J1000 – Enrollment
J1000.01 – Age Requirements
Schools shall admit free of charge all students between the ages of 5 and 20, inclusive, who reside within the school boundaries established by the school board.
A child entering school for the first time shall be considered five years of age if his or her birthday falls on or before September 1.
No student who is already 21 years old will be permitted to start a new school year in September.
A student who turns 21 during the school year will be permitted to complete the semester already started. However, if the student has an approved plan to graduate and is certified by the principal to have enough credits to graduate at the end of the current school year, he or she will be permitted by the principal to finish the school year.
J1000.02 – Early Admission Enrollment Procedures
Age Requirements
Eugene School District 4J will abide by the state entrance requirements for incoming Kindergarten and First Grade students. Students entering Kindergarten must be five years old on or before September 1; students entering First Grade must be six years old on or before September 1.
Early Admission Requirements
Children that demonstrate exceptional academic skills, intellectual abilities, and developmental, social and emotional readiness may be considered for early admission into Kindergarten or First Grade if a child’s birthday falls after September 1 and on or before September 30. A student must complete the early admission process and meet the District’s criteria. The early admission process includes gathering developmental information from families through rating scales and an interview, and direct assessment of cognitive abilities, language skills, early learning concepts, and early academic skills.
The District will assist families with completing the early admission process by scheduling evaluations twice each year. The first session will accommodate families who plan to enter the school choice lottery; the second session will accommodate families who plan to enroll children into their neighborhood school.
There will be a fee for evaluations; the fee will be adjusted if a family qualifies for free/reduced lunch.
Criteria for Early Admission into Kindergarten
Children who turn five after September 1 and on or before September 30, will be considered for early admission into Kindergarten if they complete the early admission process and meet the District’s criteria.
To be a candidate for early admission into kindergarten a child must meet all of the conditions below:
- Meet the criteria for intellectually gifted (score at or above the 97th % percentile on a nationally standardized test of mental ability)
- Demonstrate an exceptional understanding of language/receptive vocabulary (at or above the 90th percentile)
- Meet the criteria for academically talented (at or above the 97th % percentile in reading and/or mathematics) and demonstrate an exceptional understanding of early learning and academic concepts
- Demonstrate the developmental, social and emotional readiness that will assist the child to be successful in a Kindergarten learning environment (advanced skills based on rating scales/observations).
Criteria for Early Admission into First Grade
Children who turn six after September 1 and on or before September 30, will be considered for early admission into First Grade if they complete the early admission process and meet the district’s criteria.
To be a candidate for early admission into First Grade a child must meet all of the conditions below:
- Meet the criteria for intellectually gifted (score at or above the 97th % percentile on a nationally standardized test of mental ability)
- Demonstrate an exceptional understanding of language/receptive vocabulary (at or above the 90th percentile)
- Meet the criteria for academically talented (at or above the 97th % percentile in the areas of reading and/or mathematics) and demonstrate an exceptional understanding of early learning and academic concepts
- Demonstrate the developmental, social and emotional readiness that will assist the child to be successful in a First grade learning environment (advanced skills based on rating scales/observations).
J1000.03 – Use of Legal Name
J1200 – Grade Placement
The Eugene School District recognizes the importance of considering the individual characteristics of each student in determining grade level placement. Ordinarily, students will benefit most by being advanced to the next grade level at the completion of each academic year.The building principal should seek agreement among the various parties when there is a need to examine some departure from the usual practice of an annual promotion. When agreement cannot be reached, the principal has authority to determine grade level placement.Parents may appeal a decision made at the building level to the designated Director, whose decision is final. (The involved Director will serve as the school board’s appointee under Oregon Revised Statute 343.077.)
J1300 – Attendance Area Boundary
Board Policy JC, which authorizes the superintendent to make attendance area boundary changes, will be implemented as follows:
- A designee of the Superintendent will consult with the Instruction Department, appropriate principals, and others involved in the decision to propose recommended boundary changes to the superintendent.
- Any boundary change requires written approval by the superintendent.
- Copies of the signed approval will be provided to Instruction Department directors, principals, the Transportation Supervisor, and other staff members who need to know of the boundary change. The cartography section of Lane Council of Governments also will be notified of the change.
- A current map of district boundaries will be displayed in the Instruction Department.
J1400 – Dual Enrollment for Students Attending Another Public, Private or Home School
Students who qualify as legal residents of District 4J shall be permitted to enter tuition free any District 4J school with dual enrollment in another public, private or home school as long as that public, private, or home school meets the requirements of ORS 339.030, paragraphs 2 or 6. Dual enrollment shall be implemented by the superintendent and her or his staff and shall be subject to the following regulations:
- A student must reside in School District 4J, Lane County, Oregon, with his or her parents or with a person who has been determined by the district as having met the test of “in loco parentis.”
- A student must meet the statutory requirements of age for admission in the public schools of Oregon and School District 4J.
- A student is subject to the rules and regulations of the district and local school regarding registration, enrollment, placement, scheduling and participation during his or her association with the district. As with all students in the district, placement in a specific class is dependent upon the availability of space in that class. Unless the student is a new resident to the school district, enrollment will occur at the beginning of a term.
- A student must select his or her class or classes from the program schedule adopted for the school in the district and restrict his or her choices to courses not available in the private, public or home school in which he or she is primarily enrolled. Modifications of this program schedule to accommodate part-time enrollee requests will be made only when it can be done without detracting from the effectiveness of the district’s program or exceeding the established budget. It is not always possible to inform parents of changes in the daily instructional schedule in advance, especially at the elementary level.
- A student is subject to provisions of Oregon School Law concerning attendance during the time he or she is enrolled and the records of the district will include this information. A student’s accumulation of partially attended days will be reported to the Oregon Department of Education in terms of equated full days.
- A student will receive grades and evaluation comparable to those recorded for all other students, and a grade report will be made to the student and parents.
- A student will be provided textbooks for the courses in which he or she is enrolled when these textbooks are provided for regularly enrolled students. Textbooks provided without charge or rented through the district may be used only in programs of the district’s schools.
- A student will have the same library privileges as regularly enrolled students but will not be permitted to use library services of the district for a class of another public, private, or home school’s program.
- A student will not be eligible for participation in school activities that are not a part of the classes in which he or she is enrolled.
- A student will not be eligible for participation in extracurricular activities including interscholastic activities unless that student is currently enrolled in five or more classes and meets the district’s academic eligibility requirements, except that home schooled students may participate under conditions established in Oregon Statute, Oregon Administrative Rules, and the district’s Administrative Handbook.
- A student will attend his or her neighborhood school and be responsible for his or her own transportation except during the time of regularly scheduled bus routes. Students may participate in the school choice process according to the priorities and waiting lists determined by policy.
- A student will be permitted to participate in the school lunch program if in attendance in a district school in a class that meets immediately preceding or following the scheduled lunch period.
J1500 – Student Transfer Requests
J1500.01 – Administrative Procedures for School Choice
- Parents who desire to enroll their children in a District 4J school outside their neighborhood attendance area must complete a School Choice Request and submit it to the 4J Instruction Department (for grades K–12)
- School Choice requests, to be effective the next school year, must be submitted to the Instruction Department the last working day of February.
- Requests for School Choice for the current school year may be submitted at any time.
- The student’s parent or guardian must sign the requests. Request forms are available at each school office and the Eugene School District 4J Office of Instruction, 200 North Monroe Street, Eugene OR.
Priorities
- First priority will be given to students who are enrolled in a neighborhood school but whose parents have moved to the attendance area of another District 4J school.
- Second priority will be given to a student whose sibling is already enrolled in a school and will be co-enrolled during the coming school year.
- Third priority will be given to all other students who will be selected for placement on the waiting list by lottery, with the following exception: Priority will be given to students who qualify for free or reduced meals, and are applying to elementary schools that are below the district average for free or reduced meals. Selections using this priority will take place on an alternating basis. “Alternating basis” shall mean priority will take place with alternating selections between the two separate lists of free or reduced qualified students and all other students, but first selecting one name from one list and then one name from the other, beginning with the top of the lists.
- A new lottery will be conducted each year, no later than the second Friday in March.
Students with Disabilities-Special Education/Section 504 in School Choice Process
1. Parents of special education students and Section 504 students may apply to transfer their student to a school other than their neighborhood school or the school listed on the student’s IEP or Section 504 plan, as allowed by the district’s School Choice policy.
If a student with a disability is accepted through school choice, his or her position on the list will be held at the choice school until the district has objectively determined whether the choice school can provide appropriate special education and related aids and services for the student, and there is space in the program. If the Special Education program does not have space or the student’s IEP or Section 504 plan cannot be implemented at the choice school, the student will be denied transfer into that choice school. If necessary, an IEP or Section 504 meeting may be convened to determine if the student’s IEP or Section 504 plan can be implemented at the choice school.
2. The parents of a student with disabilities (special education and Section 504), who attends a school other than their neighborhood school on a School Choice transfer, must provide their own transportation.
Revocation
School Choice in neighborhood Schools may be revoked by the Chief Academic Officer or designee if:
- The student shows a pattern of violating school rules and regulations.
- The student does not meet specific written conditions of the request.
- The information on the request form is falsified,
- The student has irregular attendance or chronic tardiness.
Eligibility
- Families and students must reside in Eugene School District 4J to be included in the lottery or placed on a waiting list.
- Sibling priority is given after the co-enrolled sibling has attended a school for an academic year.
- Siblings must reside in the same household in a family relationship.
- Students receiving Free/Reduced priority must qualify for free and reduced lunch at the time of school choice application and enrollment.
J1500.02 – Interscholastic Athletics
J1600 – Tuition Waiver
Oregon law and school board policy state that a child must attend school in the district where the parents reside; otherwise, the student will be charged a tuition fee for attendance.In accordance with the aforementioned law, District 4J tuition is based on the annual cost of educating a child. The total amount may be paid in a lump sum, or it may be divided into monthly payments.The district can sometimes waive tuition depending upon circumstances involved and by meeting certain legal requirements. However, tuition is not waived because of a person’s inability to pay the tuition fee. In addition, a tuition waiver will not be granted for the sole purpose of attending a school in 4J. Tuition waivers will be granted for extenuating circumstances only. Tuition waiver forms and power of attorney forms are available in the Instruction Department. Approving a waiver may require approval from the district where the student resides.
J1600.01 – Waiver of Tuition for Domestic Exchange Students
STUDENT EXCHANGE REQUESTS
Exchange Overview
Oregon law states that a student shall attend school in the district in which parents reside and shall not attend school in another school district for the purpose of going to school without paying tuition. Lane County school districts have agreed to support exchanges between districts and “waive” tuition payments as long as an exchange is made on a “one for one” basis. The following information outlines Eugene SD 4J Administrative Rules for exchange criteria, application process, and revocation of an approved exchange.
District Exchange Criteria
- Exchanges are for students who want to attend a Eugene School District 4J school but whose parents live outside the 4J school district boundaries. An exchange occurs when a student in our district wants to attend a school in another school district (such as Bethel School District) and vice versa. An exchange is made “one for one” in order to avoid out of district tuition to either student.
- Transportation is the responsibility of the family.
- Students who move from Eugene School District 4J to another school district after February 1st may continue attending their current schools through the end of the current school year, at the discretion of the school administrator. Students wanting to continue attending 4J schools beyond the current school year, have two options for submitting a new exchange request:
- Students may add their names to the existing waiting lists for an exchange to begin during the current school year.
- Students may apply for an exchange to begin the following school year.
APPLICATION PROCESS (BETHEL SD AND SPRINGFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOLS STUDENTS ONLY)
- Exchange requests will be accepted beginning the first Monday of April for the following school year. Requests received by the first Friday of May will be included in the lottery to determine the order of the waiting list. The lottery will be conducted on the second Friday of May. Students applying for exchanges after the lottery has occurred will be placed on the waiting list in the order the forms are received.
- A student will have an approved exchange before applying to attend any 4J school. If there is space available at the preferred school and there is no waiting list, then exchange students may be accepted at that particular school.
- If a student receives an approved exchange and enrolls in a 4J school, then the student may participate in the following year’s School Choice lotteries for enrollment at a different school.
- Once approved, the exchange will be automatically renewed annually. When a student with an existing approved exchange is promoted to a new level (from level K-5 to level 6-8 or from level 6-8 to level 9-12), the student will submit a School Choice Request to attend a 4J school at the next level. Students attending K-8 or K-12 alternative schools will continue to be enrolled through the highest grade level for the alternative program or school. If the student rescinds enrollment in an alternative school or program, a School Choice Request must be submitted and approved in order to attend another 4J school.
APPLICATION PROCESS (OTHER LANE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICTS)
Students from districts other than Bethel and Springfield must contact their respective district offices for pursuing an exchange request to attend Eugene SD 4J.
REVOCATION
At any time, a student’s parent may request that an exchange be rescinded. The Chief Academic Officer or designee may also revoke an exchange if:
- The student shows a pattern of violating school rules and regulations.
- The student does not meet specific written conditions of the exchange.
- The information on the exchange form is falsified.
- The student has irregular attendance or chronic tardiness.
LOTTERY PRIORITIES
A lottery will be used to determine the order of the waiting list. Requests for exchanges will be evaluated according to the criteria below.
- First priority will be given to seniors who were enrolled in a 4J school during the current academic year, but whose parents have moved to the attendance area of Bethel SD or Springfield Public Schools.
- Second priority will be given to other students who were enrolled in a 4J school during the current academic year, but whose parents have moved to the attendance area of Bethel SD or Springfield Public Schools.
- Third priority will be given to students who reside in the same immediate household as a sibling currently attending a 4J school with an approved exchange.
- Fourth priority will be given to all other students who will be selected for placement on the waiting list by lottery.
- Students who apply after the lottery date will be placed on the waiting list in the order that their application is received with the following exceptions: priorities will apply for returning students and siblings of students with existing exchanges. These students will be placed above post-lottery applicants in the order in which they were received, even if the new applicant’s request preceded the returning student’s or sibling’s request.
J1700 – Foreign Students
J1700.01 – Rules and Procedures
- The thirty-two (32) student quota will be distributed as follows:
- Eight students for each high school.
- If there are any open positions after June 15, additional applications will be considered in the order they are received.
- More than one student from the same country may be placed in the same school.
- A completed application, official transcript of credits, English proficiency statement, and other required information regarding an International student must be received by the District 4J Instruction department prior to May 15 preceding the school year the student is requesting to attend for the application to be considered.
- An International student must be proficient in the English language before his or her application will be considered.
- An International student should reside with, or have made arrangements to reside with, a legal resident of District 4J before final approval of the application. Students are required to have confirmed lodging arrangement before they enroll.
- District 4J will not accept any responsibility for the housing or insurance needs of an International student.
- An International student will not be accepted for a period of less than one term.
- Tuition for an International student will not be waived for a period of more than one year.
- District 4J will make not provisions for meeting a student’s personal expenses.
- It is a violation of immigration regulations for International students to obtain employment while attending school in the United States.
- International students may receive a diploma if they complete an equivalent of 23 credits and have met the competencies.
- A student who has received a high school diploma is not eligible for an International student waiver.
J1700.02 – Process for Attending
J1700.02a – Applications
AssignmentsThe Instruction Dept. will screen all applications for compliance with district procedures before referring those who meet requirements to building principals for their approval or disapproval.
J1700.02b – Forms
J1700.02c – Exchange Students
J1800 – Health Requirements for Students
J1800.01 – Health Examination
A health record is kept for each student on the “Oregon School Health Record” form 581-3417 (5/90).Additional copies of both the aforementioned forms are available from the Educational Service District.
J1800.02 – Health Requirements for Foreign or Visiting Students
J1800.03 – Health Requirements for Homeless Students
J1800.04 – Health Requirements for Enrolled Students
J1800.05 – Immunizations
ORS 433.235 through 433.284 requires that as a condition of enrollment in any public, private or parochial school of this state every child, preschool through the 12th grade, must submit to the school administrator one of the following statements:
- A statement signed by a parent or guardian giving the month and year of immunizations the child has received including the initial series and boosters as prescribed against the communicable diseases* pursuant to rules of the health division as provided in ORS 433.267 and 433.273;
- A statement signed by a physician that the physical condition of the child is such that the immunization would seriously endanger the health of the child; or
- A statement signed by the parent or guardian that the child has not been immunized as described in subsection because he or she is being reared as an adherent to a religion, the teachings of which are opposed to immunization.
If necessary immunization records are not complete at the time of registration, the school will include the student on the Primary Review Summary report; or issue an exclusion order for incomplete immunizations to the parent or guardian with an exclusion date of not less than 30 days after initial attendance.
*The required immunizations are diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, polio, measles, rubella, mumps, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, varicella. A tuberculin skin test is recommended, especially for students enrolling after having visited or resided in a TB endemic area.
J1800.05a – Immunization Procedures
J2000 – School Attendance
J2100 – Attendance Procedures – Recording and Reporting
J2100.01 – Enrollment and Membership
J2100.02 – Attendance Reporting by Schools
J2100.03 – Withdrawal
J2100.04 – Attendance Reporting by District
J2100.05 – Permanent Records
J2200 – Responsiblity Related to Compulsory Attendance Law
J2200.01 – Responsibility of Student
J2200.02 – Responsibility of the Parent or Legal Guardian
J2200.03 – Responsibility of Education Service District
J2300 – Student Release for Compulsory Attendance Law
J2300.01 – Release of Students Who Are 16 Years Old
J2300.02 – Release of Students Being Taught at Home by a Parent or Private Teacher
J2300.03 – High School Credit
J3000 – Student Rights and Responsibilities
J3100 – Student Handbook
The Students Rights and Responsibilities Handbook sets forth the rights and responsibilities of students, and the standards for students conduct as adopted by the Board of Directors.
Individual schools in the district have the authority to adopt and implement school rules to assist them in implementing the policies established in this handbook, however, no school has the authority to modify these rules. Schools are responsible for distributing school rules.
Every two-three years, a copy of the Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook shall be distributed to every family with children attending a district school. Extra copies should be requested from the Communications Office(ext. 3309) and made available to new students and others who request them.
Every licensed staff member should receive a copy of the Handbook. The contents should be discussed often enough to ensure that students and staff members understand the rights and responsibilities of students.
J3200 – Duties of Students
J3300 – Availability of Alternative Education Programs
J3400 – Process for Expulsion
An expulsion is a long-term exclusion from school attendance and requires a hearing be held by the superintendent or designee. State law provides that the expulsion of a student will not exceed one (1) calendar year.The principal or assistant principal may request that the superintendent or designee expel a student if the student:
- Endangers the health or safety of other students or staff.
- Has established a pattern of behavior that disrupts school, including, but not limited to willful disobedience, open defiance of authority, and the use of profane or obscene language.
- Has so many unexcused absences that there is no reasonable expectation of completing requirements for credit for that term.
- Willfully destroys school property or property of other students or staff members.
- Has violated the standards for student conduct outlined in the School Board adopted Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook.
The superintendent, or designee, is the only person authorized by the district board of directors to expel a student and, in each case, the process specified below must be followed.
Any student who brings a weapon onto school property or to a school-sponsored activity, or possesses, conceals, or uses a weapon on school property or at a school-sponsored activity, shall be expelled for one calendar year unless a specific exception is made by the superintendent or designee.
Expulsion will be from all district schools and activities unless otherwise specified.
Pending the expulsion hearing a student may be suspended for a maximum of ten (10) school days. In special circumstances a suspension may be continued until some specific pending action occurs, such as a physical or mental examination, incarceration by court action, or pending the outcome of an expulsion hearing if return of the student creates a substantial risk of disruption of the school. Procedural safeguards under Oregon law and rule under the Federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), PL 105-17 and its regulations must be followed before a special education student is expelled from school.
For parents of special education students the document “Parental Rights For Special Education (K-21) Notice of Procedural Safeguards” is available through the Superintendent’s Office.
J3410 – Overview
- The principal or assistant principal notifies the parent or guardian and the student in writing of the intent to request expulsion, citing the charges against the student.
- The principal or assistant principal submits to the superintendent or designee a written request for expulsion including a description of the charges with supporting facts and evidence.
- The superintendent or designee sets a date and place for an expulsion hearing.
- A hearing officer designated by the superintendent conducts the expulsion hearing. The principal or assistant principal presents all evidence supporting the proposed expulsion, the parent/guardian and the student have an opportunity to respond to the evidence and to present his/her version of the events. The student may choose to have counsel or representation at the hearing.
- Where the student or the student’s parent cannot understand the spoken-English language, an interpreter will be provided by the district.
- The hearing officer determines the facts of the case on the evidence presented at the hearing. The hearing officer’s opinion and decision, with the recommendation for disciplinary action, goes to the superintendent or designee.
- The superintendent or designee states the decision in identical form to the student and parent/guardian, their representative, and the principal or assistant principal requesting the expulsion no later than five (5) school days following the hearing.
- The student and parent or guardian may appeal the decision to the school board through a written request directed to the superintendent within 72 hours after receiving the decision.
A parent, or if the student is 18 years of age or older, the student, may waive the right to a formal hearing by completing a form entitled “Waiver, Stipulation of Facts and Recommendation for Expulsion” if the student and parent agree to the facts and reasons the administrator has given for proposing an expulsion and they accept, or successfully negotiate, the recommended expulsion action and the alternative education option to be provided for the duration of the expulsion. The administrator must provide the student and his/her family with a copy of the district’s expulsion procedures, which informs them of their rights before they sign a waiver. This alternative process may not be used for a special education student, or if the administrator is requesting an exception to the requirement that there be a one calendar year out-of-school expulsion for a violation of the district’s weapons’ policy.
J3420 – Step by Step Procedures
- Duties of The Principal or Assistant Principal
When a principal or assistant principal request that a student be expelled, the principal or assistant principal shall:- Notify the student and the parent or guardian in writing, by certified mail or by personal service (i.e., hand delivered), of the intent to request expulsion.
- Submit to the superintendent or designee a written request for expulsion, which will include:
- The specific charge or charges being made against the student, supported by all available facts and evidence.
- The name of the person charging the student.
- The steps taken by the school staff to alleviate the problem at the school level.
- If the student is a special education student, the relationship between the student’s handicap and the behavior with which the student is charged. (See: Parental Rights for Special Education (K-21) Notice of Procedural Safeguards).
- Duties of the Superintendent or Designee
- Upon receipt of a request for expulsion, the superintendent or designee will:
- Establish a date, time, and place for a hearing.
- Determine who the hearing officer will be
- Notify the student and parent or guardian in writing, by certified mail, or by personal service, of the impending hearing. Where notice is given by personal service, the person serving the notice will file a return of service. Where notice is given by certified mail to a parent or guardian of a suspended student the notice will be placed in the mail at least five days before the date of the hearing. The notice will include:
- The specific charge or charges made against the student.
- A copy of all facts or evidence used to support the charge or charges.
- The name of the person or persons making the charge.
- The date, time, and place of the hearing and a statement that the student or parent or guardian may request a change in the date, time, or place of the hearing by contacting the superintendent’s office.
- The name of the hearing officer.
- A statement informing the student and parent or guardian that if they fail to attend the hearing and have not requested a change in the date, time, or place, the hearing will be held without them.
- A statement that the hearing will be held in private unless the student and parent or guardian request in writing that the hearing be public.
- A statement that if the student or the student’s parent cannot understand the spoken English language, an interpreter will be provided by the district.
- A statement that the student or a representative of his or her choice, including legal counsel, will have the opportunity to present evidence or arguments including personal testimony, the testimony of witnesses, affidavits, or other information.
- Following the hearing, the superintendent or designee will state the decision in writing in identical form to the student and parent or guardian, their representative, and the principal or assistant principal requesting expulsion within five (5) school days following the close of the hearing. This written statement will include:
- A statement informing the parent how to access information regarding alternative education programs that are appropriate and available to the student.
- A statement that the decision will be reviewed by the board of directors if a written request for review is made to the superintendent within 72 hours after receiving the decision. The student and parent or guardian and their representative will have the right to attend the appeal hearing if the board grants a review.
- The date, time and place of the board review, if requested, will be no less than five (5) nor more than twenty-one (21) calendar days after the close of the hearing.
- A statement that the appeal hearing, if granted, will be held in an executive session of the board unless the student and the parent or guardian shall request in writing at least one day prior that it be a public hearing.
- If no appeal hearing is granted as provided, the decision of the superintendent or designee will be final.
- Upon receipt of a request for expulsion, the superintendent or designee will:
- Duties of the Hearing Officer
The following will occur at the hearing:- The hearing officer will determine the facts of the case on the evidence presented at the hearing by the principal or assistant principal and the response of the student and/or parent, guardian and their representative. The hearing officer will not be bound by strict rules of evidence. Evidence may include the relevant past history of the student and student records.
- The hearing officer may recommend a conditional expulsion. Under a conditional expulsion the student may return to school before the ending date of the expulsion if conditions specified by the hearing officer are met. When recommending conditional expulsion, the hearing officer will specify the conditions that must be met and the date the student may return to school. If the student does not comply with the conditions, the school administration may enforce the full expulsion with written notification to the parent.
- The hearing officer’s written recommendation will include findings, conclusions and specific recommendations.
- Rights of the Student and Parent or Guardian
The student and parent or guardian have these rights during the expulsion process:- The student will be permitted to have a representative at the hearing to advise and present arguments.
- The student will be afforded the right to present his/her version of the charges and to introduce evidence by testimony, writings, or other exhibits at the hearing.
- The student and parent or guardian and their representative will have the opportunity to question the person or persons making or supporting the charges against the student at the hearing.
- In the case of the student or parent who has serious difficulty understanding the English language or has other serious communication handicaps, the district will provide a translator for the hearing.
- The student and parent or guardian have the right to appeal the superintendent’s decision on expulsion within 72 hours by filing a written request.
- Special Education Students
When expulsion is being considered for an identified special education student, the procedures outlined in Parental Rights for Special Education (K-21) Notice of Procedural Safeguards) must be followed. - Duties of the Board
If the student and parent or guardian appeals the superintendent or designee’s decision, the board of directors will review it during an executive session, no less than five (5) nor more than twenty-one (21) calendar days after the close of the hearing. At the executive session the board will confine its review to the record of the hearing officer (the superintendent or designee) and, in particular, to the following:- The charges against the student and the evidence used to support or oppose the charges
- The decision of the hearing officer and the reason for the decision.
- Any additional information the board may request.
- The board may postpone its decision if required to hear additional evidence.
- A written statement of the board’s decision will be sent by certified mail to the student and the parent or guardian, their representative, and the principal or assistant principal by the superintendent or designee. This statement will be mailed within five (5) school days after the board’s decision. The decision of the board shall be final.
J3500 – Trespass
Notice of Criminal Trespass forms may be printed from this PDF.
When an unauthorized person is present on school premises, the school principal or designee should introduce himself or herself to the individual. The individual should then be questioned about his or her presence and opportunity given to explain the purpose of the visit. If, in the school official’s opinion, the individual has no legitimate reasons for being on school district property, the school official should direct the person to leave the premises by reading the statement from the Notice of Criminal Trespass and provide him or her a copy of the completed form. If the individual still does not leave in reasonable time, the school officials will call law enforcement. The law enforcement authorities will give whatever additional notices may be required and make the decision on appropriate action to take.
When a parent or guardian is disrupting the educational process or creating an unsafe environment, they may be served a Notice of Criminal Trespass. Principals should contact their supervisor or Chief of Staff if assistance is needed in assessing a situation and determining if a trespass notice is appropriate.
Students who have been suspended or expelled may not attend any district school or any school-sponsored activity or be on any school district property, except with consent of a school district administrator. See the Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook (Trespassing section).
J3600 – Impoundment of Student Cars
J3700 – Armed Forces Information
Armed Forces Recruiter Access to Students and Student Records: Federal law provides Armed Forces recruiters access to student recruiting information and access to students.
Release of Student Information: Unless a high school student or the student’s parents have requested otherwise, schools must provide students’ names, addresses and telephone listings of students to military recruiters upon request. A secondary school student or the parent of the student may request that this information not be released without prior parental consent.
Notification of Students and Parents: Federal law requires the school to notify parents of this option to withhold student information without prior written consent. High schools shall annually notify parents and students of this option.
Access to Students: Schools must provide military recruiters with the same access to students as is provided to college recruiters.
J3820 – Release of Records to Non-Custodial Parents
When parents are separated and no legal custody has been awarded, or when a parent has been designated a non-custodial parent by a court order, the following procedure shall apply, unless otherwise provided by a court decree or order:
- Each parent, or a representative of a parent if authorized in writing by the parent, may inspect and review the education records of that parent’s child.
- Each parent has a right to question the appropriate licensed staff and make reasonable requests for explanations and interpretations of the student records. Licensed staff is not required to respond to requests by parent representatives for explanations or interpretations of the records.
- An attorney for a parent is entitled to accompany the parent when a parent meets with a teacher to discuss the child’s progress and behavior with licensed staff, but licensed staff need not respond to attorney questioning about behavior or behavior records.
- Ordinarily, if a contact is made by an attorney with a licensed staff member/principal for progress and behavioral information, the attorney will be advised as follows:
- There must be a written request by the parent to furnish the information requested.
- The licensed staff member will discuss the progress record in detail, however, licensed staff will only advise the attorney of the existence of student behavioral records which are negative to the student, if such records exist.
- The attorney may accompany the parent to a parent-conference on progress and behavioral matters relating to the student, but the attorney will not be permitted to ask questions.
Limitations On Providing Information
The school has some limitations on providing information about students.
The law provides that certain conversations between staff and students are confidential. A licensed staff member may not be examined in any civil action as to any conversation between the licensed staff member and a student which would relate to the personal affairs of the student or family of the student and which, if disclosed, would tend to damage or incriminate the student or family of the student. (ORS 40.245)
Violation of the privilege provided in this section of the law may result in the suspension of certification of the professional staff member in accordance with law. Therefore, staff members should not disclose to one parent conversations with their child which would tend to damage or incriminate the other parent.
If any question about confidential communications remains in the staff member’s mind regarding a question posed by a parent about the behavior of the student during the course of any custody litigation, the staff member should advise that the matter will not be discussed unless the staff member has been subpoenaed to a deposition or to court. Any doubt about the wisdom of such statements should be resolved against the parent and in favor of non-disclosure in the circumstances.
J4000 – Student Activities
J4100 – Student Fees
J4200 – Health Services
J9000 – Miscellaneous Provisions
J9100 – Child Custody
J9110 – Release of Students During Attendance Hours
J9110a – General Procedures for Release of Students During Attendance Hours
- Children shall be released from school during attendance hours only through the principal’s office.
- Parents, guardians, or others who attempt to remove students directly from a classroom, playground, or other school facility during attendance hours must be referred to the principal’s office to secure the release of a child.
- If a person other than a child’s parent or guardian attempts to remove a child during attendance hours without express permission of the parent or guardian, release must be denied until parent or guardian permission is secured or until the person in charge is satisfied that release is appropriate under the circumstances.
- In the absence of the principal, release of a child during attendance hours must be approved by a staff member previously designated to act for the principal in her or his absence.
J9110b – Release of Students During Attendance Hours – Custodial Conflict
- Absent a legal decree to the contrary, each parent has equal legal authority to remove his or her child from school during attendance hours.
- Decrees for dissolution of marriage or of separation showing care and custody of minor children are best evidence of the right to custody. Anytime a parent informs the school of a potential custodial conflict, the principal should request a certified true copy of the decree establishing custodial rights. The principal should inform the counselor, secretary, teachers, and other appropriate staff of the potential problem and the procedures to follow.
PROCEDURES
The following procedures are to be followed after a parent has notified the principal of a custodial conflict, and has established that he or she has legal custody of the child.
- Request that the custodial parent provide the school with names of persons who are permitted to remove the child from school during attendance hours.
- Inform the custodial parent that, except as otherwise provided by court order, only those persons so identified will be permitted to remove the child from school during attendance hours unless the custodial parent expressly authorizes an exception.
- Subsequently, if any person requests to remove the child from school during attendance hours without express permission from the custodial parent, the request must be denied until one of the following conditions is met:
- The custodial parent gives express permission for the requesting person to remove the child from school, or
- The person requesting to remove the child presents a certified true copy of a decree establishing his or her custody of the child.
- The principal or designee will recognize the change in custody after determining the validity of the change-in-custody court order and before the release will make a reasonable effort to contact the parent who initially had established custody of the child.
- When a change in custody is recognized by the school, the procedures described in this section should be implemented with the new custodial parent.
J9200 – Education Records
J9300 – Student Accident Reports
Student accidents should be reported promptly on forms provided for that purpose. If an accident appears to be serious (head or back injury, broken bones, etc.), immediately notify the school nurse and the Risk Management Office (ext. 3335). Personnel in the Risk Management Office will then notify the appropriate director and the superintendent’s office.As soon as the completed report has been signed by the principal, it should be sent to Risk Management. The school office should keep a copy.The Risk Management Office is to house these reports and, if necessary, sends them to the insurance provider.