The basic instruction program shall include the courses required for each grade level by the State Department of Education. The instructional approach will be nonsexist and multicultural.
The basic instruction program of students enrolled in T-K/kindergarten shall be designed to develop healthy emotional and social habits, growth in language arts and communication skills, as well as the capacity to complete individual tasks, and the ability to protect and increase physical well-being with attention given to experiences relating to the development of life skills and human growth and development.
The basic instruction program of students enrolled in grades one through six shall include: English-language arts, social studies, mathematics, science, health, human growth and development, physical education, traffic safety, music, and visual art.
The basic instruction program of students enrolled in grades seven and eight shall include: English-language arts, social studies, mathematics, science, health, human growth and development, family and consumer, career, technology education, physical education and visual art.
The basic instruction program of students enrolled in grades nine through twelve shall include, at a minimum, those courses outlined in the Board’s policy on Course Requirements.
The board may, in its discretion, offer additional courses in the instruction program for any grade level.
Each instruction program shall be carefully planned for optimal benefit taking into consideration the financial condition of the school district and other factors deemed relevant by the board or superintendent. Each instruction program’s plan should describe the program, its goals, the effective materials, the activities and the method for student evaluation.
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Approved: 3/20/00 |
Reviewed: |
Revised: 6/11/12; 6/10/13; 5/13/19 |
As part of the education program, students will have an opportunity to learn about their rights, privileges, and responsibilities as citizens of this country, state and school district community. As part of this learning opportunity students are instructed in the elements of good citizenship and the role quality citizens play in their country, state and school district community.
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Approved: 9/18/89 |
Reviewed: 5/13/19 |
Revised: 2/22/10; 6/10/13 |
The principal may authorize field trips and excursions when such events contribute to the achievement of education goals of the school district. The school district will provide transportation for field trips and excursions.
In authorizing field trips and excursions, the principal shall consider the financial condition of the school district, the educational benefit of the activity, the inherent risks or danger of the activity, and other factors deemed relevant by the superintendent. The superintendent’s approval will be required for field trips and excursions outside the state. Board approval will be required for field trips and excursions which involve unusual length or expense.
Field trips and excursions are to be arranged with the principal well in advance. A detailed schedule and budget must be submitted by the employee along with the request for the field trip or excursion. The school district will be responsible for obtaining a substitute teacher if one is needed. Following field trips and excursions, the teacher may be required to submit a written summary of the event.
Written parental permission will be required prior to the student’s participation in field trips and excursions.
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Approved: 11/14/67 |
Reviewed: 5/13/19 |
Revised: 1/10/11; 6/10/13 |
Parents may request to have their child excluded from a school program because of religious beliefs. The Board authorizes the administration to allow the exclusion if it is not disruptive to the education program and it does not infringe on a compelling state or educational interest. Further, the exclusion must not interfere with other District operations.
Parents shall request to have their child excluded from a school program because of religious beliefs by notifying the building principal of their request. In notifying the building principal the parents will abide by the following:
The principal will have discretion to making the above-referenced determination. The factors the principal will consider when a student’s parents request that the student be excluded from a program or activity because of religious beliefs include, but are not limited to, staff availability to supervise a student who wishes to be excluded, space to house the student while the student is excluded, availability of a principal approved alternative course of study or activity while the student is excluded, the number of students who wish to be excluded, whether allowing the exclusion places the District in a position of supporting a particular religion, and whether the program or activity is required for promotion to the next grade level or for graduation.
Students who are permitted to be excluded from a program or activity which violates their religious beliefs shall be required to do an alternate supervised activity or course of study.
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Approved: 8/14/89 |
Reviewed: |
Revised: 11/9/09; 6/10/13; 5/13/19 |
Summer school shall be conducted in such buildings, on such grade levels, and for such lengths of time as the Board, upon the recommendation of the superintendent of schools, may determine. In determining whether to conduct summer school, the Board shall weigh the benefit to the students and the District as well as the District's budget and availability of licensed employees to conduct summer school.
The summer school program shall be designed to meet the following purposes or objectives:
1. Enrichment and extension of the program provided during the regular academicyear; and
2. Remedial work for those students who need and can benefit from further study in the basic subjects.
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Approved: 11/14/67 |
Reviewed: 5/13/19 |
Revised: 2/22/10; 6/10/13 |
The Board recognizes some students have different educational needs than other students. The board will provide a free appropriate public education program and related services to students identified in need of special education. The special education services will be provided from age 3 until the appropriate education is completed, age twenty-one or to maximum age allowable in accordance with the law.
Students requiring special education will attend general education classes, participate in nonacademic and extracurricular services and activities and receive services in a general education setting to the maximum extent appropriate to the needs of each individual student. Students requiring special education shall be placed in the least restrictive environment possible appropriate to the needs of each individual student.
The appropriate education for each student is written in the student's Individualized Education Program (IEP). Special education students are required to meet the requirements stated in board policy or in their IEPs for graduation. It is the responsibility of the superintendent and the area education agency director of special education to provide or make provisions for appropriate special education and related services.
Children from birth through age 2 and children age 3 through age 5 are provided comprehensive special education services within the public education system. The school district shall work in conjunction with the area education agency to provide services, at the earliest appropriate time, to children with disabilities from birth through age 2. This is done to ensure a smooth transition of children entitled to early childhood special education services.
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Approved: 9/80 |
Reviewed: |
Revised: 2/22/10; 6/10/13; 5/13/19 |
Senior Year Plus Enacted by the legislature in 2008, Senior Year Plus was created to provide increased and more equal access to college credit. Courses delivered through Senior Year Plus provide students the opportunity to take rigorous college curriculum and receive both high school and college credit concurrently.
Eligibility Iowa law requires students to meet certain criteria to be eligible to participate in Senior Year Plus programming. The following criteria apply to all Senior Year Plus programs and are supplemented by program-specific requirements.
Concurrent Enrollment Students in grades 9 through 12 may receive secondary and postsecondary academic and/or vocational-technical credits for courses successfully completed through a postsecondary educational institution in which the school district has a contractual agreement with. The District will pay tuition costs associated for concurrent course enrollment for an eligible student.
Students who take courses other than courses taken under an agreement between the District and the postsecondary educational institution and/or approved by the Board are responsible for tuition, transportation to and from the locations where the course is being offered, and other costs directly related to taking any postsecondary education course. The student and/or their parents shall not receive reimbursement for tuition, transportation or other expenses.
Eligible students may take credit during the summer months when school is not in session, but are responsible for tuition, transportation to and from the location where the course is being offered, and other costs directly related to taking any postsecondary education course.
The following factors are considered in the Board’s determination of whether a student will receive academic and/or vocational-technical credit toward the graduation requirements set out by the Board for a course at a postsecondary educational institution:
The course is taken from a public or accredited private post-secondary educational institution;
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Approved: 2/11/91 |
Reviewed: 5/9/16 |
Revised: 10/11/10; 6/10/13; 5/9/16; 5/13/19 |
The Board, recognizing alternatives to education outside the formal public school system, authorizes the establishment of a home school assistance program. This program will assist students receiving competent private instruction by providing licensed employees of the school district to assist the parent, guardian or legal custodian in the education of the student.
The parent, guardian or legal custodian registering for the home school assistance program will agree to comply with the requirements established by the faculty of the program.
Students registered for the home school assistance program will be counted in the basic enrollment.
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Approved: 7/13/92 |
Reviewed: 5/13/19 |
Revised: 10/11/10; 6/10/13 |
Because of our growing interdependence with other nations in the world, global education is incorporated into the education program for grades T-K/kindergarten through twelve so that students have the opportunity to acquire a perspective on world issues, problems, and prospects for an awareness of the relationship between an individual's self-interest and the concerns of people elsewhere in the world.
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Approved: 7/13/92 |
Reviewed: 6/10/13 |
Revised: 11/8/10 |
Preparing students for careers is one goal of the education program. Career education will be infused into the education program for grades T-K/kindergarten through twelve. This education shall include, but not be limited to, awareness of self in relation to others and the needs of society, exploration of employment opportunities, experiences in personal decision-making, and experiences of integrating work values and work skills into their lives.
It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent to assist licensed employees in finding ways to provide career education in the educational program. Special attention should be given to courses of vocational education nature. The board, in its review of the curriculum, shall review the means in which career education is combined with other instructional programs.
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Approved: 9/18/89 |
Reviewed: 5/13/19 |
Revised: 11/8/10; 6/10/13 |
Students in grades one through twelve are required to participate in physical education courses unless they are excused by the principal of their attendance center.
Students may be excused from physical education courses if the student presents a written statement from a doctor stating that such activities could be injurious to the health of the student or the student has been exempted because of a conflict with the student's religious beliefs, provided such excuse or exemption fits within federal and state laws.
Students in grade twelve may also be excused from physical education courses if:
Students who will not participate in physical education must have a written request or statement from their parents.
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Approved: 9/18/89 |
Reviewed: |
Revised: 11/8/10; 6/10/13; 5/13/19 |
Students will receive, as part of their health education, instruction about personal health; food and nutrition; environmental health; safety and survival skills; consumer health; family life; human growth and development; substance abuse and non-use, including the effects of alcohol, tobacco, nicotine drugs and poisons on the human body; human sexuality; self-esteem; stress management; interpersonal relationships; emotional and social health; health resources; prevention and control of disease; and communicable diseases, including sexually transmitted infections acquired immune deficiency syndrome.
The purpose of the health education program is to help each student protect, improve and maintain physical, emotional and social well-being. The areas stated above are included in health education and the instruction is adapted at each grade level to aid understanding by the students.
Parents who object to health education instruction in human growth and development may file a written request that the student be excused from the instruction. The written request will include a proposed alternate activity or study acceptable to the superintendent. The superintendent will have the final authority to determine the alternate activity or study.
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Approved: 9/18/89 |
Reviewed: 5/13/19 |
Revised: 11/8/10; 6/10/13; 12/9/19 |
Student Name: ___________________________________ Grade: _____________________
Parent/Guardian: ___________________________________ Phone #: ___________________
Please list the curricular objective(s) from which you wish to have your child excused and the class or grade in which each is taught. An example is provided for you to follow.
Objective Class/Grade
Ex. To understand the consequences of Health Education/6 responsible and irresponsible sexual behavior.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
I have reviewed the Human Growth and Development program goals, objectives, and materials and wish my child to be excused from class when these objectives are taught. I understand my child will incur no penalty but may/will be required to complete an alternative assignment that relates to the class and is consistent with assignments required of all students in the class.
Signature: ___________________________________ Date: ___________________
(Parent/Guardian)
Signature: ___________________________________ Date: ___________________
(School Administrator)