2020_alc_parent_student_handbook_english_final_1-converted

Alternative Learning Center Austin ISD’s Disciplinary Alternative Education Program 4900 Gonzales, Austin Texas 78702 Phone: (512) 414-2554 Fax: (512) 476-2809 2019-2020 Parent/Student Handbook REGISTRATION Monday - Thursday Only Doors open at 8:00am Please Note: Students and parents arriving after 8:30am will be required to return the following day *First day orientation for parents/guardians of newcomers is approximately a hour commitment Austin Independent School District’s Alternative Education community: As the Director of Alternative Education in the AISD, I am excited and honored to be serving the AISD community in such a transformative role It is our belief that the purpose of the Alternative Education setting is to provide a most needed opportunity for students to restore themselves socially, emotionally and academically In Alternative Education, we have the responsibility and opportunity of ensuring that all students are provided an equal opportunity to get a fresh start and make a commitment to get on track and work on personal goals Together with the dedicated professionals serving our students in Alternative Education, we will work to restore students, families and the greater Austin community to ensure that we are working together to address the needs of our students and future leaders We offer a wealth of academic options for students to ensure their continued access and success in school Be sure to discuss ALC Twilight with our counseling team to take advantage of credit recovery options for students In the student orientation class, students will learn about the academic offerings, which include the continued use of BLEND, Edgenuity and Delta for all students Together, the Austin ISD Alternative Education Department will help each individual student re-write their personal narrative in a framework which identifies success and advancement in college, career and life For all members of our community, all truly means all Chris Jones Director, Alternative Education Austin Independent School District TABLE OF C ONTENTS ABOUT THE ALTERNATIVE LEARNING CENTER MISSION/MOTTO/GUIDING BELIEFS GOALS REGISTRATION AND PARENT INVOLVEMENT SCHOOL HOURS TEXAS EDUCATION CODE AND DAEPS TRESPASS NOTIFICATION 5 8 ACADEMIC, BEHAVIORAL, AND SOCIAL NEEDS ACADEMIC NEEDS PHYSICAL EDUCATION SPECIAL EDUCATION AND SECTION 504 ACCOMMODATIONS ASSESSMENT, FINAL EXAMS, AND STATE STANDARDIZED TESTING SOCIAL SERVICES COORDINATION WITH JUVENILE JUSTICE INVEST AND POSITIVE FAMILIES PROGRAMS 9 9 10 10 12 13 RULES AND PROCEDURES STUDENT EXPECTATIONS ATTENDANCE POLICIES LENGTH OF PLACEMENT AND SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF PROGRAM DRESS C ODE SEARCHES SUSPENSIONS DISCIPLINARY REMOVAL HEARINGS 15 15 15 15 16 16 17 17 TRANSPORTATION 17 STUDENT MEALS 19 VISITORS 19 DRESS C ODE 20 ABOUT THE ALTERNATIVE LEARNING CENTER Mission Statement It is the mission of the Alternative Education Department to provide a robust and rigorous blended learning environment for students, through the lens of cultural proficiency and responsiveness, by attending to the needs of the Whole Child and providing a restorative climate invested in healing harms and preparing students for a continued chance at academic and behavioral success Motto We strive to help change lives…One student at a time Guiding Beliefs Every experience with students is a teachable moment All students can learn responsible behavior when they are provided with a safe, predictable, and rewarding environment Every student is an individual with unique learning needs All students must be treated with dignity and respect All students can achieve social, behavioral, and academic success when basic needs are met, social skills are taught, relationships based on mutual respect and trust are present, behavioral structure is firmly in place, and high levels of achievement are expected 4|Page Goals Maintain students’ academic progress in alignment with Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) Provide students with the opportunity to learn and practice self-discipline; develop character, and acquire and effectively apply the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to understand and manage emotions Provide varied opportunities for parental and community involvement in the social, academic, and personal success of their child a INVEST b Positive Families c Communities In School d Parent Support Resources and Services e Restorative Practices Connect students and families with appropriate home campus, district, and community resources and social services Registration and Parent Involvement Research informs us that student success depends on parental involvement in the educational process Students who are removed to the ALC must register and enroll with their parent or legal guardian Here are a few things for parents/guardians to remember about the registration process at the ALC: Persons Recognized as Having the Authority to Enroll the Student Natural and adoptive parents who can provide legal documents (e.g., birth certificate, legal adoption papers) showing their relationship to the student Guardians and foster parents There are four situations where a person may be appointed as a guardian or foster parent for the purpose of admitting a student into the district: Court-appointed guardians are persons appointed by the court A signed and file stamped original court order must be presented to the school Another adult may be given a district-recognized guardianship when the student's parents not live in the district (except for the situation where an Austin parent (1) has lost all legal rights or (2) is incarcerated) and the adult does live in the district The adult who is to serve as the guardian must provide a notarized letter from the parent authorizing the guardianship to the 5|Page Office of Student Services complete an SR310 and obtain a guardianship card from OSS to present to the school Grandparents of the student may be given guardianship when the student's parents not reside in the district but the grandparent of the student does reside in the district and does provide a substantial amount of after school care for the student The grandparent must provide a notarized letter from the parent authorizing the guardianship to the Office of Student Services, complete an SR310GP and obtain a guardianship card from OSS to present to the school Foster parents who reside in the district may be given custody by the Department of Family and Child Protective Services A signed statement from CPS must be presented to the school (If unsigned, provisionally enroll the students and require a signed statement within 30 calendar days.) Note: It should be noted that the provision of false information on the SR310 or SR310 GP has legal ramifications under both the Texas Penal Code and the Education Code as specified on the form Information regarding the person who has the authority to enroll the student should be recorded in the Custody Order field in the Student Contact tab in TEAMS Adult Students who have either reached 18 years of age or who have been declared adult • Registration is Monday through Thursday Building doors open at 8:00am • If you arrive after 8:30am you will be required to return the following day in order to complete the full registration process • Students must be in dress code to register and attend school for the day Students must be in attendance in order for his/her day to count as successful INVEST/Positive Families can only be started after enrollment at the ALC • Families receive an overview of ALC expectations, policies and procedures 6|Page • Families meet with a counselor/social services specialist to discuss counseling support needs o Students participate in a “pat search” completed each morning for safety & security purposes o Families meet with the nurse to discuss medical needs o Families meet with intake office staff for enrollment, which includes scheduling bus transportation for the student o Students are escorted to the orientation class for the day Please be aware that the amount of time required to complete the entire registration process varies depending on the number of students enrolling on any particular day We work on the basis of first to arrive will be first to begin the process Please plan to be at the ALC until approximately 10:30am School Hours Students arriving after 10:30am (other than those arriving late on AISD buses) must be accompanied by a parent/guardian Students are not allowed to exit the AISD bus early or leave the ALC campus without permission upon arrival on campus Incidents such as this will be treated as a leaving without authorization and will result in appropriate consequences Our intent is to ensure safety and that students arrive to school on time, ready, and prepared to learn without any off campus problems 7|Page Texas Education Code and Disciplinary Alternative Education Programs The ALC is a Discipline Alternative Education Program (DAEP) Students are removed here after a due process removal hearing at their home campuses The Texas Education Code (TEC), Chapter 37 establishes the statutes related to student discipline in public schools This chapter details the operational guidelines, requirements, and responsibilities of DAEPs Please be aware that the school district is required by statute to provide courses of study necessary to fulfill a student’s high school graduation requirements Furthermore, all DAEP teachers are required to meet all certification requirements established by the State of Texas Moreover, DAEPs must meet the needs of students with disabilities Please be aware that all instruction at the ALC is provided through teachers that meet or exceed state certification requirements Your Alternative Learning Center provides a disciplinary alternative education program in accordance with state statute and: • Is provided in a setting other than a student’s regular classroom • Is located off of a regular school campus • Provides that students who are assigned to the disciplinary alternative education program are separated from students who are not assigned to the program • Focuses on English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, and Self-discipline ALC offers Physical Education courses and has the Edgenuity program for students to recover/earn credits An ALC placement will not hinder a student’s academic advancement • Provides for students’ educational and behavioral needs • Provides supervision and counseling Trespass Notification As outlined in the Texas Education Code students placed at a DAEP may not be on the campus of any other school and or attend any school related function or event at any time during their ALC placement Going to another campus or to a school related event or function while removed to the ALC will subject the student to further disciplinary actions and trespassing citations 8|Page ACADEMIC, BEHAVIORAL, AND SOCIAL NEEDS Academic Needs Students removed to the ALC are taught by appropriately certified teachers in the four core academic areas of Social Studies, Science, English Language Arts, and Math Please be aware that the ALC follows the AISD mandated curriculum for all classes Students are also encouraged to maintain contact with their home school teachers, and complete any home-campus coursework as a priority An ALC placement will not hinder a student’s academic advancement Students must complete a one-day orientation class at the beginning of each removal to the ALC Physical Activity All middle school students are scheduled to have physical activity High school students are scheduled into physical education if their schedule permits However, documentation from a doctor for a medical condition will excuse a student from physical education classes We strive to emphasize self-discipline, teamwork and positive communication in our physical education classes Special Education and Section 504 Accommodations The ALC has access to student’s Special Education Individual Education Plans (IEPs) and Behavior Intervention Plans (BIPs) through the district’s SEEDS system (Special Education Electronic Document System) Section 504 students’ accommodations are available to ALC teachers through our district’s e504 system For our special needs students (as with all students) we follow best instructional practices, differentiate instruction, and follow all individualized accommodations ALC teachers utilize our district’s Curriculum Road Maps (CRMs) in all academic areas We have special education teachers who ensure that all IEPs and 504 accommodations are fully implemented Special education students are served through Inclusion and Resource programs At any time during an ALC placement an ARD or 504 committee may convene to address a student’s educational needs These meetings are always in collaboration with parents and home campus representatives Home campus representatives include administrators, counselors, special education and general education teachers, LPAC chairs, 504 coordinators, and related service providers 9|Page Assessment, Final exams, and State Standardized Testing Students who are removed during AISD-scheduled final exams, six weeks’ tests, benchmark, STARR and EOC testing will take these tests at the ALC Please note that only ALC finals and or six week exams will be administered unless arrangements have been made in advance with the home school’s transition facilitator While DAEPs are not subject to ratings in the state accountability system, they are required to administer the appropriate tests during the testing windows The ALC follows all state and district protocols during state test administrations We have administrators on hand, trained campus test coordinators and test administrators, and ensure that all staff are trained to state standards on test administration and test security Students are provided with rigorous grade level classes whose curriculum is in alignment with our district’s curriculum road maps Consequently, test preparation activities are ongoing and inherently imbedded in our instruction It is our goal for all students to perform well, pass, and exceed standards for the state’s required standardized tests Social Services The Texas Education Code requires that students placed at a DAEP receive counseling as needed Accordingly, the ALC offers counseling services to students during their placement As described in the registration section, parents/guardians meet with an ALC counselor or social services specialist during the enrollment process Parents are encouraged to discuss concerns and make counseling requests for students during this interview Counseling may also be requested after a student has been enrolled The ALC counselors and Community in Schools (CIS) coordinate community services and referrals for students as needed Additionally, our counselors work individually with selected students (based on triage) and coordinate appropriately with the home school campus for more intensive interventions Please note that one of our counselors is a dedicated substance abuse counselor 10 | P a g e The ALC counseling staff and administrators coordinate with home school Child Study Team (CST) as needed to coordinate services for those students who are assessed to be in need of more intensive interventions The ALC offers Restorative Practices, which aims to develop community and to manage conflict and tensions by repairing harm and building relationships The use of restorative practices helps to: • • • • • • reduce crime, violence and bullying improve human behavior strengthen civil society provide effective leadership restore relationships repair harm Restorative circles and groups provide opportunities for students to share their feelings, build relationships and solve problems and when there is wrongdoing, to play an active role in addressing the wrong and making things right 11 | P a g e Students assigned to the ALC take a Social, Emotional Learning (SEL) class This class is designed to teach students to develop new habits or patterns of thoughts and actions that help them stay focused Benefits of SEL It helps build self-confidence and self-discipline Time management helps students accomplish more and be more productive The ability to maintain a higher tolerance for frustration, challenges and negative emotions The ability to reach difficult goals more efficiently The more disciplined you become, the easier life gets Coordination with Juvenile Justice for Students Currently on Probation The ALC receives information from the juvenile justice system on students on probation ALC provides information as requested to student probation officers in the areas of attendance, behavior, and academic performance The ALC also coordinates with Juvenile Justice Probation Officers to advocate for wrap around services as needed 12 | P a g e INVEST Program AISD offers the INVEST Program, which is a drug and alcohol awareness program, for secondary students involved in first time drug and alcohol behavioral infractions The INVEST Program provides an opportunity to explore substance abuse and family communication issues in a socio-educational group Current research indicates that improving family dynamics is an effective method to deter and treat adolescent substance abuse Students participating in the INVEST Program must be accompanied by a parent or guardian and must be in dress code The INVEST Program is offered on Monday and Wednesday evenings from 6:00 to 8:00 PM for four (4) consecutive evenings or Saturday mornings from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM for two (2) consecutive mornings Successful completion of the INVEST Program allows the student a shortened stay of ten successful days at the ALC, rather than having to serve the entire 20 successful day removal period The INVEST Program takes two weeks to complete and students must attend classes at the ALC during the day Students must begin the INVEST Program on a Monday and must attend all four (4) sessions consecutively or the two (2) consecutive Saturday sessions with the same parent or guardian INVEST topics are as follows: Session emphasizes family communications Session focuses on social influences and how drugs, gangs, peer pressure, and the media influence our lives Session focuses on rights & responsibilities and family roles Session focuses on a problem solving process for analyzing a problem and identifying win/win solutions Students return to their home schools upon successful completion of the INVEST Program and completion of 10 - 12 successful days at the ALC A successful day is defined as earning no more than (I’s) on their daily behavioral report card Students are given an INVEST completion certificate which they must show to their home school upon their return from the ALC If the student and guardian not successfully complete this program, the appropriate removal guidelines as determined in the removal conference will be followed If you need an interpreter, or have any other questions, please contact Pamela Jessie at (512) 414-1671 13 | P a g e POSITIVE FAMILIES PROGRAM AISD offers the Positive Families Program, which is an anti-aggression program, for secondary students who exhibited physical aggression on their home school campus Positive Families provides an opportunity to explore anger management and family communications in a socio-educational group Students participating in the Positive Families Program must be accompanied by a parent or guardian and must be in dress code compliance The Positive Families Program is offered on Monday and Wednesday evenings from 6:00 to 8:00 PM for four (4) consecutive evenings or Saturday mornings from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM for two (2) consecutive mornings Students return to their home schools upon successful completion of the Positive Families Program and completion of 10 - 12 successful days at the ALC A successful day is defined as earning no more than (I’s) on their daily behavioral report card Students are given a Positive Families completion certificate which they must show to their home school upon their return from the ALC If the student and guardian not successfully complete this program, the appropriate removal guidelines as determined in the removal conference will be followed Students must begin the Positive Families Program on a Monday and must attend all four (4) sessions consecutively or the two (2) consecutive Saturday sessions with the same parent or guardian Positive Families topics are as follows: Session emphasizes family communications Session deals with anger management Session focuses on conflict resolution Session deals with problem solving If you need an interpreter, or have any other questions, please contact Pamela Jessie at (512) 414-1671 14 | P a g e RULES AND PROCEDURES Student Expectations The ALC follows our district’s Student Code of Conduct in terms of student expectations and behavior AISD’s Board of Trustees Policy FOC provides information concerning student discipline and placement in a DAEP Please be aware that additional disciplinary removal hearings may take place while a student is removed to the ALC for behavior that violates the Student Code of Conduct The AISD Student Code of Conduct is expected to be followed by all students during their enrollment at the ALC Rules and program procedures are discussed during Registration and in detail during your student’s Orientation Attendance Policies Students must be in attendance every day and are subject to the state’s compulsory attendance laws • • • • Parents will receive a phone call if their student is absent All absence notes must be received within 48 hours Students arriving after 10:30am must be accompanied by an adult Arrival after 1pm may risk your earning a successful day, even if the absence is excused, since you have missed more than half of the school day • ALC staff will coordinate with home schools to file on students who violate the compulsory attendance laws due to excessive absences Length of Placement and Successful Completion of the Program Home campuses determine a student’s length of placement; first placement is 20 days, second placement is 40 days and a third or more placements is 60 days For safety removals home campuses assign a fixed date For first time drug offenses, home campuses must offer the INVEST program, which shortens a student’s placement to ten days if said program is successfully completed For physical aggression offenses home campuses may offer the Positive Families program which shortens a student’s placement to ten days if said program is successfully completed 15 | P a g e Dress Code A copy of the ALC Student Dress Code is included in this handbook Parents, please familiarize yourself with the dress code and ensure that your student arrives at the ALC in dress code compliance each day Students not in dress code compliance will be directed to wait in the Personal Responsibility Room (PRC) until a parent/guardian brings them a change of clothes, picks them up, or gives them permission to go home Additional consequences for dress code violations will be determined by a campus administrator However, please note that for serious dress code violations students may be subject to home suspension or other appropriate measure In cases such as these, the preferred option is for the parent to bring clothing from home so that the student can be in dress code compliance Searches Students pass through a metal detector each morning and receive a pat search This search entails patting the student’s outer clothing and checking pockets, socks, shoes, hems and waistbands for prohibited items Prohibited items will be confiscated and may be thrown away (failure to comply could lead to suspension) Male students will be searched by trained male staff and females are searched by trained female staff 16 | P a g e Suspensions Please remember that the AISD Student Code of Conduct is in effect at the ALC If a student engages in either physically or verbally aggressive behavior (fighting, abusive/threatening language directed at a staff member, or repetitive use of profanity after redirect) he or she will be assigned to either PRC or a home suspension at the discretion of an administrator Disciplinary Removal Hearings Please note that disciplinary removal hearings are required for mandatory offenses as outlined in the Student Code of Conduct Transportation During the registration and enrollment process AISD bus transportation arrangements are made AISD buses are available for all students AISD buses pick up students close to home and return them to the same location at the end of the day District bus use is a privilege and can be revoked if your behavior is not appropriate or students not comply with expectations Students may not drive to or from school or park vehicles in the ALC neighborhood Student vehicles parked on campus are subject to be towed and impounded at the owner’s expense Parents please note that AISD transportation for special education students is scheduled by the home school during the removal process Until such transportation is finalized and scheduled, parents are responsible for getting their child to and from the ALC Any changes to bus stops must be requested in person in our Registrar’s Office (512) 4143692/3658 At the end of the school day we escort all students to the designated bus area which is the Northwest side parking lot of our campus Students who choose to take the city bus home also depart the building from the Northwest exit Parents if you are picking up your student, please so at 4:15pm at 4900 Gonzales Street 17 | P a g e AISD Bus Rules and Expectations • Students should be at their assigned bus stop at the assigned time; due to traffic issues please arrive 15 minutes prior to pick-up time and wait 15 minutes after your assigned time if the bus is late • Bus drivers will pick up and drop off students only at the bus stop selected by their parent/guardian • Students are to remain seated, behave, and follow all bus driver directions Please note that bus drivers are authorized to assign seats • Students are prohibited from eating or drinking on the bus • Please remind your student not to drop or throw objects inside or outside of the bus and to keep hands, feet and head inside the bus • Please be aware that AISD bus drivers write referrals for misbehavior and such referrals may result in suspension of bus privileges In the event that a student is suspended from riding the school bus, the parent/guardian must provide an alternate means of transportation • If you need to contact the bus depot, phone numbers are as follows: South Base (512) 414-6500, North Base (512) 414-6520, and Southeast Base (512) 414-8510 18 | P a g e Student Meals Students are served breakfast and lunch in the cafeteria All students will receive free breakfast and lunch while at the ALC Please note that students are not allowed to bring lunch, gum, candy, sodas, chips or any other food or drink items Parents if your child has diabetes, medical dietary restrictions, food allergies, etc., please consult with the school nurse Visitors Please note that all visitors should go to the main office with their current photo identification and check-in We use the Raptor system to vet and issue temporary passes for all visitors Only parents, guardians, and persons listed as emergency contacts are allowed to visit or pick up students Please note that law enforcement personnel, probation officers, child protective service personnel, AISD employees and other state-mandated agencies with proper identification are allowed to visit students Student Dress Code 19 | P a g e Pants, Shorts, and Skirts Plain blue pants/jeans/skirts that require a belt (no skin tight jeans, no skin tight skinny Jeans & no jeggings) A black belt must be worn daily with pants/jeans, shorts, and skirts Belt buckle may not have initials or logos Tears, frays, and or holes are not allowed Nylon, sweats, vinyl, wind suits, or plastic clothing are not allowed Shorts and skirts must be below the knee Overalls, suspenders, and or jumpers are not allowed Logos, insignias, or emblems on clothing are not acceptable Layering shorts under pants as well as baggy, sagging, tight fitting and/or and or oversized pants are not allowed These items will be confiscated and may be thrown away “Dickies” products are not allowed 10 ALC requires all students to wear their pants/shorts above the waist Shirts and Sweatshirts Plain black crew neck “Tee” shirts without logos V-necks or hoods are not allowed Undergarments must not be distracting or visible Tight, distracting, see-through, torn, or holes are not allowed Shirts must be long enough so as to be tucked in at all times Shirts and sweatshirts must be worn right side out Oversized shirts or sweatshirts are not allowed Shoes and Socks Black, white, and or gray tennis shoes with matching laces only White or black socks only Coats and Jackets 4 10 Coats and jackets may be worn to school but will be taken off, stored, and returned at the end of the school day Coats and jackets should not be worn inside the building Students should wear a plain black long sleeved sweatshirt in the building during cold weather Jewelry and Other Information Plain gold, silver, black, white, or grey wristwatches are allowed Jewelry of any kind, including piercings (tongue, nose, eyebrow, etc.) is prohibited Hats, purses, bags, backpacks, totes, or sacks are not allowed Hairbrushes or combs of any type are not allowed Hairpieces (barrettes or elastic) must be black, white, clear or gray Hair must be one color; no non-natural colors/hairstyles Hair cut designs of any kind are not allowed Colored nail polish or cosmetics of any kind, including lip-gloss or lip balm are not allowed Students with tattoos must have them covered at all times while at the ALC Cell phones, iPods, or other electronic devices/equipment are not allowed *On any violation, a $15 fine is assessed and the item returned to a parent/guardian 11 Students may have $5.00 or less on their possession More than $5.00 will be held for parent pick up 12 Gum, candy, and outside food or drinks are not allowed ** * *Prohibited items will be confiscated and may be thrown away.** 20 | P a g e