School Procedures-General – Lashon Academy Charter School

Student Office And Bathroom Policy

During class time, students must have a hall pass from their teachers to be admitted to the Main Office. Note that the office telephone is for emergency use only. If parents call the School to relay a message to his/her child, they should expect to leave a message with the Office Manager, and it will be delivered to the child.

During the school day, students must ask permission from their teacher or Lashon staff member to use the restroom. Once they gain permission the student will travel to the restroom with a partner and bathroom pass to ensure safety and accountability. All students will follow the school’s check-in/check-out procedure when leaving the classroom.

BEHAVIOR IN OFFICE

Students should obtain permission and/or pass from their teacher prior to visiting the Main Office during class time. Students are expected to always speak softly in the Main Office.

OFFICE APPOINTMENTS

The Office Manager is the primary point of contact for questions and referrals to other school personnel. Parents should schedule appointments to meet with the Principal or Teachers at least one business day in advance by contacting the Office Manager.

Classroom Change Request-Policy And Procedures

Lashon Academy is fortunate to have an excellent team of teachers. We are confident that whatever classroom your child has been placed in, he or she will encounter a warm and well-prepared teacher who is committed to student learning, to student success, to children – to your child.

The process used to assign students is a comprehensive one. As a school, we take the responsibility of class placement very seriously. Beginning in the spring, and continuing through the summer, many factors are considered in the process of placing every child. This includes adjustments necessary in the summer to incorporate new students. If you are new to Lashon Academy and have only recently registered, please realize these factors were considered as closely as possible in placing your child in the classroom that will best meet his/her needs. Such factors involve:

The program/academic needs of the student
The social needs of the student and their leadership styles
Independent work habits of students
Behavior factors regarding students
The compatibility of students with each other (such as separating those in order to be successful)
Teacher, staff, and/or SST team recommendations

Within the first few weeks of school, staff and principal will review staffing based on increases/decreases in enrollment. If significant enrollment changes emerge, then changes in class sections may be made. However, with the exception of such enrollment issues, because classroom placement has been so carefully determined with such a wide range of factors taken into account, parental concerns and requests for changes in classroom placement must follow a CLEAR PROCESS as outlined below and are considered very carefully.

No Food Sharing

In order to ensure our students’ safety, Lashon adheres to a no food sharing policy. If the teachers plan to provide food to students, they will notify the class parents. We ask that no parents bring in food for students without prior consent from the teacher. All students will be asked to not share food with each other in attempt to prevent any allergy exposure from food.

Retention Policy

Retention is an intervention strategy to help students successfully attain grade-level standards, and it should be considered only if a teacher is reasonably confident that the student would approach grade-level proficiency with an extra year of instruction. Lashon Academy has a standards-based policy that establishes criteria regarding retention of students in 1st-8th grades. Teachers who are considering retaining students at the end of the current academic year must review and comply with the school policy.

A copy of the complete Retention and Promotion Policy is available for review at the main office or on the school website.

Student Study Team (“SST”)

The Student Study Team (“SST”) addresses the needs of students who experience academic, emotional, social, health and/or attendance difficulties. The team consists of an administrator, resource specialist, classroom teacher and the parents. The team develops and implements an action plan designed to address identified student needs.

A copy of the complete SST Policy is available for review at the main office or on the school website.

Student Office Appointments

Students who want to talk to the Principal should complete an appointment form with the Office Manager before school, during break, or at lunchtime. Students will be notified when to report to the Main Office.

Authorized Area/Closed Campus

Lashon Academy students must remain on the school grounds during the day. This includes the lunch period. Lashon students may not enter unsupervised areas.

Campus Search And Seizure Policy

The Charter School recognizes and has determined that the occurrence of incidents which may include the possession of firearms, weapons, alcohol, controlled substances, or other items of contraband prohibited by law or Charter School rules and regulations, jeopardizes the health, safety and welfare of students and Charter School employees.

The California Constitution requires that all students and staff of public schools have the inalienable right to attend campuses which are safe, secure, and peaceful. As such, Charter School has adopted a Policy outlining the reasonable search of students and their property, student use areas, and/or student lockers and the seizure of illegal, unsafe, unauthorized or contraband items and materials through a search based upon reasonable suspicion.

The complete Policy can be found on the school website.

Discipline

GENERAL DISCIPLINE APPROACH

Discipline is an important component of a safe, respectful and welcoming school environment where students can learn, and teachers can devote their time to teaching. Lashon applies thoughtful responses to student misconduct in order to provide this environment. Lashon Academy has set clear rules and expectations, which can be found in our Uniform Discipline Policy and includes the pupil suspension and expulsion policy (collectively, our “discipline policies”). The purpose of our disciplinary policies is to ensure the rights of each student to attend school in a safe, positive and productive learning environment.

The standard approach includes, but is not limited to:

Initial Classroom Management
Principal and Family Notification with Improvement Goals
Contractual Agreement with Parents and Students

Uniform Policy And Dress Code

Lashon Academy encourages and promotes a positive and safe dress code for students, which adheres to a constructive educational environment. Accordingly, all students must follow the standards of dress listed below:

SCHOOL UNIFORM POLICY

TOPS:

Polo shirts- short or long sleeves. Must have a collar (no T-shirts allowed)

White Shirt-Lashon Academy Campus
- Light Blue Shirt-Lashon Academy City Campus
Sweaters or vests must be Navy or Dark Blue
Outerwear such as jackets or windbreakers must be either Navy or Dark Blue.
Shirts and blouses must completely cover the midriff and chest area. No deep V-necks are permitted. Shirts and blouses shall show no cleavage nor drop off the shoulder.
Oxford dress shirts, with short or long sleeves, must be tucked in.
No oversized shirts allowed

BOTTOMS:

Permitted colors: Navy or Dark Blue

Pants, shorts, skorts, skirts, jumpers, dresses permitted

Solid Color stockings or leggings may be worn under skirts or jumpers (clothing still must be knee level or below when standing)
Skirts, dresses, jumpers, shorts, and skirts must be at least knee length when standing.
Skirts and dresses must have no slits in the sides or backs that expose the leg over knee level.
Trousers must be either pleated or flat front
Trousers must not be longer than ½ inch from the sole of the shoe for safety.
Footwear must be plain black, brown, or white.

MIDDLE SCHOOL UNIFORM POLICY

TOPS:

Navy or Light Blue shirts- short or long sleeves. Must have a collar.
Sweaters or vests must be dark navy blue
Outerwear such as jackets or windbreakers must be dark navy blue. *Plain or with our school logo are permitted

BOTTOMS:

Pants, skirts, shorts must be Navy blue or Black (no baggy pants, jeans, or stockings unless under a skirt/dress)
Girls may wear a dress with the pleated bottom in: Navy Blue
Black/Navy stockings or leggings may be worn under skirts or jumpers
Leather-style belts are to be black or brown with no studs or jewels. *Lashon’s learning environment requires that students move around frequently. Due to this, girls who choose to wear skirts and dresses will be required to also wear bike shorts or tights.

SHOES:

Footwear must be closed-toed and appropriate for running. *No open toed shoes, sandals, or shoes with heels will be permitted

Parents will be notified for students who are not in compliance with the school uniform policy in the following way:

First Offense- Phone call home and parents will be notified
Second Offense-Phone call home and parents will be asked to bring in alternate clothing
Repeat Offense-Parent meeting with Principal

Uniforms with Lashon Academy logos are optional and are available for purchase. Any student or parent who needs assistance with identifying or purchasing clothing in compliance with the uniform dress code should contact the school principal directly. No student shall be sent home from school or denied attendance to school, or penalized academically or otherwise discriminated against, for noncompliance with the school uniform dress code policy. However, Lashon will provide any student who arrives at school in nonconforming clothes with conforming clothing for the day.

DRESS CODE (APPLICABLE ON SPIRIT DAYS)

No tube tops/dresses/rompers, halter tops/dresses/rompers, off the shoulder tops/dresses/rompers or spaghetti strap tops/dresses/rompers can be worn not even with an over shirt. No see-through blouses.
No visible midriffs, cleavage or underwear including but not limited to bralettes.
No shorts, skirts and/or dresses shorter than fingertip plus one inch.
Any type of stretch pants including but not limited to: tights, leggings, yoga pants, etc. must be accompanied by a top and/or bottom (shorts/skirts) that is at minimum thumb length.
Holes and tears in jeans and pants must be lower than dress code length.
No shirts with slits on the side that expose the chest.
Pants must be fitted as not to sag so low that underwear is showing. Shoes must be worn at all times.

Clothing and jewelry must be safe and appropriate to the educational environment. All clothing must be clean and in good repair. Slits, tears or holes in pants or other articles of clothing are not permitted.
Head coverings, including hats of any kind, except those worn for religious, medical or safety reasons, are not to be worn inside school buildings. Hats may be worn outside for sun protection or warmth. All hats are to be removed upon entering school buildings.
For safety purposes, earrings, which may be for pierced ears, must not dangle more than one inch below the ear and necklaces or chains should not dangle below the chest.
No clothing or accessories depicting violence, drugs, alcohol, the use of offensive/obscene pictures or language, weapons, or symbols that represent and/or associate with offensive/obscene organizations of any kind, or gang attire. Appropriate shoes must be worn at all times. No flip-flops. No heels over one inch high.
Dog collars or spiked accessories are not permitted. Administration reserves the right to determine whether an accessory is appropriate for wear in the learning environment or not.
Grooming: Hair, sideburns, mustaches, and beards may be worn at any length or style.

The Principal may modify this dress code at any time in consideration of student safety and promoting a healthy

learning environment.

A copy of the complete Uniform and Dress Code Policy is available for review in the main office and on the school website.

Involuntary Removal Process

No student shall be involuntarily removed by the Charter School for any reason unless the parent or guardian of the student has been provided written notice of intent to remove the student no less than five (5) schooldays before the effective date of the action (“Involuntary Removal Notice”). The written notice shall be in the native language of the student or the student’s parent or guardian or, if the student is a foster child or youth or a homeless child or youth, the student’s educational rights holder. The Involuntary Removal Notice shall include the charges against the student and an explanation of the student’s basic rights including the right to request a hearing before the effective date of the action. The hearing shall be consistent with the Charter School’s expulsion procedures. If the student’s parent, guardian, or educational rights holder requests a hearing, the student shall remain enrolled and shall not be removed until the Charter School issues a final decision. As used herein, “involuntarily removed” includes disenrolled, dismissed, transferred, or terminated, but does not include suspensions or expulsions pursuant to the Charter School’s suspension and expulsion policy.

Upon parent/guardian request for a hearing, the Charter School will provide notice of hearing consistent with its expulsion hearing process, through which the student has a fair opportunity to present testimony, evidence, and witnesses and confront and cross-examine adverse witnesses, and at which the student has the right to bring legal counsel or an advocate. The notice of hearing shall be in the native language of the student or the student’s parent or guardian or, if the student is a foster child or youth or a homeless child or youth, the student’s educational rights holder, and shall include a copy of the Charter School’s expulsion hearing process.

If the parent/guardian is nonresponsive to the Involuntary Removal Notice, the student will be disenrolled as of the effective date set forth in the Involuntary Removal Notice. If the parent/guardian requests a hearing and does not attend on the date scheduled for the hearing the student will be disenrolled effective the date of the hearing.

If, as a result of the hearing, the student is disenrolled, notice will be sent to the student’s last known school district of residence within thirty (30) days.

A hearing decision not to disenroll the student does not prevent the Charter School from making a similar recommendation in the future should student truancy continue or re-occur.

Lost or Damaged School Property

If a student willfully damages the Charter School’s property or the personal property of a Charter School employee, or fails to return a textbook, library book, computer/tablet or other Charter School property that has been loaned to the student, the student’s parents/guardians are liable for all damages caused by the student’s misconduct not to exceed ten thousand dollars ($10,000), adjusted annually for inflation. After notifying the student’s parent or guardian in writing of the student’s alleged misconduct and affording the student due process, the Charter School may withhold the student’s grades, transcripts, until the damages have been paid. If the student and the student’s parent/guardian are unable to pay for the damages or to return the property, the Charter School will provide a program of voluntary work for the minor in lieu of the payment of monetary damages. Upon completion of the voluntary work, the student’s grades will be released.

Oral Health Assessment

Students enrolled in kindergarten in a public school or while enrolled in first grade if the student was not previously enrolled in kindergarten in a public school are required to have an oral health assessment completed by a dental professional. Please contact the main office if you have questions about this requirement

Physical Examinations and Right to Refuse

All students must complete a health screening examination on or before the 90th day after the student’s entrance into first grade or such students must have obtained a waiver pursuant to Health and Safety Code Sections 124040 and 124085. This examination can be obtained from your family physician or possibly through the services provided by your County Health Department. Information and forms are distributed to students enrolled in kindergarten. If your child’s medical status changes, please provide the teacher with a physician’s written verification of the medical issue, especially if it impacts in any way your child’s ability to perform schoolwork.

A parent/guardian having control or charge of any child enrolled in the Charter School may file annually with the Principal of the school in which the child is enrolled a written and signed statement stating that the parent/guardian will not consent to a physical examination of the child. Thereupon the child shall be exempt from any physical examination, but whenever there is a good reason to believe that the child is suffering from a recognized contagious or infectious disease, the child shall be sent home and shall not be permitted to return until the school authorities are satisfied that any contagious or infectious disease does not exist.

School Bus and Passenger Safety

All students who are transported in a school bus or school student activity bus shall receive instruction in school bus emergency procedures and passenger safety. A copy of the complete Policy is available upon request at the main office and on the school website.

Teacher Qualification Information

As the Charter School receives Title I federal funds through the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (“ESEA”), as reauthorized and amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (“ESSA”), all parents/guardians of students attending the Charter School may request information regarding the professional qualifications of classroom teachers and/or paraprofessionals, including at a minimum:

Whether the student’s teacher:
1. Has met State qualification and licensing criteria for the grade levels and subject areas in which the teacher provides instruction;
2. Is teaching under emergency or other provisional status through which State qualification or licensing criteria have been waived; and
3. Is teaching in the field of discipline of the certification of the teacher; and
Whether the child is provided services by paraprofessionals and, if so, their qualifications.

Upon request, the Charter School will provide the information to the parents/guardians in a timely manner. Parents/guardians may contact the Principal to obtain this information.

Uniform Complaint Procedure (“UCP”)

The Charter School is the local agency primarily responsible for compliance with federal and state laws and regulations governing educational programs. The Charter School shall investigate and seek to resolve complaints using policies and procedures known as the Uniform Complaint Procedure (“UCP”) adopted by our Governing Board for the following types of complaints:

Complaints alleging unlawful discrimination, harassment, intimidation, or bullying against any protected group on the basis of the actual or perceived characteristics of age, ancestry, color, mental disability, physical disability, ethnic group identification, immigration status, citizenship, gender expression, gender identity, gender, genetic information, nationality, national origin, race or ethnicity, religion, medical condition, marital status, sex, or sexual orientation, or on the basis of a person’s association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics in any Charter School program or activity.

Complaints alleging a violation of state or federal law or regulation governing the following programs:

Accommodations for Pregnant, Parenting or Lactating Students;
Adult Education;
Career Technical and Technical Education;
Career Technical and Technical Training;
Child Care and Development Programs;
Consolidated Categorical Aid;
Education of Students in Foster Care, Students who are Homeless, former Juvenile Court Students now enrolled in a public school, Migratory Children and Children of Military Families;
Every Student Succeeds Act;
Migrant Education Programs;
Regional Occupational Centers and Programs; and/or
School Safety Plans

Complaints alleging noncompliance with laws relating to pupil fees. A student enrolled in a public school shall not be required to pay a pupil fee for participation in an educational activity. A pupil fee includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:

A fee charged to a pupil as a condition for registering for school or classes, or as a condition for participation in a class or an extracurricular activity, regardless of whether the class or activity is elective or compulsory or is for credit.
A security deposit, or other payment, that a pupil is required to make to obtain a lock, locker, book, class apparatus, musical instrument, clothes, or other materials or equipment.
A purchase that a pupil is required to make to obtain materials, supplies, equipment, or clothes associated with an educational activity.

Complaints of noncompliance with laws relating to pupil fees may be filed with the Principal of Charter School or the Compliance Officer identified below.

Complaints alleging noncompliance with the requirements governing the Local Control Funding Formula (“LCFF”) or Local Control and Accountability Plans (“LCAP”) under Education Code sections 47606.5 and 47607.3, as applicable. If the Charter School adopts a School Plan for Student Achievement (“SPSA”) in addition to its LCAP, complaints of noncompliance with the requirements of the SPSA under Education Code sections 64000, 64001, 65000, and 65001 shall also fall under the UCP.

Complaints alleging noncompliance regarding child nutrition programs established pursuant to Education Code sections 49490-49590 are governed by Title 7, Code of Federal Regulations (“C.F.R.”) sections 210.19(a)(4), 215.1(a), 220.13(c), 225.11(b), 226.6(n), and 250.15(d) and Title 5, California Code of Regulations (“C.C.R.”) sections 15580 – 15584.

Complaints alleging noncompliance regarding special education programs established pursuant to Education Code sections 56000-56865 and 59000-59300 are governed by the procedures set forth in 5 C.C.R. sections 3200-3205 and 34 C.F.R. sections 300.151-300.153.

Complaints other than complaints relating to pupil fees must be filed in writing with the following Compliance Officer:

Lashon Academy Lashon Academy City

Sara Garcia, Director of Education Sara Garcia, Director of Education

7477 Kester Ave Van Nuys CA 91405 3186 7th Ave Los Angeles CA 90018

818-514-4566 213-514-5767 sgarcia@lashonacademy.org sgarcia@lashonacademy.org

Only complaints regarding pupil fees or LCAP compliance may be filed anonymously and only if the anonymous complainant provides evidence or information leading to evidence to support an allegation of noncompliance with laws relating to pupil fees or LCAP.

Complaints alleging unlawful discrimination, harassment, intimidation, or bullying, must be filed within six (6) months from the date the alleged discrimination, harassment, intimidation, or bullying, occurred or the date the complainant first obtained knowledge of the facts of the alleged discrimination, harassment, intimidation, or bullying. All other complaints under the UCP shall be filed not later than one (1) year from the date the alleged violation occurred. For complaints relating to the LCAP, the date of the alleged violation is the date on which the Charter School’s Board of Directors approved the LCAP or the annual update was adopted by the Charter School.

The Compliance Officer responsible for investigating the complaint shall conduct and complete the investigation in accordance with California regulations and the Charter School’s UCP Policy. The Compliance Officer shall provide the complainant with a final written investigation report (“Decision”) within sixty (60) calendar days from the Charter School’s receipt of the complaint. This sixty (60) calendar day time period may be extended by written agreement of the complainant.

The complainant has a right to appeal the Charter School’s Decision to the California Department of Education (“CDE”) by filing a written appeal within thirty (30) calendar days of the date of the Charter School’s written Decision, except if the Charter School has used its UCP to address a complaint that is not subject to the UCP requirements. The appeal must include a copy of the complaint filed with the Charter School, a copy of the Charter School’s Decision, and the complainant must specify and explain the basis for the appeal of the Decision, including at least one of the following:

The Charter School failed to follow its complaint procedures.

Relative to the allegations of the complaint, the Charter School’s Decision lacks material findings of fact necessary to reach a conclusion of law.

The material findings of fact in the Charter School’s Decision are not supported by substantial evidence.

The legal conclusion in the Charter School’s Decision is inconsistent with the law.

In a case in which the Charter School’s Decision found noncompliance, the corrective actions fail to provide a proper remedy.

A complainant who appeals the Charter School’s Decision on a UCP complaint to the CDE shall receive a written appeal decision within sixty (60) calendar days of the CDE’s receipt of the appeal, unless extended by written agreement with the complainant or the CDE documents exceptional circumstances and informs the complainant.

Within thirty (30) calendar days of the date of the CDE’s appeal Decision pursuant to 5 C.C.R. section 4633(f)(2) or (3), either party may request reconsideration by the State Superintendent of Public Instruction (“SSPI”) or the SSPI’s designee. The request for reconsideration shall specify and explain the reason(s) for contesting the findings of fact, conclusions of law, or corrective actions in the CDE’s appeal Decision.

If a UCP complaint is filed directly with the CDE and the CDE determines that it merits direct intervention, the CDE shall complete an investigation and provide a written decision to the complainant within sixty (60) calendar days of receipt of the complaint, unless the parties have agreed to extend the timeline or the CDE documents exceptional circumstances and informs the complainant.

If the Charter School finds merit in a UCP complaint, or the CDE finds merit in an appeal, the Charter School shall take corrective actions consistent with the requirements of existing law that will provide a remedy to the affected student and/or parent/guardian as applicable.

A complainant may pursue available civil law remedies outside of the Charter School’s complaint procedures. Complainants may seek assistance from mediation centers or public/private interest attorneys. Civil law remedies that may be imposed by a court include, but are not limited to, injunctions and restraining orders. For unlawful discrimination, harassment, intimidation or bullying complaints arising under state law, however, a complainant must wait until sixty (60) calendar days have elapsed from the filing of an appeal with the CDE before pursuing civil law remedies. The moratorium does not apply to injunctive relief and is applicable only if the Charter School has appropriately, and in a timely manner, apprised the complainant of the complainant’s right to file a complaint in accordance with 5 C.C.R. § 4622.

A copy of the UCP shall be available upon request free of charge in the main officeand on the school website. For further information on any part of the complaint procedures, including filing a complaint or requesting a copy of the UCP, please contact the Principal

Use of Student Information Learned from Social Media

The Charter School complies with all federal, state, and local guidelines regarding the gathering and/or maintenance of information about any enrolled student obtained from social media in the student’s educational record. The Charter School gathers student information from social media. Such information shall be maintained in the Charter School’s records with regard to the student and shall be destroyed within one (1) year after a student turns 18 years of age or within one (1) year after the student is no longer enrolled in the Charter School, whichever occurs first. A non-minor student or a student’s parent or guardian may access the student’s records for examination of the information, request the removal of information or corrections made to information gathered or maintained by the Charter School by contacting the Principal. A copy of the complete Information Obtained from Social Media Policy is available for review in the main office.