Guidelines Regarding In-School Observations for all Visitors
These guidelines have been established in order to minimize disruption in instruction and/or to the educational process in general.
1. Requests to observe classrooms in the school shall be provided in writing to the school administration. The request must state the reason for said observation. Only a parent or approved evaluator may observe and the parent and/or evaluator shall not bring anyone else to the observation without the express consent of the Superintendent or designee.
2. Parents or an evaluator requesting to observe a classroom must be accompanied by an administrator at all times.
3. Parents or an evaluator may observe no more than one (1) time per trimester unless otherwise expressly approved by the Superintendent or designee.
4. Parents or an evaluator observing a classroom shall be apprised of the confidentiality requirements under the law. The scope of the observation shall be limited to a specific classroom with the stipulation that any confidential information regarding other students or staff members obtained during the observation will not be shared outside of the school, and information received will not be released to others and will be destroyed when no longer needed for purposes for which the observation was conducted. Parent or an evaluator may be required to sign a separate confidentiality and indemnity agreement as determined by the Administration.
5. Prior to the observation, school administration shall establish the time and duration of the observation. In no event shall an observation be longer than thirty (30) minutes unless additional time is expressly granted by the Superintendent or designee. During the observation, there can be no attempt to engage a teacher or therapist in conversation or ask questions during the instruction. There shall be no attempt to engage with the student being observed or any other students unless expressly authorized by the administrator accompanying the observer. Tape recording, or videotaping shall not be allowed during the visit. Such behavior will be considered disruptive and the parent or evaluator will be asked to leave the classroom.
6. The West Warwick Public Schools reserve the right to rescind observation privileges allowable under state and federal regulations to any parent who does not comply with the guidelines established by the school administration or when such visits disrupt the educational environment as determined by the building principal.
7. I understand and agree to comply with the above referenced policy regarding in-school observations. By signing this agreement, I agree that I am observing only my child or the child I have been retained to observe / evaluate and other information that I may obtain during this observation is highly confidential.
Name: ______________________________ Signature: _________________________
Date: _________________________
CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT
I, _________________________, in my capacity as _________________________, plan to observe (please choose one): 1. ( ) a program / classroom, or 2. ( ) a student _________________________ (name of student) at _____________________________ School in the West Warwick Public Schools in/during______________________________. In order to protect the confidentiality and privacy rights of all children in the District, I hereby agree to forever maintain a strict level of confidentiality regarding any confidential information I learn, observe, or obtain in any way during the entire course of, or as a result of, my observation of the student as it relates to any other students whatsoever other than the specific student I am observing. I
understand that confidential information refers to any information which identifies or could
potentially identify any individual student (other than the student I am observing), including but not limited to:
Results of formal and informal assessments
Social and behavioral actions / observations
Performance levels and progress
Programs goals and objectives
The identity of students receiving special education and related services
The identity of students receiving intervention services
Financial information
Personal and family information
Academic instruction and grades
Any and all other information learned during the course of, or as a result of, my observation
Pursuant to federal and state laws and regulations, the West Warwick Public Schools is responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of all personally identifiable information at collection, storage, disclosure and destruction stages. I further agree that I will at no time disrupt the educational process during my observation and will maintain an unintrusive, professional and courteous demeanor at all times.
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