Module

School Policies and Their Functions

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Learning Outcome
After completion of this module, the students are expected to:
a. explain the importance of school policies in school cooperation
b. Observe school policies and evaluate its effectiveness.

Introduction

Schools are institutions motivated by a shared vision. Necessarily, schools must

have policies for them to realize their vision and mission. These policies are a reflection of
the values of the people who created them. Whatever policies are formulated must
redound to the improved teaching-learning of learners which is the very reason of the
existence of schools. In this Chapter, we will focus on school policies that govern school
and community partnership.

| Activity- Let’s Read This

Here is a part of the policy on grading given by the DepEd Central Office in
DepEd Order 8, s. 2015, dated April 1, 2015. Study the components and the
corresponding percentage weights.

Weight of Components for Grade 1-10

Components Languages. AP, EsP Science and Math MAPEH, EPP and
TLE
Written Works 30% 40% 20%
Performance Task 50% 40% 60%
Quarterly 20% 20% 20%
Assessment

1. Read this policy on student’s absences and tardiness:

A learner who incurs absences of more than 20% of the prescribed number of class
or laboratory periods during the school year or semester should be given a failing grades
and not earn credits for the learning area or subjects. Furthermore, the school head may,
at his/ her discretion and in the individual case, exempts a learner who exceeds the 20%
limit for reasons considered valid and acceptable to the school. The discretionary
authority is vested in the school head and may not be availed of by a student or granted
by a faculty member without the consent of the school head….(DepEd Order 8, s. 2015)

Habitual tardiness , especially during the first period in the morning and in the afternoon,
is discouraged. Teachers shall inform the parents/ guardians through a meeting if a
learner has incurred 5 consecutive days of tardiness.

2. Read this excerpt of DepEd Order 54, s.2009

Activities. All PTA activities within the school premises or which involve the school , its
personnel or students shall be with prior consultation and approval of the School Head
Financial Matters. Such collections shall be made by the PTA subject to the
following conditions: If collection of the School Publications Fee, Supreme Student
Government(SSG) Developmental Fund and other club membership fees and
contribution is coursed through the PTA as requested by the concerned organization
the amount shall be remitted immediately to the school, SSG or other students
organizations concerned on the day it was collected. The pertinent organization shall
deposit the funds with a reputable bank on the next banking day under the

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 organization’s account. No service fee shall be charged against any student
organization by the PTA.
Non-compliance or any of the aforementioned conditions shall be a ground for
the cancellation of the PTA’s recognition and/or the filing of appropriate charges as
the case may be.

I. Policy on Collection of Contributions

Cognizant of the need of an organization for adequate funds to sustain its

operations, a duly recognized VLA may collect financial contributions from members and
outside sources to enable it to fund and sustain its operation and the implementation
programs and projects exclusively for the benefit of the students and the school where it
operates. The VIA 's programs and projects shall be in line with the School Improvement
Plan (SIP).

The contributions should be a reasonable amount as may be determined by the

PTA Board of Directors; Non-payment of the contributions by the parent-member shall
not be a basis for non-admission or non-issuance of clearance(s) to the child by the
school concerned;

The contributions shall be collected by the fYr,4 Treasurer on a per parent-member

basis regardless of the number of their children in school;

No collection of PTA contributions shall be done during the enrollment period; and

No teacher or any school personnel shall be involved in such collection activities.

Safekeeping of Funds All collections of contributions or proceeds of fundraising

activities shall be deposited in a reputable banking institution as determined by the Board
of Directors. The PTA'S Treasurer or a duly authorized representative shall undertake the
collection and shall issue official receipts/ acknowledgement receipts. In no case shall
any school official or personnel be entrusted with the safekeeping and disbursement of
collections made by the PTA All disbursements of funds shall be in accordance with
generally accepted accounting and auditing rules and regulations.

PTAS are prohibited from:

Interfering in the academic and administrative management and operations of

the school, and of the DepED, in general;

Engaging in any partisan political activity within school premises

Operating a canteen/school Supplies Store, or being a concessionaire thereof

inside the school or nearby premises, or offering these services to the school as its client
either directly or indirectly.

Selling insurance, pre-need plans or similar schemes or programs to students

and/or their parents; and

Such other acts or circumstances analogous to the foregoing.

PT'A Officers and members of the Board of Directors are prohibited from
collecting salaries, honoraria, emoluments or other forms of compensation from any of
the funds collected or received by the PTA.

PTAs shall have no right to disburse, or charge any fees as service fees or
percentages against the amount collected pertinent to the school Publication Fee,
Supreme Student Government (SSG) Developmental Fund and other club membership
fees and contributions. In no case shall a PTA or any of its officers or members of the Board

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of Directors call upon students and teachers for purposes of investigation or disciplinary
action.

The recognition of any PTA shall be cancelled by the Division PTA Affairs
Committee upon the recommendation of the School Head concerned for any violation
of the above monitored prohibited activities and these Guidelines. Thereafter, the School
Head may call for a special election to replace the Board of Directors of the PTA whose
recognition was cancelled. Criminal, civil and/or administrative actions may be taken
against any member or officer of the Board of the PTA who may appear responsible for
failure to submit the necessary annual financial statements or for failure to account the
funds of the PTA

Analysis- Let’s Analyze

l. How do you feel about the policies? Are you happy about them? Or are you happier
without them? Why?
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2. Based on the DepEd order on collections, why are schools very strict with money
collections?
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3. The policies given above come from DepEd central Office.
Should all school policies come from DepEd Central Office? Can schools also formulate
their own policies? If yes, why? If no, why not?
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Abstraction- Let’s Conceptualize

Importance of Policies

Schools in partnership with their community have their own picture of what they
want to be (vision statement) and so must offer services and must do what they are
supposed to do (mission statement) in order to realize what they envisioned themselves
to be. For these to happen, policies must be in place. Observance of these policies
ensures everyone in the school community to tow the line. If conditions are ideal like when
all members of the school community are perfect-school heads, teachers, students,
parents, non-teaching personnel and other members of the outside community- there
may be no need for a policy. The truth is conditions in the school community and in this
world are far from ideal and persons that make the school' community are far
from perfect and so the need for policies.

One may wonder as to why the Department of Education has issued very
stringent policies and guidelines for PTAs in matters of
collecting contributions. Even engaging in any partisan political activity within school
premises is written as one prohibited activity. There must a history to that. Perhaps
malversation of funds and other forms of abuse happened in the past.

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 Schools' policy on the grading system is important for everyone concerned to
know how grades are computed. Both students and parents know how grades are
derived objectively. Percentage weights for each component are clear.

Teachers are guided in their assessment practices. The grading policy ensures
objective assessment practice. Without the grading policy, grading may become highly
subjective. Similarly, if there are no policies on students' tardiness and absenteeism,
students may just come in late or absent. The policies on students' tardiness and
absenteeism certainly will curb tardiness and absenteeism to ensure learning.

Effective Policy Formulation and Implementation in a School Community Partnership.

The policies on grading. Student tardiness an absenteeism came from above,

DepEd Central office. At times there is need for policies from above. But policies do not
need to come from above all the time.

There are times when a school formulates a policy to address a local problem. In
fact, this is how it should be in a school-community partnership. Ideally, a policy must not
be formulated by the school head by himself/ herself. The school head must lead in the
policy formulation process. The word -lead - implies that an effective policy formulation
process must be participatory. This means that it is best that the rest of the school and
community be involved. Two good heads are better than one. Besides participation of
school and community develops a sense of ownership of such formulated policy which
ensures a more effective implementation. This is school empowerment in action, Aside
from involving the school and community in policy formulation, a school head must
ensure wide dissemination and correct and clear understanding of the policy.

Application – Let’s Apply

Read April 11, 2018, DM 066, s. 2018 - 2018 Brigada Eskwela Implementing Guidelines.
Individually, present a policy that you read in the DepEd Memorandum. Explain what
the policy states and why this policy is necessary.
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TAKEAWAYS

• Policies are intended to ensure that schools perform and realize what they have
envisioned for themselves,

• There are policies that come from authorities above the school since the school is
a member of a bigger organization or system.

• But schools are also empowered to formulate their own

• Policies to address their concerns speedily provided they are not contrary to
policies that come from above.

• School policies are effective when they are formulated with the participation of
the members of the school and community as this develops sense of ownership
which ensures implementation of the family.

• Policies must also be widely disseminated for the information of the entire system -
school and community- and must be understood correctly and clearly.

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 • Policies set order in schools. The absence of clear-cut policies may court chaos.

1. Why are policies important in a school?

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2. List down at least 2 school policies ( one from Central Office and another from
the school level). Explain the purpose behind the policy.
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Let’s Reflect
What is my attitude towards school policies? Do I welcome them?
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