from the Program Administrator. Leaving without permission will result in a program consequence and parent contact.
In order to maintain order, safety, and security in the schools, school authorities are authorized to conduct reasonable searches of school property and equipment, as well as of students and their personal effects. “School authorities” includes school liaison police officers.
School Property and Equipment as well as Personal Effects Left There by Students
School authorities may inspect and search school property and equipment owned or controlled by SASED/member districts (such as lockers, desks, and parking lots), as well as personal effects left there by a student, without notice to or the consent of the student. Students have no reasonable expectation of privacy in these places or areas or in their personal effects left there.
The Executive Director may request the assistance of law enforcement officials to conduct inspections and searches of lockers, desks, parking lots, and other school property and equipment for illegal drugs, weapons, or other illegal or dangerous substances or materials, including searches conducted through the use of specially trained dogs.
Students Searches
School authorities may search a student and/or the student’s personal effects in the student’s possession (such as purses, wallets, knapsacks, book bags, lunch boxes, etc.) when there is a reasonable ground for suspecting that the search will produce evidence the particular student has violated or is violating either the law or SASED/member district’s student rules and policies. The search will be conducted in a manner that is reasonably related to its objective of the search and not excessively intrusive considering the student’s age and sex, and the nature of the infraction.
School officials may require a student to cooperate in an investigation if there is specific information about activity on the student’s account on a social networking website that violates the school’s disciplinary rules or SASED’s policy. In the course of the investigation, the student may be required to share the content that is reported in order for the school to make a factual determination. School officials may not request or require a student or his or her parent/guardian to provide a password or other related account information to gain access to the student’s account or profile on a social networking website.
Seizure of Property
If a search produces evidence that the student has violated or is violating either the law or the SASED/member district’s policies or rules, evidence may be seized and impounded by school authorities, and disciplinary action may be taken. When appropriate, evidence may be transferred to law enforcement authorities.
Questioning of Students Suspected of Committing Criminal Activity
Before a law enforcement officer, school resource officer, or other school security person detains and questions on school grounds a student under 18 years of age who is suspected of committing a criminal act, the Building Principal, Program Administrator, or designee will: (a) Notify or attempt to notify the student’s parent/guardian and document the time and manner in writing; (b) Make reasonable efforts to ensure the student’s parent/guardian is present during questioning or, if they are not present, ensure that a school employee (including, but not limited to, a social worker, psychologist, nurse, guidance counselor, or any other mental health professional) is present during the questioning; and (c) If practicable, make reasonable efforts to ensure that a law enforcement officer trained in promoting safe interactions and communications with youth is present during the questioning.