The Board of Education believes that an important aspect of the instructional program of the school is reporting student progress to parents/guardians (“parents”). The goal is to communicate as often as is necessary and as effectively as possible with the parents of each child, and to encourage parents to communicate with the school.
The District's formal reporting system includes report cards and/or forms developed by the professional staff and issued periodically, scheduled conferences between parents and teachers, and interim reports issued as needed or required. Parents are welcome to visit the school by appointment and to confer with teachers, guidance counselors, or other appropriate staff as deemed necessary.
Staff members are urged to maintain informal contact with parents .
At the secondary level, reports must be sent to parents by all subject areas whenever:
1. a student's work has dropped two grades during the five week period;
2. a student's level of work is graded a “D” or “F” at the end of the five-week marking period;
3. a student fails to complete a long term project that could result in a sharp drop or failure at the end of the marking period; or
4. a student's academic achievement shows an unexpected and serious decline.
Teachers are encouraged to report significant improvement in a student’s achievement to his/her parents.
Communications to Divorced or Separated Parents
The schools shall develop and maintain such communications with divorced or separated parents as may be in the best interests of the child or children involved consistent with any custody or other legal agreement. To that end, provided that the District has not received a legally binding document specifically removing the parent's right to have knowledge about, and participate in, his or her child's educational process, the following guidelines shall be observed:
1. In keeping with the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, both custodial and non-custodial parents shall, upon request, be given full access to their children's school records.
2. Upon written request from custodial or non-custodial parents, non-custodial parents shall be sent such written communications as are commonly sent to custodial parents (e.g. report cards, notices of parent-teacher conferences, notices of “open house” meetings, etc.), provided that they pay any unusual costs involved.
3. Teachers and other professional personnel shall attempt to conduct parent-teacher conferences with both custodial and non-custodial parents if such conferences are requested. Such conferences may be held separately or with the two parents jointly. The primary concern shall be establishing effective communication concerning the child.
Cross-ref: 1900, Parental Involvement
4710, Grading Systems
4714, Parent Conferences
5100, Comprehensive Attendance Policy
5500, Student Records
Adoption date: July 6, 2010
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