Student and Family

HANDBOOK
2020–2021

Administrative Center
1900 W. Monroe
Springfield, IL 62704
DIRECTORY 5

PURPOSE OF THIS HANDBOOK 7

STUDENT ENROLLMENT AND PLACEMENT 8

STUDENT AGE 8
RESIDENCY 8
VERIFICATION OF RESIDENCY 8
STUDENTS WHO LIVE OUTSIDE THE DISTRICT 9
STUDENT PLACEMENT 9
PLACEMENT OF STUDENTS IN CLASSES AND IN SPECIFIC
GRADES 9
SPECIAL EDUCATION 10
CAPITAL AREA CAREER CENTER 10
HOMELESS STUDENTS 10
ATTENDANCE AREAS AND TRANSFERS 11
HARDSHIP TRANSFERS 11
DISTRICT INITIATED TRANSFERS 11
HIGH SCHOOL-MAJORITY TO MINORITY TRANSFER 11
PRIOR SIBLING TRANSFERS 12
MAGNET SCHOOLS 12
EXCEPTIONS 12

ATTENDANCE AND ABSENCES 12

ATTENDANCE POLICY 12
EXCUSED ABSENCES 13
UNEXCUSED ABSENCES 13
TARDINESS AND LEAVING SCHOOL DURING SCHOOL HOURS 13
MAKE UP WORK 14
EMERGENCY SCHOOL CLOSINGS 14

ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS 14
HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS 14
STATE MANDATED GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS 15
Required High School Credits 16
SEX EDUCATION INSTRUCTION 16
CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES/ OBJECTIONABLE CONTENT 17
CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES 17
OBJECTIONABLE MEDIA CENTER MATERIALS 17

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 PHYSICAL EDUCATION EXEMPTION POLICY 17

SCHOOL CULTURE 18
SHARED RESPONSIBILITY 18
STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES AND RIGHTS 18
Students should: 18
STUDENT DRESS CODE 19
Students have the right to: 19
TEACHER RESPONSIBILITIES AND RIGHTS 20
Teachers should: 20
Teachers have the right to: 20
PARENT RESPONSIBILITIES AND RIGHTS 21
Parents should: 21
Parents have the right to: 22
PARENT RIGHTS REGARDING STUDENT SURVEYS 22
CONTINUUM OF SUPPORT 22
SAEBRS/mySAEBRS Information 22
PROBLEM SOLVING TEAMS 23
MULTI-TIERED SYSTEMS OF SUPPORT 23
CONSEQUENCES VERSUS INTERVENTIONS 24
Interventions 24

STUDENT DISCIPLINE 26
GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR DISCIPLINE 26
Classroom Managed Behaviors 27
Restorative/Discipline Options for Classroom Managed Behaviors 28
Gross Disobedience or Misconduct 28
Behaviors Considered Gross Disobedience or Misconduct 28
BULLYING/HAZING 32
Disciplinary Procedures 32
Restorative/Discipline Options for Gross Disobedience or Misconduct33
Suspensions 34
Expulsion 34
Re-Entry 34
STUDENT RIGHTS IN DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES 34
GUIDELINES FOR WORK MISSED DURING OUT-OF-SCHOOL
SUSPENSION 35
Daily work, Homework and Quizzes 36

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 Research Papers, Major Projects and Major Tests 36
BUS CONDUCT 36
Bus Safety 38
Bus Audio and Video Recordings 38
Searches of School Locker, Property, etc. 38
Interrogations 39

TECHNOLOGY POLICIES 39
TECHNOLOGY USE POLICY 39
ELECTRONIC DEVICE POLICY 40
Social Network Passwords 41

SCHOOL FOOD SERVICE 41

COMPUTERIZED POINT OF SALE SYSTEMS 41

FEES 41
WAIVER OF SCHOOL FEES 42
INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS FEE 42
ATHLETIC FEES 42

EXTRACURRICULAR AND ATHLETIC ACTIVITIES 43

Requirements for Participation in Extracurricular Athletic Activities 43
ACADEMIC ELIGIBILITY 43
STUDENT ATHLETIC CONCUSSION AND HEAD INJURIES 44
IHSA/IESA 44
ABSENCE FROM SCHOOL ON DAY OF SPORT OR ACTIVITY 45
TRAVEL 45
CODE OF CONDUCT FOR ACTIVITIES 45
DUE PROCESS PROCEDURES FOR ACTIVITIES 46
DRUG AND ALCOHOL TESTING PROGRAM 47
ATTENDANCE AT SCHOOL DANCES 47
LOSS/THEFT OF STUDENT PROPERTY 48

HEALTH AND SAFETY 48

REQUIRED HEALTH EXAMINATIONS AND IMMUNIZATIONS 48
Eye Examination 49
Dental Examination 49
Exemptions 49
VISION AND HEARING SCREENINGS 49
MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION 50

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 PROTOCOL FOR HEAD LICE 51
STUDENT ACCIDENT INSURANCE 52
STUDENT ILLNESS/INJURY 52
SUICIDE AND DEPRESSION AWARENESS AND PREVENTION 53
SCHOOL SAFETY 53
Drills 53
Tentative Safety Drill Schedule: 53
SOFT LOCKDOWN 53
ASBESTOS MANAGEMENT PLANS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION 54
PEST MANAGEMENT POLICY STATEMENT 54
PESTS 54
PESTICIDES 54
INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT (IPM) 55

BULLYING, HAZING, SEXUAL HARASSMENT, TEEN DATING VIOLENCE,

DISCRIMINATION & REPORTING OF ABUSE 55
BULLYING POLICY 55
Bullying Forms 58
HAZING 62
Definition of Hazing 62
Procedures for Dealing with Hazing Behavior 62
If You Are the Victim of Hazing 63
SEXUAL HARASSMENT 63
TEEN DATING VIOLENCE 64
GENDER NON-DISCRIMINATION 64
NON-DISCRIMINATION 64
REPORTING SEXUAL HARASSMENT, TEEN DATING VIOLENCE OR
DISCRIMINATION 64

STUDENT ABUSE/NEGLECT REPORTING 65

Department Of Children And Family Services (DCFS) Involvement 66

TITLE I 66

SPECIAL EDUCATION 67
ACCESS TO SPECIAL EDUCATION 67
ACCESS TO MEDICAID FUNDS 67
BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTIONS FOR STUDENTS RECEIVING SPECIAL
EDUCATION AND RELATED SERVICES 68

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 EXPLANATION OF PROCEDURAL SAFEGUARDS AVAILABLE TO
PARENTS OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES 69
Prior Notice to Parents 69
Parent Consent 70
Independent Educational Evaluation 70
Complaint Resolution and Mediation 71
Impartial Due Process Hearing 72
Due Process Hearing Rights 73
Appealing the Decision 73
Child’s Status During Proceedings 73
Award of Attorneys’ Fees 74
Educational Surrogate Parents 74
Fees for Searching, Retrieving, and Copying Records 75
Record of Access 75
Challenge to Records 75
Transfer of Parental Rights 76

ILLINOIS LAW: PA 101-0515

Related Service Logs
Draft IEP Documentation

STUDENT RECORDS 76
ILLINOIS SCHOOL STUDENT RECORDS NOTIFICATION STATEMENT
76
Permanent and Temporary Records 77
The permanent record must include: 77
The permanent record may include: 77
The temporary record must include: 77
The temporary record may include: 77

ANNUAL NOTIFICATION OF RIGHTS UNDER THE PROTECTION OF PUPIL

RIGHTS AMENDMENT (PPRA) 81

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DIRECTORY
Springfield Public Schools
1900 West Monroe Street
Springfield, Illinois 62704
www.sps186.org
(217) 525-3000
● Alternative Education Programs (217) 525-7911
● Bus Transportation (217) 525-3096
● Communications (217) 525-3024 / (217) 525-3047
● District Finances (217) 525-3040
● Early Childhood Education, Pre-Kindergarten (217) 525-3163
● Food Services (217) 525-3046
● Family and Community Engagement (FACE) (217) 525-3027
● Fine Arts (217) 525-3264
● Gifted Education (217) 525-3017
● High School Programs / AVID (217) 525-3017
● Human Resources (217) 525-3006
● Literacy (217) 525-3301
● Math (217) 525-3085
● Operations and Maintenance (217) 525-3051
● Professional Development (217) 525-3011
● Safety & Security (217) 525-7911
● Board of Education (217) 525-4406
● Special Education / Health Services (217) 525-3060
● Student Discipline (217) 525-7911
● Superintendent’s Office (217) 525-3002
● Teaching and Learning (217) 525-3011
● Technology (217) 585-5808
● Title I / 21st Century (217) 525-3037
● Transportation (217) 525-3096

Visit​ ​www.sps186.org​ for more information.

Stay connected to Springfield Public Schools

On Facebook: facebook.com/District186
On Twitter: twitter.com/schooldist186

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PURPOSE OF THIS HANDBOOK
The Student and Family Handbook is a guide for students and families in Springfield
Public Schools District 186. The Handbook includes information about student academic
and behavior expectations, student and family rights and other various requirements and
policies pertaining to enrollment in Springfield Public Schools.

This Handbook contains valuable information pertaining to the Policies, Rules and
Regulations of the Board of Education of the Springfield Public Schools. These
Policies, Rules and Regulations are reviewed each year and must remain in line
with the Illinois School Code. Every effort is made to ensure that all Policies,
Rules and Regulations required by law for this handbook are subject to the
Policies and Mandates, new, revised or existing, that are contained in the Illinois
School Code.

The receipt of this handbook within fifteen (15) days of enrollment constitutes official
parent/guardian notification with regard to student rights, records, discipline and
other important items as may be required by law, rule or regulation.

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STUDENT ENROLLMENT, AGE,
RESIDENCY AND PLACEMENT
STUDENT AGE
Any individual who has not graduated from high school and is a resident of District 186
is entitled to attend a District 186 school and to receive the instruction necessary to
graduate, provided that such individual meets the standard for admission as determined
by the Board and/or applicable federal and state statutes, rules and regulations. A
student, other than a special education student, who is eighteen (18) years or older and
who cannot graduate before such student’s twenty-first (21) birthday may only attend an
alternative or adult education program.

T​he State of Illinois requires that a ​certified copy of a student’s birth certificate be
included in each student’s cumulative folder. A hospital copy is not acceptable.
Parents/guardians are given thirty (30) days to provide the school with a certified copy of
the child’s birth certificate or another reliable proof (as determined by the Illinois State
Police) of the student’s identity and age and an affidavit explaining the inability to
produce a copy of the birth certificate. If this requirement is not satisfied, the Regional
Office of Education must notify the Illinois State Police and/or the Department of
Children and Family Services (DCFS).

RESIDENCY
Any individual under the age of eighteen (18) years, except as otherwise provided by
any law, rule or regulation, is considered a resident of District 186 if such individual
meets one (1) or more of the following criteria:

● Resides with one (1) or more natural or adoptive parents within the
District unless otherwise ordered by court of competent jurisdiction
● Resides with a court appointed guardian within the District
● Resides in a foster home within the District
● Resides in the District with a resident who has assumed legal
responsibility for the student
● Resides in the District as an emancipated minor
● Resides with a resident adult who exercises legal responsibility for the
child

VERIFICATION OF RESIDENCY
It is the responsibility of the building administrator (principal, assistant principal,
guidance dean, principal’s assistant, or administrative assistant) to verify the residence
of a student. Post office boxes are not acceptable as proof of residency. In a case

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where administrators have reason to believe that a student is registered under a false
address, the following documents may serve as verification of address:
● Rent Receipt
● Tax Bill
● Utility Bill
● Affidavit of Residency if one of the items listed cannot be provided

Anyone who knowingly enrolls under a false address is subject to prosecution under
the law as a Class C Misdemeanor. Any administrator who knowingly enrolls a student
under false pretenses is also subject to prosecution under the same Class C
Misdemeanor.

STUDENTS WHO LIVE OUTSIDE THE

DISTRICT
Students who live with parents or legal guardians who reside outside of District 186
may apply for enrollment on a tuition basis. Tuition fees are to be assessed as
prescribed by law, rule or regulation. Applications for tuition-based enrollments are
accepted at the School Support Office located at 1900 West Monroe Street. All
tuition fees, or a portion thereof, must be paid prior to the student’s entrance in the
school. Tuition payments are accepted at the Department of Business Services
located at 530 West Reynolds Street.

STUDENT PLACEMENT

PLACEMENT OF STUDENTS IN CLASSES AND IN

SPECIFIC GRADES
Placement of students in classes and in specific grades shall be the responsibility and at
the discretion of the principal, except in the case of special education students.
Placement in special education programs shall be the responsibility of the Director of
Special Education.

Upon enrollment in District 186, student grade placement and/or credit acceptance shall
be the responsibility and at the sole discretion of the principal. Such placement may or
may not be in agreement with prior school recommendations and will be considered only
if such transfer is from an accredited school.

Students from foreign, non-accredited or home schools shall be evaluated by the

principal using a screening assessment as the principal may deem appropriate.
Additional factors such as chronological age, size, language fluency, parental
preference, etc., may be used in reaching such determination. The professional
decision of the principal shall be binding. High school grade placement shall be
determined by the achievement level demonstrated on most of the core and related
courses.

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Annual placement of students to a specific classroom(s) within a grade is the
responsibility of the professional staff with leadership of the principal. Placement of a
student is based upon the best interest of the student and the overall effect on the
total instructional setting.
Parental requests for student assignment to a specific teacher will not be honored
or considered by the administration unless, in the opinion of the principal, there
exists rare or unusually mitigating circumstances. Any such circumstances should
be brought to the attention of the administration before student placement. The
decision of the principal shall be binding.

SPECIAL EDUCATION
Springfield School District 186 is responsible for actively identifying, locating and
evaluating all children with disabilities who reside within district boundaries. If it is
determined that a child requires an assessment for possible special education
services, a referral for a case study evaluation will be initiated. See complete policies
and procedures for Special Education services beginning on page 67.

CAPITAL AREA CAREER CENTER

Application for the Capital Area Career Center programs shall be processed through
the Director of Secondary Schools and Programs to the Director of the Capital Area
Career Center.

HOMELESS STUDENTS
Illinois and federal law define “homeless” as persons lacking a “fixed, regular and
adequate nighttime” abode. It includes “the hidden homeless” doubled-up in housing
and people living in a shelter, transitional housing, temporary shelters or, hotels, or
places not ordinarily used by humans for sleeping. The parents/guardians of
homeless children may choose which school their child will attend, either the school
they attended before becoming homeless (the school of origin), or any school that
non homeless students who live in the attendance area in which the homeless
student is actually living are eligible to attend.
The school must enroll the child immediately, even without records or proof of
residence; assist the family in getting all necessary records, examinations and
immunizations; transport the child to school if transportation presents a hardship
for the family. The District and individual school will assist staff, students and
families understand and eliminate barriers and solve problems. Parents seeking
more information may contact the Parent Educator or secretary of their child’s
school.
In any event of a dispute resolution, ​the child or youth shall be immediately
enrolled in the school for which enrollment is sought, pending final resolution,
including all appeals. The parent, guardian or unaccompanied youth shall be
provided with a written explanation of any decisions related to the dispute made
by the school, local educational agency, or State educational agency involved,
including the right to appeal such decisions.

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In addition, parents may contact District 186’s Homeless Liaison: Elementary
Students (217)718-7103 or Middle and HIgh School Students (217) 718-7110.

ATTENDANCE AREAS AND TRANSFERS

The Board of Education directs the assignment of students to the schools,
programs, and classes of this district consistent with the best interests of students
and the best uses of the resources of this district.
The Board has established attendance areas for all District students. Therefore,
students are expected to attend school within their attendance area, with the
limited exceptions noted below.
Note: Athletics or school programming shall not be a reason for transfer.
It is the intention of the Board that this policy conforms with all applicable
requirements of the state and federal law, including, but not limited to, Section
5/10-21.3a of the Illinois School Code, and the terms of the Federal Court
Desegregation Order. Any future conflict between the policy and state or federal law
or the Desegregation Order will be interpreted in a manner that assures compliance
with existing laws and/or court orders.

HARDSHIP TRANSFERS
A student may apply for an intra-district hardship transfer. Hardship transfer
applications will be submitted to the Director of School Support. The Superintendent
or Director of School Support may only grant transfers relating to documented
hardships such as childcare arrangements (grades K-8), medical conditions, safety
concerns or educational continuity in accordance with the Administrative Rules and
Regulations. Applications must be accompanied by supporting
material/documentation of the hardship.

DISTRICT INITIATED TRANSFERS

The Superintendent or Director of School Support may transfer a student from his or
her school of assignment to another school at any time upon the recommendation or
order of a court of competent jurisdiction, youth agency, or involved principal, if a
transfer appears to be in the best interest of the student and the District. Under those
circumstances, the District may provide the student with transportation.

HIGH SCHOOL-MAJORITY TO MINORITY TRANSFER

High school students shall be granted a Majority to Minority transfer upon written
application and in accordance with the state and federal law and the federal Court
Desegregation Order.

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PRIOR SIBLING TRANSFERS
Siblings of students currently on transfer will have the option to transfer as well, in an
effort to keep family members together.

MAGNET SCHOOLS
Magnet Schools are exempt from this policy.

EXCEPTIONS
Students who move from one school area to another within District 186 during the
school year may remain at their original school until the end of the school year. Students
who move out of District 186 may continue to attend school within the District on a
tuition-free basis for the remainder of the school year. Enrollment in subsequent years
will require tuition to be paid. In the case of the exceptions, transportation is the
responsibility of the parents and students.

ATTENDANCE AND ABSENCES

Illinois law requires that whoever has custody or control of any child between six (by
September 1​st​) 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). There are certain exceptions to the
attendance requirement for children who: attend private school, are physically or
mentally unable to attend school (including a pregnant student suffering medical
complications as certified by her physician), are lawfully and necessarily employed, are
between the ages of 12 and 14 while in confirmation classes, have a religious reason
requiring absence, are 16 or older and employed and enrolled in a graduation incentive
program or if the child in any of the grades 6 through 12 is absent from school for the
purpose of sounding “Taps” at a military honors funeral.

Absences shall be entered upon the student’s permanent record. Unless the school
has been previously notified, the school will attempt to contact the parent/guardian with
regard to an absence of a student enrolled in pre-Kindergarten through grade eight (8)
within two (2) hours of the start of school. In certain situations, the principal and/or
his/her designee may be consulted to determine whether an absence is considered
excused, unexcused or an activity. 300 minutes ​(5 hours)​ of class time is considered a
full day of student attendance while 150-299 minutes ​(2.5 -4.9 hours)​ of class time is
considered a half day of student attendance.

ATTENDANCE POLICY
Academic progress is improved by regular school attendance. When a student is
absent, a parent should call the school. If no phone call is made, the school will
attempt to contact the parent or guardian. (No notes will be accepted at the high
school level.) If no contact is made between the parent and the school, the absence
will be unexcused.

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A student will be allowed ten (10) excused absences per school year without a
doctor’s note. After 10 days, all absences without a doctor’s excuse are considered
unexcused. Doctor’s notes must state the student was unable to attend school and
give exact times when the student was seen in the doctor’s office. Parents please
note: Nine (9) days of unexcused absence is considered chronic truancy ​(105 ILCS
5/26-2a) and may result in court action (705 ILCS 405/3-33.5). ​Parents please
also note that 10 days of absence, excused or unexcused, will result in a student
being classified as having “chronic absenteeism” on the school report card for the
State of Illinois. The above attendance policy applies to Remote Learning days and
In Person instructional days.

EXCUSED ABSENCES
Absences are excused for:
● Illness of a student
● Death in the family or close friend
● Critical illness of a near relative (mother, father, brother, sister,
grandparent)
● Dental or medical appointment when prior arrangements have been made
● Absence due to a bus problem beyond student’s control
● Family trips where parents accompany students
● Observance of a religious holiday (​a note will be needed, whether before or
after the absence)
● Out of school suspension. (For specific information on procedures relative
to student work during a suspension, refer to the Student and Family
Handbook)
● Attending a military honors funeral to sound Taps (grades 6-12 only)
● Up to five days if parent/guardian is active duty military and has been called
to duty for, on leave from, or has immediately returned from deployment.
Pre-Planned Excused Absences:
District 186 strongly discourages vacations during the course of the school year.
If a student is aware that he or she is going to be out of school prior to the day of
the absence, the principal or secretary should be notified. The policy for taking
work prior to the pre-planned absence or making this work up upon return is up to
the discretion of the building principal. Parents are responsible for making contact
with the principal prior to this pre-planned absence to discuss these educational
issues.

UNEXCUSED ABSENCES
Absences are unexcused for:
● Running errands for the family
● Staying home to care for younger children
● Working at or away from home
● Visiting friends or relatives without parents or guardians
● Shopping with parents
● Minor aches and pains (persistence may indicate a more serious problem)
● Ordinary weather hazards
● Mechanical failure when parents assume responsibility for transportation or
missing the bus (Principal’s discretion)

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TARDINESS AND LEAVING SCHOOL DURING
SCHOOL HOURS
When a student is late for school or class, his/her individual attendance report must
document the tardiness and the school will determine whether or not the tardiness is
approved. A student shall not be permitted to leave school before the normal hours of
dismissal except by permission of the principal. The utmost care must be exercised in
releasing a student from the custody of the school to any person or in sending a
student home.

MAKE UP WORK
If a student’s absence is excused he/she will be permitted to make up all missed work,
including homework and tests, for equivalent academic credit. Students who are
unexcused from school may not be allowed to make up missed work. The timeframe
for the completion of make up work shall be in accordance to the guidelines
established by the school the student attends.

EMERGENCY SCHOOL CLOSINGS

When weather conditions or emergency situations make it necessary to close Springfield
Public Schools, the closing will be announced on District 186’s website www.sps186.org,
as well as the Facebook and Twitter pages. Information will also be made no later than 7
a.m., barring unusual circumstances.

Additionally, families will receive a phone call via District 186’s automated calling
system ParentLink, as well as a text alert if they have opted to receive text alerts.

ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS
HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION
REQUIREMENTS
To graduate from high school, unless otherwise exempted, each student is
responsible for:
● Completing all State mandated graduation requirements
● Completing all District graduation requirements that are in addition to State
graduation requirements
● Passing an examination on patriotism and principles of representative
government, proper use of the flag, methods of voting and the Pledge of
Allegiance
● Participating in any State assessment required for graduation

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 ● A senior must be a full-time student and attend at least one full semester in
order to receive a high school diploma from Springfield Public Schools

STATE MANDATED GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

● Four years of language arts
● Two years of writing intensive courses, one of which must be English and the
other of which may be English or any other subject. When applicable,
writing-intensive courses may be English or any other subject. When
applicable, writing-intensive courses may be counted towards the fulfillment of
other graduation requirements
● Three years of mathematics, one of which must be Algebra I and one of which
must include geometry content and one of which may be an Advanced
Placement computer science course if the pupil successfully completes
Algebra II or an integrated mathematics course with Algebra II content
● Two years of science
● Two years of social studies, of which at least one year must be history of the
United States or combination of history of the United states and American
government. Within the two years of social studies requirement, one semester
of civics is required for graduation beginning with the freshman class of
2016-17
● One year chosen from (A) music, (B) art, (C) foreign language, which shall be
deemed to include American Sign Language, or (D) vocational education
● One semester of health education
● A course covering American patriotism and the principles of representative
government, as enunciated in the American Declaration of Independence, the
Constitution of the United States of America and the Constitution of the State
of Illinois and the proper use and display of the American flag
● Nine weeks of consumer education. The Consumer Education graduation
requirement is fulfilled by successfully completing Consumer Ed 194 or it may
be fulfilled through ICE, SWT or Business Tech 134, depending on scheduling
and administrative approval

The above requirements do not apply to students with disabilities whose course of
study is determined by an Individualized Education Program or students who are
exempted from participation in certain courses in accordance with State law.

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

Graduation Requirement
As a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma, the parent or guardian 
of each student or, if a student is at least 18 years of age or legally 
emancipated, the student must comply with either of the following: 
1. File a FAFSA with the United States Department of Education 
or, if applicable, an application for State financial aid. 
2. File a waiver indicating that the parent or guardian or, if 
applicable, the student understands what the FAFSA and 
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 application for State financial aid are and has chosen not to 
file an application. 

Upon request, the school will provide a student and his or her parent or 
guardian any support or assistance necessary to comply with this 
requirement 
A school district may award a high school diploma to a student who is 
unable to meet this requirement due to extenuating circumstances, as 
determined by the school district, if (i) the student has met all other 
graduation requirements, and (ii) the principal attests that the school 
district has made a good faith effort to assist the student or, if applicable, 
his or her parent or guardian in filing an application or a waiver. 

Required High School Credits

SUBJECTS CREDITS

English 4

Mathematics 3

Science 3

U.S. History 1

American Government .5

Social Science 1.5

Consumer Education* .25

Health .5

Driver Education .25

Physical Education 2

Fine Arts/Career Related/or Foreign Language 2

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 Public Speaking .5

Electives 7.5

TOTAL 26

* The consumer education requirement may be fulfilled in the Consumer Education

course by successful completion of a full year of any cooperative work study course
(only for students with an IEP) or by completion of a full year of Introduction to
Business and Technology Concepts 134/135.

SEX EDUCATION INSTRUCTION

State law requires that all sex education instruction must be age appropriate,
evidence-based and medically accurate. Courses that discuss sexual intercourse
place substantial emphasis on both abstinence and contraception of the prevention
of pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. Courses will emphasize that
abstinence is a responsible and positive decision and the only 100% effective
method in the prevention of pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, including
HIV/AIDS. Family life courses are designed to promote a wholesome and
comprehensive understanding of the emotional, psychological, physiological,
hygienic and social responsibility aspects of family life and for grades 6 through 12,
the prevention of AIDS.

A sample of the District’s instructional materials and course outline for these classes
or courses are available from the classroom teacher for review. No student is
required to take or participate in these classes or courses. There is no penalty for
refusing to take or participate in such a course or program.

CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES/ OBJECTIONABLE

CONTENT

CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES
The presentation or discussion of controversial issues in the classroom shall be
appropriate only if the topic is an integral part of the curriculum or subject area being
taught and shall be on an informational basis. The issue must be appropriate for the
social maturity and age of the students. (Board Policy 625.04)

OBJECTIONABLE MEDIA CENTER MATERIALS

A procedure exists for challenging the appropriateness of media center materials
used in schools. A Request for Reconsideration of Instructional Materials may be
obtained from the building administrator and/or the building media specialist. Steps
will be taken to review the objection and respond to the complainant. (Board Policy
645.073).

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PHYSICAL EDUCATION EXEMPTION
POLICY
A student in grades 9-12 may submit a written request to the building principal or their
academic administrator requesting to be excused from physical education courses for
the reasons stated below:
● Enrollment in a marching band program for credit
● Enrollment in Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) program sponsored by
the District
● Ongoing participation in interscholastic athletic program (student must be in
11th or 12th grade)
● Enrollment in academic classes that are required for admission to an institution
of higher learning (student must be in the 11th or 12th grade)
● Enrollment in academic classes that are required for graduation from high
school, provided that failure to take such classes will result in the student being
unable to graduate (student must be in the 11th or 12th grade)
● If an exemption is granted the guidance office will complete a Physical
Education Exemption Form for each quarter/semester of the exemption. The
student, parent, and academic administrator will sign the form and the form will
be added to the student's cumulative folder.

A K-12 student may also be excused from physical education courses based on medical
or religious prohibitions. Excusal requests based on medical prohibitions must be in
writing and must include a signed statement from a person licensed under the Medical
Practices Act corroborating the medical basis for the request. Excusal requests based
on religious prohibitions must be in writing and must include a signed statement from a
member of the clergy corroborating the religious basis for the request. Excusal requests
based on medical or religious prohibitions will be reviewed on an individual basis in
accordance with State and Federal law.

A student who is eligible for special education may be excused from physical education
courses in either of the following situations:
● He or she (a) is in grades 3-12, (b) his or her Individualized Education
Program (IEP) requires that special education support and services be
provided during physical education time, and (c) the parent/guardian
agrees or the IEP team makes the determination
● He or she (a) has an IEP, (b) is participating in an adaptive athletic
program outside of the school setting, and (c) the parent/guardian
do​cuments the student’s participation as required by the
Superintendent or designee

A student requiring adapted physical education will receive that service in accordance
with the student’s IEP.

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SCHOOL CULTURE
Creating a positive school culture requires that students, families, teachers and
administrators work together to uphold and respect each other’s rights as outlined in
this handbook.

SHARED RESPONSIBILITY
District 186 is dedicated to providing a safe learning environment and orderly
instruction. We expect students to commit to learning and families to support that
commitment and reinforce the importance of expected behavior.

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES AND RIGHTS

​

​Students should:
● Obey school guidelines
● Obey city, state and federal laws
● Respect the rights of fellow students and school personnel
● Avoid abusive language, verbal or written
● Dress appropriately and practice habits of personal cleanliness (see dress
code below)
● Be punctual and attend school regularly(greater than 91% daily attendance
is expected)
● Bring books and other necessary classroom materials
● Not disrupt the educational process
● Attain the best possible level of academic achievement
● Respect authority both in school and at school-sponsored activities
● Respect school and community property
● Be responsible for their own actions
● Know reasons and methods of discipline, including suspension and
expulsion
● Be receptive to various methods of conflict resolution through restorative
practices. Adult responses shall be guided by restorative practices at all
levels.
Students Enrolled in Remote Learning:
● Will follow all of the guidelines above
● Will attend all video class in their entirety (unless the teacher states
otherwise)
● While in a video class the camera will be on and focused on your person
not another part of the room.
● Will be sitting up out of bed preferably at a desk or table.
● Will be dressed according to the dress code below.
● Will participate in classroom discussions organized by the teacher

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STUDENT DRESS CODE
These are general guidelines for every school and each school has a reasonable
interpretation of the dress code depending upon the building’s culture and climate.
● Dress and grooming shall neither present a risk to the health, safety or
general welfare of students or others in the school nor interfere with or
disrupt the educational environment or process (during in person and
remote learning instruction).
● Dress and grooming shall not be contrary to curriculum goals and/or
educational objectives or advertise, promote or picture alcoholic
beverages, tobacco, illegal drugs or illegal or violent behavior
● School appropriate clothing is to be worn. Oversized, extremely baggy
clothing or improperly-fitted clothing is not allowed. Pants, shorts or skirts
must be worn at the waist — sagging is prohibited
● Clothing with holes above the knee, ragged hems or cut-off hemlines, or
made of transparent or fishnet fabric, or clothing that exposes the chest,
abdomen, genital area or buttocks, undergarments or the legs above
mid-thigh, shall not be worn in the buildings
● Dress and grooming, including accessories, shall not display lewd,
vulgar, obscene or plainly-offensive language or symbols, including gang
symbols
● Hats, caps, bandanas, hoods of any type, sweatbands, sunglasses,
pajama pants, slippers, or shoes with wheels attached to the bottom shall
not be worn in the buildings
● Pierced jewelry, other than earrings worn in the ear, shall be limited to
jewelry that is not deemed a safety hazard. This includes no spiked
apparel, accessories or chains that can be used as weapons.
● Coats, jackets, and head coverings shall not be worn in the building
without principal permission.
● Tattoos that, by their content, violate any of the provisions of the Student
Dress Code must be covered at all times while students are on school
property and/or in attendance at school-sponsored activities
● Following COVID-19 recommendations from the ISBE and IDPH
students will wear masks while in the school building. These masks
must be in compliance with the school dress code above. Masks or
gaiters that are solid colors, printed with District #186 or school logos are
preferred. Bandanas will not be permitted to be worn as a mask.
Some schools have an enhanced dress code requiring specific
colors of pants and shirts. Check with your school office for
additional dress code requirements. The administration at each
school has the discretion to take into consideration the social and
emotional health of each individual student regarding student dress
and attire.

Students have the right to:

● A meaningful learning experience with equitable opportunities across all
content areas and in all learning environments and experiences
● An appropriate and challenging curriculum
● Protection from physical or verbal abuse

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 ● Report and inform safety and health concerns regarding themselves, other
students, and the building overall.
● Privacy regarding their records including but not limited to: discipline,
grades, test scores, school security video, etc.
● Assist in making decisions on education goals
● The opportunity to practice decision-making within the democratic process
● Be disciplined in private, if possible
● Be disciplined in a humane and appropriate manner
● Adult representation when in conflict with school authority
● A school climate free of violence, disruption, sexual harassment and
bullying
● A written code of conduct — clear and concise
● Knowledge of the reasons for any discipline which may be administered
● Due process in matters of disciplinary action (see page 45)
● A reentry plan following an out of school suspension or transitioning to and
from alternative programs.

TEACHER RESPONSIBILITIES AND RIGHTS

Teachers should:
● Develop and enforce a Classroom Management Plan (CMP) that is
approved by the building administration
● Be guided by professional ethics in relationships with others
● Inform parents about academic progress and conduct of students
● Show concern and respect for each student through the use of restorative
practices
● Plan and conduct an effective and motivating instructional program
● Manage classroom routines that contribute to instruction, a well-ordered
classroom and the development of civic responsibility
● Be sensitive to the behavior of students and alert to changes that require
additional assistance for the student
● Know and enforce the rules courteously, consistently and fairly — deal
with misconduct quickly, firmly and impartially
● Consistently employ de-escalation techniques
● Handle behavior problems according to established restorative practices
as guided by culturally responsive and developmentally appropriate
discipline
● Report school situations of concern to the principal promptly
● Take advantage of opportunities for academic growth at all levels

Teachers have the right to:

● Require a reasonable standard of orderly behavior in the learning
environment
● Have the respect of and for students, their families, fellow staff members and
the school administration
● Use reasonable force, if necessary, to protect him/herself, another teacher or
student*
● Protection against any loss of, damage to, or destruction of personal property
as a result of any assault/battery during school activities

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 ● Protection per the SEA contract to receive regular salary when absent from
school as a result of such assault
● Support and assist in the maintenance of control and discipline in the
classroom
● Initiate a conference with all parties involved when a student behavioral
problem has not been satisfactorily resolved
● Appeal to a higher administrative level if a disciplinary/behavioral problem has
not been satisfactorily resolved
● Seek a conference for resolution with any or all parties including higher
administration if a student behavioral problem has not been resolved as
perceived by the teacher.

​ eachers have the right to protect themselves, or another teacher or

*T
student, from physical assault or injury. Teachers shall have the Board’s
assistance in any assault case while the teacher is performing his/her
assigned duties. Board assistance shall consist of:

1. Notifying the proper authorities (police or sheriff) once the

incident has been reported to the building principal and
Superintendent and/or designee.
2. Consultation by the Board’s attorney with the teacher in outlining
the teacher’s legal rights and alternative courses of action
3. Any student(s) committing an assault and/or battery on a teacher
shall be subject to immediate discipline. The administrator shall
then present the facts and his/her recommendations to the
Superintendent and/or designee for final action.

PARENT RESPONSIBILITIES AND RIGHTS

Parents should:
● Assume responsibility for their child’s prompt and regular school
attendance
● Safeguard the physical and mental health of their child and be responsible
for periodic health examinations as required by law
● Recognize that, in matters relating to the discipline and conduct of the
schools, the teacher stands in relation to the parent or guardian to the child
● Teach their child respect for the law, for lawful authority, for the rights of
others, and for private and public property
● Talk with their child about school activities; share with their child and with
teachers an active interest in report cards and in school progress
● Attend individual and group conferences and special school programs
● Plan the time and place for homework assignments; provide necessary
supervision
● Partner with the school in fulfilling recommendations made and in carrying
out disciplinary actions taken in the best interest of their child
● Be receptive to various methods of conflict resolution through restorative
practices.

22
 Parents have the right to:
● Know that disruptive action of a few will not interfere with the opportunity
of the majority for academic and social growth
● Share consistent communication between the classroom, school, and
home
● Reasonable access to all school records pertaining to their child so long
as it does not violate another student’s right to privacy
● The opportunity to confer with their child’s teacher and/or principal
regarding academic placement, progress, social adjustment, and any
unresolved educational issues
● Share in the activities of the school parent organization
● Share in their child’s right to due process procedures in matters of
disciplinary actions
● Be notified of their child’s violation of school rules and regulations
● Be free from sexual harassment and discrimination

PARENT RIGHTS REGARDING STUDENT SURVEYS

Any request from a member of the public, another unit of government, a corporate
entity and/or institution to conduct a survey among students will be denied except in
circumstances where the Superintendent has determined that the results of such
survey will advance the District’s educational mission. Upon approval of any survey
request, the requesting party and the District will comply with the Protection of Pupil
Rights Amendment (PPRA), 20 U.S.C. Section 1232h. PPRA requires that no student
shall be required to submit to a survey that reveals information about private matters
without prior written parental consent. Parents/guardians must be given notice of their
right to inspect any such approved survey before the survey is administered by or
through a District school, and may opt out of participating in same. Please see PPRA
Notice of Rights (please see page 73). Please also note that marketing activities
involving the collection, use, or disclosure of students’ social security numbers may
not be permitted in District 186.

School Operations During a Pandemic or other

Health Emergency
A pandemic is a global outbreak of disease. Pandemics happen when a 
new virus emerges to infect individuals and, because there is little to no 
pre-existing immunity against the new virus, it spreads sustainably. Your 
child’s school and district play an essential role, along with the local health 
department and emergency management agencies, in protecting the 
public’s health and safety during a pandemic or other health emergency. 
During a pandemic or other health emergency, you will be notified in a 
timely manner of all changes to the school environment and schedule that 
impact your child. Please be assured that even if school is not physically in 

23
session, it is the goal of the school and district to provide your child with the 
best educational opportunities possible. 
Additionally, please note the following: 
1. All decisions regarding changes to the school environment 
and schedule, including a possible interruption of in-person 
learning, will be made by the superintendent in consultation 
with and, if necessary, at the direction of the Governor, Illinois 
Department of Public Health, local health department, 
emergency management agencies, and/or Regional Office of 
Education. 
2. Available learning opportunities may include remote and/or 
blended learning. Blended learning may require your child to 
attend school on a modified schedule. 
3. Students will be expected to participate in blended and 
remote instruction as required by the school and district. 
Parents are responsible for assuring the participation of their 
child. Students who do not participate in blended or remote 
learning will be considered truant. 
4. All school disciplinary rules remain in effect during the 
interruption of in-person learning. Students are subject to 
discipline for disrupting the remote learning environment to 
the same extent that discipline would be imposed for 
disruption of the traditional classroom. 
5. Students and parents will be required to observe all public 
health and safety measures implemented by the school and 
district in conjunction with state and local requirements. 
6. During a pandemic or other health emergency, the school and 
district will ensure that educational opportunities are 
available to all students. 
7. School personnel will work closely with students with 
disabilities and other vulnerable student populations to 
minimize the impact of any educational disruption. 
8. Students who have a compromised immune system, live with 
an individual with a compromised immune system, or have a 
medical condition that may impact their ability to attend 
school during a pandemic or other public health emergency 
should contact school officials. 
9. During a pandemic or other health emergency, teachers and 
school staff will receive additional training on health and 
safety measures. 
10. In accordance with school district or state mandates, the 
school may need to conduct a daily health assessment of 

24
 your child. Parents and students will be notified of the exact 
assessment procedures if this becomes necessary. 
11. Parents should not send their child to school if their child 
exhibits any symptoms consistent with the pandemic or other 
health emergency. 
12. Please do not hesitate to contact school or district officials if 
you have any concerns regarding your child’s education, 
health or safety.

Multi-Tiered System of Support

Creating a positive school culture requires that students, families, teachers and
administrators work together to uphold and respect each other’s rights as outlined in this
handbook.

Multi Tiered Systems of Support provide 3 tiers of intervention and a problem solving
process for students both academically and behaviorally. The tiers provide a layering
approach to intervening with additional skill building for students.

Tier 1 provides prevention and interventions for all students. Tier 2 interventions are
in place for students who have had all of the Tier 1 supports and are identified
based on data as needing additional intervention. Tier 3 is for students who have
had Tier 1 and Tier 2 intervention and have been identified based on data as
needing intensive support. These systems use a proactive/restorative approach to
establish behavioral supports for all students in a school to achieve social,
emotional and academic success.

SAEBRS/mySAEBRS Information (Tier 1

Intervention)
As a part of the balanced student assessment system, all students, Kindergarten
through 12th grade, will be screened twice a year on a social-emotional screener. The

25
goal of the universal school-wide screening is to identify students early who may need
social/emotional supports. This screener helps identify areas in a child’s
social/emotional health, as evidenced during the school day, where the child has the
possibility to benefit from extra support.

PROBLEM SOLVING TEAMS (Tier II and III

Interventions)
All schools within the District have established Problem Solving Teams. Teams consist
of an administrator, parent, regular and special education teachers and other support
staff as appropriate. Team members provide academic and/or behavior support to
teachers, students and parents related to concerns indicated through data collection.
Assistance is provided through:

● Development and implementation of specific regular education program

interventions and modifications
● Case study evaluation of a student suspected of having a disability that
adversely affects school performance

Prior to accessing the Problem Solving Team, evidence of implementing

educational and/or behavioral strategies within the classroom must be documented.
The teacher should also have had contact with the parent relative to the specific
concerns being experienced in the classroom. Federal and state laws have directed
schools to focus on helping all children learn by addressing concerns earlier within
the general education setting. These laws emphasize the importance of providing
high quality, scientifically-based instruction and interventions.

Braided Behavior Support Systems (BBSS)

Social Emotional Learning Standards (SEL), Behavior Intervention Support Team
(BIST), Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS), and Restorative
Practices (RP) are Multi Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS).
District 186 uses a Braided Behavior Support System which includes BIST, PBIS,
Restorative Practices and SEL to respond to behavior.
Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Standards were developed by the Illinois State
Board of Education. These standards were derived from the 5 SEL competencies of
Self-Awareness, Self-management, Social Awareness, Responsible
Decision-Making, and Relationship Skills. The standards describe content and skill
that students should know and be able to do at all levels.
● Goal 1 - Develop self-awareness and self-management skills to achieve
school and life success
● Goal 2 - Use social-awareness and interpersonal skills to establish and
maintain positive relationships
● Goal 3 - Demonstrate decision-making skills and responsible behaviors in
personal, school, and community contexts

26
BBSS Definitions
Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support (PBIS) is a proactive systems approach
that helps schools use effective interventions accurately and successfully at all Tiers.

Behavior Intervention Support Team (BIST) is a behavior management plan that

partners adults with students to help them manage disruptive or harmful behavior over
time.

Restorative Practices (RP) are based on the philosophy and principles of restorative
justice. Restorative Practices recognize that harm has been done to relationships and
people, and focus on repairing and making things right.

CONSEQUENCES
The consequences students receive for their behaviors determine how likely they are to
repeat the behavior. Consequences can be positive or negative. Positive consequences
are intended to encourage desired behavior. For example, if a child cleans his/her room
without being asked and a caring adult shows appreciation, it increases the chance
he/she will clean his/her room again without being asked.

Negative consequences are intended to discourage negative behavior. For example,

a student who does not use their time wisely in class may have to stay after school in
order to complete the work.

Consequences should be age appropriate and natural or logical consequences are

the best choices. An example of a logical consequence would be if a student or group
of students leave a mess in the bathroom, they must clean it up.

Punishment is not a consequence. It is neither logical or natural and often does not fit
the behavior. An example of this would be suspending a student who has a truancy
problem. Punishment does not change a student’s behavior and more often than not
harms the teacher-student relationship.

27
INTERVENTIONS
Intervention is the process of using data to identify missing skills and planning for the
re-teaching of those skills as needed. Interventions include teaching of skills and
progress monitoring to see if the student is successful.

Tier 1

Tier 1 is heavily invested in Prevention

prevention, including the teaching of
the Social Emotional Learning
Social Skills Lessons
Standards:
Goals for Life
Goal 1​ - Develop self-awareness and
School-Wide Behavior Expectations
self-management skills to achieve school
and life success. School-wide Acknowledgement System
Data-Based Planning
Goal 2​ - Use social-awareness and
interpersonal skills to establish and Universal Screening
maintain positive relationships. Circles/Class Meetings
Goal 3​ - Demonstrate decision-making
skills and responsible behaviors in
personal, school, and community Intervention
contexts.
Tier 1 example: Circles/Class Meetings
Interventions at Tier 1 are classwide. For Classroom Triage
example, classroom triage is a way to Caring Confrontation/Restorative Chats
take the emotional temperature of a
Safe Seat/Buddy Room
classroom, build relationships with
students and develop a plan for a student
if necessary. The use of the safe seat is
an individual intervention at Tier 1.
Example 2:
Caring confrontation and restorative
chats are examples of ways to talk to
students in a restorative way that is less
likely to escalate the student behavior.

Tier 2

Students involved in Tier 2 Interventions

interventions are identified from
school wide behavioral reports or
Targeted Social Skill Instruction, SEL Small
through the use of a universal Groups
behavior screener.
Brief functional Assessment/Behavioral
Example: Intervention Planning/Individual Plan
A student is identified based on referral Conflict Resolution Circles//Conferencing
data as needing extra support. That
Check In Check Out (Basic and Targeted)
student would be recommended for
Check In Check Out (CICO). CICO is a Individual Triage
way of progress monitoring students and Self Monitoring Sheet
also provides the opportunity for Mentoring
reteaching and pre-correcting throughout Counseling

28
 the day. The student may also have an Restrictions/Protections
additional component to their intervention Intervention Planning
such as counseling from the social Individual Planning
worker or they may have Care Team Planning
accommodations/modifications such as
Outlasting the Behavior
having recess at a different time from
Targeted Check In Check Out
other students.

Tier 3

Interventions
Tier 3 interventions are intense
interventions for individual students Wraparound /RENEW
or families.
Complex Functional Behavioral
Example 1: Assessment/Behavioral Intervention Planning
A student has been involved in Tier 1 (FBA/BIP)
and Tier 2 interventions and is still in Family Group Conferencing, Community
need of support. This student may be Conferencing
recommended for Wraparound/RENEW
planning. This involves the student, their
family and additional support people
identified by the family. Wraparound
planning is used when the student is
having problems at school, home, and in
the community.Through this process the
wrap facilitator will collect data, meet with
the team and put together a plan for
finishing school and planning for the
future. Wrap plans can touch multiple
siblings or the entire family and may last
several years.

STUDENT DISCIPLINE
GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR DISCIPLINE
District 186 is responsible for the supervision and discipline of students (and provision
for their safety and welfare) wherever District jurisdiction or school sponsorship extends.
Rights and responsibilities governing student conduct and behavior is outlined and
detailed in this Handbook. This Handbook is incorporated and made a part of Board
Policy.

Each teacher is to establish a Classroom Management Plan to be approved by the

building principal and to be implemented prior to making an office referral, unless the

29
behavior is of such serious nature that immediate office referral is warranted, including
the gross disruption of the learning environment.

Springfield Public School students are prohibited from engaging in behavior that will
endanger — or threaten to endanger — the safety of others, that will damage property,
that will impede the orderly conduct of the school program, or that will interfere with the
orderly implementation of the desegregation plan. The Code of Conduct and the
guidelines of this handbook applies to all students from their departure until their return
to their home, while on District 186 property, adjacent property or engaged in
school-sponsored activities. District 186 policy allows the use of ​physical restraint​, as
defined by the ISBE in the document, “Permanent Regulations for the Use of Time Out,
Isolated Time Out, and Physical Restraint: Guidance and Frequently Asked
Questions.”where safety is a concern under certain circumstances as allowed by law.

All provisions of the special education laws, including IDEA, and the Illinois State
Board of Education’s Special Education rules, are considered to govern the
administration of discipline in District 186. Consequently, some provisions of this
Handbook may not apply in some cases where a student’s program is determined by
an approved Individual Education Plan (IEP). No special education student shall be
expelled or suspended if the student’s particular act of gross disobedience or
misconduct is a manifestation of his or her disability.

Behavioral interventions shall be accessible to all students, based on data, to

promote and strengthen desirable behaviors and reduce identified inappropriate
behaviors.

Corporal punishment is illegal and will not be used. Corporal punishment is defined
as slapping, paddling, or prolonged maintenance of students in physically painful
positions, or intentional infliction of bodily harm. Corporal punishment does not
include reasonable force as needed to maintain safety for students, staff, or other
persons, or for the purpose of self-defense or defense of property.

It is expected that teachers follow their approved Classroom Management Plan. It is

further expected that teachers will integrate the Social Emotional Learning
Standards into their daily practice. Following are the offenses which are prohibited
by the Springfield Public School’s Code of Conduct and the disciplinary actions and
procedures used in dealing with those offenses:

Isolated Time Out, Time Out and Physical Restraint

Isolated time out, time out, and physical restraint shall only be used if the student’s
behavior presents an imminent danger of serious physical harm to the student or others
and other less restrictive and intrusive measures were tried and proven ineffective in
stopping it. The school may not use isolated time out, time out, and physical restraint as
discipline or punishment, convenience for staff, retaliation, a substitute for appropriate
educational or behavioral support, a routine safety matter, or to prevent property
damage in the absence of imminent danger of serious physical harm to the student or
others.

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Classroom Managed Behaviors
Classroom Managed Behaviors are misbehaviors which impede the orderly
operation of the classroom, school and/or bus and identified on the school T-Chart.
Such misbehaviors can usually be handled by an individual staff member but
sometimes require the intervention of other school support personnel. Classroom
managed behaviors include the following:
1. Bringing prohibited items to school (eg. toys, fidget spinners, other items as
outlined in each school’s discipline policy)
2. Creating disturbances in classrooms or on school-controlled grounds
3. Dishonesty/Lying
4. Disrespect
a. Towards students or adults (including during safe seat or buddy
room moves when inappropriate language is not used)
b. Towards property
5. Failure to carry out directions/disobeying
6. Failure to:
a. abide by the student dress code​(May be an office managed
behavior depending on the school)
b. abide by physical education dress code requirements
7. Failure to abide by the classroom technology management plan
8. Instigating conflict between two or more students through gossip, rumors,
attempting to discredit another student, or falsifying information
9. Littering. Careless discarding of trash or other items
10. Tardiness ​(May be an office managed behavior depending on the school)
11. Verbal abuse. The consistent demeaning of another, i.e. name calling,
teasing, derogatory comments

Restorative/Discipline Options for Classroom Managed

Behaviors
● Conference/Processing with student
● Behavioral contract/student plans
● Restorative Practices (Circles, Skills-based coaching, etc.)
● Restitution or Contribution
● Consequences as stipulated in the approved Classroom Management Plan
● Detention
● Parental contact (all contacts should be documented using the parent
communication log on the infosystem)
● Bist Practices
● Verbal reprimand
● Withdrawal of privileges

Gross Disobedience or Misconduct

Gross Disobedience or Misconduct i​ nvolves acts directed against persons or
property but whose consequences may seriously endanger the health and safety of
self or others and/or create a serious disruption to the learning environment. Gross

31
Disobedience or Misconduct can usually be handled within the school. The corrective
measures which the school or district uses will be determined by the extent of the
resources available for remediating the situation in the best interest of all students.
Students may be disciplined for gross disobedience or misconduct, including but not
limited to the following:
Behaviors Considered Gross Disobedience or
Misconduct
1. Academic Dishonesty: ​Engaging in academic dishonesty, including
cheating, intentionally plagiarizing, wrongfully giving or receiving or
receiving help during an academic examination/project/assignment or
altering report cards and wrongfully obtaining test copies or scores.
2. Aggressive Behavior:​ Physical or psychological harm (​defined as
emotional or cognitive disturbances resulting from another's actions)​ to a
staff person or another student. This includes, but is not limited to, fighting,
excessive/unnecessary bodily contact, assault/battery/intimidation, or
seriously disruptive behavior that may result in a safety hazard.
3. Alcohol
a. Using (showing up to school or a school event under the
influence), possessing, or purchasing alcoholic beverages.
Students who are under the influence of an alcoholic beverage are
not permitted to attend school or school functions and are treated
as though they had alcohol in their possession.
b. Furnishing, selling, manufacturing or possessing with the intent to
sell or distribute alcohol, on any school property or while attending
any school-sponsored or school-related function. Manufacturing
includes but is not limited to the producing, preparing,
compounding, possession, encapsulating, packaging,
repackaging, labeling, or re-labeling of any alcoholic product or
look-alike.
4. Assembly:​ Being involved with any public school fraternity, sorority, or
secret society. Being involved in a gang or engaging in gang-like activities,
including displaying gang symbols or paraphernalia. Gang activity or
soliciting: “Gang” is defined as any group, club or organization of two or
more persons whose purposes include the commission of illegal acts. No
student on or around school property or at any school activity or whenever
the student’s conduct is reasonably related to a school activity, shall: (1)
wear, possess, use, distribute, display, or sell any clothing, jewelry,
paraphernalia or other items which reasonable could be regarded as gang
symbols; commit any act or omission, or use either verbal or nonverbal
gestures, or handshakes showing membership in any gangs; or (2) use any
speech or commit any act or omission in furtherance of the interest of any
gang or gang activity, including, but not limited to soliciting others for
membership in any gangs; (3) request any person to pay protection or
otherwise intimidate, harass or threaten any person; (4) commit any other
illegal act or other violation of district policies; (5) or incite other students to
act with physical violence upon any other person. Complicity in the
possession/use of substances (alcohol, drugs or look-alike drugs).
5. Bringing prohibited items ​to school or school event. This includes, but is
not limited to laser pointers, fireworks, unless under a staff member’s direct
supervision and in the context of instruction.

32
6. Disrespect: ​Disobeying rules of student conduct or directives from staff
members or school officials, such as refusing a staff member’s request to
behave appropriately. Engaging in any activity, on or off campus, that
interferes with, disrupts, or adversely affects the school environment,
school operations, or an educational function.
7. Electronic Devices:​ Inappropriate use of electronic communication
devices and district technology devices. See Technology Use Policy and
Electronic Device Policy
8. Falsifying Emergencies​: In the absence of a reasonable belief that an
emergency exists, calling emergency responders (calling 911); signaling or
setting off alarms or signals indicating the presence of an emergency; or
indicating the presence of a bomb or explosive device on school grounds;
school bus or at any school activity..
9. ​Gambling​: Violating any criminal law that falls under the category of the
legal definition of “gambling”. This includes possession of gambling
paraphernalia.
10. Instigating conflict
a. Engaging in or any kind of aggressive behavior that does physical
or psychological harm to a student or encouraging other students
to engage in such behavior. Prohibited conduct specifically
includes, without limitation, any use of violence, force, noise,
coercion, threats, stalking, public humiliation, theft or destruction
of property, retaliation, hazing, or using a school computer or a
school computer network of other comparable conduct. Engaging
in any activity, on or off campus, that interferes with, disrupts, or
adversely affects the school environment, school operations, or an
educational function, including but not limited to, conduct that may
reasonably be considered to be a threat or an attempted
intimidation of a staff member or endanger the health of safety of
students, staff or school property. Making an explicit threat on an
Internet website against a school employee, a student or any
school-related personnel if the Internet website through which the
threat was made is a site that was accessible within the school at
the time the threat was made or was available to third parties who
worked or studied within the school grounds at the time the treat
was made, and the threat could be reasonably interpreted as
threatening to the safety and security of the threatened individual
because of his or her duties or employment status or status as a
student inside the school.
b. Bullying
c. Harassment (the act of systematic and/or continued unwanted and
annoying actions, including threats and demands)
d. Hazing
e. Intimidation to staff or students #
f. Extortion (​the practice of obtaining something, especially money,
through force or threats.)
g. Threats
h. Rumors and falsifications
11. Possession/Use/Influence of Substances/Paraphernalia
a. Any illegal drug, controlled substance, or cannabis (including
marijuana, hashish and ​medical cannabis unless the student is
authorized to be administered a medical cannabis infused product
under ​Ashley’s Law​). *#

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 b. Any anabolic steroid unless it is being administered in accordance
with a physician’s or licensed practitioner’s prescription. #
c. Any performance-enhancing substance on the Illinois High School
Association’s most current banned substance list unless
administered in accordance with a physician’s or licensed
practitioner’s prescription. #
d. Any prescription drug when not prescribed for the student by a
physician or licensed practitioner, or when used in a manner
inconsistent with the prescription or licensed practitioner, or when
used in a manner inconsistent with the prescription or prescribing
physician’s or licensed practitioner’s instructions. The use or
possession of medical cannabis, by a student for whom medical
cannabis has not been prescribed, is prohibited. (​See the
medication administration policy for schools​) #
e. Any inhalant, regardless of whether it contains an illegal drug or
controlled substance that a student believes is, or represents to be
capable of, causing intoxication, hallucination, excitement, or
dulling of the brain or nervous system; or about which the student
engaged in behavior that would lead a reasonable person to
believe that the student intended the inhalant to cause
intoxication, hallucination, excitement, or dulling of the brain or
nervous system. The prohibition in this section does not apply to a
student’s use of asthma or other legally prescribed inhalant
medications. *#
f. “Look-alike” or counterfeit drugs, including a substance that is not
prohibited by this policy, but one that a student believes to be, or
represents to be, an illegal drug, controlled substance, or other
substance that is prohibited by this policy; about which a student
engaged in behavior that would lead a reasonable person to
believe that the student expressly or impliedly represented to be
an illegal drug, controlled substance or other substance that is
prohibited by this policy.
g. Furnishing, selling, manufacturing or possessing with the intent to
sell or distribute, or controlled substances (drugs or look-alike
drugs) on any property or while attending any school-sponsored or
school-related function. *#
12. Property​: Causing or attempting to cause damage to, stealing, or
attempting to steal, school property or another person’s personal property,
including, but not limited to loitering, vandalism, possession/sale of stolen
property, criminal damage to property or setting fires.
13. Sexual Misconduct
a. ​Engaging in any sexual activity, including, but not limited to,
offensive touching, indecent exposure (mooning), or removing the
clothing of another student.
b. Sexual harassment
c. Sexual assault to a staff member *#
d. Teen dating violence
e. Possesion/distribution of sexuallyy explicit materials
14. Tobacco:​ Using, possessing, distributing, purchasing, selling or offering for
sale tobacco or nicotine materials, including electronic cigarettes or
e-cigarettes, and vaping materials.

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 15. Trespassing: ​Entering school property or a school facility without proper
authorization. Trespassing on non-school property to and from school or at
school events.
16. Truancy:​ Being absent without a recognized excuse. Excessive unexcused
absences. Leaving closed campus. Not attending an assigned class during
the assigned time.
17. Weapons / Weapons Prohibition
a. ​A student who is determined to have brought a firearm to school,
any school sponsored event or activity or event that bears a
reasonable relationship to school shall be expelled for a period of
not less than one year but not more than 2 calendar years. A
firearm, meaning any gun, rifle, shotgun, or weapon as defined by
Section 921 of Title 18 of the United States Code, firearm as
defined in Section 1.1 of the Firearm Owners Identification Card
Act, or firearm as defined in Section 24-1 of the Criminal Code of
1961. The expulsion period may be modified by the
superintendent, and the superintendent’s determination may be
modified by the board on a case-by-case basis. *#
b. Possession of a look alike toy or fake handgun. #
c. Possession of, but not limited to, knives, brass knuckles, billy
clubs or baseball bats, pipes, bottles, locks, sticks, pencils, and
pens if used or attempted to be used to cause bodily harm.
Anytime any item considered a weapon under Section 17 of the handbook is
confiscated the item will not be returned to the parent or student.
The expulsion requirement may be modified by the superintendent and/or designee
and the Superintendent and/or designee’s determination may be modified by the
Board of Education on a case-by-case basis.

​ hall be referred to local law enforcement agency.

*S
#Must be reported to Illinois Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

BULLYING/HAZING
Hazing is any humiliating or dangerous activity expected of a student to belong to a
team or group, regardless of his or her willingness to participate. Bullying includes
cyberbullying (bullying through the use of technology or any electronic
communication or media), is any physical or verbal and is defined as any act that
has or can be reasonably predicted to place a student in reasonable fear of harm;
cause a detrimental effect on a student’s physical or mental health; interfere with a
student’s academic performance; or interfere with a student’s ability to participate in
or benefit from school activities. Bullying includes:
● Placing the student or students in reasonable fear of harm to their person
or property
● Causing a substantially detrimental effect on the student’s or students’
physical or mental health
● Substantially interfering with the student’s or students’ academic
performance
● Substantially interfering with the student’s or students’ ability to
participate in or benefit from the services, activities, or privileges provided
by a school
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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. ​See
complete policies and procedures for bullying and hazing beginning on page 55​.

Disciplinary Procedures
There is immediate intervention by the staff member who is supervising the student or
who observes the misbehavior. If the violation occurs in the classroom setting, the
teacher invokes the Classroom Management Plan as approved by the building
principal/designee.

Repeated misbehavior may require a parent/teacher conference, re-entry conference,

restorative circle or a parent conference with guidance staff and/or administrator. A
proper and accurate record of the offense and disciplinary action is maintained by the
staff member.

Restorative/Discipline Options for Gross Disobedience

or Misconduct
School officials shall limit the number and duration of expulsions and out-of-school
suspensions to the greatest extent practicable, and, where practicable and reasonable,
shall consider forms of non-exclusionary discipline before pursuing out-of- school
suspensions or expulsions. Schools personnel shall not advise or encourage students
to drop out of school voluntarily due to behavioral or academic difficulties. Potential
disciplinary measures include, without limitation, any of the following measures:
● Notify parents/guardians
● After-school tutoring provided the student’s parent/guardian has been
notified (If transportation arrangements cannot be made in advance, an
alternative disciplinary measure will be assigned to the students)
● Detention
● Disciplinary conference/Re-entry conference
● Expulsion from school and all school activities for a definite time period not
to exceed 2 calendar years. An expelled student is prohibited from being
on school grounds or attending any school activity during the duration of
the expulsion, including non-school days
● In-school suspension
● Notifying juvenile authorities or other law enforcement whenever the
conduct involves criminal activity, such as, illegal drugs (controlled
substances), “look- alikes,” alcohol, assault to a staff member, possession
of a weapon or in other circumstances as authorized by the reciprocal
reporting agreement between the District and local law enforcement
● Recommendation to revoke transfer after conferencing with the family of
the student and consulting with the Director of School Support Seizure of
contraband; confiscation and temporary retention of the personal property
that was used to violate school rules
● Referral to outside agency or school district support services

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 ● Referral to building problem solving or district student review
● Restitution or Contribution
● Return of property or restitution for lost, stolen or damaged property
● Suspension of bus riding privileges
● Suspension from school and all school activities for up to 10 days. A
suspended student is prohibited from being on school grounds or attending
any school activity during the duration of the expulsion, including
non-school days
● Temporary removal from the classroom
● Transfer to an alternative program if the student is expelled or otherwise
qualifies for transfer under State law
● Withholding of privileges
The above list of disciplinary measures is a range of options that will not always be
applicable in every case. In some circumstances, it may not be possible to avoid
suspending or expelling a student because behavioral interventions, other than a
suspension or expulsion, will not be appropriate and available, and the only
reasonable and practical way to resolve the threat and/or address the disruption is a
suspension or expulsion.

Suspensions
Out of school suspensions for three days or less may be used only if the student’s
continuing presence in school would pose:
● A threat to school safety
● A disruption to other students’ learning opportunities
Whether a student’s continuing presence in school would pose a threat to school
safety or a disruption to other student’s learning opportunities shall be determined on
a case-by-case basis by school officials.

Out of school suspensions for four or more days, expulsions and disciplinary removals
to alternative school may be used only if:
● Other appropriate and available behavioral and disciplinary interventions have
been exhausted; and
● The student’s continuing presence in school would either;
○ Pose a threat to the safety of other students, staff or members of the
school community; or
○ Substantially disrupt, impede or interfere with the operation of the
school
Whether a student’s continuing presence in school would pose a threat to the safety of
other students, staff or members of the school community or substantially disrupt,
impede or interfere with the operation of the school shall be determined on a case by
case basis by school officials.
Expulsion
An expulsion shall take place after the parents have been requested by registered or
certified letter to appear at a meeting of the Board of Education, or with a hearing
officer appointed by it, to discuss their child’s behavior. The principal of the school the
student attends, along with other staff members who have knowledge of the student’s
academic, behavioral, and social background may be asked to attend the meeting. At

37
such a meeting, the reasons for dismissal and the date on which the expulsion is to
become effective shall be stated. If a hearing officer is appointed by the Board, he/she
shall report to the Board a written summary of the evidence heard at the meeting-at
which time the Board may take such action as it finds appropriate. ​A student
expulsion must be disclosed on the Common Application for Colleges.

Re-Entry
A conference with the family and student who has been suspended may take place
prior to the student leaving the building to serve the disciplinary consequence.
When a student re-enters school after completing an out of school suspension,
expulsion,​ or alternative school placement, ​the building principal or designee shall
meet with the student/parent. The intent of this meeting shall be to partner with the
family to create a plan to support the student’s ability to be successful in school. The
plan shall include an opportunity for students to complete or make-up work for
equivalent credit within a reasonable amount of time if they did not or could not
complete the work during the period of exclusion. The school will make reasonable
attempts to hold this conference.

STUDENT RIGHTS IN DISCIPLINARY

PROCEDURES
To ensure that the student receives fair treatment consistent with the fundamental
requirements of due process, student suspension or recommendations for expulsion
are made in accordance with the following procedures:

Out-of-School Suspension/Bus Suspension

1. A student must be given the opportunity to present information on his/her

own behalf prior to suspension. The suspension shall be reported
immediately to the parents or guardians of each suspended student, and
the Board of Education through the Superintendent of Schools and the
Director of School Support. The report to the parents shall be made by
letter through the U.S. Mail or by personal delivery. A copy of this letter will
be sufficient notification to all others. If the situation is such that the
physical well-being of the student, other individuals or the property of the
school district are in jeopardy, then the student may be suspended
immediately and given an opportunity to present information on his/ her
behalf within 24 hours.
2. The suspension letter shall give full statement of the reasons for the
suspension and notice to the parents or guardians of their right to review.
The procedure for review, if requested, shall be as follows:
a. Parent(s)/guardian(s) have the right to have the suspension
reviewed by the School Board or a hearing officer appointed on
the Board’s behalf. To schedule a Board hearing, please send a
written request within ten (10) calendar days to Jason Wind,
Director of School Support, 1900 W Monroe Street, Springfield, IL,
62704.
b. The parent or guardian requesting the review shall appear and
discuss the suspension with the hearing officer appointed by the
Board.

38
 c. Thereafter, the hearing officer shall report to the Board or its
designee, by written summary, the evidence heard at the meeting.
3. Re-entry should occur only after a parental conference involving
appropriate school personnel. Further continuance of school is contingent
upon the conduct of the student being consistent with that which is
expected of appropriate school conduct and citizenship.
4. If the actions of the student present a serious or continued breach of
discipline, a report shall be made to the District’s Student Review
Committee. This committee shall review the history of the student’s
behavior and make appropriate recommendation to the building principal or
Superintendent for an education program.
5. When a student is suspended from school, that student is prohibited from
entering onto any school property, adjacent school property, or attending
any school- sponsored event whether on or off school property.

GUIDELINES FOR WORK MISSED DURING

OUT-OF-SCHOOL SUSPENSION
Any student who is assigned an out-of-school suspension is encouraged to continue
doing all school work during the time of that suspension This recommendation is
made for the purpose of helping students to avoid major gaps in the learning which
occurs at school. In addition, keeping up with assignments during a suspension is the
best way for a student to ensure his/her ability to successfully complete work
assigned upon return to school following the out-of-school suspension. Guidelines
governing work missed during an out-of-school suspension are listed below in two
major categories.

Daily work, Homework and Quizzes

There is a mutual responsibility between teacher and student to get assignments,
lecture notes and other materials needed to keep up with work missed during an out-
of-school suspension.

Students should turn in daily work and homework to teachers in a timely manner, as
determined by the teacher, upon return to school following an out-of-school
suspension.

Students will receive grades or credit for daily work, homework, or quizzes missed
during an out-of-school suspension.

Students who are suspended out-of-school for four or more school days must be
provided appropriate and available support services during the period of their
suspension. (email, phone call, conference, after school tutoring)

Research Papers, Major Projects and Major Tests

Upon return to school from an out-of-school suspension, the student is responsible for
arranging to make up any major assignments (research papers, projects, major tests)
in a timely manner. This work will be made up at a time convenient to the teacher.

39
Students who have been suspended out-of-school will not be granted additional
preparation time regarding these types of assignments.

Students will receive grades and credit for work made up in this category of
assignments.

BUS CONDUCT
The district provides bus transportation to and from school for all students living 1.5
miles or more from the school. A list of bus stops will be published at the beginning of
the school year before student registration. Parents must, at the beginning of the
school year, select one bus stop at which a student is to be picked up and one stop at
which a student is to be dropped off. Students are not permitted to ride a bus other
than the bus to which they are assigned. Exceptions must be approved in advance by
the building administration.

While students are on the bus, they are under the supervision of the bus driver. In
most cases, bus discipline problems can be handled by the bus driver. In the case of a
written disciplinary referral, student bus problems will be investigated and handled by
the building administration.

In the interest of the student’s safety and in compliance with State law, students are
also expected to observe the following:
● Take a seat right away and remain seated facing forward. Keep your hands,
arms, and head inside the bus at all times
● Talk quietly on the bus. No shouting or creating loud noises that may distract
the driver. Tablets, iPods®, iPads®, smartphones, and other electronic
devices must be silenced on the bus unless a student uses headphones
● Help keep the bus neat and clean. Keep belongings out of the aisle and away
from emergency exits. Eating and drinking are not allowed on the bus
● Always listen to the driver’s instructions. Be courteous to the driver and other
students. Sit with your hands to yourself and avoid making noises that would
distract the driver or bother other passengers
● Wait until the bus pulls to a complete stop before standing up. Use the
handrail when exiting the bus
● Never run back to the bus, even if you dropped or forgot something
● Students must never tamper with the bus or any of its equipment
● Students must take seats promptly and remain seated throughout the trip. If
seats are assigned, students must sit and stay seated in the assigned seat
throughout the trip
● Hands and heads must remain inside the bus at all times. Items are not to be
thrown out of the bus window
● Use emergency exits only in an emergency
● Students must not bring items on the bus which might injure or harm other
students
● The use of tobacco, alcohol and drugs is prohibited on all buses transporting
students to and from school, including school-authorized trips

Students are expected to follow all school guidelines for appropriate behavior when
riding the school bus. A student may be suspended from riding the bus for up to 10
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consecutive school days for engaging in gross disobedience or misconduct,
including but not limited to, the following:
● Violating any school rule or school district policy
● Willful injury or threat of injury to a bus driver or to another rider
● Willful and/or repeated defacement of the bus
● Repeated use of profanity
● Repeated willful disobedience of a directive from a bus driver or other
supervisor
● Such other behavior as the building administration deems to threaten the
safe operation of the bus and/or its occupants

If a student is suspended from riding the bus for gross disobedience or misconduct
on a bus, the School Board may suspend the student from riding the school bus for
a period in excess of 10 days for safety reasons.
A student suspended from riding the bus who does not have alternate transportation
to school shall have the opportunity to complete or make up work for equivalent
academic credit. It shall be the responsibility of the student’s parent or guardian to
notify the school that the student does not have alternate transportation.

Bus Safety
● Dress properly for the weather. Make sure all drawstrings, ties, straps, etc.
on all clothing, backpacks and other items, are shortened or removed to
lessen the likelihood of them getting caught in bus doors, railings or aisles.
● Arrive on time at the bus stop, and stay away from the street while waiting for
the bus.
● Stay away from the bus until it stops completely and the driver signals you to
board. Enter in a single file without pushing. Always use the handrail.
● Stay out of the danger zone next to the bus where the driver may have
difficulty seeing you. Take five giant steps away from the bus and out of the
danger zone, until you can see the driver and the driver sees you. Never
crawl under a bus.
● If you must cross the street after you get off the bus, wait for the driver’s
signal and then cross in front of the bus. Cross the street only after checking
both ways for traffic.
● Students must board and depart at assigned bus stops.

Bus Audio and Video Recordings

Recent legislation passed by the Illinois General Assembly (Public Act 95-3052)
requires that parents and guardians be notified that the District is now allowed to use
both a visual and audio recording of the interior of a school bus when transportation is
provided for any school related activity. This law was enacted to promote the safety
and security of children. The District and law enforcement personnel will only use the
recordings for disciplinary situations. Recordings will not be available for use by the
general public in order to assure student privacy. A special decal has been placed on
the exterior and interior of all school busses notifying students of these recordings.

For questions regarding school transportation issues, contact: Transportation Office at

(217) 525- 3096

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Searches of School Locker, Property, etc.
By law, School District Officials are authorized to conduct searches of lockers,
school grounds and/or District-controlled property for illegal drugs (including
searches conducted through the use of specially trained dogs), weapons, or any
other item or instrument creating a safety concern (105 ILCS 5/10-22.6). Such
searches may include student vehicles parked on District-owned or controlled
property. In addition, the School Board has authorized the Superintendent to request
assistance from law enforcement officials. (Board Policy 710.03).

Under the Illinois School code, “[to maintain order and security in the schools, school
authorities may inspect and search places and areas such as lockers, desks, parking
lots, and other school property and equipment owned or controlled by the school, as
well as personal effects left in those places and areas by students, without notice to
or the consent of the student, and without a search warrant.]” 105ILCS5/10/22.6(e).
Board Policy 710.03 states that “[schools may be selected for periodic metal detector
searches based upon information, which reasonably leads District staff to have high
concern for the safety and security of students and staff. Search areas may include
classrooms, corridors, student lockers, restrooms, locker rooms, cafeterias, common
areas, or other areas identified by District staff. Any such searches shall be
conducted in a minimally an instructive manner as possible.]” Board Policy 710.069
states that “possession or use of explosives, firearms, or other dangerous weapons
or instruments shall be prohibited on school buses, in school buildings, on school
grounds or at any school function at all times.

Interrogations
It is the desire of the Board to cooperate with all public agencies operating in the
public interest. Law enforcement and other personnel who have a legal right to
interview pupils may do so consistent with the District’s Administrative Rules and
Regulations. Parents or guardians shall be notified and give consent prior to the
interview except as noted in Administrative Rules and Regulations.

TECHNOLOGY POLICIES
TECHNOLOGY USE POLICY
The District provides computing resources to support the instructional and academic
research activities of its students and staff. These resources are intended for the sole
use of District employees and students, and include host computer systems, personal
computers and workstations, communications networks, software, data files and other
related technologies.

The use of the Internet, network and related technologies shall be restricted to
assigned work in connection with District instructional programs. District 186 reserves
the right to monitor its computing resources to protect the integrity of its computing
systems and building facilities.

42
Springfield Public Schools makes no warranties of any kind, whether expressed or
implied, for the services it is providing. The District assumes no responsibility or liability
for any phone charge, line costs or usage fees, nor for any damages a user may suffer.
This includes loss of data resulting from delays, non-deliveries, mis-delivery or service
interruptions caused by the user’s negligence or errors or omissions. Use of any
information obtained via the Internet is at the user’s own risk. The District specifically
denies any responsibility for the accuracy or quality of information obtained through its
computer resources and/or services.

All communication and information accessible via the computer shall be regarded as
private property. However, people who operate the system may review files and
messages to maintain system integrity and insure that users are using the system
responsibly.

The following types of activities are examples of behavior that is unacceptable and/or
unethical and shall constitute violations of District policy:
● Intentionally altering and/or damaging software, hardware, files, data or
network configurations
● Accessing another individual or classroom account, private files, or e-mail
without permission from the owner
● Accessing personal e-mail accounts and/or chat rooms (student e-mail
access is limited to teacher-assigned District classroom accounts)
● Accessing, submitting, posting, publishing or displaying defamatory,
inaccurate, obscene, profane, sexually oriented, threatening, racially
offensive, harassing, illegal or personal information or material
● Without regard to the actual location, no web sites, web servers, file servers
and/ or web-enabled information shall be established and/or maintained using
the name of the school, of any school-affiliated organization, of any school
student or staff or with the use of any District equipment or materials without
the express written authorization of the Director of Technology. All such
approved activities are subject to frequent monitoring and any inappropriate
usage will result in the closing of the activity and appropriate discipline as per
the District guidelines
● Misrepresenting one’s identity in electronic communications
● Distributing personal information in electronic communications
● Violating copyright, software and/or acceptable use policies and agreements
● Using computing and networking resources and/or other technologies to
threaten or harass others
● Using computing or networking resources for commercial or profit-making
services without written authorization from the Superintendent; and
● Disobeying system policies, procedures or protocol
The use of computers and networks, including the Internet, is a privilege, not a right
and inappropriate use will result in a suspension/cancellation of those privileges in
accordance with the severity of the offense and District discipline guidelines.

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ELECTRONIC DEVICE POLICY
The use of electronic devices and other technology at school is a privilege, not a
right. Students are prohibited from using electronic devices, except as provided
herein.

An electronic device includes, but is not limited to, the following: cell phone, smart
phone, video recording device, personal digital assistant (PDA), ipod, ipad, laptop
computer, tablet computer or other similar electronic device. Pocket pagers and
other paging devices are not allowed on school property at any time, except with the
express permission of the building principal.

During instructional time, which includes class periods and passing periods,
electronic devices must be kept powered-off and out-of-sight unless: (a) permission
is granted by an administrator, teacher or school staff member; (b) use of the device
is provided in a student’s individualized education program (IEP) or 504 education
plan; or (c) it is needed in an emergency that threatens the safety of students, staff,
or other individuals.

Cellular telephones may be brought to District 186 schools by students pursuant to

this policy. Phones should remain concealed and be turned off unless in use
pursuant to this policy. Such phones and other electronic devices may be used in
compliance with the individual school’s guidelines for usage. This time of usage may
include before/after school as well as during the student’s lunch time.

Electronic devices may never be used in any manner that disrupts the educational
environment, violates students conduct rules or violates the rights of others. This
includes but is not limited to the following:

● Using the device to take photographs in locker rooms or bathrooms

● Cheating
● Creating, sending, sharing, viewing, receiving, or possessing an indecent
visual depiction or non-consensual dissemination of private sexual images
(i.e., sexting)

Each school shall establish guidelines concerning the inappropriate use of cell
phones/electronic devices at the building level. Schools may enforce the electronic
device policy per their established guidelines as long as the consequence associated
with the violation of this policy does not also involve more serious disciplinary
infractions than established by this handbook..

The school and school district are not responsible for the loss, theft or damage to any
electronic device brought to school.

Social Network Passwords

School officials may conduct an investigation or 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 a school disciplinary rule or policy. In the
44
course of an investigation, the student may be required to share the content that is
reported in order to allow school officials to make a factual determination.

Annual Notice to Parents about Educational

Technology
 

School districts throughout the State of Illinois contract with different 

educational technology vendors for beneficial K-12 purposes such as 
providing personalized learning and innovative educational technologies, 
and increasing efficiency in school operations. 
Under Illinois’ Student Online Personal Protection Act, or SOPPA (105 ILCS 
85/), educational technology vendors and other entities that operate 
Internet websites, online services, online applications, or mobile 
applications that are designed, marketed, and primarily used for K-12 
school purposes are referred to in SOPPA as o ​ perators​. SOPPA is intended 
to ensure that student data collected by operators is protected, and it 
requires those vendors, as well as school districts and the Ill. State Board of 
Education, to take a number of actions to protect online student data. 
Depending upon the particular educational technology being used, our 
District may need to collect different types of student data, which is then 
shared with educational technology vendors through their online sites, 
services, and/or applications. Under SOPPA, educational technology 
vendors are prohibited from selling or renting a student’s information or 
from engaging in targeted advertising using a student’s information. Such 
vendors may only disclose student data for K-12 school purposes and other 
limited purposes permitted under the law. 
In general terms, the types of student data that may be collected and 
shared include personally identifiable information (PII) about students or 
information that can be linked to PII about students, such as: 
● Basic identifying information, including student or 
parent/guardian name and student or parent/guardian 
contact information, username/password, student ID number 
● Demographic information 
● Enrollment information 
● Assessment data, grades, and transcripts 
● Attendance and class schedule 
● Academic/extracurricular activities 

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 ● Special indicators (e.g., disability information, English 
language learner, free/reduced meals or homeless/foster 
care status) 
● Conduct/behavioral data 
● Health information 
● Food purchases 
● Transportation information 
● In-application performance data 
● Student-generated work 
● Online communications 
● Application metadata and application use statistics 
● Permanent and temporary school student record information 

Operators may collect and use student data only for K-12 purposes, which 
are purposes that aid in the administration of school activities, such as: 
● Instruction in the classroom or at home (including remote 
learning) 
● Administrative activities 
● Collaboration between students, school personnel, and/or 
parents/guardians 
● Other activities that are for the use and benefit of the school 
district 

SCHOOL FOOD SERVICE

The Food Service Department for Springfield Public Schools participates in the United
States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National School Breakfast and Lunch
Program. All of our schools offer a nutritious breakfast and lunch each day to every
student. Menus are available on the District’s website a​t www.sps186.org.​ If desired,
students may bring lunch from home. A la carte service is available at each school for
students wishing to purchase extra beverages or food items.

COMPUTERIZED POINT OF SALE SYSTEMS

The food service Department for Springfield Public Schools uses a computerized
point-of-sale system. All students are assigned a personal identification number
(PIN) that is entered into a keypad when students participate in either breakfast or

46
lunch . All students must learn their PIN. PINs should be kept confidential and
should not be shared with other students.

FEES
WAIVER OF SCHOOL FEES
Parents who wish to apply for a Waiver of School Fees should complete the
Application For Waiver Of School Fees form available at each school after August
1st. Waiver forms may also be found online on the District’s website a​t
http://www.sps186.org/business/?p=102253​. Completed forms shall be submitted to
the Business Office located at 530 W. Reynolds St., Springfield, IL. 62702.

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS FEE

Pupils may be required to pay an Instructional Materials Fee at the time of
registration or at a later date as directed by each school. The Instructional Materials
Fee is used to purchase basic and supplemental texts (hardcover and paperback),
periodicals, workbooks, materials and supplies used in science, family and
consumer science, music and art. Parents who wish to waive Instructional Materials
Fees should do so by completing the Application For Waiver Of School Fees form
that is available at school. There is no instructional materials fee for children enrolled
in the Early Start Program.

ATHLETIC FEES
Students shall be assessed a fee for participation in all extracurricular activities
governed by the IHSA/IESA. This fee, approved by the Board of Education on
June 16, 2014, became effective for the 2014-2015 school year and remains in
effect until further notice. Fees are as follows:
● High School: A one-time $85.00 fee for participation in all IHSA high school
activities.
● Middle School: A one-time $60 fee for participation in all IESA middle
school activities.
Guidelines for collection of these fees are as follows:
1. This fee shall be collectable and payable at the time the Athletic Permit
Card is submitted — no pay, no practice, no play;
2. Collection of this fee for sports in which practices begin prior to the
beginning of the school year shall be based on the preceding school
year’s Application For Waiver of School Fees status--i.e., if a student
qualified during the previous school year for a Waiver of School Fees,
the athletic fee may be waived until such time as the current year’s
Waiver of School Fees status may be ascertained. If for any reason the
student is not approved for a fee waiver for the current year, the fee will

47
 be due and payable immediately or the student may not continue to
participate in his/her activity.
3. It is the responsibility of the building Athletic Director to follow up with all
coaches in collection of athletic fees in a timely manner.
4. It is the responsibility of all coaches to be diligent in collection of these
fees, as well as follow up on the fee waiver status of all students
participating.
5. Schools should immediately provide a list of students to the Department
of Business Services for any fees unable to be collected. The
Department of Business Services will follow up and/or initiate collection
proceedings.

EXTRACURRICULAR AND ATHLETIC

ACTIVITIES
This Extracurricular and Athletic Activities Code of Conduct applies, where applicable, to
all school-sponsored athletic and extracurricular activities that are not part of an
academic class nor otherwise carry credit for a grade.

Requirements for Participation in Extracurricular

Athletic Activities
A student must meet all academic eligibility requirements and have the following fully
executed documents on file in the school office before being allowed to participate in
any extracurricular athletic activity:
1. A current certificate of physical fitness issued by a licensed
physician, an advanced practice nurse or physician assistant;
2. A permission slip to participate in the specific sport or activity signed
by the student’s parent/guardian;
3. Proof the student is covered by medical insurance;
4. A signed agreement by the student not to use any drugs on the
IHSA’s most current banned drug classes list (without a written
prescription and medical documentation provided by a licensed
physician who performed an evaluation for a legitimate medical
condition) and a signed agreement by the student and the student’s
parent/guardian agreeing to IHSA’s Performance-Enhancing
Substance Testing Program; and
5. Signed documentation agreeing to comply with the School District’s
policies and procedures on student athletic concussions and head
injuries.

ACADEMIC ELIGIBILITY
Selection of members or participants in extracurricular athletic activities is at the
discretion of the designated teachers, sponsors, and coaches. For all IHSA/IESA
sports and activities, athletic as well as non-athletic, academic eligibility shall be

48
checked weekly to govern eligibility for the following Monday through Saturday. For fall
sports, the first eligibility check shall be made following the first full week of attendance
at the beginning of the school year. During the succeeding weeks of the school year,
the eligibility check shall begin the week prior to the first contest in an activity. Schools
are expected to conduct this weekly check in some consistent manner convenient to
their individual operations. The eligibility check shall be the same day each week
unless school is not in session; then it must be taken on the last day of student
attendance that week.
In cases when the documented grade of the student does not reflect the student’s true
academic progress (submitted work that has not been graded or recorded, limited
course assignments, excused absences…) each building principal shall have the
necessary discretion to declare the eligibility of the student. In such cases, the principal
shall consult with the Director of School Support prior to making a final decision and
notifying all parties.
IHSA Weekly grade checks shall be cumulative and pertain only to semester grades.
In order to maintain current eligibility, students must:
1. Attain a 2.0 GPA in previous semester;
2. Pass five (5) classes in previous semester; and
3. Pass five (5) classes weekly during current semester
4. Any student failing to meet weekly academic requirements will be
suspended from the sport or activity for 7 calendar days or until all
academic requirements are met, whichever is longer. Any student failing to
attain a 2.0 GPA or pass five (5) classes in the previous semester will be
ineligible for all contests/events during the subsequent semester.
IESA Weekly grade checks shall be cumulative and pertain only to quarter grades.
In order to maintain current eligibility, students must:
1. Attain a 2.0 GPA in previous semester;
2. Pass all classes in previous semester; and
3. Pass all classes weekly during current semester
4. Any student failing to meet weekly academic requirements will be
suspended from the sport or activity for 7 calendar days or until all
academic requirements are met, whichever is longer. Any student failing to
attain a 2.0 GPA or pass all classes in the previous semester will be
ineligible for all contests/events during the subsequent semester.
Student athletes who are having academic difficulty should be allowed to attend
academic tutoring sessions without athletic penalty. The attendance of these
sessions should be pre-arranged with the coaching staff. Student athletes may be
asked to provide documentation of tutoring attendance from the instructor or
administrator in order to return to practice.

STUDENT ATHLETIC CONCUSSION AND

HEAD INJURIES
Student Athletes must comply with Illinois’ Youth Sports Concussion Safety Act and
all protocols, policies and bylaws of the Illinois High School Association before
being allowed to participate in any athletic activity, including practice or competition.
A student who was removed from practice or competition because of a suspected
concussion shall be allowed to return only after all statutory prerequisites are

49
completed, including without limitation, District 186’s return-to-play (RTP) and
return-to- learn (RTL) protocols.

IHSA/IESA
Eligibility for most athletics is also governed by the rules of the Illinois High School
Association or Illinois Elementary School Association and, if applicable, these rules
will apply in addition to this Extracurricular Athletic Code. In the case of a conflict
between IHSA or IESA and this Extracurricular Athletic Code, the most stringent rule
will be enforced.

ABSENCE FROM SCHOOL ON DAY OF SPORT

OR ACTIVITY
A student who is absent from school for any part of the school day is ineligible for any
sport or activity on that day unless the absence has been approved in writing by the
principal. Exceptions may be made 1) for a pre-arranged medical absence; 2) for a
death in the student’s family; or 3) a religious ceremony or event.. A student who has
one or more truancies or who has been suspended from school may be suspended from
participation in athletic activities by school officials. A student who is absent from school
on a Friday before a Saturday event may be withheld from Saturday sports and activities
at the sole discretion of the principal.

TRAVEL
All students must travel to sporting events and activities and return home from such
events with the team on which the student participates by using a school approved
means of transportation. A written waiver of this rule may be issued by the teacher,
sponsor or coach in charge of the sport or activity upon advance written request of a
student’s parent/guardian and provided the parent/guardian appears and accepts
custody of the student. Oral requests will not be honored and oral permissions are not
valid.
Any student found to be in violation of this rule will be subject to discipline in
accordance with the Extracurricular/Athletic Code of Conduct.

CODE OF CONDUCT FOR ACTIVITIES

This Code of Conduct applies to all school-sponsored activities that are neither part
of an academic class or otherwise carry credit or a grade. This Code of Conduct will
be enforced 365 days a year, 24 hours a day.
This Code does not contain a complete list of inappropriate behaviors for students
in extracurricular athletic activities. Violations will be treated cumulatively, with
disciplinary penalties increasing with subsequent violations and a student may be
excluded from sports or activities while the school is conducting an investigation
regarding that student’s conduct.

50
Students and their parents/guardians are encouraged to seek assistance regarding
alcohol or other drug problems. Family-referrals or self-referrals will be taken into
consideration in determining consequences for Code of Conduct violations.
The student shall not:

● Violate school rules or district policies on student discipline including

policies and procedures on student behavior.
● Ingest or otherwise use, possess, buy, sell, offer to sell, barter, or distribute
a beverage containing alcohol (except for religious purposes);
● Ingest or otherwise use possess, buy, sell, offer to sell, barter, or distribute
tobacco or nicotine in any form
● Ingest or otherwise use, possess, buy, sell, offer to sell, barter, or distribute
any product composed purely of caffeine in a loose powdered form or any
illegal substance (including mood-altering and performance enhancing
drugs or chemicals) or paraphernalia;
● Ingest, possess, buy, sell, barter, or distribute any illegal substance
(including mood-altering and performance enhancing drugs or chemicals)
or paraphernalia
● Ingest or otherwise use, possess, buy, sell, offer to sell, barter, or distribute
any product composed purely of caffeine in loose powdered form, any
illegal substance (including mood-altering and performance enhancing
drugs or chemicals) or any paraphernalia that may be associated with any
mood-altering or performance enhancing drugs or chemicals
● Attend a party or other gathering and/or ride in a vehicle where alcoholic
beverages and/or controlled substances are being consumed by minors
● Use, possess, buy, sell, offer to sell, barter, or distribute any object that is
or could be considered a weapon or any item that is a look alike weapon.
This prohibition does not prohibit legal use of weapons in cooking and in
athletics, such as archery, martial arts practice, target shooting, hunting,
and skeet
● Act in an unsportsmanlike manner
● Violate any criminal law, including but not limited to, assault, battery, arson,
theft, gambling, eavesdropping, vandalism and reckless driving
● Violate any criminal law, including but not limited to, assault, battery, arson,
theft, gambling, eavesdropping, vandalism and reckless driving
● Haze or bully other students
● Violate the written rules for the extracurricular or athletic activity
● Behave in a manner that is detrimental to the good of the group or school;
● Be insubordinate or disrespectful toward the activity’s sponsors or team’s
coaching staff
● Falsify any information contained on any permit or permission form
required by the activity or sport.

DUE PROCESS PROCEDURES FOR ACTIVITIES

Students who are accused of violating this Code of Conduct for Activities are entitled to
the following due process:
1. The student should be advised of the disciplinary infraction with which he or
she is being charged.

51
 2. The student shall be entitled to a hearing before an appropriate administrator.
3. The student will be able to respond to any charges leveled against him or her.
4. The student may provide any additional information he or she wishes for the
administrator to consider.
5. The administrator, with the help of other staff members if needed, may
interview material witnesses or others with evidence concerning the case.
6. If the administrator finds, after reviewing the evidence, that the violation
occurred, he or she will impose sanctions on the student, as follows:
Sanctions for violations other than drug and alcohol will be based on the
nature of the offense and the number of offenses, and may include
suspension from all sports or activities for one of the time periods
described below:
● A specified period of time or percentage of performances,
activities, or competitions.or
● The remainder of the season or for the next season; or
● The remainder of the student’s school career
Sanctions for alcohol and other drug violations are listed on the Athletic Permit Card.
The administrator will make a written report of his or her decision and rationale. The
student may appeal the decision to the building principal.

All students remain subject to the district’s student discipline policy and/or this
handbook and the disciplinary measures listed in them.

DRUG AND ALCOHOL TESTING PROGRAM

The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) maintains an extracurricular drug and
alcohol testing program in order to foster the health, safety, and welfare of its
students. Participation in extracurricular athletic activities is a privilege and
participants need to be exemplars. All District 186 programs promote healthy and
drug-free participation. Each student and his or her parent(s)/guardian(s) must
consent to random drug and alcohol testing in order to participate in any
extracurricular athletic activity. Failure to sign the District’s Athletic Permit Card will
result in non participation.

If a test is positive, the student may not participate in sports or activities until after a
follow-up test is requested by the building principal or designee and the results are
reported. The building principal or designee will request a follow-up test after such
an interval of time that the substance previously found would formally be eliminated
from the body. If this follow-up test is negative, the student will be allowed to resume
sports and activities. If a positive result is obtained from the follow-up test, or any
later test, the same previous procedure shall be followed.

No student shall be expelled or suspended from school as a result of any verified

positive test conducted under this program other than when independent reasonable
suspicion of drug and/or alcohol usage exists. This program does not affect the dis-
trict policies, practices, or rights to search or test any student who at the time exhibits
cause for reasonable suspicion of drug and/or alcohol use.

52
ATTENDANCE AT SCHOOL DANCES
Attendance at school-sponsored dances is a privilege.

Only students who attend the school may attend school-sponsored dances, unless the
principal or designee approves a student’s guest in advance of the event. A guest
must be “age appropriate,” defined as currently in high school or under the age of 21.
All school rules, including the school’s discipline code and dress code are in effect
during school-sponsored dances.
Students who violate the school’s discipline code will be required to leave the dance
immediately and the student’s parent/guardian will be contacted. The school may also
impose other discipline as outlined in the school’s discipline code.

LOSS/THEFT OF STUDENT PROPERTY

Every effort will be made to avoid loss or theft of student property during a school
activity. Should loss or theft occur, District 186 is not liable for replacement or
related costs of such items.

HEALTH AND SAFETY

REQUIRED HEALTH EXAMINATIONS AND
IMMUNIZATIONS
All students are required to present appropriate proof of a health examination and
the immunizations against, and screenings for, preventable communicable diseases
within one year prior to:

1. Entering a pre-K program;

2. Entering kindergarten or the first grade;
3. Entering the sixth and ninth grades; or
4. Enrolling in an Illinois school for the first time, regardless of the student’s
grade.

Proof of immunization must meet state approved guidelines for Illinois schools. Proof
of immunization against meningococcal disease is required for students in grades 6
and 12. A diabetes screening must be included as part of the health exam (though
diabetes testing is not required). Students between the age of one and seven must
provide a statement from a physician assuring that the student was “risk-assessed”
or screened for lead poisoning.

Proof of health examination and immunizations are due on the first day of pupil
attendance. Failure to comply with the above requirements by the 11th pupil
53
attendance day of the current school year will result in the student’s exclusion from
school until the required health forms are presented to the school, subject to certain
exceptions. All students new to District 186 who register mid-term from out of state
have 30 days following registration to comply with the health examination and
immunization requirements. Students who transfer to District 186 from a school
district within Illinois have 10 days to comply. If a medical reason prevents a student
from receiving a required immunization within the timeframe indicated above, the
student must present an immunization schedule and a statement of the medical
reasons causing the delay. The schedule and statement of medical reasons must
be signed by an appropriate medical professional.

Eye Examination
All students entering kindergarten or an Illinois school for the school for the first time
must present proof by October 15 of the current school year of an eye examination
performed within one year. Failure to present proof by October 15, allows the school
to hold the student’s report card until the student presents: (1) proof of a completed
eye examination, or (2) that an eye examination will take place within 60 days after
October 15.
Dental Examination
All students entering kindergarten, second and sixth grades must present proof by
May 15 of the current school year of having been examined by a licensed dentist
within the last 18 months. Failure to present proof allows the school to hold the child’s
report card until the student presents: (1) proof of a completed dental examination, or
(2) that a dental examination will take place within 60 days after May 15.

Exemptions
​A student will be exempt from the above requirements for:
● Medical grounds if the student’s parent/guardian presents to the building
principal a statement signed by a physician explaining the reason a medical
exemption is needed
● Religious grounds if the student’s parent/guardian presents to the building
principal a completed Certificate of Religious Exemption form which includes
a physician’s signature and parent’s written detailed explanation of the tenets
of the religion preventing vaccination
● Eye examination requirement if the student’s parent/guardian shows an
undue burden or lack of access to a physician licensed to practice medicine
in all of its branches who provides eye examinations or a licensed
optometrist
● Dental examination requirement if the student’s parent/guardian shows an
undue burden or a lack of access to a dentist

VISION AND HEARING SCREENINGS

Vision and hearing screenings are completed annually on students in the grade levels
listed below. The vision and hearing screening programs are for the purpose of the
identification and prevention of vision and hearing impairments in students. Screenings

54
are a limited process and do not diagnose visual or auditory problems, but rather
indicate a potential need for further evaluation.
Vision screening is not a substitute for a complete eye and vision evaluation by an eye
doctor. Children are not required to undergo the vision screening if an optometrist or
ophthalmologist has completed and signed a report form indicating that an examina-
tion has been administered within the previous 12 months.
Students with a known hearing loss are encouraged to provide an audiogram
completed by an audiologist within the previous 12 months.
The screenings are a school health requirement of the Illinois Department of Public
Health. Parents wishing to object to this examination for religious reasons must
submit to the school a written statement that fully sets forth the religious belief that is
the basis for the objection.

The following students will be screened for:

VISION HEARING

All pre-school All pre-school

Kindergarten Kindergarten

2nd 1st

8th 2nd

Students in special education 3rd

Teacher referrals Students in special education

Teacher referrals

MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION
1. If the Medication Permission Form is not available, the written physician's
order must include the name of the drug, dosage, method of administering,
and when it should be taken. No medication will be given to a student until
the medication form is completed and signed by the physician and by the
parent/guardian. Written parental permission is required as well. The first
dose of any new medications will not be given at school due to the
possibility of an adverse reaction.
2. All medication administered during the school day must be necessary in
order to allow the child to attend school.
3. Prescription medication shall display:
a. Child’s name
b. Prescription number
c. Medication name and dosage
d. Method of administering

55
 e. Time to be given and/or other directions
f. Date of prescription and refill
g. Licensed prescriber’s name
h. Pharmacy name, address, phone number
i. Name or initials of pharmacist
4. Over-the-counter (OTC) medications are discouraged at school. When
ordered in writing by the physician and parent, OTC medications shall be
brought in with the manufacturer’s original label with the ingredients listed,
and with the child’s name affixed to the container.
5. Medications should be stored in the most current container with proper
directions as to correct dose and time to be given.
6. It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to furnish the school with an
adequate amount of medication in a timely manner. All supplies needed for
medication administration should be provided by the parent/guardian.
7. Any changes in dose, time, or directions must be in writing from the parent/
guardian and the physician or licensed prescriber
8. In cases where the student shall be allowed to self-administer student’s
own asthma medication, a written statement from the parent is required
(see Asthma-Parent Agreement for self-administration of asthma
medication under Health Services online documents). In students with life
threatening allergies, when the student is allowed to self-carry/self
administer Epi-pen, the online document ‘Allergy & Epi-pen - Parents and
student - -Epi-pen Agreement must be completed by physician, parent,
and student. This permission to self-administer and/or possess epinephrine
and/or asthma inhaler may be revoked by the principal or nurse if it is
determined that the child is not safely and effectively carrying and/or
self-administering the medication. The school and district shall incur no
liability, except for willful and wanton conduct, as a result of any injury
arising from a student’s self-administration of medication or epinephrine
auto-injector or the storage of any medication by school personnel. A
student’s parent/guardian must agree to indemnify and hold harmless the
school district and its employees and agents, against any claims, except a
claim based on willful and wanton conduct, arising out of a student’s
self-administration of an epinephrine auto-injector and/ or asthma inhaler,
or the storage of any medication by school personnel.
9. Herbal preparations and/or other alternative products require a physician’s
statement and must follow the guidelines given above.
10. The parent/guardian will be responsible at the end of the treatment for
removing from the school any unused medication which was prescribed to
their child. All medication will be discarded during the last week day of the
school year.
If your child has a serious health issue, such as asthma, allergies, seizures or
diabetes, you are encouraged to speak with your child’s doctor regarding an
emergency action plan for school. An asthma emergency action plan completed by a
physician and signed by a parent is requested for all students with asthma. Students
with severe food allergies or other allergy necessitating the use of an EpiPen are
asked to provide an allergy action plan completed by a physician and signed by the
parent. A seizure action plan is requested for all students with a seizure disorder. A
diabetes medical management plan must be provided in order to meet your child’s
diabetes needs. These emergency plans are requested to keep your child safe at
school and will be shared with school staff as needed to provide your child’s safety.

56
Medication guidelines are based on recommendations from Illinois Department of
Human Services and the Illinois State Board of Education.

PROTOCOL FOR HEAD LICE

When a child comes to school with head lice, every precaution is taken to ensure the
issue is addressed in a sensitive, discreet and timely manner to protect the affected
student, minimize his or her time away from the classroom and prevent the spread of
head lice to classmates.
School nurses and staff work with families to educate them on treating head lice. The
typical protocol is as follows:
● As soon as it is determined that a child is affected with lice, his or her parents
are notified and encouraged to pick up their child to begin treatment
● Upon pickup, parents are given information on lice treatment and advised to
treat the child that day
● The child’s head lice must be treated at home before returning to school.
Parents are asked to accompany the child to school following treatment to
allow a staff member to determine that the child has been treated and no
longer has active head lice
● School nurses and staff monitor the affected child(ren) after treatment and
watch for potential re-occurrence
Head lice themselves are not an illness and they are not known to spread disease,
therefore they are not considered to be a health hazard. The burden on students and
families resulting from extended time away from the classroom outweighs the risks of
head lice. For these reasons, both the American Academy of Pediatrics and the
National Association of School Nurses advise against “no-nit” policies requiring that a
child be free of nits before they can return to school.

It should be noted that the presence of nits are not always indicative of active head
lice. Nits that are visible more than 1/4 inch away from the scalp may be the shells
left behind after lice eggs hatch. Nits may still be present after successful
treatment. School nurses and staff do their best to ensure that children with active
head lice are appropriately treated at home before returning to the classroom.

STUDENT ACCIDENT INSURANCE

District 186 does not provide student accident insurance or health insurance.
Parents/ guardians may purchase supplemental accident insurance for their child
through Markel Insurance Company, administered by Seven Corners, Inc., (877)
444-5014.
More information is available a​t www.sps186.org.​ Online enrollment is located at
http://markel.sevencorners.com.​ By no means is this coverage adequate for all costs
of a student accident claim. Students who participate in District 186’s football
program are covered by an accident insurance policy that is provided at the expense
of the Springfield Public Schools. All other financial considerations related to an
accident or injury that occurs while the student is attending or participating in a
school function, such as physical education, athletics or a field trip, is the
responsibility of the parent/guardian.

57
STUDENT ILLNESS/INJURY
When a student is ill or injured at school, it may be necessary for the student to be sent
home. If such is the case, school authorities will contact parents to explain the
circumstances and to determine next steps. In case a parent cannot be reached, the
school will use the emergency contact information on the student’s cumulative folder.
Students will remain supervised at school until contact is made or a 911 call is needed
for emergency care.
In situations when an emergency vehicle is needed to transport a student to a
medical facility, a representative from the school shall meet the vehicle at the
medical facility and remain until an emergency contact arrives. In addition, the
school must contact the District’s Central Office in order to provide this information.
School staff with knowledge of the accident or student injury will complete a student
accident report and turn this report in to the building principal within 24 hours of the
accident occurring.

SUICIDE AND DEPRESSION AWARENESS

AND PREVENTION
Youth suicide impacts the safety of the school environment. It also affects the school
community, diminishing the ability of surviving students to learn and the school’s
ability to educate. Suicide and depression awareness and prevention are important
goals of the school district.

The school district maintains student and parent resource on suicide and depression
awareness and prevention. Much of this information, including a copy of school
district’s policy, is posted on the school district website. Information can also be
obtained from the school office.

SCHOOL SAFETY
Drills
Safety drills will occur at times established by the school board. Students are required
to be silent and shall comply with the directives of school officials during emergency
drills. Each site administrator shall review all safety procedures and expectations with
all building staff members prior to the first day of student attendance.here will be a
minimum of three (3) evacuation drills, a minimum of one (1) severe weather
(shelter-in-place) drill, a minimum of one (1) law enforcement drill, and a minimum of
one (1) bus evacuation drill each school year. There may be other drills at the direction
of the administration. Except for the Law Enforcement Drill, drills may not be preceded
by a warning to the students.

58
Tentative Safety Drill Schedule:
● Completed during the first 90 days of school Law Enforcement
Drill
● August/September: Bus Evacuation
● October: Building Evacuation and Great ShakeOut Drill
(Earthquake)
● March: Severe Weather Drill (shelter-in-place)
● Various: Building Administration to conduct two additional evacuation drills

SOFT LOCKDOWN
Soft Lockdown is a term that defines certain protocols and procedures that are used to
respond to a nearby disturbance. This is in response to a situation that poses no
immediate threat to students or staff.

During a Soft Lockdown, the building perimeter is secured and, if necessary, staff may
be assigned to monitor primary entrances. In some cases, first floor windows may be
secured. All staff and students who are outside are directed to enter the building and
no outside activities are permitted until the event is resolved. In most Soft Lockdowns,
visitors may not enter or exit the building.
In the building, the regular school day is observed. Teaching and learning take place
and students move about as normal. Once the District 186 Coordinator of Safety and
Security or the Springfield Police Department notifies the building administration that
the incident is resolved, normal operations may resume.

ASBESTOS MANAGEMENT PLANS

AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION
In accordance with Federal Register 40 CFR 73 Asbestos-Containing Materials in
Schools, Final Rule (Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act, AHERA), all
Springfield Public Schools, District 186, have an Asbestos Management Plan located in
the office. The plan may be reviewed during normal business hours.

Please contact Scott Craig, Asbestos Coordinator (217-525-3096) with any questions.
Copies of the written report can be provided at a cost of $.25 per page.

PEST MANAGEMENT POLICY STATEMENT

It is the policy of District 186 to implement Integrated Pest Management procedures to
control structural and landscape pests and minimize exposure of children, faculty and
staff to pesticides.

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PESTS
It is the policy of District 186 to control pests in the school environment. Pests such as
cockroaches, fleas, stinging wasps, termites and rodents are annoying and can
disrupt the learning environment in schools. Pests are known to bite, sting or transmit
diseases and may also cause allergic responses.

PESTICIDES
It is the policy of District 186 to reduce exposure to pesticides in the school
environment. When pesticides are used to control pests in schools, there is a potential
for human exposure. Excessive exposure may result in pesticide poisoning or allergic
responses in sensitive individuals. Children may be more susceptible to pesticides than
adults due to their smaller size and rapid growth and development. Their playful
behavior may expose them to more pesticide residues.

INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT (IPM)

1. Non-chemical prevention of pest populations using such methods as
sanitation, exclusion and cultural practices.
2. Selecting the least hazardous methods and materials effective for
control of targeted pests.
3. Precision targeting of pesticides to areas not contacted or accessible to
the children, faculty and staff.
4. Application of pesticides only “as needed” to correct verified problems.

The success of IPM in schools is dependent upon:

1. Full cooperation of administrators, faculty, maintenance/custodial staff,

parents and students.
2. Establishment of a school district-wide IPM coordinator and advisory
committee.
3. School-based safety committees shall include pest management and
pesticide policy as part of their agenda.
4. Each school shall designate a staff member to coordinate the IPM
program and maintain pest management records.

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BULLYING, HAZING, SEXUAL
HARASSMENT, TEEN DATING
VIOLENCE, DISCRIMINATION &
REPORTING OF ABUSE
BULLYING POLICY
Bullying, and forms of harassment diminish a student’s ability to learn and the school’s
ability to educate. Preventing students from engaging in these disruptive behaviors
and providing all students equal access to a safe, non-hostile learning environment
are important school goals.

Bullying on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, national origin, military status,
unfavorable discharge status from the 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, or actual or parental
status, including pregnancy, association with a person or group with one or more of the
aforementioned actual or perceived characteristics, or any other distinguishing
characteristic is prohibited in each of the following situations:

1. During any school-sponsored education program or activity.

2. While in school, on school property, on school buses or other school vehicles at
designated school bus stops waiting for the school bus, or at school-sponsored
or school-sanctioned events or activities.
3. Through the transmission of information from a school computer, a school
computer network, or other similar electronic school equipment.
4. Through the transmission of information from a computer that is accessed at a
non school-related location, activity, function, or from the use of technology or
an electronic device that is not owned, leased, or used by the school district or
school if the bullying causes a substantial disruption to the educational process
or, orderly operation of a school.
Bullying includes cyber-bullying ​(bullying through the use of technology or any
electronic communication) and means ​any severe or pervasive physical or verbal
act or conduct, including communications made in writing or electronically,
directed toward a student or students that has or can be reasonably predicted
to have the effect of one or more of the following:

1. Placing the student or students in reasonable fear of harm to the

student’s or students’ person or property
2. Causing a substantially detrimental effect on the student’s or students’
physical or mental health
3. Substantially interfering with the student’s or students’ academic
performance
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 4. Substantially interfering with the student’s or students’ ability to
participate in or benefit from the services, activities, or privileges
provided by a school.

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.

Parents/Students are encouraged to immediately report bullying. All reports shall

be documented using District 186’s Bullying Incident Reporting Form (see
Appendix A or go to sps186.org-Information-Bullying Incident Reporting Form.
Pages 1 and 2
contain the form used to make a bullying report. Pages 3 and 4 contain the form
used by the school in order to document the report, implement strategies to
address the issue and to follow up with students/families).

These reports shall be documented using the Springfield Public Schools

Infosystem. A report may be made orally or in writing to the district complaint
manager or any staff member with whom the student is comfortable speaking.
Anyone, including staff members and parents/guardians, who has information
about actual or threatened bullying is encouraged to report to the district complaint
manager or any staff member. Anonymous reports are also accepted by phone
call, in writing or emails concerning any issue surrounding bullying.

If a student still needs assistance after making the school aware of the situation,
please contact:

● Jason Wind, Director of School Support, 217-525-7911, [email protected] or

● Cheree Morrison, Director of Secondary Schools and Programs, 217-525-3017,
[email protected]

If You Are the Victim of Bullying:

● Clearly tell the “bully(ies)” to stop.
● Don’t ignore the incident. Immediately report the incident to someone at
school; seek help at school. Tell your parent(s).
● If the bullying continues after you have clearly told the bully(ies) to stop, use
District 186’s Bullying Incident Reporting Form to document the incident.
Report the incident immediately to a trusted staff member. For example:
teacher, guidance counselor, assistant principal, or principal.
● Each school will designate and clearly identify the person who is in charge of
taking, investigating, and entering bullying reports.
● Retaliation against the aggressor must not occur. Some examples of
retaliation are: attempting to discuss the matter in any way while it is under
investigation, spreading rumors, following the person who reported the
bullying, becoming physical in any way, destroying property, or using the
telephone or any other electronic or written form of communication to
retaliate in any way against the victim.

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 ● Avoid being alone with the person(s) who have attempted to bully you in the
past.
● Schools will provide resources to students who have filed a bullying report
that has been founded or unfounded. These resources may include meeting
with school administrators, school social workers, or other school staff who
can provide support.

In instances where the target has filed a Bullying Report and the aggressor also
reports retaliation, consequences related to retaliation may be more severe than the
consequences for the bullying. Administrators will make every effort to use appropriate
consequences to eliminate bullying behavior and to eliminate retaliation against
reporters of bullying behavior.

A student will not be punished for reporting bullying or supplying information, even if
the school’s investigation concludes that no bullying occurred. However, knowingly
making a false accusation or providing knowingly false information will be treated as
bullying for purposes of determining any consequences or other appropriate remedial
actions.

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Bullying Forms

64
65
HAZING
The purpose of this policy is to maintain a safe, positive environment for students
and staff that is free from hazing. Hazing activities of any type are inconsistent with
the educational goals of the District and are prohibited at all times.

Definition of Hazing
For purposes of this policy, hazing is defined as any activity that recklessly or
intentionally endangers the mental health, physical health or safety of a student for
the purpose of initiation or membership in or affiliation with any organization
recognized by the District.

“Endangering the physical health” shall include, but not be limited to, any brutality
of a physical nature, such as whipping, beating, branding; exposure to the
elements; forced consumption of any food, alcoholic beverage, drug, or controlled
substance; or other forced physical activity that could adversely affect the physical
health or safety of the individual.

“Endangering the mental health” shall include any activity that would subject an
individual to extreme mental stress, such as prolonged sleep deprivation; forced
prolonged exclusion from social contact, such as shunning; forced conduct which
could result in extreme embarrassment; or any other forced activity which could
adversely affect the mental health or dignity of the individual.

Any hazing activity, whether by an individual or a group, shall be presumed to be a

forced activity even if a student willingly participates.

The District does not condone any form of initiation or harassment, known as hazing,
as part of any school-sponsored student activity. No student, coach, sponsor, volunteer
or District employee shall plan, direct, encourage, assist or engage in any hazing
activity. No administrator, coach, sponsor, volunteer or District employee shall permit,
condone or tolerate any form of hazing.

Procedures for Dealing with Hazing Behavior

● The District will investigate all complaints of hazing and will administer
appropriate discipline to any individual who violates this policy
● The District encourages students who have been subjected to hazing to
promptly report such incidents to the building Principal
● Students, administrators, coaches, sponsors, volunteers and District
employees shall be alert to incidents of hazing and shall report such conduct
to the building Principal
● The District shall annually inform students, parents, coaches, sponsors,
volunteers and staff of this policy and that hazing is prohibited by means of:
○ Publication in handbooks
○ Presentation at assemblies
○ Verbal instructions by coaches or sponsors

66
If You Are the Victim of Hazing
When a student believes that he/she has been subject to hazing, the student shall
promptly report the incident, in writing, to the building Principal or designee.
● The Principal or designee shall conduct a timely, impartial, thorough, and
comprehensive investigation of the alleged hazing
● The Principal or designee shall prepare a written report summarizing the
investigation and recommending disposition of the complaint. Copies of the
report shall be provided to the complainant, the accused, the Director of
School Support, and others directly involved, as appropriate
● If the investigation results in a substantiated finding of hazing, the Principal
shall recommend appropriate disciplinary actions, as circumstances warrant,
in accordance with this Handbook. Additionally, the student may be subject to
disciplinary action by the coach or sponsor, up to and including removal from
the activity

SEXUAL HARASSMENT
Sexual harassment of students is prohibited. A person engages in sexual harassment
whenever he or she makes sexual advances, requests sexual favors, and/or engages in
other verbal or physical conduct, including sexual violence, of a sexual or sex-based
nature, imposed on the basis of sex, that:

1. Denies or limits the provision of educational aid, benefits, services, or

treatment; or that makes such conduct a condition of a student’s academic
status; or
2. Has the purpose or effect of: Substantially interfering with a student’s
educational environment; Creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive
educational environment;
3. Depriving a student of educational aid, benefits, services, or treatment; or
4. Making submission to or rejection of such conduct the basis for academic
decisions affecting a student.

The terms intimidating, hostile, and offensive include conduct that has the effect of
humiliation, embarrassment, or discomfort. Examples of sexual harassment include
touching, crude jokes, spreading rumors related to a person’s alleged sexual
activities. The term sexual violence includes a number of different acts. Examples of
sexual violence include, but are not limited to rape, sexual assault, sexual battery,
sexual abuse, and sexual coercion.

The District prohibits retaliation (including intimidation, threats, coercion, or

discrimination) against any individual for reporting conduct believed to be sexual
harassment, and any alleged act of retaliation will be investigated and addressed
appropriately by the District.

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TEEN DATING VIOLENCE
Engaging in teen 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.
Students are encouraged to report claims or incidents of sexual harassment, teen
dating violence or any other prohibited conduct to the nondiscrimination coordinator,
building principal, assistant building principal, dean of students, or a complaint
manager. A student may choose to report to a person of the student’s same sex.

Complaints will be kept confidential to the extent possible given the need to
investigate. Students who make good faith complaints will not be disciplined.

GENDER NON-DISCRIMINATION
It is the policy of Springfield Public School District 186 that its employment, educational
and extracurricular programs, activities, services and benefits will be provided to
students and staff without discrimination on the basis of gender and that no student or
staff member shall, on the basis of gender, be limited in the exercise of any right,
privilege, advantage or opportunity.
Students who believe they have experienced gender discrimination are encouraged to
immediately notify an appropriate school employee. In addition, students who believe
they have experienced retaliation (including intimidation, threats, coercion, or
discrimination) for reporting gender discrimination are encouraged to immediately notify
an appropriate school employee. The procedure for reporting gender discrimination or
retaliation is outlined below.

NON-DISCRIMINATION
The Board is committed to the concept of equal access to equality education for
every student in the District regardless of race, creed, color, gender (including
identity), national origin, sexual orientation or disability. (Board Policy 500.08 and
600.01)

Students who believe they have experienced any type of discrimination are
encouraged to immediately notify an appropriate school employee. In addition,
students who believe they have experienced retaliation (including intimidation,
threats, coercion, or discrimination) for reporting any type of discrimination are
encouraged to immediately notify an appropriate school employee. The procedure
for reporting any act of discrimination or retaliation is outlined below.

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REPORTING SEXUAL HARASSMENT, TEEN
DATING VIOLENCE OR DISCRIMINATION
Students and/or parents who believe students have experienced an act of sexual
harassment, teen dating violence or discrimination on the basis of any of the
classifications set forth above or retaliation for reporting sexual harassment, teen
dating violence or such discrimination are encouraged to notify the Principal of the
school in which the alleged act or acts occurred. Students/parents may notify the
Principal directly, or they may contact an Assistant Principal or Guidance Dean. In
the event that the Principal is alleged to have committed the act of discrimination or
sexual harassment, students/parents are encouraged to notify the Administrative
Offices at (217) 525-3006 ​and ask for the Director of Human Resources​.
Upon receiving any complaint of sexual harassment, teen dating violence or
discrimination on the basis of any of the classifications set forth above or retaliation
for reporting sexual harassment, teen dating violence or such discrimination, the
school administration shall complete the Human Rights Record Keeping Form and
conduct an investigation. Once the investigation is complete, the Human Rights
Record Keeping Form shall be forwarded to the Human Rights Compliance Officer
for final findings and disposition. Students and/or parents also may choose to initiate
a complaint of sexual harassment, teen dating violence or discrimination on the
basis of any of the classifications above or retaliation for reporting sexual
harassment, teen dating violence or such discrimination directly to the Compliance
Officer at the Administrative Offices (217)525-7911.

An initial response to the complaint shall be provided to the complainant no later

than five (5) school days following receipt of the complaint. Students and/or parents
may appeal decisions rendered by the Principal or representative of the Administra-
tive Offices to the Superintendent of Schools in the event that satisfactory resolution
of the matter is not achieved. The Superintendent may be contacted at (217)525-
3002. The Superintendent shall respond to the complainant no later than five (5)
school days following receipt of an appeal.

If the matter is not resolved successfully by the Superintendent, parents and/or stu-
dents may appeal the matter to the Board of Education. Such appeals can be made
by contacting Board of Education Secretary at (217)525-3002. The appeal will be
heard by the Board of Education in Executive Session at its first regularly scheduled
meeting following receipt of the appeal. The Superintendent shall notify the
complainant in writing of the Board’s decision no later than five (5) school days
following the appeal hearing before the Board.

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STUDENT ABUSE/NEGLECT
REPORTING
As required by law school district employees shall report suspected cases of abuse/
neglect to the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) by calling:
Hotline Number (800) 252-2873 or 782-4000. The law requires school personnel to
confirm such reports in writing (CANTS 5) within 24 hours.

Department Of Children And Family Services (DCFS)

Involvement
Abuse/neglect reports received by DCFS may result in the need for caseworkers to
interview all children of the family. In such an event, the caseworker will call at the
Principal’s office, state the purpose of the visit and produce proper identification.
Principals shall remove the child from the classroom and provide an appropriate
space for the caseworker to conduct a private interview. DCFS has the authority to
interview without parental or school permission.

In the event DCFS personnel wish to interview children on any matter other than
parental/guardian abuse/neglect, permission may be granted through the Office of
School Support. DCFS shall secure parent/guardian permission prior to the interviews.
In addition, such interviews shall be held in the presence of a certified staff member.

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TITLE I
Springfield Public Schools receives federal Title I funds. These funds come from the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 and Every Student Succeeds Act of
2015. These are federal funds that are intended to support our most impoverished
students and schools. The purpose of this title is to provide all children significant
opportunities to receive a fair, equitable and high-quality education, and to close
educational achievement gaps. District 186 has 22 Title I schools, 17 elementary, 3
middle and 2 high, and all schools operate a schoolwide program.
As a District, Title I funds are used to support school wide programming in order to
best meet and serve all students at most at risk of academic need, to support
professional learning for all staff and to support family and community engagement
initiatives. The schools, along with the District, use Title I funds to support students in
most risk of academic need, to support professional learning for all staff and to support
family and community engagement initiatives. Our schools receive the funds in addition
to state and local funds and all funds are used to supplement school and district level
work currently supporting our culture of learning. Springfield Public Schools follows the
State ESSA plan that was approved by the ISBE and State Governor Rauner in April of
2017. The Illinois ESSA State plan was approved by the Department of Education on
August 30, 2017. Parents seeking more information may contact their school or the
Title I office, (217) 525-3037 or [email protected].

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SPECIAL EDUCATION
ACCESS TO SPECIAL EDUCATION
Springfield School District 186 is responsible for actively identifying, locating and
evaluating all children with disabilities who reside within district boundaries. If it is
determined that a child requires an assessment for possible special education
services, a referral for a case study evaluation will be initiated.

An evaluation, conducted only with the cooperation and written permission of parents
or guardian, is an evaluation of all areas which may contribute to a student’s
intellectual, social and emotional functioning. The evaluation could include:
● A consultation with parents
● An interview with the student
● A social developmental study
● An assessment of adaptive behavior and cultural background
● A review of medical history
● A vision and hearing screening
● Any specialized evaluations such as a psychological examination or
speech/language evaluation
● Data collected via the problem-solving team process
● If you believe your child is experiencing significant school problems which
should be investigated, put your concerns in writing and share them with your
child’s principal. Questions can also be referred to the Department of Student
Support Services (217)525-3060.

ACCESS TO MEDICAID FUNDS

The federal special education law, the Individuals with Disabilities Education
Improvement Act 2004 (IDEA), specifies each State’s obligation to develop
agreements with non-educational public agencies to ensure that all services
necessary to provide a free appropriate public education (FAPE) are provided to
children with disabilities at no cost to the parent. Such public agencies include the
State Medicaid agency. School districts are permitted to seek payment from public
insurance or assistance programs (like Medicaid) for certain services provided at
school.

Under the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), your consent is
required for the school district to release information about your child to various
State of Illinois agencies in order for the school district to obtain reimbursement from
your child’s public benefits of covered services provided to your child at school. You
are entitled to have a copy of any information the school district releases to the state
Medicaid program.

If you have previously given consent for Springfield Public School District 186 to
access your or your child’s public benefits and to release information needed to
access Illinois Medicaid funding for services provided through your child’s
individualized education program (IEP), the school district may release:

72
 1. Your child’s name and Social Security Number
2. Your child’s date of birth
3. Your child’s IEP documentation including evaluations
4. The dates and times services are provided to your child at school
5. Reports of your child’s progress including therapist notes, progress notes
and report cards
Your child will continue to receive services listed on his or her IEP at no cost
to you. Reimbursements received by the school district do not limit coverage,
change eligibility, affect benefits, or count against visit of funding limits in Medicaid
programs in which your child is enrolled.
You may revoke your consent at any time. Revoking your parental/guardian con-
sent does not change the school district’s responsibility to provide all required IEP
services at no cost.

BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTIONS FOR

STUDENTS RECEIVING SPECIAL
EDUCATION AND RELATED SERVICES
The purpose of this policy is to establish the process for Springfield Public School
District 186 to comply with applicable law on the use of behavioral interventions for
students with disabilities.

Behavioral interventions should be used by all staff members to promote and

strengthen desirable adaptive student behaviors and reduce identified inappropriate
behaviors. A fundamental principle is that positive interventions designed to develop
and strengthen desirable student behaviors be used whenever possible.

While nonrestrictive approaches alone will not always succeed in managing extremely
inappropriate behavior, the use of more restrictive behavior interventions should be
documented and approached with utmost caution.

The Director of Student Support Services, with the advice and consent of the
Superintendent, is authorized to develop policies and procedures on the use of
behavioral interventions for students with disabilities receiving special education and
related services. The procedures will promote the use of positive behavioral
interventions and include, but not be limited to, the following components:
1. Designation of behavioral interventions by level of restrictiveness
2. Identification of behavioral intervention consultants
3. Procedures for the development of behavioral management plans for students
with disabilities having significant behavioral and/or emotional needs or such
students requiring restrictive interventions
4. Procedures for the documentation of emergency use of restrictive
interventions
5. Provisions for parent/guardian/surrogate input
6. Provisions for staff training and professional development

73
The district shall maintain a committee which shall be responsible for the development
of administrative guidelines for the discipline of students with disabilities. The
committee will also be responsible for the periodic review of such guidelines.

A complete copy of this policy is available upon request from the Director of Student
Support Services at (217) 525-3363.

EXPLANATION OF PROCEDURAL
SAFEGUARDS AVAILABLE TO PARENTS OF
CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES
This statement of parent rights was developed by the United States Department of
Education, Office of Special Education Programs and modified by the Illinois State
Board of Education to comply with Illinois rules. As the parent of a child who is
receiving or may be eligible to receive special education services, you have certain
rights which are safeguarded by state and federal statutes. The rights to which you are
entitled are listed below. A full explanation of these rights is available from your school
district. Please review this document carefully and contact your school district if you
have any questions or wish additional clarification regarding your child’s services or
procedural safeguards. Additional information regarding your rights is available on the
ISBE websit​e: www.isbe.net/spec-ed/​ in a document titled, “A Parent’s Guide: The
Educational Rights of Students with Disabilities.”

Prior Notice to Parents

The district/public agency is required to provide parents of children with disabilities
with prior written notice:

1. One year prior to a parent’s child reaching 18 years of age the District will
notify the parents that all educational rights transfer from
parent(s)/guardian(s) to the student unless determined otherwise.
2. When the district proposes to initiate or change the identification,
evaluation or educational placement of a child or the provision of a free,
appropriate public education to a child.
3. When the district refuses to initiate or change the identification, evaluation,
or educational placement of a child or the provision of a free, appropriate
public education to a child.

The written notice must be provided at least 10 days prior to the proposed action
and must include:
1. A statement that parents have due process rights and, if the notice is not
an initial referral for evaluation, the means by which a copy of the
procedural safeguards can be obtained; and sources for parents to
contact to obtain assistance in understanding due process rights.
2. A description of the action proposed or refused by the district, an
explanation of why the district proposes or refuses to take the action, and

74
 a description of any options the district considered and the reasons why
those options were rejected;
3. A description of each evaluation procedure, test, record, or report the
district uses as a basis for the proposal or refusal; and
4. A description of any other factors which are relevant to the district’s
proposal or refusal.

The notice must be written in language understandable to the general public and
provided in the native language or other mode of communication used by the parent,
unless it is clearly not feasible to do so. If the native language or other mode of
communication of the parent is not a written language, the State or local educational
agency shall take steps to insure that the notice is translated orally or by other
means to the parent in his or her native language or other mode of communication,
that the parent understands the content of the notice, and that there is written
evidence that these requirements have been met.

Parent Consent
The school district must obtain parent consent using state-mandated forms before
conducting the initial case study evaluation and any reevaluations and initially
placing a child with disabilities in a program providing special education and related
services.
The school district may initiate mediation or a due process hearing to compel consent
for the initial evaluation. If the hearing officer upholds the district, the district may
evaluate the child without parent consent, subject to the parent’s right to appeal the
decision and to have the child remain in his or her present educational placement
during the pendency of any administrative or judicial proceeding.

If parents refuse to provide consent for the initial provision of special education and/ or
related services, the district will not provide these services and may not pursue
mediation or due process. The district will not be considered to be in violation of its
requirement to make a free appropriate public education (FAPE) available to the child if
parents refuse to consent to the initial provision of special education and/or related
services.

If parental consent for reevaluation is not provided within 10 days, the district may, but
is not required to, pursue override procedures through mediation or a due process
hearing. However, the school district may pursue the reevaluation if it made
reasonable efforts to obtain parent consent and the parent failed to respond. If the
school district chooses not to pursue such procedures, the school district is not in
violation of providing a free and appropriate education to the child.

Independent Educational Evaluation

An independent educational evaluation means an evaluation conducted by a qualified
person who is chosen by parents and is not employed by the school district.

Parents have the right to obtain an independent educational evaluation at public

expense if they disagree with an evaluation obtained by the local district. When parents

75
request the school district pay for an independent education evaluation, the school
must either pay for it or request a due process hearing without unnecessary delay to
show that its evaluation is appropriate. The school district may ask parents why they
object to its evaluation, but cannot unreasonably delay or deny the evaluation by
requiring parents to explain their disagreement.

If the district agrees to pay for the independent educational evaluation, it must provide
to the parents upon request, information about where an independent educational
evaluation may be obtained. Whenever an independent evaluation is at public
expense, the criteria under which the evaluation is obtained, including the location of
the evaluation and the qualifications of the examiner, must be the same as the criteria
which the district uses when it initiates an evaluation.

If the district initiates a due process hearing and the hearing officer orders an
evaluation, the cost of the evaluation must be at public expense. If the final decision of
the hearing officer is that the district’s evaluation is appropriate, parents still have the
right to an independent educational evaluation but at their own expense.

If the parents obtain an independent educational evaluation at private expense, the

results of the evaluation must be considered by the district in any decision made with
respect to the provision of a free, appropriate public education for the child. Parents
may also present the independent educational evaluation as evidence in a due process
hearing.

Complaint Resolution and Mediation

● Complaints alleging violations of parent and special education student
rights can be referred to the Office of Student Support Services, Springfield
District 186, (217)525-3060.
● Complaints alleging violations of parent and special education student
rights can be referred to the Department of Special Education, Illinois State
Board of Education, for review, investigation and action within 60 days.
● Illinois’ mediation service is designed as a voluntary alternative to the due
process hearing as a means of resolving disagreements regarding the
appropriateness of special education and related services. This service is
administered and supervised by the Illinois State Board of Education and is
provided upon request at no cost to the parties. Parents and/or local school
districts who wish to request mediation services or to know more about the
State Board of Education complaint resolution system may contact the
Department of Special Education at (217)782-5589 or toll free for parents
(866)262-6663; (217)524-4835 for Early Childhood issues).
● Requests regarding rule interpretation or parent/student rights clarifications
may be referred to the Office of Student Support Services, Springfield
District 186, (217) 525-3060.

Impartial Due Process Hearing

A parent or a public educational agency (school district) may initiate a due process
hearing regarding the district’s proposal or refusal to initiate or change the
identification, evaluation, or educational placement of the child or the provision of a
free, appropriate public education to the child.
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A parental request for a hearing shall be made, in writing, to the superintendent of
the local school district in which the child resides. Within five school days of receipt
of the request for a hearing, the local school district will, by certified mail, contact the
Illinois State Board of Education requesting the appointment of a hearing officer.
Within 5 calendar days of filing the hearing request with the district, parents are
permitted the right to file an amended hearing request that may cover issues that
were not raised in the initial hearing request. After 5 calendar days, parents will only
be allowed to file an amended hearing request with the agreement of the district, or
with the authorization of the hearing officer. If parents file an amended hearing
request that raises issues other than issues in the initial hearing request, they will be
required to restart all hearing timeliness and potentially complete new resolution
sessions and pre-hearing conferences.

A hearing may not be conducted by a person who is an employee of a local district

or state-operated program which is involved in the education or care of the child, or
by any person having a personal or professional interest which would conflict with
his or her objectivity in the hearing. (A person who otherwise qualifies to conduct a
hearing is not an employee of the district or public agency solely because he or she
is paid by the district or agency to serve as a hearing officer.)

The district shall inform the parent of any free or low-cost legal assistance and other
relevant services available in the area if the parent requests the information or the
parent or the agency initiates a due process hearing.
Resolution Meetings

Prior to the impartial due process hearing the district will convene a meeting with
parents and relevant members of the IEP Team who have specific knowledge of the
facts identified in the request for a due process hearing. The purpose of the resolution
meeting is to discuss the request for the hearing and the facts that form the basis of
the request so that the school district has the opportunity to resolve the dispute.
The resolution meeting shall:

1. Be conducted within 15 days of receiving the District’s notice of the request

for a due process hearing;
2. Include a representative of the district who has decision-making authority;
3. Not include the District’s Attorney unless parents are also accompanied by
an attorney;
4. Allow parents to discuss their request for a due process hearing. Parents and
the district may mutually agree in writing to waive the resolution meeting or
agree in writing to use the mediation process. Mediation may also be used at
a later date if the resolution session proves unsuccessful.

If a resolution is reached, the parties must execute a legally binding agreement that is
signed by both parents and a representative of the district who has the authority to bind
the district. The signed agreement is normally enforceable in any State court of
competent jurisdiction or in a district court of the United States.

However, either party may void such agreement within three (3) business days of
signing the agreement by providing notice of the intent to void the agreement in writing
to the other party.

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Pre-hearing Conference

If parents and the district are unable to reach an agreement through the resolution
process, the due process hearing requirements shall proceed. Unless a permissible
extension of time is granted by the hearing officer, a hearing decision must be
rendered within 45 days after the close of the resolution session process described
above. Prior to conducting the hearing, the hearing officer must conduct a pre-hearing
conference with the parties.

Due Process Hearing Rights

Any party to a hearing has the right to:

1. Be accompanied and advised by counsel and by individuals with special

knowledge or training with respect to the problems of children with
disabilities;
2. Present evidence and confront, cross-examine, and compel the attendance
of witnesses;
3. Prohibit the introduction of any evidence that has not been disclosed to that
party at least five days before the hearing;
4. Obtain a written or electronic verbatim record of the hearing
5. Obtain written findings of fact and decisions.
Parents have the right to have the child who is the subject of the hearing present at
the hearing and to open the hearing to the public.

Appealing the Decision

Following a due process hearing, a party dissatisfied with the hearing officer’s final
order has the right to initiate a civil action. Civil action can be brought in any State
court of competent jurisdiction, or United States District Court within 120 days after a
copy of the decision is mailed to the parties. Procedures for filing such actions are
available from the office of the clerk for the court in which the filing is to be made.

Child’s Status During Proceedings

During the pendency of any administrative or judicial proceeding, unless the district
and the parents of the child agree otherwise, the child involved in the complaint must
remain in his or her present educational placement, with the eligibility status and
special education and related services that were provided at the time of the filing of
the hearing request. However, if the district changed the student’s placement in
response to a disciplinary incident, the district’s new placement may be maintained
pending the hearing decision.

If the hearing involves an application for initial admission to public school, the child,
with the consent of the parents, must be placed in the public school program until
the completion of all proceedings.

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Award of Attorneys’ Fees
In any action or proceeding brought under the Individuals with Disabilities Education
Act, a court of competent jurisdiction may award reasonable attorneys’ fees. A court
may award such fees:
1. To the parent or guardian of a student with disabilities who is the
prevailing party;
2. To the prevailing party or school district against the attorney of a
parent who files a complaint or subsequent cause of action that is
frivolous, unreasonable, or without foundation;
3. To a prevailing district against the attorney or parent, if the parent’s
complaint or subsequent cause of action was presented for any
improper purpose, such as to harass, to cause unnecessary delay, or
to needlessly increase the cost of litigation.

Educational Surrogate Parents

Each district shall make reasonable attempts to contact the parents of the child who
has been referred for or is in need of special education and related services. If the
parents cannot be identified, the parents cannot be located, or the child is a ward of
the State, an educational surrogate parent must be appointed by the Illinois State
Board of Education.

The educational surrogate parent may represent the child in all matters relating to the
identification, evaluation, and educational placement of the child, and the provision of a
free, appropriate public education to the child.
Access to Educational Records

ILLINOIS LAW: PA 101-0515

Related Service Logs

The District maintains related service log records that document the type of related
services administered under a student’s individualized education program (IEP). The
related service logs record the minutes of related services that have been administered.
This notice is to inform parents and guardians of their ability to request copies of any IEP
related service log records maintained for their child. Please direct requests to the
building principal.

Draft IEP Documents

Section I 4-8.02f(c) of the Illinois School Code requires that no later than three (3) school
days prior to an IEP meeting, or as soon as possible if an IEP meeting is scheduled
within three school days with the written consent of the child’s parents/guardian, the

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school district must provide copies of all written material that will be considered by the
IEP team at the meeting. All draft IEP’s will be delivered electronically. This notice is to
inform parents/guardians of their right to request an alternate delivery method. Alternate
methods include, hard copies via US postal mail, or parent/guardian pick up at the
building in which the student attends. Please contact the Student Support Service office
to request an alternate delivery method.

STUDENT RECORDS
Each district shall permit parents to inspect and review any educational records
relating to their child which are collected, maintained, or used by the district. The
district shall comply with a request to review the education record without unnecessary
delay and before any meeting regarding a multidisciplinary conference, individualized
education program or hearing relating to the identification, evaluation, or placement of
the child and, in no case, more than 15 school days after the request has been made.
The right to inspect and review educational records includes:

1. The right to a response from the school district to reasonable requests for
explanations and interpretations of the records;
2. The right to have a representative of the parent inspect and review the
records; and
3. The right to request that the school district provide copies of education
records if failure to provide those copies would effectively prevent the parent
from exercising his/her right to inspect and review the records at a location
where they are normally maintained.

A school district may presume that the parent has authority to inspect and review
records relating to his or her child unless the district/agency has been advised that
the parent does not have the authority under applicable State law governing such
matters as guardianship, separation, and divorce.

If any education record includes information on more than one child, the parents will
be allowed to review only the information relating to their child or to be informed of that
specific information.

Each district/agency shall provide parents, on request, a list of the types and locations
of education records collected, maintained or used by the district/agency.

Fees for Searching, Retrieving, and Copying Records

A school district may not charge a fee to search for or to retrieve information.

However, a school district may charge a fee of not more than $.35 per page if the fee
does not effectively prevent the parents from exercising their right to inspect and
review those records.

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Record of Access
Each school district shall keep a record of parties obtaining access to education
records collected, maintained, or used (except access by parents and authorized
employees of the district), including the name of the party, the date access was given,
and the purpose for which the party is authorized to use the records.

Challenge to Records
Parents shall have the right to challenge the accuracy, relevancy or propriety of any
entry in the school student records, exclusive of i) academic grades of their child and
ii) references to expulsions or out-of-school suspensions, if the challenge is made at
the time the student’s school student records are forwarded to another school to
which the student is transferring.

The district shall decide whether to amend the information in accordance with the
request within 15 school days from the date of receipt of the request. If the district
decides to refuse to amend the information in accordance with the request, it shall
inform the parent of the refusal and advise the parent of his or her right to a hearing
as set forth below.

The district shall, on request, provide an opportunity for a hearing to challenge

information in education records.

If, as a result of the hearing, it is decided that the information is inaccurate,

misleading or otherwise in violation of the rights of the child, the district shall amend
the information and so inform the parent in writing.

If, as a result of the hearing, it is decided that the information is not inaccurate,
misleading, or otherwise in violation of the rights of the child, the district shall inform
the parent of the right to place in the records it maintains on the child a statement
commenting on the information or setting forth any reasons for disagreeing with the
decision of the district. Any explanation placed in the records of the child must be
maintained by the district as part of the records of the child as long as the record or
contested portion is maintained by the district. If the records are disclosed by the
district to any party, the explanation must also be disclosed.

Transfer of Parental Rights

At the age of 18, a child becomes an adult student. All parental rights
discussed in this document will transfer to the adult student at the time,
unless the school district is notified otherwise. Parents have the right to
receive required prior written notice and the school will provide these notices
to both parent and student.

On or before the child’s 17​th​ birthday, any IEP must include a statement that the
parent and child were informed that these rights will transfer at the student’s 18​th
birthday. Additionally, parents will receive a Delegation of Rights to Make Education

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Decisions form. The adult student may decide to use this form to designate a parent
or other individual to represent his /her educational interests upon his or her reaching
the age of majority. This form must then be presented to the school district.

The Delegation of Rights form must identify the individual designated to represent
the student’s educational rights and include both the individual’s signature as well
as the student’s signature (or authorization by other means, such as audio or video
format compatible with his/her disability). The adult student may terminate the
Delegation of Rights at any time and begin making his/her own educational
decisions. The Delegation of Rights will remain in effect for one year after signing it
and may be renewed annually.

ILLINOIS SCHOOL STUDENT RECORDS

NOTIFICATION STATEMENT
The Principal is the official records custodian of the school where your child is enrolled.
The following information pertains to the rights and obligations of parents, students and
the school under the Illinois School Student Records Act (ISSRA) 105 ILCS 10/1 et
seq. of the Illinois Compiled Statutes, as amended, and the Rules promulgated there
under by the Illinois State Board of Education, which can be found at 23 Illinois
Administrative Code 375.

Permanent and Temporary Records

Illinois Law requires the student records to be divided into two categories: permanent
records and temporary records. Permanent records must be kept for a minimum of
sixty (60) years and temporary records must be kept for a minimum of five (5) years
after the student graduates or otherwise leaves the school district.

​ ust ​include:
The permanent record m
● Basic identifying information, including the student’s name and address, birth
date and place, gender, and the names and addresses of the student’s
parents
● Certified birth certificate, or accepted justification for its absence
● Academic transcripts, including grades, class rank, graduation date, grade
level achieved and scores on college entrance exams
● Attendance records
● Health records (defined as those medical documents necessary for
enrollment)
● Scores on state assessment tests in grades 9-12 only

​ ay ​include:
The permanent record m
● Honors and awards
● Information concerning participation in school-sponsored activities or
athletics, or offices held in school-sponsored organizations
● No other information may be placed in the permanent record

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The temporary record ​must ​include:
● Information regarding a suspension or an expulsion for drugs, weapons or
bodily harm to another
● Scores on state assessment tests in grades K-8 only
● A record release form
● Reports of “indicated” physical or sexual abuse from DCFS
● Health-related records (defined as medical records, other than those
necessary for enrollment)
● Accident reports
● The completed home language survey form
● Any biometric information that is collected by the school

The temporary record ​may ​include:

● Family background information
● Intelligence scores
● Aptitude tests
● Reports of psychological evaluations
● Honors and awards
● Participation in school events
● Teacher notes
● Other disciplinary information
● Special education files
● 504 plans and documents
● Any other verified information that is clearly relevant to the student’s
education may be placed in the temporary record.
All temporary records, including special education records, will be destroyed within
five years after graduation or permanent withdrawal. If you wish to receive copies of
the records to be destroyed, please notify the principal or if appropriate, the
Department of Special Education (217-525-3060) so that notice may be placed in
your child’s record concerning the matter. A record of release of temporary record
information is included in the student temporary record.

1. Parents or any person specifically designated in writing by a parent as

representative have the right to:
a. Inspect and copy all permanent and temporary records within a
reasonable time and in no case later than 15 school days after
the date of receipt of such request by the official records
custodian. A student shall have the right to inspect and copy his
or her school student permanent record. The school charges
thirty-five cents per page for copies. No parent or student shall
be denied a copy of school student records due to inability to
bear the cost of such copying.
b. Have present at the option of either the parent or the school, a
qualified professional, who may be a psychologist, counselor, or
other advisor, and who may be an employee of the school or
employed by the parent, to interpret the information contained in
the student temporary record. If the school requires that
professional to be present, the school shall secure and bear any
cost of the presence of the professional. If the parent so

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 requests, the parent shall secure and bear any cost of the
presence of the professional. If the parent so requests, the
school shall secure and bear any cost of the presence of a
professional employed by the school.
c. Challenge the accuracy, relevancy or propriety of any entry in
the school student records, exclusive of grades. If the challenge
is made at the time the student’s records are forwarded to
another school to which the student is transferring, then parents
shall not have the right to challenge any references that may be
in those records to expulsions or out-of-school suspensions.
i. The request for a hearing shall be submitted in writing
to the school and shall contain notice of the specific
entry or entries to be challenged and the basis of the
challenge.
ii. An informal conference will be held within 15 school
days of receipt of the request for a hearing.
iii. If the challenge is not resolved by the informal
conference, a formal hearing shall be initiated.
iv. Formal hearing: a hearing officer, who is not employed
in the attendance center in which the student is
enrolled, shall be appointed by the school and shall
conduct a hearing within a reasonable time but no later
than 15 days after the informal conference, unless an
extension of time is agreed upon by the parents and
school officials. The hearing officer shall notify the
parents and school officials of the time and place of the
hearing. Each party shall have the right to present
evidence and to call witnesses, the right to
cross-examine witnesses, and the right to counsel. A
record of the hearing shall be made by tape recording.
The decision of the hearing officer shall be rendered no
later than 10 school days after the conclusion of the
hearing and shall be transmitted to the parent and the
school district. The hearing officer’s decision shall be
based solely on the evidence presented at the hearing
and shall order:
1. Retention of the challenged contents of the
student record, or
2. Removal of the challenged contents of the
student record, or
3. c. Change, clarification or addition to the
challenged contents of the student records.
The parties shall have the right to appeal the
decision of the officer to the Regional
Superintendent of Schools.
v. Appeal: Notice of appeal must be presented to the
Regional Superintendent of Schools within 20 school
days after the decision of the hearing officer. The
opposing party shall be notified of the appeal at the
same time. Within 10 school days, the school shall
forward a transcript of the hearing, a copy of the record
entry in question and any other permanent materials to
the Regional Superintendent of Schools. Upon receipt

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 of such documents, the Regional Superintendent of
Schools shall examine the documents and record,
make findings and issue a decision to the parents and
the school district within 20 school days of receipt of
the documents. If the subject of the appeal involves the
accuracy, relevance or propriety of any entry in special
education records, the Regional Superintendent of
Schools should seek advice from appropriate special
education personnel who were not authors of the entry
and whose skills are relevant to the subjects of the
entry in question. The school shall be responsible for
implementing the decision of the Regional
Superintendent of Schools. Such decisions shall be
final and may be appealed to the Circuit Court of the
county in which the school is located.
2. No school student records or information contained therein may be
released, transferred, disclosed or otherwise disseminated, except as
follows.
a. To a parent or student or person specifically designated in
writing by a parent as a representative;
b. To an employee or official of the school or school district or the
State Board of Education with a current demonstrable
educational or administrative interest in the student, in
furtherance of such interest.
c. To the official records custodian of another school in which the
student has enrolled or intends to enroll; the record will be held
for a period of five days after receipt of the request to give the
parent or student an opportunity to examine the records to be
transferred to the requesting time period by making the request
to the building principal or as appropriate to the Department of
Student Support Services (217)525-3060; records will be sent at
the end of the five day period;
d. To any person for the purpose of research, statistical reporting
or planning, provided person(s) requesting the use of such
information has signed an affidavit agreeing to comply with all
rules and statutes regarding school records;
e. Pursuant to a court order, this statement serves to notify the
parent that the record will be made available upon receipt of the
order.
f. The school shall provide this information to anyone with
appropriate identification and a copy of the statute authorizing
such access; this statement serves to notify the parent that the
record will be made available upon receipt of the request.
g. Subject to regulations of the State Board in connection with an
emergency to appropriate persons if the knowledge of such
information is necessary to protect the health or safety of the
student or other persons provided that the parents are notified
as soon as possible of the information released, the date of
release, the person, agency or organization receiving the
information, and the purpose of the release;
h. To any person with the prior specific, dated and written consent
of the parent designating the person to whom the records may
be released and the designated records or designated portions

85
 of the information to be released. The parent has the right to
inspect, copy and challenge the records or designated portions
of the information contained within the records;
i. To juvenile authorities;
j. To certain governmental agencies or authorities as may
otherwise be specified by law; and
k. To any person specifically required by state or federal law.
3. Parents may insert in their child’s school student record a statement of
reasonable length setting forth their position on any disputed information
contained in that record. The school shall include a copy of such
statement in any subsequent dissemination of the information in dispute.
4. Except for the student and his parents, no person to whom information is
released and no person specifically designated as a representative by a
parent may permit any other person to have access to such information
without a prior consent of parent obtained in accordance with ISSRA,
Section 6(a)(8).
5. A record of any release of information shall be maintained for the life of
the school student records and shall be available only to the parents and
the official records custodian. The record of release shall include the
nature and substance of the information released, the name of person
requesting such information, the capacity in which such a request has
been made, the purpose of such request, the date of the release, the
name and signature of the official records custodian releasing such
information and a copy of any consent to such release.
6. All rights and privileges accorded a parent under the ISSRA shall become
exclusively those of the student upon his 18th birthday, graduation from
secondary school, marriage or entry into military service whichever
occurs first. Such rights and privileges may also be exercised by the
student at any time with respect to the student’s permanent school
record.
7. The following is designated as directory (or personal) information and
may be released to the general public unless the parent requests that any
or all such information not be released: student’s name and address,
photographs and videos used for news or informational or news-related
purposes gender, grade level, date and place of birth, parent’s name and
address, telephone listing, academic awards, degrees and honors,
information in relation to school-sponsored activities, organizations and
athletics, major field of study, weight and height of members of athletic
teams, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, an the
most recent school attended by the student.. If the parent does not want
such information about the student released, the parent must notify the
building principal in writing no later than fifteen (15) days after the first
day of the student’s enrollment each school year.
8. No person may condition the granting or withholding of any right, privilege
or benefit or make as a condition of employment, credit or insurance the
securing by any individual of any information from a student’s temporary
record that the individual may obtain through the exercise of any right
secured under the Illinois School Student Record Act or regulations.
9. Upon graduation or permanent withdrawal of a handicapped student,
psychological evaluations, special education files and other information
contained in the student temporary record which may be of continued
assistance to the student may, after five years, be transferred to the
custody of the parent or student if the student has succeeded to the rights

86
 of the parents. The school may explain to the student and the parent the
future usefulness of psychological evaluations, special education fields
and other information contained in the student temporary record. If the
records are not transferred to parents or students, they will be destroyed
at the end of five years.
10. Copies of the Illinois School Student Records Act. 23 Illinois
Administrative Code 375 (Student Records), and district or school
policies relating to school student records which are not included in the
Act or the Rules are available for review in the office of the district
superintendent.

ANNUAL NOTIFICATION OF RIGHTS

UNDER THE PROTECTION OF PUPIL
RIGHTS AMENDMENT (PPRA)
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:
1. 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).
a. Political affiliations or beliefs of the student or student’s parent
b. Mental or psychological problems of the student or student’s
family
c. Sex behavior or attitudes
d. Illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating, or demeaning behavior
e. Critical appraisals of others with whom respondents have close
family relationships
f. Legally recognized privileged relationships, such as with
lawyers, doctors, or ministers
g. Religious practices, affiliations, or beliefs of the student or
parents
h. Income, other than as required by law to determine program
eligibility
2. Receive notice and an opportunity to opt a student out of:
a. Any other protected information survey, regardless of funding;
b. 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
c. Activities involving collection, disclosure, or use of personal
information obtained from students for marketing or to sell or
otherwise distribute the information to others.
3. Inspect, upon request and before administration or use:
a. Protected information surveys of students

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 b. Instruments used to collect personal information from students
for any of the above marketing, sales, or other distribution
purposes; and
c. 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.
The School District will/has develop(ed) and adopted policies, in consultation with
parents, regarding these rights, as well as arrangements to protect student privacy in
the administration of protected information surveys and the collection, disclosure, or
use of personal information for marketing, sales, or other distribution purposes.

The District will directly notify parents of these policies at least annually at the start of
each school year and after any substantive changes. The District will also directly
notify, such as through U.S. Mail or e-mail, parents of students who are scheduled to
participate in the specific activities or surveys noted below and will provide an
opportunity for the parent to opt his/her child out of participation of the specific activity
or survey. The District will make this notification to parents at the beginning of the
school year if the District has identified the specific or approximate dates of the
activities or surveys at that time. For surveys and activities scheduled after the school
year starts, parents will be provided reasonable notification of the planned activities
and surveys listed below and be provided an opportunity to opt their child out of such
activities and surveys. Parents will also be provided an opportunity to review any
pertinent surveys. Following is a list of the specific activities and surveys covered
under this requirement:
1. Collection, disclosure, or use of personal information for marketing, sales or
other distribution.
2. Administration of any protected information survey not funded in whole or
in part by ED.
3. Any non-emergency, invasive Physical Examination or screening as
described above.
Parents who believe their rights have been violated may file a complaint with:

Family Policy Compliance Office

U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202-5920
ANNUAL NOTIFICATION OF RIGHTS UNDER FAMILY EDUCATIONAL RIGHTS
AND PRIVACY ACT (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, and/or to the Director of Special
Education Services if applicable, 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, misleading, or otherwise in

88
 violation of the student’s privacy rights under FERPA. Parents or eligible
students who wish to ask the school to amend the record should write the
school principal, and/or the Director of Special Education Services if applicable,
clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it
should be changed. 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 privacy 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 as its agent to
provide a service instead of using its own employees or officials (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.
4. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning
alleged failures by the School District to comply with the requirements of
FERPA. The name and address of the office that administers FERPA is:

Family Policy Compliance Office

U.S. Department of Education 400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202-5920

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