l Student Code of Conduct

The Board of Trustees meets the Second Wednesday of each month, in regular session, at 7:00 P.M., in the Star Library. Meetings are open to the public with the exception of executive sessions, as provided by law.

PREFACE

To Students and Parents:

Welcome to school year 2008-2009. Education is a team effort, and we know that students, parents, teachers, and other staff members all working together will make this a successful year for our students.

The Star Student Handbook is designed to provide a resource for some of the basic information that you and your child will need during the school year. In an effort to make it easier to use, the handbook is divided into three sections.

As required by state law, the board of trustees has officially adopted the Student Code of Conduct, governed by Board Policy, in order to promote a safe and orderly learning environment for every student.

We urge you to read this publication thoroughly and to discuss it with your family. If you have any questions about the required conduct and consequences for misconduct, we encourage you to ask for an explanation from the student’s teacher or campus administrator.

The student and parent/guardian should each sign this page in the space provided below, and then return the page to the student’s school.

Thank you.

Barbara Marchbanks, Superintendent

...............................................................................................................................................

The Star Student Handbook/Code of Conduct is designed to provide a resource information that you and your child will need during the school year. In an effort to make it easier to use, the handbook is divided into three sections:

Section I—IMPORTANT INFORMATION/ REQUIRED FORMS FOR PARENTS/guardians—with information all parents/guardians will need about assisting their child and responding to school-related issues/activities;

Section II—CURRICULUM-RELATED INFORMATION—to provide information to students and their parents/guardians about graduation programs, required courses, class rank, and extracurricular and other activities; and

Section III—GENERAL INFORMATION AND REQUIREMENTS—describing school operations and requirements such as safety procedures, the dress code, and fees that may be charged.

Please be aware that the term “the student’s parent” is used to refer to the parent, legal guardian, or other person who has agreed to assume school-related responsibility for a student.

Both students and parents must be familiar with the Star ISD Student Code of Conduct, required by state law and intended to promote school safety and an atmosphere for learning. That document as an attachment to this handbook and is available in the principal’s office.

The student handbook/Code of Conduct is designed to be in harmony with Board policy and the Student Code of Conduct. Please be aware that the handbook is updated yearly, while policy adoption and revision may occur throughout the year. Changes in policy that affect student handbook provisions will be made available to students and parents through newsletters and other communications.

In case of conflict between Board policy or the Student Code of Conduct and any provisions of student handbooks, the provisions of Board policy or the Student Code of Conduct that were recently adopted by the Board are to be followed.

We strongly recommend that parents review the entire handbook with their children and keep it as a reference during this school year. If you or your child has questions about any of the material in this handbook, please contact a teacher, the counselor, or the principal. Also, please complete and return the parental acknowledgment and consent/opt-out forms so that we have a record of your choices. See Obtaining Information and Protecting Student Rights

Please note that references to alphabetical policy codes are included so that parents can refer to current District policy. A copy of the District’s policy manual is available in the Superintendent’s office.

PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT

Working Together

Both experience and research tell us that a child’s education succeeds best when there is a strong partnership between home and school, a partnership that thrives on communication. Your involvement in this partnership may include:

• Encouraging your child to put a high priority on education and working with your child on a daily basis to make the most of the educational opportunities the school provides. Ensure that your child completes all homework assignments and special projects. Be sure your child comes to school each day prepared, rested, and ready to learn.

• Becoming familiar with all of your child’s school activities and with the academic programs, including special programs, offered in the District. Discuss with the counselor or principal any questions you may have about the options and opportunities available to your child. If your child is entering ninth grade, review the requirements of the graduation programs with your child. Monitor your child’s academic progress and contact teachers as needed. [See Academic Counseling Academic Programs .]

• Attending scheduled conferences and requesting additional conferences as needed. To schedule a telephone or in-person conference with a teacher, counselor, or principal, please call the school office at 325-948-3661 for an appointment. The teacher will usually return your call or meet with you during his or her conference period or before or after school. [See Report Cards/Progress Reports and Conferences .]

• Becoming a school volunteer. [For further information, see policy GKG and contact Jim Burnett, Principal, phone (325) 948-3661.

• Participating in campus parent organizations. The Parent Teacher Organization will be organized if there is sufficient interest by parents.

• Offering to serve as a parent representative on the District-level or campus-level planning committees assisting in the development of educational goals and plans to improve student achievement. For further information, see policies at BQA and BQB, and contact Barbara Marchbanks, Principal, phone (325) 948-3661.

• Offering to serve on the School Health Advisory Council, assisting the District in ensuring local community values are reflected in health education instruction. Attending Board meetings to learn more about District operations.

Obtaining Information and Protecting Student Rights

Your child will not be required to participate without parental consent in any survey, analysis, or evaluation—funded in whole or in part by the U.S. Department of Education—that concerns:

• Political affiliations or beliefs of the student or the student’s parent.

• Mental or psychological problems of the student or the student’s family.

• Sexual behavior or attitudes.

• Illegal, antisocial, self-incriminating, or demeaning behavior.

• Critical appraisals of individuals with whom the student has a close family relationship.

• Relationships privileged under law, such as relationships with lawyers, physicians, and ministers.

• Religious practices, affiliations, or beliefs of the student or parents.

• Income, except when the information is required by law and will be used to determine the student’s eligibility to participate in a special program or to receive financial assistance under such a program.

You will be able to inspect the survey or other instrument and any instructional materials used in connection with such a survey, analysis, or evaluation. [For further information, see policy EF.]

Jim Burnett, Principal – Star School

Please sign these forms, remove them, and return to the student’s school. Thank you.

Required Form

Star ISD

Acknowledgment Form

My child and I have received a copy of the Star ISD Parent/Student Handbook and the Student Code of Conduct for 2008–2009. I/we understand that the handbook contains information that my child and I may need during the school year and that all students will be held accountable for their behavior and will be subject to the disciplinary consequences outlined in the Student Code of Conduct.

Printed name of student:

Signature of student:

Printed name of parent/guardian: __________________________________

Signature of parent/guardian:

Grade:

Date:

Required Form

Star ISD

Directory Information – School Sponsored Purposes

For the following school-sponsored purposes: Star ISD has designated the following information as directory information:

· Student’s name

· Address

· Telephone listing

· E-mail address

· Photograph

· Date and place of birth

· Major field of study

· Degrees, honors, and awards received

· Dates of attendance

· Grade level

· Most recent school previously attended

· Participation in officially recognized activities and sports

· Weight and height, if a member of an athletic team

· Enrollment status

Directory information identified only for limited school-sponsored purposes remains otherwise confidential and will not be released to the public without the consent of the parent or eligible student.

Parent/guardian: Please circle one of the choices below:

I, parent/guardian of ______________________________ (student’s name), (do give) (do not give) the district permission to use the information in the above list for the specified school-sponsored purposes such as newspaper articles for school activities.

Parent/guardian signature Date

Required Form

Star ISD

Directory Information – All Other Purposes

For all other purposes, Star ISD has designated the following information as directory information:

· Student’s name

· Address

· Telephone listing

· E-mail address

· Photograph

· Date and place of birth

· Major field of study

· Degrees, honors, and awards received

· Dates of attendance

· Grade level

· Most recent school previously attended

· Participation in officially recognized activities and sports

· Weight and height, if a member of an athletic team

· Enrollment status

Parent/guardian: Please circle one of the choices below:

I, parent/guardian of ______________________________ (student’s name), (do give) (do not give) the district permission to release the information in this list in response to a request unrelated to school-sponsored purposes.

Parent/guardian signature Date

Required Form

Star ISD

Parent/guardian’s Response Regarding Release of Student Information to Military Recruiters and Institutions of Higher Education

Federal law requires that the district release to military recruiters and institutions of higher education, upon request, the name, address, and phone number of secondary school students enrolled in the district, unless the parent or eligible student directs the district not to release information to these types of requestors without prior written consent. [See Release of Student Information to Military Recruiters and Institutions of Higher Education on page 11 for more information.]

Parent/guardian: Please complete the following only if you do not want your child’s information released to a military recruiter or an institution of higher education without your prior consent.

I, parent/guardian of ______________________________ (student’s name), request that the district not release my child’s name, address, and telephone number to a military recruiter or institutions of higher education upon their request without my prior written consent.

Parent/guardian signature Date

Required Form

Star ISD Publications

Occasionally, the Star ISD wishes to display or publish student artwork or special projects on the district’s Web site and in district publications. The district agrees to only use these student projects in this manner.

Parent/guardian: Please circle one of the choices below:

I, parent/guardian of ______________________________ (student’s name), (do give) (do not give) the district permission to use my child’s artwork or special project on the district’s Web site and in district publications.

Parent/guardian signature:

Date: _____________________

Optional Form

Star ISD

Consent/Opt-Out Information

Dear Parent/guardian:

The district is required by federal law to notify you and obtain your consent for or denial of (opt-out) for your child’s participation in certain school activities. The activities include any student survey, analysis, or evaluation, known as “protected information survey” that concerns one or more of the following eight areas:

1. Political affiliations or beliefs of the student or student’s parent;

2. Mental or psychological problems of the student or student’s family;

3. Sexual behavior or attitudes;

4. Illegal, antisocial, self-incriminating, or demeaning behavior;

5. Critical appraisals of others with whom the student has a close family relationship;

6. Legally recognized privileged relationships, such as with lawyers, doctors, or ministers;

7. Religious practices, affiliations, or beliefs of the student or parents; or

8. Income, other than as required by law to determine program eligibility or to receive financial assistance under such a program.

This notice and consent/opt-out requirement also applies to the collection, disclosure, or use of student information for marketing purposes (“marketing surveys”), and to certain physical exams and screenings.

Following are activities requiring parental notice and consent or opt-out for the 2008–2009 school year. Please note that this notice and authority to consent transfer from the parent to the student when the student reaches 18 or is an emancipated minor under state law.

________________________________________________________________________

Date: During the Spring 2009 semester

Grades: 9 - 12

Activity: Texas schools survey of drug and alcohol use.

Summary: This is an anonymous survey. The Texas School survey of Drug and Alcohol Use is an annual collection of self-reported tobacco, alcohol, inhalant, and substance use data from students in individual districts throughout the state. The survey is documented by the Public Policy Research Institute in conjunction with the Texas Department of State Health Services.

“Contact the principal at 325-948-3662 no later than December 5, 2008 if you do not want your child to participate in this activity.”

If you wish to review any survey instrument or instructional material used in connection with any protected information survey, please submit a request to Mr. Jim Burnett, Principal, Star ISD. The principal will notify you of the time and place where you may review these materials. You have the right to review a survey and/or instructional materials before the survey is administered to a student.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Fall 2008 and Spring 2009

Grades: 9-12

Activity: School Climate and Safety Survey

Summary: This is an anonymous survey that asks students for their opinions in regard to how SHS addresses their academic, emotional, social, and safety needs. This information is used to assist campus administration in designing and/or revising programs to better meet the needs of our students.

“Contact the principal at 325-948-3661 no later than September 12, 2008 if you do not want your child to participate in this activity.”

If you wish to review any survey instrument or instructional material used in connection with any protected information survey, please submit a request to Mr. Jim Burnett Principal Star ISD. The principal will notify you of the time and place where you may review these materials. You have the right to review a survey and/or instructional materials before the survey is administered to a student.

Additional Notices

Other important notices in the Student Handbook cover the following topics:

· Student participation in a survey, analysis, or evaluation;

· Opting out of surveys and data collection activities;

· Requesting the professional qualifications of teachers and staff;

· Requesting a transfer of your child to a safe public school;

· Assistance to students who have learning difficulties;

· Student records;

· Bacterial meningitis;

· Career and technology programs;

· Homeless students; and

· School lunch programs.

Please take some time to review these notices and other important information contained in the Student Handbook.

Dear Student and Parent:

...............................................................................................................................................

We acknowledge that we have received a copy of the Star ISD Student Handbook/Student Code of Conduct for the 2008–2009 school year and understand that students will be held accountable for their behavior and will be subject to the disciplinary consequences outlined in the Code.

Print name of student: __________________________________________________

Signature of student: ___________________________________________________

Print name of parent: ___________________________________________________

Signature of parent: ____________________________________________________

Date: _________________________________

School: ______________________________________________________________

Grade level: ___________________________

Please sign this page, remove it, and return it with the rest of the forms in Section I to the student’s school. Thank you.

• English language arts in grade 10 and 11

• Social studies in grades 8, 10 and 11

• Science in grades 5, 8,10, and 11 [See note below.]

• Any other subject and grade required by federal law

The Texas Student Success Intuitive requires students in grades 3, 5, and 8 to pass the Reading and Math portions of the TAKS before moving on to the next grade.

[See policy EKB.]

OTHER STANDARDIZED TESTING: COLLEGE REQUIREMENTS

Most colleges require either the American College Test (ACT) or the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) for admission. Students are encouraged to talk with the counselor early during their junior year to determine the appropriate exam to take; entrance exams are usually taken at the end of the junior year. (Prior to enrollment in a Texas public college or university, most students must take an assessment test, such as the Texas Higher Education Assessment [THEA] test.)

MEDICINE AT SCHOOL

District employees will not give a student prescription medication, nonprescription medication, herbal substances, anabolic steroids, or dietary supplements, with the following exceptions:

• Authorized employees, in accordance with policy FFAC, may administer:

• Prescription medication provided by the parent, along with a written request, and in the original, properly labeled container.

• Medication from a properly labeled unit dosage container filled by a registered nurse or another qualified District employee from the original, properly labeled container.

• Nonprescription medication provided by the parent along with a written request, and in the original, properly labeled container.

• Herbal or dietary supplements provided by the parent if required by the student’s individualized education program (IEP) or Section 504 plan for a student with disabilities.

• In certain emergency situations, the District will maintain and administer to a student nonprescription medication, but only:

• In accordance with the guidelines developed with the District’s medical advisor and

• When the parent has previously provided written consent to emergency treatment on the District’s form.

A student with asthma who has written authorization from his or her parent and physician or other licensed health-care provider may be permitted to possess and use prescribed asthma medication at school or school-related events. The student and parents should see the school nurse or principal if the student has been prescribed asthma medication for use during the school day.

In accordance with a student’s individual health plan for management of diabetes, a student with diabetes will be permitted to possess and use monitoring and treatment supplies and equipment while at school or at a school-related activity. See Mrs. Taylor or principal for information.

STEROIDS

Parents and students should be aware that state law prohibits students from possessing, dispensing, delivering, or administering an anabolic steroid. Anabolic steroids are for medical use only, and only a physician can prescribe use.

Under state law, body building, muscle enhancement, or the increase of muscle bulk or strength through the use of an anabolic steroid or human growth hormone by a healthy student is not a valid medical use and is a criminal offense. State law provides for random testing of students that participate in athletic programs.

STUDENT RECORDS

Both federal and state laws safeguard student records from unauthorized inspection or use and provide parents and “eligible” students certain rights. For purposes of student records, an “eligible” student is one who is 18 or older OR who is attending an institution of postsecondary education.

The law specifies that certain general information about Star ISD students is considered “directory information” and will be released to anyone who follows procedures for requesting it.

Release of any or all directory information regarding a student may be prevented by the parent or an eligible student. This objection must be made in writing to the principal within ten school days of the child’s first day of this school year. [See the acknowledgment form provided with this handbook.]

Virtually all information pertaining to student performance, including grades, test results, and disciplinary records, is considered confidential educational records. Release is restricted to:

• The parents—whether married, separated, or divorced—unless parental rights have been legally terminated and if the school is given a copy of the court order terminating these rights. Federal law requires that, as soon as the student becomes 18 or is emancipated by a court, control of the records goes to the student. However, the parents may continue to have access to the records if the student is a dependent for tax purposes.

• District staff members who have what federal law defines as a “ legitimate educational interest” in a student’s records. Such persons would include school officials (such as Board members, the Superintendent, and principals), school staff members (such as teachers, counselors, and diagnosticians), or an agent of the District (such as a medical consultant).

• Various governmental agencies or in response to a subpoena or court order.

• A school to which a student transfers or in which he or she subsequently enrolls.

Release to any other person or agency—such as a prospective employer or for a scholarship application—will occur only with parental or student permission as appropriate.

The District must comply with a request by a military recruiter or an institution of higher education for students’ names, addresses, and telephone listings, unless parents have advised the District not to release their child’s information without prior written consent.

The Principal is custodian of all records for currently enrolled students at the assigned school. The Superintendent is the custodian of all records for students who have withdrawn or graduated.

Records may be inspected by a parent or eligible student during regular school hours. If circumstances prevent inspection during these hours, the District will either provide a copy of the requested records, or make other arrangements for the parent or student to review the requested records. The records custodian or designee will respond to reasonable requests for explanation and interpretation of the records. The address of the Superintendent’s office is

64 S. FM 1047

Star, Texas, 76880

The address of the principals’ office is:

64 S. FM 1047

Star, Texas 76880

A parent (or the student if he or she is 18 or older or is attending an institution of postsecondary education) may inspect the student’s records and request a correction if the records are considered inaccurate or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy rights. If the District refuses the request to amend the records, the requestor has the right to request a hearing. If the records are not amended as a result of the hearing, the requestor has 30 school days to exercise the right to place a statement commenting on the information in the student’s record. Although improperly recorded grades may be challenged, contesting a student’s grade in a course is handled through the general complaint process defined by policy FNG. [See Report Cards/Progress Reports and Conferences and Student or Parent Complaints and Concerns .]