C. G. Credle Elementary

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Parent-Student Handbook 2017-2018

C.G. Credle Elementary School 223 College Street Oxford, NC 27565

Phone Numbers: Office: (919) 693-9191 Fax: (919) 603-0047 Cafeteria: (919) 690-2310 Email Contacts: Principal Julie Finch: [email protected] Assistant Principal Sherrie Burns: [email protected] Social Worker Jamie Haddix: [email protected] Dean of Students Carolyn Vallejo: [email protected] ECP Contact Chenita Roberts: [email protected] AIG Contact Charlene Pennington-Best: [email protected]

GREETINGS FROM THE ADMINISTRATION Dear Parents, Guardians, and Students, Welcome to C.G. Credle Elementary School, home of the Credle “Kids”. We are very excited to begin a new school year. I would like to welcome those of you who are new to Credle and to welcome back those of you returning to Credle. I am exciting about the future success of our students and the academic progress we have made. C. G. Credle is the oldest elementary school, still operating as such, in the state of North Carolina and a school that has historically carried a tradition of excellence. As a Granville County native and former student of C.G. Credle, I am so excited to serve our community and build this community school along with you. We hope to create a place where teachers want to work and students want to learn. Elementary school is an exciting time for kids. It is a time to make new friends, learn new skills, share ideas, try new things, and learn responsibility. As your children walk through our doors as kindergarteners and leave as fifth graders, an amazing journey of learning will take place. At C. G. Credle we focus on kids. The following traits are guidelines that our students will follow when making great choices:

K – Kind

(Be kind to yourself and others)

I – Industrious

(Be industrious by working hard towards your goals)

D – Dependable

(Be trustworthy and reliable)

S – Safe

(Choose words and actions that keep you and others safe from harm)

A new year offers new opportunities. Our mission is to make Credle “Kids” the best students they can be because the future of their success begins with a great elementary education. Education is a partnership between the school, the home, and the community and we would like to thank you in advance for your support. This handbook is intended to serve as a source of information for students and parents throughout the year. If you have any questions or concerns at any time please do not hesitate to call. Sincerely, Julie Finch Principal

I. General Information School Hours Our instructional day begins at 7:25 a.m. and ends at 2:30 p.m. for students. We cannot provide supervision prior to 7:00 a.m. The first bell rings at 7:15 a.m. and the tardy bell rings at 7:25 a.m. If arriving after 7:25 a parent or guardian should sign the student in at the computer in the front office. Any student who wishes to eat breakfast should be in breakfast by 7:15 a.m. so that our instructional day can begin promptly at 7:25. All students must be picked up from school no later than 2:45 with the exception of students who ride a late bus. Morning Arrival Procedures Student arrival will begin at 7:00 a.m. Staff supervision will be in place at that time to ensure student safety. For teachers to be ready to begin instruction, all students who arrive between 7:00 a.m. and 7:15 a.m. will report to a designated area until the bell rings. Students who wish to eat breakfast must be in the cafeteria by 7:15. Our instructional day begins at 7:25. Giving our teachers the opportunity to ensure they are ready for the instructional day is vital to the safety and academic success of our students. While we know it may be convenient, morning arrival time is not the appropriate time to conference with teachers. Teachers are to be greeting all students and getting them settled in for their instructional day. • Students may begin arriving at school no earlier than 7:00 a.m. • All students arriving by car should be released in the turning circle in front of the cafeteria. Please help us keep your child safe by only using the turning circle as a drop-off area. • It is not safe to drop students off across the street or in the bus lot. • At C.G. Credle, we encourage independence in our students and respectfully ask that you allow your child the independence of walking him/herself to class. We realize many parents may desire to walk with their children at the beginning of the school year, but after two weeks, all students first grader and older should walk independently to class. We encourage our kindergarteners to do the same, but recognize this may be difficult for some parents. If you are going to walk your child to class, you must sign in at the computer station in the main office and print a visitor’s sticker. Students must be dropped off at the classroom door. As part of teaching responsibility and independence, students unpack and get themselves settled in within their classrooms. • If you are walking your child into school, please park on the opposite side of the street and use the crosswalk.

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The lane in the front of the school is our Car Traffic Lane. This lane is used to provide our students a quick and safe drop-off area in the turning circle. Therefore no parking is permitted on the school side of the street during morning arrival. The Car Lane Drop-Off moves quickly. Please make sure that your child is packed and ready to exit the car. All cars exiting the turning circle must turn right onto College Street. Left turns are not permitted because it slows down the Car Lane Line and is not courteous to the other parents who choose to use the Car Lane. Dismissal Procedures

School will dismiss beginning at 2:30 p.m. The following procedures are put in place to ensure the safety of all of our children. •

Each grade level will have an assigned location to stand while waiting to be picked up.

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If you are walking up to the designated area to pick up your child, you will need to park across the street, use the crosswalk, and present your Pick-Up Pass to the teacher. During car dismissal, the teacher will not release any student until all students are safely at their designated area sitting down. It is very difficult to release students to some parents while trying to seat others. A Pick-Up Pass must be presented at all times when picking up students. Please make sure you provide a Pick-Up Pass to all family members/friends of the family who will pick up your child. If you need additional passes, please notify Ms. Hawkins in the front office. Adults without Pick-Up Passes will be required to come to the office and sign the student out using our computer check-out system.

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Please bring a valid ID to check out your child. All teachers will be on duty ensuring all students are picked up safely and will not be able to speak with you until dismissal is over. Car Pick-Up Lane

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If you choose to use this service, you will stay in your car and line up in front of the school. You will need to place your Pick-Up Pass in the car window. The Car Lane Line will start in the turning circle at Cone 1 and will continue down College Street past the school; therefore, no one is allowed to park on this side of the street unless you are using the Car Pick-Up Lane. A staff member will come to your car and get your child(s) name that you are picking up and assign you a cone number The child(s) name will be called by Walkie-Talkie to the assigned cone.

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You will proceed to the assigned cone where your child(s) will be waiting. A staff member will load your child(s) in your car.

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You will then proceed out of the turning circle and turn right onto College Street. Check-In/Check-Out Procedures

At C.G. Credle, we use a computer system to check students in and out of school. Please be prepared to show proper ID and plan ahead for the time it takes for you child to come from class and for you to sign him/her out. This system will also be used to record all visitors coming to our campus. Any student entering the building after 7:25 is considered tardy and must be signed in by a parent using our computer system. Visiting the School and Classrooms Board Policy 5020 states that the board encourages community and parent involvement in the schools. Parents and visitors are welcome to visit the school to tour and learn about our educational programs. While visitors are welcome, the safety of our students and the provision of an orderly and inviting instructional environment is the primary concern of our staff. All visitors should report immediately to the administrative office at the school for permission to be in the school. This includes when visiting before the 7:00 a.m. bell or after the 2:30 p.m. dismissal bell. • Visitors should log into the computer in the main lobby and print a sticker. •

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Visiting the school is different than visiting/observing a classroom. Visiting or volunteering in classrooms must be prearranged with the principal prior to your visit. This is to protect instructional time and also to maintain the privacy of our students. For example, if students are participating in assessments, a visit to the classroom would not be appropriate. No one other than school employees are allowed to visit classrooms without prior approval from the principal. We also know that communication between the teacher and parent is crucial to the success of a child. If you would like to talk with your child’s teacher we ask that you call or email to make an appointment. Teachers cannot stop their instruction in order have unscheduled parent meetings. Teachers also have planning times each day that they dedicate to instructional planning, grade level meetings and staff development sessions. In order to ensure that you will be able to have a quality conference, it is best to schedule an appointment. Teachers will not be called out of their classrooms for unscheduled conferences. While we know it may be convenient, morning arrival time is not the appropriate time to conference with the teacher. Teachers are greeting all students and getting them settled in for their instructional day.

Protection of Instructional Time Interruptions of instructional time and time off task must be kept to a minimum. The principal is responsible for ensuring that instructional time is maintained and protected in the school schedule. Each teacher is responsible for ensuring maximal use of instructional time in his or her class. Schools are encouraged to seek creative means of reducing transitional time and scheduling non-instructional activities. A proposal for alternative scheduling of classes or other such strategies may be a part of a school improvement plan. Commercial or personal delivery or dissemination of flowers, other gifts or other items to students or school personnel will be permitted only under the guidelines established by the principal. Such guidelines must ensure that time from the instructional day will not be lost by students or school personnel in receiving, managing, organizing, or disseminating flowers or other gifts. Such items may be received at the school and will be disseminated after 2:00 p.m. per board policy to protect the integrity of instructional time and/or limitations of personnel to perform assigned duties. Balloons will not be allowed on school buses. Transportation Each student at C.G. Credle will need to have a primary mode of transportation to and from school and this primary mode of transportation must be given in writing to the teacher. Understandably, changes will sometimes occur. Any changes in transportation must be sent in writing. A note to your child’s teacher should be dated and include the change as well as your signature and phone number. We will follow your child’s normal routine without a note from you to include a phone number. In cases of emergency, you may contact the school with transportation changes; however, we do ask that you contact the school by noon with this information when at all possible. Title I Information C.G. Credle Elementary School is a Title I school. Title I is the largest federal education program, which is the heart of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2001. The purpose of the program is to help ensure all children have the opportunity to obtain a high quality education and reach proficiency on state academic assessments. It provides federal funding for schools to help students who are behind academically or at risk of falling behind. Services might include tutoring, professional development for teachers, purchase of materials and supplies, hiring additional support staff, and intervention exploratory courses. The focus of the program is geared towards supplementing literacy and math efforts. In addition, every school that receives Title I funding has a parent involvement component. The administration and staff at Credle believe that student achievement is dependent upon the number and quality of interactions among parents, school, and students. We believe that when a

true partnership between home and school is established, positive outcomes for children will occur. We will initiate the following activities to increase parent involvement at C.G. Credle Elementary School and inform parents of academic progress and success: Parent Curriculum Night at the beginning of school, Blackboard Connect phone calls, tweets through text messaging or through twitter accounts, monthly newsletters, quarterly brag board receptions, parent information board in the front lobby, quarterly team award ceremonies, and the Title I Curriculum Compact. Positive Behavioral Support Intervention (PBIS) It is the responsibility of the entire school community to ensure that the best possible learning environment is established and maintained. Students are expected to make good decisions and abide by school rules. C. G. Credle operates under the Credle K.I.D.S philosophy. Credle kids are Kind, Dependable, Industrious, and Safe. Students who maintain these principles and remain on green 90% (cannot end their day on a color other than green more than three times) of the time each month will attend a school-wide celebration. Students will also be recognized daily for outstanding behavior and be eligible for a drawing. II. Communication Agenda Agendas are daily assignment notebooks that all 2nd through 5th grade students have. The agenda is a very important tool for you child. Homework information, study items, and behavioral updates are sent home daily in the agenda. Please sign the agenda each night and respond with questions or comments as they arise. Kindergarten and first grade students will bring home daily folders that contain nightly assignments and other communication between the teacher and parents. Agendas will cost $3.00 per student. Blackboard Connect Blackboard Connect is a tool for pro-actively contacting large numbers of parents via the telephone. The primary function of the system for Granville County Schools is to keep parents informed of their child’s attendance by delivering nightly messages to the homes of those students who are marked absent from school. As an added benefit, the system can send general announcement information to parents and students. There are three types of messages sent out through the system 1. Attendance Updates – a message sent to the primary contact number to inform a parent his/her child was absent from school.

2. General messages and reminders – used by the school and the school system to inform parents of pertinent, non-emergency information. The primary contact number is the only number called. 3. Emergency messages – used to inform parents of early closings or any other emergency related messages. All contact numbers will be called when an emergency message is sent. In order for Blackboard Connect to be an effective form of communication, parents need to make sure that they inform the school’s Student Data Manager, Ms. Gina Morris, of any phone number changes (both primary an emergency contacts). Communicating with the School and Teacher The school welcomes communication from parents. Depending upon your need, you may choose to communicate via e-mail, phone, note or conference. Staff members will make every effort to respond to you within a twenty four hour period.. E-mail works well when asking questions or making simple requests for information. All faculty, administration and staff members can be reached via e-mail. Use this general formula: the last name followed by the first letter of the first name, followed by @gcs.k12.nc.us; for example, Jane Doe would be [email protected]. All emails of teachers are listed on our school website. There is a hierarchy to resolving parental concerns. Concerns should be addressed first to the staff member involved and then followed in this order, if needed… • Teacher • • •

School Administrator Superintendent (or superintendent designee) Board of Education Phone Use

The phone in the office is NOT for student use except in emergency situations. Students should have an understanding with parents in regard to plans after school. Students WILL NOT be allowed to use the phone to obtain permission to stay after school for an extracurricular event or to go home with friends. Personal phone calls will not be accepted. Students will not be called out of class to come to the phone unless it is an emergency. Grading Beginning with the 2016-2017 school year, all Granville County Public Schools will operate under a 10-point grading scale for students in grades 3-12. Please refer to the scale below:

100-90

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89-80

B

79-70

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69-60 59-0

D F

Progress Reports, Report Cards, Conferences, and Parent Assistant Progress reports are sent home at the mid-point of each nine weeks prior to report cards. Report Cards and parent conferences are scheduled for each nine weeks. Should you wish to conference with your child’s teacher at another time, please call the school and the teacher will return your call or email the teacher. You and your child’s teacher will set up a mutually agreeable conference time. It is very important that you keep the scheduled conference time and that you are prompt. Any changes or delays may affect other families. Parent Portal Parent Portal allows parents and students to access student information via any Internet connection at work or at home. Parent Assistant uses web access to serve the family and improve the effectiveness of the communication between teachers and parents. It is your choice as a parent if you choose to use this tool; however, this tool does not take the place of direct contact with teachers and staff at the school who work with your child each day. Teachers will update grades at least once per week for students in grade three-five. Key Benefits of Parent Assistant are: • Increased Home-School Communication •

Increased Parent Involvement Real-time Student Progress Reporting (Seven days a week, 24 hours a day)

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Language choices (English, French, Spanish)

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Universal and Secure Data Access You will be able to view the following types of data on your child: • Demographics (Depending on custody or living with status) •

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Emergency Contacts (Depending on custody or living with status) Transportation Data (If it exists in the system) Attendance Assessments (Not entered for Grades PK-2) Credits Earned To Date (Not entered for Grades PK-2)

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Current Progress (Not entered for Grades PK-2) Marks/Grades (Not entered for Grades PK-2)

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Courses

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Non-School Days

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Lunch Menu Student Schedule

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Verification of Student Information Each student/parent must complete a verification of address form at the beginning of the school year or upon enrollment during the year. This form must be on file for each student. If a student has a change of address during the school year, he/she should notify the teacher. You should also notify the teacher and/or Data Manager of updates in phone numbers (cell, home, work). We also ask that you give at least two phone numbers for emergencies. The phone number you entered as your primary phone number on the enrollment forms is the phone number that is used by the Blackboard Connect to notify parents of events, closings, etc. This is the only number called for “casual” messages (i.e. reminder of special events at school like pictures, conferences, etc.). All phone numbers that are given as belonging to the parent (home, cell, etc.) will be called by the Blackboard Connect for emergency calls (i.e. early closing due to inclement weather). III. Policies Attendance/Absences It is the responsibility of the principal to enforce the provisions of the Compulsory Attendance Law. If violation of the law is suspected, the principal shall notify the county attendance officer. The officer shall conduct an investigation and work with the student and his/her family to analyze the causes and determine steps to eliminate the problem. The officer has the authority to report and verify, on oath, the necessary criminal warrants for the prosecution of violations of the Compulsory Attendance Law. When a student returns to school following an absence, (s)he must bring a written excuse from his parent (or guardian) stating a reason for the absence. A telephone call or word-of-mouth will not substitute for the note. The state computer system (PowerSchool) defaults all absences to unexcused. If a note is turned in to the classroom teacher on the first day of returning to school, the unexcused absence will be changed to an excused absence only if the reason for the absence fits the state criteria for an excused absence. We realize that sometimes parents forget to send in notes, if a note is sent in within three days of the absence and the note provides a valid excuse, the absence code will be changed to excused, otherwise the absence will be left coded as unexcused.

A student must be present at least one-half of the school day (by 10:55 a.m.) in order to be recorded present for that day. If a student is absent, the following reasons shall code the absence “lawful”: 1. illness or injury 2. quarantine 3. death in the immediate family 4. medical or dental appointments 5. court or administrative proceedings if the child is a party to the action or under subpoena as a witness 6. religious observances 7. educational opportunity (approval for such absence must be gained 2 weeks prior to the absence) 8. medically fragile (severe or life threatening physical condition) 9. suspension from school All other absences shall be coded “unlawful” or truancy. PowerSchool, through the Blackboard Connect system, will automatically call all homes when a child is absent. Parents will be notified by the principal in writing when their child has taken the third (3rd) and sixth (6th) unlawful absence. After ten (10) accumulated unlawful absences, the district attorney will be notified or a complaint will be filed with the juvenile intake counselor. Accumulation of absences in excess of sixteen (16), whether lawful or unlawful, constitutes a valid reason for retention. Checking Students In/Out Students arriving or leaving from school any time during the school hours must sign in or out of the school office. Since teachers are busy getting students packed up and assigned to buses and/or car line at the end of the day, no student may be picked up early after 2:20, please plan on waiting until the 2:30 bell rings. Written permission is required for a student to leave the school grounds with anyone other than a parent/guardian. Please be prepared to have identification checked. For safety reasons, parents/guardians are not allowed to go to the classroom to get a child. We ask that you remain inside the office area and the staff will call for your child to come to the office. A parent/guardian should never remove a child from the bus line. Court Orders If a child is only to be picked up by a custodial parent or guardian, a copy of the current court order must be on file in the school office.

Dress Code Student dress and grooming are the responsibility of the parents and students. All students are expected to dress neatly in clothes that are suitable for school. The school will be concerned whenever there is a question regarding health, safety, or disruption to the decorum of the school. The following clothing items are not allowed at school: •

tank tops, short shorts, or shirts that expose the midriff or chest areas

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shorts or skirts that are shorter than finger-tip length T-shirts worn at the knees or longer must be tucked in and remain tucked in.

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Hats, doo-rags, sweat bands, bandanas, scarves or other similar types of headgear cannot be worn in the building. This includes being tied around the leg or hanging out of pockets.

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Shoes must be worn at all times. Tennis shoes are required for participation in Physical Education. Jewelry, belts, chains, bracelets, or other types of accessories that pose a threat to the safety of the student may not be worn. We are not responsible for expensive jewelry.

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No apparel with letters, initials, symbols, or pictures that the administration or faculty consider offensive to others or that causes a disruption to the educational environment.

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No sagging/hanging of pants. No undergarments should be exposed. Mesh shirts must have t-shirts worn underneath.

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Students are not permitted to wear clothing or other items that bear any letters, initials, or symbols associated with gangs, intimidation, violence or violent groups, or are considered offensive or disruptive.

If a student has worn clothing that violates the dress code, the school may provide the student with clothing for the day (a t-shirt, belt, etc.). On some occasions the parent/guardian may be called to bring a change of clothes to the school or the student may remain in ISS until the violation is corrected. Fees/Fines All fees including after school program costs, lost or damaged book fines, picture fees, and lunch costs must be paid on time. Failure to do so will result in action by the administration in order to recover the money/item. For students who owe fees each quarter and whose parent does not attend parent conference in order for us to discuss a plan to recover the fees/fines, we will hold the report cards at the front office instead of sending it home by the student. Parents will need to come to the school to pick up the report card. Food Brought to School For the safety and well being of all students, food prepared in the home cannot be brought to school and distributed to other students. Please see the guidelines and regulations for bringing

food to school. The best policy is to ask your child’s teacher about items that can be brought to school. North Carolina State Regulation 15A NCAC 18A.2800 – State regulations for food prepared for child care centers. A. Other than individual student lunches prepared at home, all food items brought into school for student consumption must be prepared under commercially inspected conditions, must be prepackaged and must be within the expiration date on the packaging, i.e. cupcakes, cookies, brownies, etc. B. Exceptions to this policy will be granted for foods prepared and consumed in the classroom as part of an approved instructional activity. All ingredients must be prepackaged in the original container and fresh based on the products expiration date. C. Other exceptions may be granted for special events held by school-based clubs, teams, etc. involving food preparation on the school grounds if pre-approved by the superintendent’s designee. Please contact the teacher to send prepackaged cupcakes, etc. for the whole class. He/she can arrange an appropriate non-instructional location and time for this activity. Homework We consider homework to be a worthwhile use of time outside of the regular school hours to practice, maintain, enrich, complete, or make-up classroom activities. Homework is to help develop independent study habits and an appreciation for learning. It is the teacher’s responsibility to assign instructionally appropriate homework, the student’s responsibility to do their best to complete and produce quality work, and the parents’ responsibility to support the student and the teacher in carrying out the homework assignments. Board Policy 3135 gives guidelines for homework and can be found on the GCS website. Homework will emphasize practice in basis skills previously taught, studying for a test, make-up work following an absence from school, remedial activities, and project/enrichment activities that extend classroom learning. Reading a variety of books to enhance reading skills is encouraged. Students are encouraged to read 20 to 30 minutes each night in addition to their regular assignments. Drills in the fundamental skills of a particular subject, creative writing, compositions, and summaries may also be assigned. Homework usually will not be assigned on evenings in which school activities have been scheduled. Time Parameters for Homework: Grade K-2 3-5

Daily Time 15 minutes + independent reading 30 minutes + independent reading

If an excessive amount of time beyond these limits is being spent on homework each night, it should be a signal to check with the teacher to see if there is a problem. Instructional Technology Parent written permission is required before students are allowed to access the Internet. This is referred to as the Parent/Student Acceptable Use Agreement. Acceptable Use: class assignments and academic research Unacceptable Use: • using someone else’s identity and password • advertising or doing business on the Internet • participating in any malicious attempt to harm or destroy data of another user, the Internet, or any of the agencies that are connected to the Internet • access or use of criminal speech, inappropriate language, violations of another person’s privacy, abuse of resources, copyright infringement or plagiarism, and violations of personal safety Consequences of Unacceptable Use: Parents will be notified. Users who use the network inappropriately will be provided with an opportunity to respond to the allegation before the network account can be revoked permanently. The account may be revoked temporarily until the allegations are resolved. Inclement Weather For the safety of staff and students, GCS may delay school, dismiss early or cancel class due to inclement weather. Please know that these decisions are not made at the school level, and parents are informed as soon as the schools are made aware through the Blackboard Connect message system, media outlets (TV and local radio stations) and it is also posted on the GCS webpage www.gcs.k12.nc.us. Make-up days must be in place for any full school days missed due to inclement weather. As soon as the Board of Education approves make-up days, parents will be made aware by the school and updates will be added to the website. Make-Up Work Students absent from school will be given the opportunity to make-up missed assignments; however, arrangements to make-up work must be made upon the student’s immediate return to school. It is not the responsibility of the teacher to remember to give students make-up work. All make-up work must be completed within two days for each day the student was absent.

Students may get make-up work before returning to school if the absence is more than one day. Please call the school in the morning requesting the missed work. In order to protect instructional time, teachers will gather missed work during her/his planning time or after school only. Therefore, assignments requested for pick-up will be available at the end of the day in the front office. Promotion and Retention Students in grades K-2 MUST: 1. Perform at or above grade level on Granville County Schools’ K-2 Assessment/Report Card (reading, writing, and math) in order to be eligible for promotion. Level 3 or 4 is passing. 2. Not miss more than 16 days of school during the year (excused and unexcused). If not…Parents will be kept informed of a child’s progress. A Personal Education Plan (PEP) may be developed. If performance is still significantly below grade level then at the end of the school year retention is possible. A child performing below grade level two years in a row will be recommended for retention. Students in Grade 3 – 1. Must have a passing grade of 70 or higher in ELA and Math. 2. Not miss more than 16 days of school 3. Demonstrate Reading Proficiency according to Read to Achieve Legislation. (Read to Achieve – House Bill 950/S.L. 2012- 142 Section 7A was implemented in the 2013-2014 school year.) Students must demonstrate reading proficiency by one of the following means A. Score a level III, IV or V on the reading EOG (this is state proficiency, the remainder are Good Cause Exemptions for demonstrating proficiency) B. Earn a set score (determined by the state) on the BOG (Beginning of Grade) C. Independently read a level P or higher at the end of the year benchmark and pass 9 of the 12 Reading Standards through demonstration on the state “probes” for each standard. D. Earn a designated score on the End-of-Year Discovery Education Benchmark. E. Pass the Read to Achieve Alternative Reading test. F. Pass the EOG Retest G. Have documentation that the student has received at least 2 or more years of intense reading interventions and has an IEP with goals for reading.

If a student does not demonstrate proficiency on the EOG nor earn a Good Cause Exemption, the student will be invited to attend Summer Reading Camp. At the end of the summer camp the student is reassessed using the Read to Achieve Alternative Assessment. If the student does not pass, then the student is placed in a third/fourth grade transition classroom and a retention label is entered for grade 3. The student will be retested during the school year to determine if the retention label can be removed. Students in Grade 4 SHOULD: 1. Have a passing grade (60 or higher) in English Language Arts and Math for the year. 2. Not miss more than 16 days of school during the year (excused and unexcused). 3. Pass the EOGs with Level III, IV or V or make growth from the previous year. Students in Grade 5 SHOULD: 1. Have a passing grade (60 or higher) in English Language Arts, Math and Science for the year. 2. Not miss more than 16 days of school during the year (excused and unexcused). 3. Pass the EOGs with Level III, IV or V or make growth from the previous year. Students not meeting these criteria at the end of the school year will be presented to the retention committee. The retention committee consists of the following • Presenting Teacher •

A teacher representative from the next grade level

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School Counselor Assistant Principal

• Principal • Any other staff members that have worked academically with the student The committee will consider all academic data, interventions used and progress made, past retentions and any other pertinent information that applies to the academic ability and success of a student. The committee will make a decision/recommendation regarding promotion or retention. The school principal is the final authority on the decision of promotion or retention. If at all possible, students who are retained will be assigned a different teacher in the grade level that is being repeated. Supervision of Students The safety and care of all of our students is of critical importance to our staff. It is the responsibility of our staff to supervise students while they are in our care. It is the responsibility

of parents to make sure that students are dropped off and picked up on time. This is also the case for young students that ride the bus. Bus drivers will return students to school if they are not confident that an adult is at home to supervise. For students who are not picked up on time or returned to school by the bus, parents will be reminded of our schedule and given an enrollment form for the after-school program. Please use this service if you are unable to provide supervision for your child after regular school hours. Tardy A student shall be considered tardy if he/she has not entered the building prior to 7:25. When tardy, a parent must sign his/her child in at the office and the child must get a tardy slip before he/she is admitted to class. A child is not permitted to sign him/herself in. An excused tardy includes, but is not limited to the following: morning doctor or dental appointment; late bus so parent drove student to school. An unexcused tardy includes, but not limited to the following: child or parent overslept, car trouble, child refusing to come to school. Toys, iPods, Cell Phones, etc. Student must leave toys, trading cards, iPods or other music devices, electronic games, cell phones, fidget spinners, etc. at home. These same items are NOT allowed on the buses or in the before and after school programs. If out in class, items will be collected and kept in the office until the parents pick them up from the front office. IV. Health Procedures Communicable Disease Prevention and Control Students are excluded from school in some cases of communicable disease. The chart below reviews common diseases along with symptoms, mode of transmission, period of communicability and how the school should manage the case.

Health Information Disease

Incubation Period and Symptoms Chickenpox 14-21 days. Vesicular lesions come up in crops; after lesions rupture, crusts form. First appears on back & chest, spreads to face & extremities Incubation Period and Symptoms Common Cold 12-72 hours. Runny nose, itchy eyes, sneezing, mild fever, achiness, fatigue

Mode of Period of Transmission Communicability Person to person by 5 days before to 5 direct contact, droplet days after first crop of or airborne spread of vesicles; usually 1-2 secretions; indirectly days before onset of by articles rash contaminated with vesicular secretions

Incubation Period and Symptoms Conjunctivitis 24-72 hours (bacterial); 5-12 days (viral). Symptoms vary depending upon cause. Red, watery, itchy eyes, sometimes with discharge Incubation Period and Symptoms Coxsackie 2-10 days. Fevers, Virus aches, blisters in mouth, hands, feet, sore throat, nausea Incubation Period and Symptoms Fifth Disease

Mode of Transmission Contact with discharge from eye, nose or mouth of infected person, or by contaminated fingers, clothing or other articles

School Management Exclude from school; may return when all sores are crusted over and feverfree

Mode of Period of Transmission Communicability Direct contact or 24 hours before onset inhalation of airborne until 5 days after droplets; indirectly by onset hands and articles contaminated by secretions

School Management Not necessary to exclude from school unless febrile; practice good handwashing & hygiene Period of School Communicability Management Bacterial - contagious Exclude from until after 24 hours of school until antibiotic treatment; appropriate Viral - up to one week treatment has started.

Mode of Period of Transmission Communicability Direct contact with 3-5 days droplets sprayed with cough or sneeze Mode of Period of Transmission Communicability Primarily through Before onset of rash contact with respiratory secretions and nasal discharge of infected person

School Management Exclude until fever-free for 24 hours; check on blisters School Management Remain in school unless febrile. Alert any pregnant staff or parents.

Period of Communicability

School Management

Direct contact with person who has draining, purulent lesions

Until all lesions have healed or person has been treated with antibiotic for 24 hours

Mode of Transmission Direct contact through droplet spread, probably airborne

Period of Communicability 3-7 days from onset of illness

Incubation Period and Symptoms Lice 7 days for eggs to hatch. Sever itching of scalp or body; eggs (nits) or lice in hair. Incubation Period and Symptoms Mononucleosis 4-7 weeks. Fever, sore throat, swollen lymph nodes

Mode of Transmission Direct contact with infected person on indirectly by contact with contaminated articles

Period of Communicability Until live lice & nits are removed

Exclude from school until 24 hours of antibiotic treatment; confirm treatment with parent School Management Exclude from school until 24 hour fever-free; practice good hand washing & hygiene School Management Exclude from school until treated and free of live lice.

Mode of Transmission Direct contact with saliva of infected person

Incubation Period and Symptoms Severe itching around anus; pregnant female pinworm deposits eggs in skin folds of anus

Mode of Transmission Direct by transfer of infective eggs by hand from anus to mouth; indirectly through articles contaminated with eggs

Period of School Communicability Management Unknown; mild Return to school communicability may when fever-free, following last up to one year physician guidelines Period of School Communicability Management 1-2 days after start of Practice good treatment handwashing

Disease

Impetigo

Influenza

Pinworms

Incubation Period and Symptoms

Mode of Transmission

4-10 days. Blistery, thick honeycolored, oozing sores; most common on face, arms and legs Incubation Period and Symptoms 1-5 days. Fever, headache, fatigue, runny eyes, sore throat, cough

Ringworm

Scabies

Strep Throat

Fever

Incubation Period and Symptoms 10-14 days. Scalp scaly patches of temporary baldness; skin- flat, inflamed, ring like sores that itch & burn Incubation Period and Symptoms 2-6 weeks before onset of itching for 1st exposure; 1-4 days after reexposure. Tiny white bump that itches intensely, particularly at night; linear scab appears from itching Incubation Period and Symptoms 1-3 days. Fever, sore throat, difficulty swallowing, tender lymph nodes in neck, extreme redness or swelling of throat Incubation Period and Symptoms Any fever 100.5 or above or fever with other symptoms

Mode of Period of Transmission Communicability Direct contact with As long as there are sores; indirect untreated sores contact with contaminated surfaces or materials

School Management Return to school after onset of treatment

Mode of Period of Transmission Communicability Direct skin to skin Until 1st treatment, contact with infected usually 1-2 courses, person; indirectly by one week apart. immediate contact with contaminated personal articles

School Management Exclude from school; may return after 1st treatment.

Mode of Transmission Direct contact with patient or carrier; rarely by indirect contact through objects or hands

Period of Communicability Untreated: 10-21 days; Treated: 24-48 hours after onset of antibiotics

School Management Return to school after onset of treatment and 24 hours fever-free

Mode of Transmission Direct contact with infected person.

Period of Communicability

School Management May return to school when fever free for twentyfour hours without use of anti-fever medications.

Illness FEVER Although variations occur, an elevation of the body’s temperature to 100.5 degrees Fahrenheit (37.7C) or above is generally considered fever and a possible sign of illness. Therefore, parent/guardian should be contacted to take student home under the following conditions:

1.

Temperature of 100.5 degrees or higher.

2.

Temperature of 100 degrees or higher when accompanied by other indicators of beginning illness, such as: -Known exposure to communicable illness -Extreme malaise -Headache -Nausea, vomiting and/or abdominal pain. -Symptoms of upper respiratory infection

**Students, faculty or staff with influenza-like illness (fever>100 degrees, with cough should keep away from others as much as possible, stay home, and not attend school or go into the community (except to seek medical care or for other necessities) for at least 24 hours after fever is gone without the use of fever reducing medication. Immunization Policy According to North Carolina public law, all students must be fully immunized before they may enter school. New students entering Granville County Schools have 30 days to present their immunization records to school personnel or be excluded from school. A student presently enrolled in the Granville County Schools must have a completed immunization record or be scheduled to complete it. If this is not the case, then the student will be excluded from school.

Each incoming student should have the following: 5 doses of DTP (Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis), DTaP, DT-The last dose needs to be on or after the fourth birthday. 4 doses of polio - the booster (4th) dose is required on or after the 4th birthday and before entering school for the first time. 2 doses of MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) First dose must be on or after the first birthday and the second dose before enrolling in school. 1-4 doses of HIB- Not required after age 5. 3

Hepatitis doses-If born on or after July 1, 1994.

2 Varicella-If born on or after April 1, 2001. Medication All medication (prescribed and over-the-counter medication) should not be administered by any school personnel under any circumstances unless authorized in writing by the health care provider. Those individuals administering medicine must complete training each year. At no time will the

school supply medication for students (e.g. Tylenol). Medication must be supplied by the parent, along with the completed form from the health provider and kept in a locked cabinet. All medication bottles shall be properly labeled with the student’s name, name of the medication, dosage, how administered, time administered, and physician’s name for prescribed medication. The school office must have on file a School Medication Form completed by the physician and signed by a parent before any medication can be administered. Forms can be obtained in the school office or online at Granville County School’s Website. Students are not allowed to bring the medicine to school. Parents/guardians must bring the medicine to the school’s office and sign it in. Again, this includes ALL medicines, both prescription and over-the-counter. Dental Screening As a part of our regular school preventive dental health program, the NC Oral Health Screening, Division of Public Health may conduct dental screening for children in grades K and 5. School Insurance School insurance is available to all students. Information will be sent home with each child during the first few weeks of school. Purchase of the insurance is optional.

V. Student Services After School Program The After-School Program is available as a service to parents needing childcare after school hours. The program combines a supervised snack time, arts & crafts, and games from 2:35 PM to 6:00 PM. You may obtain enrollment information at Open House, or you may request the information from the school office, if you wish to apply for the After-School Program. Bus Transportation It is the intent of the Granville County Schools Board of Education to provide safe bus transportation for students of GCS. According to North Carolina General Statutes, riding a school bus is a privilege and not a right. All students who are bus riders are to ride to and from school on the bus that the transportation department has assigned to them. Parents are responsible for getting students to and from the bus stop on time. Students shall board and leave

the bus only at the designated bus stops. If a student is suspended from the bus, parents are responsible for getting students to and from school on time. Students may not stay at home when suspended off the bus; attendance at school is required by state law. Each student transported on a school vehicle must be considerate of the safety and well being of fellow passengers. Misconduct on the bus can distract the driver’s attention from his/her primary responsibility, which is to transport all students to and from school in a safe, orderly manner. Below are some of our basic bus rules that all students should adhere to. Please familiarize yourself with these rules and make sure that you child is aware of them as well. Rules for Bus Safety For the safety of all riders, students are required to do the following: • • • • • • • • •

Show respect for the driver at all times. Enter and leave the bus without pushing or crowding. Be seated at all times while the bus is in motion. Talk using a quiet tone of voice and without profane or abusive language. Do not yell out of the windows. Keep the bus clean and avoid littering. Refrain from consuming food or beverages on the bus. Remain in your seat without placing any part of your body out of the window, without climbing or jumping over seats, and without throwing objects. Refrain from fighting on the bus. Students must have a written note from a parent/guardian if they are to ride a different bus or get off at a different stop.

A driver who determines that a student is unmanageable and that the misconduct of the student is placing the safety of the other passengers in jeopardy will complete a Bus Discipline Form. Offense #1 – (after verbal warning) – Bus driver completes written referral and parent(s) are sent copy of the referral and should sign and return the referral to school. Offense #2 – Second written referral will result in a 1 – 3 day bus suspension. Offense #3 – Third written referral will result in a 3 – 5 day suspension. Offense # 4 – Fourth written referral will result in a 5 – 10 day suspension. Further offenses will result in long-term bus suspension. Major offense, such as fighting, or extreme disrespect may result in immediate bus suspensions.

Cafeteria Procedures We want to make our cafeteria an enjoyable and inviting place for students and staff to eat nutritious meals. Many special events will be planned throughout the year to get everyone excited about our nutrition program. Parents are always welcome to come and eat lunch with their children. Students may purchase their breakfast and lunch daily. Parents who do not wish for their children to carry money/checks to and from school may open a pre-paid lunch account. Children may access the account using their assigned lunch numbers. Free or reduced breakfast and lunch are also provided for those families who qualify.

Breakfast is served from 7:00-7:15 a.m. Breakfast and lunch prices are as follows: (prices subject to change after printing of handbook) Breakfast Elementary Full Price Adult

Lunch $1.00 $2.00 or a la carte

Elementary Full Price Reduced Price Adult

$2.50 $0.40 $3.60 or a la carte

Checks are to be made payable to C. G. Credle Elementary School. Applications for free and reduced meals will be sent home the first day of school. They are also available in the school office and should be returned to the school as soon as possible. Charges: Our policy is that no student should go hungry due to forgotten lunch money. A student may charge to his/her lunch account up to $3.00. A student will not be allowed to charge if an account shows a balance of more than -$3.00. A lunch will be provided which consists of a sandwich (usually peanut butter and jelly) and a drink of juice. Breakfast and a la Carte items (for example cookies and ice cream) may not be charged at any time. Any questions regarding charges, free/reduced lunch status, etc should be addresses with Carol Williams, cafeteria manager at 919-690-2310.

Procedures • Classroom teachers determine if students that bring lunch from home go through the line with their class or sit and wait at the table. Staff members supervising the cafeteria try to have classrooms all eating at the same time to ensure there is time for all to eat and for quiet socializing.

• • • • • • •

Students are neither to break in line nor to save places for others. Students are to be quiet and orderly while in the lunch line. After getting their food, students will proceed directly to their designated table area. While eating, students may talk quietly but may not leave the table for any reason, without permission from the teacher in charge. Upon finishing lunch, trays are to be returned to the disposal area, emptied, and stacked neatly. Students may not take opened food items from the cafeteria. They may buy a snack, but it must remain unopened. At the direction of staff, students will line up along the wall for dismissal and will wait quietly in line until the teacher comes to get them. In going to and from the cafeteria, students are to remain quiet in the hall so that classes in session will not be interrupted. Field Trips

Current educational philosophy recognizes the value of using the total community environment as an extended classroom. To this end, teachers may schedule field trips for their classes. These trips should always be arranged for their educational value and enable students to see people at work, visit places they have or will study and serve to broaden the students’ total educational experience. There are costs involved with field trips. These costs include the cost of transportation and any other fees associated with the trip. Every effort will be made to assure both the suitability of any trip away from school and the reasonableness of any cost involved in the trip. For this reason, all field trips must have the approval of the principal. No student should be denied the opportunity to participate in a field trip due to the costs/fees. Parents are encouraged to contact the teacher and/or principal if the cost is an issue. Before a student can go on a field trip, a Granville County permission sheet signed by the parent must be on file with the teacher. Verbal permission and handwritten notes may not accepted. Parents are often needed to chaperone classes on field trips. While school staff is grateful for your assistance, field trips are limited to those who are willing to chaperone and supervise 2 or more students. Due to the responsibility of a chaperone, siblings may not attend the fieldtrips. Parents and chaperones must also provide their own transportation instead of riding the bus (except in the case of chartered buses). All students must ride the fieldtrip bus from the school to the designated location. However, parents that drive as chaperones can transport their children home from the fieldtrip. Field Trips are an extension of learning. However, if students do not have permission to go on a trip, those students will be placed in another classroom for their instruction.

VI. Discipline School-Wide Behavior Policy Every student has a right to learn and every teacher has a right to teach. Granville County School Board of Education had established rules that shall be applicable to all schools under its jurisdiction. These policies are sent home separately the first week of school. Parents will also receive a letter from each teacher stating the class rules, procedures, consequences for infractions, and appropriate awards systems. All of our teachers work hard to maintain an effective behavior plan in partnership with the child’s parent/guardian. Notes home and phone calls are used frequently when student behavior is not conducive to learning. Staff members will use the following behavior plan where colors represent levels of behavior and warnings. It is our belief that a student’s behavior is HIS/HER CHOICE and we encourage and teach them to make good choices. BLUE – GREAT DAY! (Note Home) GREEN – READY TO LEARN YELLOW – WARNING (Take time to reflect) ORANGE – TIME AWAY (Time away from group and parent contact) RED – OFFICE REFERRAL (May result in Refocus, ISS, and/or OSS) Students may move up and down within the scale throughout the day. Students will be given the opportunity to problem solve and correct their behavior. Students ending 90% of the days of the month on green will earn their way to a positive behavior celebration. Students exhibiting behaviors that result in an office referral will not be able to move from RED. Consequences will be as follows: 1st Referral – Administrative/Parent Conference 2nd Referral – (1) days ISS 3rd Referral – (2) days ISS 4th Referral – (3-5) days ISS (conference with parents to develop school/home behavior plan 5th Referral – (1) days OSS 6th Referral – (3-5) days OSS 7th Referral – (10) days OSS 8th Referral – Possible Long-Term Suspension

Some behaviors warrant immediate consequences such as: •

disrespect of staff

• •

destruction of property bullying of other students

•

aggressive behavior towards other students or staff members (physical fighting will result in an automatic out of school suspension at the discretion of the principal) repeated behaviors that have been addressed with warning and consequences

•

Bullying and Harassment Our school and Granville County Schools acknowledges the dignity and worth of all students and employees and strives to create a safe, orderly, caring and inviting school environment to facilitate student learning and achievement. We will not tolerate any form of unlawful discrimination, harassment or bullying in any of our educational or employment activities. Below is the Board Policy addressing bullying and harassment. A.

PROHIBITED BEHAVIORS 1.

AND

CONSEQUENCES

Discrimination, Harassment and Bullying Students, school system employees, volunteers and visitors are expected to behave in a civil and respectful manner. The board expressly prohibits unlawful discrimination, harassment and bullying. Students are expected to comply with the behavior standards established by board policy, the student code of conduct and school policies. Employees are expected to comply with board policy and school system regulations. Volunteers and visitors on school property also are expected to comply with board policy and established school rules and procedures. Any violation of this policy is serious, and school officials shall promptly take appropriate action. Students will be disciplined in accordance with the school’s student behavior management plan (see policy 4302, School Plan for Management of Student Behavior). Based on the nature and severity of the offense and the circumstances surrounding the incident, the student will be subject to appropriate consequences and remedial actions ranging from positive behavioral interventions up to, and including, expulsion. Employees who violate this policy will be subject to disciplinary action, up to, and including, dismissal. Volunteers and visitors who violate this policy will be directed

to leave school property and/or reported to law enforcement, as appropriate, in accordance with policy 5020, Visitors to the Schools. When considering if a response beyond the individual level is appropriate, school administrators should consider the nature and severity of the misconduct to determine whether a classroom, school-wide or school system-wide response is necessary. Such classroom, school-wide or school system-wide responses may include staff training, harassment and bullying prevention programs and other measures deemed appropriate by the superintendent to address the behavior.

2.

Retaliation The board prohibits reprisal or retaliation against any person for reporting or intending to report violations of this policy, supporting someone for reporting or intending to report a violation of this policy or participating in the investigation of reported violations of this policy. After consideration of the nature and circumstances of the reprisal or retaliation and in accordance with applicable federal, state or local laws, policies and regulations, the superintendent or designee shall determine the consequences and remedial action for a person found to have engaged in reprisal or retaliation.

B.

APPLICATION

OF

POLICY

This policy prohibits unlawful discrimination, harassment and bullying by students, employees, volunteers, and visitors. “Visitors” includes persons, agencies, vendors, contractors and organizations doing business with or performing services for the school system. This policy applies to behavior that takes place: 1.

in any school building or on any school premises before, during or after school hours;

2.

on any bus or other vehicle as part of any school activity;

3.

at any bus stop;

4.

during any school-sponsored activity or extracurricular activity;

C.

5.

at any time or place when the individual is subject to the authority of school personnel; and

6.

at any time or place when the behavior has a direct and immediate effect on maintaining order and discipline in the schools.

DEFINITIONS For purposes of this policy, the following definitions apply: 1.

Discrimination Discrimination means any act or failure to act that unreasonably and unfavorably differentiates treatment of others based solely on their membership in a socially distinct group or category, such as race, ethnicity, sex, pregnancy, religion, age or disability. Discrimination may be intentional or unintentional.

2.

Harassment and Bullying a. Harassment or bullying behavior is any pattern of gestures or written, electronic or verbal communications, or any physical act or any threatening communication that: (1)

places a student or school employee in actual and reasonable fear of harm to his or her person or damage to his or her property; or

(2)

creates or is certain to create a hostile environment by substantially interfering with or impairing a student’s educational performance, opportunities or benefits.

“Hostile environment” means that the victim subjectively views the conduct as harassment or bullying and that the conduct is objectively severe or pervasive enough that a reasonable person would agree that it is harassment or bullying. A hostile environment may be created through pervasive or persistent misbehavior or a single incident, if sufficiently severe. Harassment and bullying include, but are not limited to, behavior described above that is reasonably perceived as being motivated by any actual or perceived differentiating characteristic or motivated by an individual’s association with a person who has or is perceived to have a differentiating

characteristic, such as race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, socioeconomic status, academic status, gender identity, physical appearance, sexual orientation, or mental, physical, developmental or sensory disability. Examples of behavior that may constitute bullying or harassment include, but are not limited to: verbal taunts, name-calling and put-downs, epithets, derogatory comments or slurs, lewd propositions, exclusion from peer groups, extortion of money or possessions, implied or stated threats, assault, impeding or blocking movement, offensive touching or any physical interference with normal work or movement, and visual insults, such as derogatory posters or cartoons. Legitimate age-appropriate pedagogical techniques are not considered harassment or bullying. It is possible for harassment, including sexual or gender-based harassment, to occur in various situations. For example, harassment may occur between fellow students or co-workers, between supervisors and subordinates, between employees and students, or between non-employees, including visitors, and employees or students. Harassment may occur between members of the opposite sex or the same sex. D.

REPORTING

AND

INVESTIGATING COMPLAINTS

OF

DISCRIMINATION, HARASSMENT

OR

BULLYING

Employees are required to report any actual or suspected violations of this policy. Students, parents, volunteers, visitors or others are also strongly encouraged to report any actual or suspected incidents of discrimination, harassment or bullying. All reports should be made in accordance with policy 1720/4015/7225, Discrimination, Harassment and Bullying Complaint Procedure, and reported to one of the school officials identified in that policy. Reports may be made anonymously, and all reports shall be investigated in accordance with that policy. For more definitions and information on the bullying and harassment policy see GCS Board Policy Code 1710/4021/7230.

VII. Academic Difficulties and Other Challenges Parents who have concerns about their child’s academic achievement, behavior, health or social competence should discuss their concerns with the classroom teacher first. Teachers and parents working together often establish informal adjustments, such as changing the location of the student’s desk or altering the format of homework assignments.

C. G. Credle Elementary School uses the MTSS (Multiple Tiered Systems of Support process in order to ensure the success of all students. If the teacher and/or parent believe more than informal adjustments are necessary for the success of the student, the student will begin the MTSS process. The MTSS process is designed so that research based interventions are used to address the specific needs of students in order for them to be successful. The process is divided into Tiers. Below is a brief outline of the Tiers and the process. Tier I -

Core Instruction – High-quality instruction aligned to the CCSS All students are at a Tier 1

-

Documentation at Tier 1 is not required. However, data should be used to monitor the students’ progress.

-

Students that are struggling receive additional support in the classroom.

-

Student is either at grade level or is close to the benchmark. This student may need additional assistance a few days a week to be successful.

-

At Tier 1, the instruction is differentiated. The focus is on the core instruction and changes that the educator needs to make to support academic and behavioral success. Instruction should focus on the District Curriculum and instructional practices that are evidence-based. Instruction should be aligned with the state standards and should incorporate differentiated instruction.

-

Tier II -At this level, multiple data points were used to decide that the student needed additional interventions. -The student would continue to receive assistance during core instruction. Tier 2 interventions are in addition to Tier 1. Students should not be pulled from core instruction to receive help. - Interventions are targeted, supplemental instruction delivered to smaller groups of students. Interventions at Tier 2 must not supplant core instruction. Reduce the instructional group size at Tier 2. Make instruction at Tier 2 more systematic. Provide interventions that are guided with immediate feedback. Provide more explicit interventions.

Tier III -At this level, the instruction is intensive to address the individual student needs through the use of assessment data, interventions, and research-based strategies. -Students with intensive learning needs need additional core instruction time to master grade level standards. -Additional time for core is only effective when the additional instruction is highly explicit, systematic, and guided. -Reduce the instructional group size at Tier 3. -Make instruction at Tier 3 more systematic. -Provide interventions that are guided with immediate feedback. -Provide more explicit interventions. 504 Accommodations The Granville County School System is committed to the policy that no student be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefit of, or be subjected to discrimination in any program, activity, or service because of age, creed, color, disability, national origin, race, sex, marriage, or pregnancy. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in any programs receiving federal financial assistance. Protected individuals include any person who has a physical impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, has a record of such impairment or is regarded as having such an impairment. When a student is referred to the 504 Committee (composed of parents, teachers, the counselor, other individuals working with the student and possibly the student), the committee determines whether or not the student is eligible for an accommodation plan under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. A student may have a disability that does not affect his or her ability to learn, yet requires accommodations from the school to participate in the learning environment, for example juvenile diabetes. The disability can be mild to severe, temporary or lifelong, obvious or hidden. If the 504 Committee determines the student is eligible, a written 504 Accommodation Plan is developed. It describes the accommodations that are required for the student because of his or her disability. The 504 Plan is reviewed at least annually to determine continued eligibility and to revise the accommodations as needed. Exceptional Children’s Program Sometimes a student may require special education and related services because of a significant disability that adversely affects his or her ability to learn. Students qualify for services through procedures outlined in federal and state law. The first step in the process is referral to the Exceptional Children (EC) Team. This referral is made by the SST after interventions have been in place but have not yielded significant progress. The EC Team is composed of the student’s teacher, the exceptional children program teacher,

other school personnel and the parent. The EC Team reviews all information and decides if a comprehensive evaluation is warranted to determine if the student has a disability. The parent is asked to give written permission for the evaluation. The evaluation of the child may include academic achievement, behavior, adaptive skills, cognitive ability, speech, language and other aspects of the student’s functioning. The EC Team will review all evaluation results and determine whether or not the student meets the eligibility criteria and has the need for special education in North Carolina. If the student is eligible for and needs specialized instruction, and the parent agrees to placement, an Individualized Education Program (IEP) is developed. The IEP states the goals and objectives that the student will work on for a one-year period. It also describes accommodations for the student in the classroom, testing accommodations and the amount and location of special education and related services. A new IEP is written every year. At least every three years, the student is re-evaluated to determine continued eligibility for special education. The exceptional children’s process is defined by both state and federal law. Every parent or guardian whose child is referred for special education will receive a copy of the handbook of Parents Rights. Additional information is on the district web site at www.gcs.k12.nc.us under the Department of Exceptional Children’s Program or on the state education web site at www.dpi.state.nc.us.

Signature Page Student/Parent Agreement: I have read the handbook with my parent and agree to support my school by following the procedures contained in this booklet. Signature of Student ______________________________ Date ________________ I have read the handbook with my child and agree to support my child’s school by following the procedures contained in this booklet. Signature of Parent ________________________________ Date ________________