This booklet is for the use of the students, parents, and teachers. Its primary purpose is to set forth the requirements for graduation, and to acquaint students with the educational opportunities and regulations of our school district.

All students are responsible for becoming familiar with this handbook, as they will be held strictly accountable for its contents. It is suggested that each student carefully read this handbook and keep it as a future reference to refer to from time to time. Since it is assumed that every student completely understands the policies governing our school, violating a regulation or policy out of ignorance or forgetfulness will not be an acceptable excuse. If you do not fully understand something or have a question, please feel free to ask the principal for an immediate, precise explanation.

This student handbook does not include everything that may happen during the school year. If any situation not explicitly covered should arise, the Alcester-Hudson School District Administration will make every effort to act reasonably and quickly (e.g., the best interests of the student and the school will be considered.) Each situation is different and will be handled on an individual basis. The Alcester-Hudson School District reserves the right to amend any provision in this handbook which it deems to be in the best interest of the educational process. The principal retains the right to issue consequences for acts of discipline not specifically stated herein and to alter any consequences as necessary.

PREFACE: This booklet is for the use of the students, parents, and teachers. Its primary purpose is to set forth the requirements for graduation, and to acquaint students with the educational opportunities and regulations of our school district.

All students are responsible for becoming familiar with this handbook, as they will be held strictly accountable for its contents. It is suggested that each student carefully read this handbook and keep it as a future reference to refer to from time to time. Since it is assumed that every student completely understands the policies governing our school, violating a regulation or policy out of ignorance or forgetfulness will not be an acceptable excuse. If you do not fully understand something or have a question, please feel free to ask the principal for an immediate, precise explanation.

RESERVATION OF RIGHT TO AMEND: This student handbook does not include everything that may happen during the school year. If any situation not explicitly covered should arise, the Alcester-Hudson School District Administration will make every effort to act reasonably and quickly (e.g., the best interests of the student and the school will be considered.) Each situation is different and will be handled on an individual basis. The Alcester-Hudson School District reserves the right to amend any provision in this handbook which it deems to be in the best interest of the educational process. The principal retains the right to issue consequences for acts of discipline not specifically stated herein and to alter any consequences as necessary.

NONDISCRIMINATION POLICY: The Alcester-Hudson School District 61-1 does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability or age in its programs and activities and provides equal access to designated youth groups. The following people have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies:

504 Coordinator Alcester-Hudson School Lynette Busch lynette.busch@k12.sd.us	Title VI Coordinator Alcester-Hudson School Tim Rhead tim.rhead@k12.sd.us	Title IX Coordinator Alcester-Hudson School Jason Van Engen Jason.vanengen@k12.sd.us
South Dakota Regional US Office for Civil Rights Kansas City Office US Department of Education One Petticoat Lane 1010 Walnut St, Ste 320 Kansas City, MO 6410 Phone: 816-268-0550 Fax: 816-268-0559 Email: ocr.kansascity@ed.gov	National Headquarters Office for Civil Rights U.S. Department of Education Lyndon B. Johnson Dept. of Education Building 400 Maryland Ave SW Washington, DC 20202-1100 Phone: 800-421-3481 Fax: 202-453-6012, TTY: 800-877-8339 Email: ocr@ed.gov Website: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/index.html	FERPA Contact Information: Student Privacy Policy Office US Dept. of Education 400 Maryland Ave SW Washington, DC 20202-1100 Phone: 202-260-3887 Email: ferpa@ed.gov and ppra@ed.gov Website: www.studentprivacy.ed.gov

 

SNAP and FDPIR State or local agencies, and all other FNS nutrition assistance programs, state, or local agencies, and their subrecipients, must post the following nondiscrimination statement:

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, religious creed, disability, age, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.

Joint Application Form (HHS)

This institution is prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, disability, age, sex and in some cases religion or political beliefs.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture also prohibits discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, religious creed, disability, age, political beliefs or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by the USDA.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint  Form, (AD-3027), found online at: How to File a Complaint, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by mail to:

U.S. Department of Agriculture

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Ave SW

Washington, DC 20250-9410

Fax: 202-690-7442 or 833-256-1665

Email: program.intake@usda.gov

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

For any other information dealing with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) issues, persons should either contact the USDA SNAP Hotline Number at (800) 221-5689, which is also in Spanish or call the State Information/Hotline Numbers (click the link for a listing of hotline numbers by State); found online at: SNAP Hotline.

To file a complaint of discrimination regarding a program receiving Federal financial assistance through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), write: HHS Director, Office for Civil Rights, Room 515-F, 200 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20201 or call (202) 619-0403 (voice) or (800) 537-7697 (TTY).

MODEL NOTICE OF DIRECTORY INFORMATION

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), a federal law, requires that the Alcester- Hudson School District, with certain exceptions, obtain your written consent prior to the disclosure of personal identifiable information from your child’s education records. However, the Alcester-Hudson School District may disclose appropriately designated “directory information” without written consent, unless you have advised the district to the contrary in accordance with the district procedures. The primary purpose of directory information is to allow the Alcester-Hudson School District to include this type of information from your child’s education records in certain school publications. Examples include:

Ø     Playbill, showing your student’s role in a drama production.

Ø     The annual school yearbook (The Cubette)

Ø     Honor roll, Academic Honors, or other recognition lists

Ø     Graduation programs

Ø     Sports activity programs (wrestling, basketball, football, volleyball etc. showing weight and/or height of team members)

Directory information, which is information that is generally not considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if released, can also be disclosed to outside organizations without a parent’s prior written consent. Outside organizations include, but are not limited to, companies that manufacture class rings or publish yearbooks. In addition, two federal laws require local educational agencies (LEAs) receiving assistance under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to provide military recruiters, upon request, with three directory information categories--name, addresses, and telephone numbers--unless parents have advised the LEA that they do not want their student’s information disclosed without their prior written consent.

If a student’s parent, guardian or an eligible student, does not want the Alcester-Hudson School District to disclose directory information from the student’s education records without prior written consent, the student’s parent, guardian or an eligible student must notify the Alcester-Hudson School District in writing within thirty (30) days of the beginning of the school year or, if enrolling after the beginning of the school year, within thirty (30) days of enrollment. A request to withdraw consent  should be submitted in writing and signed.

The Alcester-Hudson School District has designated the following information as directory information:

-  student’s name, grade, dates of attendance

-  address, phone number, email address

-  photograph, date, and place of birth

-  participation in officially recognized activities and sports

-  height, weight, positions of members of athletic teams

-  degrees, honors, and awards received.

-  recent educational agency or institution attended.

Every child of a homeless individual and every homeless child is entitled to equal access to the same, free, appropriate public education as provided to other students. The Alcester-Hudson School District must assign and admit a child who is homeless to the district school regardless of residence and irrespective of whether the homeless child is able to produce records normally required for enrollment. The Alcester-Hudson School District may not require an out-of-district attendance agreement and tuition for a homeless child.

The Superintendent will review and revise necessary rules or procedures that may be barriers to the enrollment of homeless children and youths. In reviewing and revising such procedures, the Superintendent will consider issues of transportation, immunization, residence, birth certificates, school records, and other documentation. Homeless students will have access to services comparable to those offered to other students, including but not limited to:

-          Transportation services

-          Educational services for which a student meets the eligibility criteria (e.g., Title I)

-         Educational programs for children with disabilities and limited English proficiency.

-          Programs in vocational and technical education

-          Programs for gifted and talented students

-          School nutrition program

The Superintendent will give special attention to ensuring the enrollment and attendance of homeless children and youths not currently attending school. The Superintendent will appoint a liaison for homeless children.

A homeless individual is defined as provided in the McKinney Homeless Assistance Act. Anyone having a concern or complaint regarding placement or education of a homeless child will first present it orally and informally to the Alcester-Hudson School District homeless liaison.

Thereafter, a written complaint must be filed in accordance with the Alcester-Hudson School District Uniform Complaint Procedure.

TITLE VI

The Title VI policy states that “No person in the United States shall, on the ground of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.”

 

A grievance procedure for discrimination in school lunch programs is on file in the administration

office, the superintendent’s office, and the business manager’s office. You may obtain it at any time.

 

TITLE IX

A grievance procedure for sexual discrimination is on file in the high school administration office, the superintendent's office, and the principal's office. You may obtain it at any time. A copy of the policy on sexual discrimination will be included with the school registration paperwork for all students and parents to read.

The Alcester-Hudson School District shall not discriminate against any married or pregnant student nor be excluded from any program or activity, including any class or any extracurricular activity. Pregnant or married students may volunteer to participate in a separate educational program offered by the school; the instructional portion of the program must be equivalent to that offered to non-pregnant or non-married students.

A physician’s certification of fitness to continue in the regular education program may be required of pregnant students only if such certification is required of other students with conditions requiring a physician’s care. Pregnancy must be treated as a justification for a student’s leave of absence for whatever time the student’s physician finds medically necessary.

All students wanting to enroll in the Alcester-Hudson School District must meet the State requirements concerning immunizations. (Students entering school for the first time or students transferring from out-of-state must present proof of required immunizations along with a certified copy of their birth certificate in order to be admitted.) If the birth certificate is not provided within ten days of registration, the student will not be able to continue attendance until the birth certificate is presented to the school office. It is not necessary for the school to keep this certified copy of the birth certificate. We will copy the certificate for our files and return the original to you.

 

(South Dakota State Law 13-27-3.1 through 13-27-3.3 requires the parent or guardian to present a certified copy of a child's birth certificate upon the child's initial enrollment in a South Dakota School. If a certified copy is not obtainable, the parent may submit an affidavit in lieu of birth certificate as issued by the Department of Health.)

 

If you need to obtain a copy of the certificate, the County Register of Deeds may be helpful to you. If you have any questions or need any further information, please contact the school office.

 

 

A copy of the adopted complaint policy can be found in the Alcester-Hudson School District Policy Handbook located in the high school administrative office or is available from each administrator. Written complaints from persons under the age of 18 years must be signed by the parent or guardian of the person submitting the complaint.