NEPN/NSBA
Code: JEA
COMPULSORY ATTENDANCE AGES
Under state law,
full-time school attendance is required of all children from their 7th to their
17th birthday except:
A. A person who graduates from high school
before their 17th birthday;
B. A person who has:
1. Reached the age of 15 years or
completed the 9th grade;
2. Permission to leave school from that
person’s parent;
3. Been approved by the principal for a
suitable program of work and study or training;
4. Permission to leave school from the
Board or its designee; and
5. Agreed in writing with that person’s
parent and the Board or its designee to meet annually until that person’s 17th
birthday to review that person’s educational needs. When the request to be excused from school
has been denied pursuant to this paragraph, the student’s parent may appeal to
the Commissioner;
C. A person whose absence is excused under
section 5051. The parent of an habitual
truant who has been denied a waiver of this paragraph may appeal to the
Commissioner in accordance with section 5051, subsection 2, paragraph E
(habitual truancy); or
D. A person who has matriculated and is
attending an accredited, post-secondary, degree-granting institution as a
full-time student. An exception to the
attendance in public school under this paragraph must be approved by the
Commissioner.
Alternatives
to Attendance at
A. Equivalent
instruction alternatives are as follows:
1. A person shall be excused from attending a
public day school if the person
obtains equivalent instruction in:
a) A private school approved for
attendance purposes pursuant to section 2901;
b) A private school recognized by the
department as providing equivalent instruction;
c) A manner approved by the Commissioner
pursuant to subparagraph (3); or
d) Any other manner arranged for by the
Board and approved by the Commissioner.
2. A student shall be credited with attendance
at a private school only if a certificate showing the name, residence and
attendance of the person at the school, signed by the person or persons in
charge of the school, has been filed with the school officials of the
administrative unit in which the student resides.
3. A person who wishes to obtain approval
of equivalent instruction under rules established by the Commissioner for
equivalent instruction through home instruction (home schooling) shall
simultaneously submit a completed application for approval to the local board
and to the Commissioner. The local Board
may review the application and submit comments on the application to the
Commissioner within 30 days of receipt of the application. Within 60 days of receipt of the application,
the Commissioner, using state criteria established by rule, shall decide
whether to approve the equivalent instruction application. If the Commissioner denies the application,
the applicant may, within 30 days of receiving the denial, amend and resubmit
the application directly to the Commissioner.
The Commissioner shall make a decision within 30 days of receiving the
amended application. If an application
is approved, the Commissioner shall send notice of the approval to the local
Board. Notice provided to the local Boards under this section of applications
for approval of equivalent instruction through home instruction and of the
Commissioner’s decision on those applications is only for informational
purposes. Local Boards are not required
to play any role in the application, review and approval or oversight of home
instruction programs.
B. A person may be excused from attendance
at a public day school pursuant to § 5104-A or § 8605
(other public or private alternative programs).
Excusable Absence
A person’s absence is excused when
the absence is for the following reasons:
A. Personal
illness;
B. An appointment with a health
professional that must be made during the regular school day;
C. Observance of a recognized religious
holiday when the observance is required during the regular school day;
D. A family emergency; or
E. A planned absence for a personal or
educational purpose which has been approved.
Compulsory education
is essential to the preservation of the rights and liberties of the people and
the continued prosperity of our nation.
Maintaining regular student attendance is necessary to achieve the goal
of an educated citizenry. Public schools
should ensure the rights of access for all school-age persons to an appropriate
educational opportunity and, when necessary, should develop alternatives to
regular school curricula for those children and youth at risk of becoming
dropouts and those who may have left school.
Parents are
responsible for the attendance of students who are under 17 years of age. The Board shall work with families in an
effort to ensure compliance. In order to
document excusable absences, the Board requires students returning to school after
an absence to furnish a written statement signed by the student’s
parent/guardian acknowledging the absence and stating the reason for the
absence.
Secondary school
students 20 years of age or more will only be admitted to the school unit with
prior Board approval.
Legal Reference: 20-A MRSA § 5001-A, et seq. -
Cross Reference: JFC - Student Withdrawal from School/Dropout Prevention Committee
Adopted:
Revised:
Page
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M.S.A.D.
#4
NEPN/NSBA
Code: JFAA
ADMISSION OF RESIDENT STUDENTS
The school unit shall
admit as students those of legal school age whose parents or guardians legally
reside within the unit. Adequate proof
of residence shall be required. The
Board reserves the right to verify residency through appropriate means for any
enrolled student or any family applying for enrollment.
“Residence” means bona
fide residence—one’s actual residence maintained in good faith—and does not
include a temporary or superficial residence established for the purpose of
free school attendance in this system.
It shall be considered the place where important family activity takes
place—the place where the family eats, sleeps, relaxes and plays. It is a place which can be called a
“home.” While it is possible for an
individual to maintain property and pay taxes in more than one location or
community, for purposes of student eligibility for school attendance,
“residence” shall mean where the parent
maintains a home.
Guardianship shall be
substantiated by a copy of a court order or probated will appointing the
resident as guardian of the student. No
student shall be accepted for enrollment or allowed to continue in enrollment
on the basis of guardianship established by a power of attorney.
Resident students
entering school for the first time shall be admitted upon presentation of an
original birth certificate to the Principal, along with a record of required
immunizations and pertinent health records.
Photocopies shall be made and retained in the student’s file.
New resident students
who are transferring into the school system shall be admitted on the basis of
age, health and academic records received from the previous school. However, original documentation may be
required if deemed necessary to appropriately determine a student’s eligibility
for enrollment and assignment.
Legal Reference: 18-A MRSA § 5201, et seq.
20-A
MRSA §§ 5202 et seq., 6002
Maine
Commissioner of Ed. Administrative Letter No. 13,
Cross Reference: JFAB – Admission of Non-Resident Students
Adopted:
Revised:
M.S.A.D.
#4
NEPN/NSBA
Code: JFAB
ADMISSION OF NON-RESIDENT STUDENTS
Individual
non-resident students may be accepted under any of the following conditions if
approved by the Superintendent:
A. Under an agreement with another local
school administrative unit for students in grades 9-12 upon payment of the
tuition fee allowed by state law;
B. Following receipt of a written parental
request and formal approval by the Superintendent on a space/program-available
basis, upon payment of the tuition fee allowed by state law. Reapplication shall be made annually. Behavior, cooperation and suitability of
programming shall be considered;
C. Upon recommendation of the high school
principal, the Superintendent may authorize enrollment of a foreign exchange
student assigned to a household in the community served by the school unit and
under the auspices of a recognized foreign exchange program. Such enrollment shall be without assessment
of tuition;
D. Upon special permission granted by the
Superintendent, to provide continuity of program for a student whose family
provides evidence of intent to move to the community shortly after a school
year begins, or moves from the community near the end of a school year; and
E. In accordance with Maine law related to
the assignment of students for school purposes, such as: state wards; students for whom the
Superintendent determines it is in the student’s best interest to attend;
students placed by state agencies; homeless children of school age; students
living at light, fog warning or life stations; temporary residents; a transfer
student when the two Superintendents approve in the student’s best interest.
Retroactive tuition
will be assessed for students found to be nonresidents and ineligible for
enrollment under law or Board policy.
All requirements
regarding age, health examinations, immunizations, etc., which apply to
resident students shall also apply to non-resident students accepted for
enrollment in this school system.
Legal
Reference: 20-A MRSA § 5203 et seq. 8 USC § 1101
Cross
Reference: JFAA - Admission of
Resident Students
Adopted:
M.S.A.D.
#4
NEPN/NSBA Code:
JFC
DROPOUT PREVENTION
STUDENT WITHDRAWAL FROM SCHOOL
The Board believes
that a high school diploma signifies the minimum preparation for life. Therefore, the Board strongly urges every
teacher, guidance counselor, principal, parent, and citizen to exert influence
to keep all students in school through high school.
In order to reduce the
school dropout rate, the Superintendent shall establish a Dropout Prevention
Committee to study the problem of dropouts, habitual truancy, and the need for
alternative programs, kindergarten to grade 12.
The Committee will meet at least annually, make recommendations for
addressing the problem, and submit a plan of action to the Board in accordance
with the provisions in
Committee
Membership
As required by law, the Dropout Prevention
Committee shall be composed of the following members:
A. A member of the Board selected by the
Board;
B. A
school administrator selected by the Superintendent;
C. A
teacher and a school counselor selected by the teachers’ organization;
D. A
parent selected by the local parent group or by the Board if no such group
exists;
E. A
school attendance coordinator from the school system selected by the
Superintendent;
F. A
high school student selected by the Dropout Prevention Committee members
selected in paragraphs A to E;
G. A
dropout selected by the Dropout Prevention Committee members selected in
paragraphs A to E; and
H. A
community resident of the district selected by the Dropout Prevention Committee
members selected in paragraphs A to E.
The Board recognizes
the importance of success as a motivator and as a factor in a student’s
commitment to education. For those
students who have been identified as at risk of dropping out, every effort will
be made to provide alternative instructional arrangements that take into
account both the student’s need for success and the unit’s commitment to
adequate minimum standards of achievement.
In the event that
students do withdraw from school, school administrators shall arrange for
regular contacts to be made with them for the purpose of informing them of the
process for readmission, making them aware of alternatives in the community for
continuing their education and stating the unit’s willingness to assist them in
their educational efforts.
Legal Reference: 20-A
MRSA §§ 5001-A; 5102-5103
Cross Reference: JEA
- Compulsory Attendance Ages
Adopted:
Revised:
M.S.A.D.
#4
NEPN/NSBA
Code: JGAB
ASSIGNMENT OF STUDENTS TO CLASSES:
TRANSFER STUDENTS AND HOME SCHOOLING STUDENTS
The
principal of the school in which a transfer or formerly home-schooled student
is enrolling will be responsible for assigning the incoming student to a class
or grade.
The
principal shall be responsible for determining the value of the student’s prior
educational experience toward meeting the content standards of the Learning
Results in conformance with the school unit’s Local Assessment System and
applicable Board policies. In assessing
the value of the student’s prior educational experience, the principal may
consider performance on standardized tests, academic records, portfolios,
projects, writing samples, performances, and other demonstrations of
achievement consistent with the Local Assessment System. The school unit may require an incoming student
to participate in tests or other assessments to aid in this determination. For incoming high school students, tests or
assessments may be required to determine whether a student has met course
prerequisites or credit requirements for graduation. In addition, such tests and assessments may
be used to determine when instructional intervention may be appropriate.
The
principal/designee should meet with the student’s parents and, as appropriate,
with the guidance counselor, special services director, and/or other
professional staff before making a class/grade assignment decision.
[OPTION 1: The principal’s decision shall be final.]
[OPTION 2: A parent/guardian or eligible student who is
dissatisfied with the principal’s class/grade decision or with the principal’s
evaluation of the student’s prior educational experience may appeal to the
Superintendent whose decision shall be final.]
Legal Reference:
Adopted:
M.S.A.D.
#4
NEPN/NSBA
Code: JHB
TRUANCY
A student is habitually truant if the student:
A. Is subject to the compulsory attendance
law; and
B. Has attained
the equivalent of 10 full days of non-excused absences or seven consecutive
school days of non-excused absences during a school year.
The Board shall
appoint one or more attendance coordinators in accordance with state law. The following statutory provisions shall be
followed when a student is habitually truant.
A. If the principal and the attendance
coordinator determine that a student is habitually truant,
the principal shall inform the Superintendent.
The Superintendent shall first try to correct the problem informally by:
1. Asking the student’s parents to attend
a series of meetings with their child’s teacher or other school personnel
designated by the Superintendent. The
purpose of the meetings is to describe the education program to the parents and
explain the value of their child attending an educational program, including
but not limited to school, adult education, a high school equivalency degree
program and other alternative education programs. The Superintendent shall arrange meetings
times convenient to the parents.
B. If the principal and the attendance
coordinator are unable to correct the problem, the Superintendent shall refer
the matter to the Board along with the attendance coordinator’s report, the
principal’s report and any other useful information.
C. The Board shall call a hearing and shall
notify the student’s parents of the date and time of the hearing; the purpose;
the parent’s right to inspect the student’s attendance records and the
attendance reports; and the necessity of the parents’ and student’s attendance
at the meeting.
D. If the Board determines that the student
is habitually truant, it shall either instruct the student to attend school as
required by the compulsory attendance law and advise the parents of their
responsibility under the law to assure the student’s attendance or waive the
requirements of 20-A MRSA § 5001-A if the student is 15 years of age or
older. A parent may appeal the Board’s
decision to the Commissioner of Education.
Page
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M.S.A.D. #4
NEPN/NSBA
Code: JHB
E. When a student is determined to be
habitually truant and in violation of the compulsory
attendance law and the Superintendent has made a good faith attempt to meet the
requirements of paragraph A.1. above, the
Superintendent may notify the local law enforcement department of the
decision. After this notification, a
local law enforcement officer who sees a truant may offer to transport the
truant to the appropriate school as provided in the truancy law.
Legal Reference: 20-A
MRSA §§ 5001-A; 5052-5054
Cross Reference: JEA – Compulsory Attendance Ages
JFC
– Dropout Prevention Committee
Adopted:
Revised:
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M.S.A.D.
#4
NEPN/NSBA
code: JHCA
OPEN/CLOSED CAMPUS
All students, with the
exception of students who have been excused early and seniors who are
exercising senior privileges, shall remain on school grounds from the time of
arrival until the close of school for the day.
The
Superintendent/designee may establish criteria for eligibility for senior
privileges and rules for the exercise of senior privileges, including conduct
rules.
Students who violate
these rules may be subject to suspension or revocation of senior privileges at
the discretion of the building principal.
Students under the age of 18 must have the written permission of their
parent/guardian before senior privileges will be granted.
Adopted:
Revised:
M.S.A.D.
#4
NEPN/NSBA
Code: JHCA-R
SENIOR PRIVILEGES ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE
Seniors may arrive at
school in time for their first scheduled class if they have a study hall at the
beginning of the day, and/or may leave school grounds after their last
scheduled class.
This senior privilege
is subject to the following guidelines which may be amended by the
administration at any time.
I. ELIGIBILITY
The student must agree to and obtain
parent/guardian permission via the signed legal
document
(attached to this policy) releasing M.S.A.D. #4 from responsibility for the
student’s
well-being while exercising the senior privilege. This must also be confirmed
by a phone
call made to the signing parent or legal guardian.
II. REASONS
FOR THE PRIVILEGE BEING REVOKED
A. There will be a sign-out/sign-in sheet
located in the main office. Students
must personally sign out when leaving the school premises. Students must personally sign in immediately
upon their return to school grounds.
(Loitering in the halls, parking lot, or other areas of the school or on
school premises is prohibited.) Failure
to sign in prior to the end of the last period from which they were excused
will constitute a tardy and forfeiture of senior privileges for a time period
to be determined by the principal. If a
student wishes to have his/her privilege reinstated, he/she must appeal to the
principal.
B. Any student charged by law enforcement
authorities with a moving violation during his/her leave or any student
exhibiting inappropriate behavior during his/her leave may have his/her
privilege suspended for a period of time to be determined by the principal.
Examples
of inappropriate behavior are littering, unsafe conduct, stealing, fighting,
destruction of private or school property, and inappropriate language.
C. Any
senior who transports underclassmen during senior privileges will have his/her
privilege revoked immediately.
D. The
privilege may be revoked for any student who has been suspended within the
school year.
Adopted:
Revised:
M.S.A.D. #4
NEPN/NSBA
Code: JI
STUDENT RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Students have certain legal rights under
federal/state constitutions and statutes as interpreted in pertinent court
decisions. In connection with these
rights are responsibilities that must be assumed by students. Among these rights and responsibilities are
the following:
A. Civil rights, including the right to
equal educational opportunity and freedom from discrimination; the
responsibility not to discriminate against others;
B. The right to attend free public schools
in accordance with provisions of
C. The right to due process with respect to
suspension, expulsion, or an administrative decision which a student believes
has injured his/her rights; the responsibility to observe school rules and
regulations essential for permitting others to learn at school;
D. The right to free inquiry and expression
and to voice grievances; the responsibility to observe reasonable rules
regarding these rights and to express themselves in a manner that does not
materially or substantially disrupt the operation of the school or conflict
with the school’s basic educational mission;
E. The right to privacy regarding the
content of student records—as defined by the Family Educational Rights and
Privacy Act—and the right to dress as he/she pleases within reasonable
guidelines related to health, safety, and the avoiding of potential disruption;
and
F. The right to be free from unreasonable
searches and seizures; the responsibility to comply with school rules and
policies.
It is the Board’s
belief that as part of the educational process, all students should be made
aware of their legal rights and also of the legal authority of the Board to
make or delegate authority to its staff to make rules and regulations regarding
the orderly operation of the schools. As
such, this policy shall be included in school handbooks or otherwise communicated
to students and parents at the beginning of each school year. The Board expects all staff to abide by this
policy in order to most effectively achieve mutual respect of rights and the
acceptance of responsibility.
This Board policy is designed for educational
and informational purposes and is not intended to create, expand, or restrict
any student rights or responsibilities.
Cross Reference: JIC
- Student Conduct
JIH -
Student Searches, Interrogations and Arrests
JK
- Student Discipline
Adopted:
Revised:
M.S.A.D.
#4
NEPN/NSBA
Code: JICA
STUDENT DRESS
The Board recognizes
that responsibility for the dress and appearance of students rests with
individual students and their parent(s)/guardian(s). The Board will not interfere with this right
unless the personal choices of students create a disruptive influence on the
school program or affect the health or safety of others.
Students are
encouraged to use sound judgment and reflect respect for themselves and others
in dress and grooming. In keeping with
the goals of the school unit to provide a safe, healthy and non-discriminatory
environment for educating students for maximum academic and social development,
the following restrictions on dress shall be enforced.
A. Articles of clothing which promote the
use of tobacco, alcohol or other drugs may not be worn on school grounds or at
school functions.
B. Clothing, footwear, insignia or
accessories that are intended to identify the wearer as a member of a
particular gang are prohibited.
C. Articles of clothing with displays that
are sexual, vulgar, lewd or indecent or include insulting words (e.g.,
racial/ethnic slurs) are not permitted.
D. Clothing that is destructive of school
property (e.g., cleats, pants with metal inserts that scratch furniture) is not
permitted.
School administrators
or teachers may require special clothing for health and safety reasons for
students participating in physical education, certain extracurricular
activities, work with or around machines or other activities. However, no particular brand may be required.
The Superintendent is
responsible for the development of any administrative procedures necessary to
implement this policy.
Adopted:
M.S.A.D. #4
NEPN/NSBA
Code: JICC
STUDENT CONDUCT ON SCHOOL BUSES
The law does not
relieve parents of students from the responsibility of supervision before the student
boards the bus in the morning and after the student leaves the bus at the end
of the school day.
Once a student boards
the bus—and only at that time—does he/she become the responsibility of the
school system. Such responsibility shall
end when the student is delivered to the regular bus stop at the close of the
school day.
In view of the fact
that a bus is an extension of the classroom, the Board requires students to
conduct themselves in the bus in a manner consistent with established standards
for classroom behavior.
In cases when a
student does not conduct him/herself properly on a bus, such instances are to
be brought to the attention of the building principal and/or the transportation
supervisor by the bus driver. The
building principal and /or the transportation supervisor will inform the
parents immediately of the misconduct and request their cooperation in checking
the student’s behavior.
Students who become a
serious disciplinary problem on the school bus may have their riding privileges
suspended by the principal or transportation supervisor. In such cases, the parents of the students
involved become responsible for seeing that their children get to and from
school safely.
Legal Reference: 20-A
MRSA § 5401
Cross Reference: EEA
- Student Transportation Services
EEAEF-Video
Cameras on Transportation Vehicles
Adopted: