Rocketship  Sí  Se  Puede   Academy    

Student/Parent  Handbook   2015-­‐2016  School  Year      

 

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Table  of  Contents   ROCKETSHIP  EDUCATION  (RSED)  .................................................................................................  4   THE  ROCKETSHIP  STORY  .......................................................................................................................................................  4   WHAT  IS  A  CHARTER  SCHOOL?  ...........................................................................................................................................  5   MISSION  ..........................................................................................................................................................................................  5   MISSION  STATEMENT  .............................................................................................................................................................  5   OUR  SCHOOL  MODEL  ...............................................................................................................................................................  5   PARENT  CONTRACT  .....................................................................................................................  6   CODE  OF  CONDUCT  .....................................................................................................................  6   EXPECTATIONS  FOR  OUR  COMMUNITY  .......................................................................................  7   SCHOOL  SCHEDULE  ......................................................................................................................  7   OFFICE  HOURS  .............................................................................................................................  7   CONTACT  INFORMATION:  ............................................................................................................  7   VISITORS  .....................................................................................................................................  8   ARRIVAL/DISMISSAL  ....................................................................................................................  8   WALKER/RIDER  CARD  ............................................................................................................................................................  8   AUTHORIZING  SOMEONE  TO  PICK  UP  A  STUDENT  (EMERGENCY  CARDS)  ....................................................  8   DROP-­‐OFF  ......................................................................................................................................................................................  9   PICK-­‐UP  ..........................................................................................................................................................................................  9   LATE  PICK-­‐UP  ..............................................................................................................................................................................  9   REMINDERS  FOR  ARRIVAL  AND  DISMISSAL  .................................................................................................................  9   ATTENDANCE  AND  TRUANCY  .....................................................................................................  10   TRANSPORTATION   ....................................................................................................................  10   AFTER-­‐SCHOOL  ..........................................................................................................................  10   UNIFORM  POLICY  ......................................................................................................................  10   SCHOOL  SUPPLIES  ......................................................................................................................  11   PERSONAL  BELONGINGS  ............................................................................................................  11   TELEPHONE  USE  ........................................................................................................................  11   MEALS:  LUNCH,  BREAKFAST,  SNACKS  ........................................................................................  12   FREE  AND  REDUCED  LUNCH  FORMS  ............................................................................................................................  12   HOME/BAG  LUNCH  ................................................................................................................................................................  12   PAYING  FOR  LUNCH  AND  BREAKFAST  .........................................................................................................................  12   BREAKFAST  ...............................................................................................................................................................................  12   SNACKS………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………12   FOOD  ALLERGIES……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….13  

HEALTH  AND  SAFETY  .................................................................................................................  13   EMERGENCY  CONTACT  CARDS  .........................................................................................................................................  13   WEAPONS  AND  FIREARMS  .................................................................................................................................................  13   DRUGS,  ALCOHOL,  AND  SMOKE  ........................................................................................................................................  13   VIDEO  SURVEILLANCE  .........................................................................................................................................................  13   SAFETY  PREPARATION  ........................................................................................................................................................  14   2

PRIMARY  AND  SECONDARY  EVACUATION  SITES  ....................................................................................................  14   EMERGENCIES  ..........................................................................................................................................................................  14   VACCINATIONS  ........................................................................................................................................................................  15   ABSENCE  DUE  TO  ILLNESS  ................................................................................................................................................  15   HEAD  LICE  &  NIT  PREVENTION  .......................................................................................................................................  16   ILLNESS  OR  INJURY  DURING  SCHOOL  HOURS  ...........................................................................................................  16   MEDICATIONS  ..........................................................................................................................................................................  16   FIRST  AID  ....................................................................................................................................................................................  16  

FAMILY  INVOLVEMENT  ..............................................................................................................  16   PARENT  PARTNERSHIP  HOURS  .......................................................................................................................................  17   PARENT/GUARDIAN,  STUDENT,  TEACHER  CONFERENCES  ...............................................................................  17   EXHIBITION  NIGHTS  .............................................................................................................................................................  17   COMMUNITY  MEETINGS  ......................................................................................................................................................  17   PARENT/FAMILY  MEETINGS  ............................................................................................................................................  17   MANDATORY  REGISTRATION  DAY  .................................................................................................................................  17   ACADEMICS  ...............................................................................................................................  18   CURRICULUM  ............................................................................................................................................................................  18   CHEATING  ..................................................................................................................................................................................  18   HOMEWORK  ..............................................................................................................................................................................  18   MAKE-­‐UP  WORK  ......................................................................................................................................................................  18   Appendix:  School  Policies  ..........................................................................................................  18   ANNUAL  NOTIFICATION  OF  FERPA  .............................................................................................  19   ANNUAL  NOTICE  OF  CHILD  FIND  ACTIVITIES  ..............................................................................  20   PARENTS  RIGHT  TO  KNOW  POLICY  ............................................................................................  21   DISCIPLINE  POLICY  .....................................................................................................................  21   BULLYING/HARASSMENT  POLICY  ...............................................................................................  23   HEAD  LICE  POLICY  ......................................................................................................................  23   HUMAN  RIGHTS  STATEMENT  .....................................................................................................  23   CHILD  ABUSE/NEGLECT   .............................................................................................................  23   INTERNET  SAFETY  (CIPA)   ...........................................................................................................  24   FAMILY  CUSTODY  POLICY  ..........................................................................................................  25   CAMPUS  ACCESS  AND  VISITOR  POLICY  ......................................................................................  26   SCHOOL  CANCELLATION  AND  CLOSURE  .....................................................................................  27   STUDENT  RELEASE  POLICY  .........................................................................................................  27   LATE  PICK-­‐UP  .............................................................................................................................  28   ATTENDANCE  AND  TRUANCY  .....................................................................................................  29   VOLUNTEER  POLICY  ...................................................................................................................  32   COMPLAINT  POLICY  AND  PROCEDURES  .....................................................................................  35   SUSPENSION/EXPULSION  POLICY  ..............................................................................................  40   3

SCHOOL  FEE  POLICY  ...................................................................................................................  54    

ROCKETSHIP  EDUCATION  (RSED)    

Rocketship  Sí  Se  Puede  Academy  is  part  of  Rocketship  Education,  a  network  of  public  elementary  charter   schools  serving  primarily  low-­‐income  students  in  neighborhoods  where  access  to  excellent  schools  is   limited.    We  believe  that  truly  transformative  schools  do  more  than  educate  students;  they  empower  teachers,   engage  parents,  and  inspire  communities.  Using  a  blend  of  traditional  instruction,  adaptive  technology   targeted  tutoring,  and  enrichment  opportunities;  Rocketship  strives  to  meet  the  unique  needs  of  each  and   every  student.  Together,  we  can  eliminate  the  achievement  gap  in  our  lifetime.     The  key  to  our  success  is  the  following  three  core  pillars:   1. Excellent  teachers  and  leaders  create  transformational  schools.    Rocketship  invests  deeply  in   training  and  development  to  ensure  teachers  and  leaders  have  a  profound  impact  on  students  and   communities.   2. Every  child  has  a  unique  set  of  needs.  Rocketship  meets  these  needs  by  customizing  each  child’s   schedule  with  a  combination  of  traditional  instruction,  technology  and  tutoring.   3. Engaged  parents  are  essential  in  eliminating  the  achievement  gap.    Rocketship  develops  parent   leaders  in  our  schools  and  communities  to  become  powerful  advocates  for  their  children.  

THE  ROCKETSHIP  STORY   In  1999,  Father  Mateo  Sheedy,  Pastor  of  Sacred  Heart  Parish,  created  the  Juan  Diego  Scholarship  for  Santa   Clara  University.    He  was  surprised  to  discover  that,  of  the  hundreds  of  children  in  his  parish,  none  of  them  met   the  basic  academic  requirements  that  would  qualify  them  to  attend  their  hometown  college,  or  any  other  top-­‐ tier  university.   Father  Mateo  Sheedy  reached  out  to  his  community  and  started  creating  a  plan  to  improve  high-­‐quality   educational  options  in  Washington  Guadalupe,  a  neighborhood  within  greater  San  Jose.   Unfortunately,  Father  Mateo  Sheedy  passed  away  too  soon,  but  his  movement  lived  on.  In  2006,  his   parishioners  approached  John  Danner  and  Preston  Smith—two  educational  entrepreneurs  who  were   developing  a  new  model  for  schools  in  low-­‐income  neighborhoods.  John  Danner,  a  former  software  engineer,   was  interested  in  the  ways  technology  could  help  personalize  education.  Preston  Smith  was  a  young  principal   at  a  promising  elementary  school  in  San  Jose  who  recognized  the  impact  that  empowered  teachers  and   engaged  parents  can  have  on  student  success.     Rocketship  Mateo  Sheedy  Elementary  opened  soon  after  and  our  students  quickly  showed  strong  results  in   academic  achievement.  As  more  families  joined  the  waiting  list,  we  realized  the  need  for  even  more  high   quality  schools  in  the  San  Jose  community,  and  beyond.  Parent  demand  and  parent  organizing  has  played  a   strong  role  in  opening  new  Rocketship  schools.  Today,  there  are  nine  Rocketship  schools  in  San  Jose,  one  in   Milwaukee,  and  one  in  Nashville.  

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WHAT  IS  A  CHARTER  SCHOOL?  

Charter  schools  are  public  schools.  They  are  tuition-­‐free  and  open  to  any  student  who  wishes  to  attend.   Charter  schools  allow  parents,  organizations,  or  community  groups  to  restore,  reinvent,  and  reenergize  our   public  school  system.     Charter  schools  run  independently  of  local  districts,  but  must  be  approved  by  a  district  school  board  to  open.   Generally  every  five  years  in  California,  each  charter  school  must  be  re-­‐approved  by  a  vote  of  the  school  board   who  initially  approved  the  school.  Rocketship  is  a  non-­‐profit  organization  governed  by  a  board  of  directors.     Parents/guardians  who  want  their  child  to  attend  a  Rocketship  school  must  submit  an  application.  For  more   information  on  our  application  process  or  to  review  a  copy  of  Rocketship’s  Lottery  and  Enrollment  Procedures   and  Policies,  contact  your  school’s  Office  Manager  or  visit  the  Rocketship  Education  website  at  www.rsed.org.    

MISSION  

The  purpose  of  schooling  is  for  all  students  to  learn  to  use  their  minds  and  hearts  well.  Students  learn  best  in   schools  where  they  are  known  well,  where  expectations  are  high,  support  is  strong,  and  where  their  voices  and   their  parents’  voices  are  valued.    The  mission  of  SCHOOL  NAME  is  to  recognize  all  of  these  values  and  ensure   that  the  students  are  empowered  to  learn,  lead,  and  be  positive  and  productive  members  of  their  community.         • Rocketship  students  will  develop  a  deep  love  of  learning.   • Rocketship  will  provide  the  parents  of  Dobern  with  a  path  for  their  children  to  take  in     order  to  have  the  best  chance  to  attend  a  four-­‐year  college.   • Rocketship  will  encourage  our  alumni  to  return  to  San  Jose  to  become  leaders  in  their  community.  

MISSION  STATEMENT   Rocketship  Education  will  eliminate  the  achievement  gap  by  bringing  our  students  to  grade  level  in  literacy  and   math  by  second  grade  and  graduating  them  above  grade  level  in  fifth  grade.    All  Rocketeers  will  learn  to  take   initiative,  be  respectful,  be  responsible,  show  empathy,  and  be  persistent  in  attaining  excellence.      

OUR  SCHOOL  MODEL  

Our  school  model  is  based  on  three  pillars:     (1) Excellent  Teachers:  Excellent  teachers  and  leaders  create  transformational  schools   (2) Personalized  Learning:  Every  student  is  unique.   (3) Engaged  Parents:  Engaged  parents  are  essential  in  eliminating  the  achievement  gap.                                                                           Rocketship  Schools  use  an  innovative  blended  learning  model  that  leverages  technology  to  personalize   teaching  and  learning  for  our  students.      

Rocketship  uses  what  is  called  an  enhanced  rotational  school  model.  In  this  model  students  rotate  between   literacy  and  math  classrooms  and  a  Learning  Lab,  which  is  a  larger  room  with  computers  where  students  learn  

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by  using  online  programs  in  math  and  literacy  and  also  focus  on  key  technology  literacy  skills  like  typing.  Tutors   are  present  in  the  Learning  Lab  to  track  students’  online  learning  progress  and  work  with  small  groups  of   students  who  are  behind  grade  level.  Students  also  have  opportunities  to  engage  with  technology  in  their   classrooms,  where  writing  and  publishing  happens  as  well  as  teacher  created  targeted  practice  on  a  computer   during  their  literacy  or  math  class.    

PARENT  CONTRACT   Parents’/Guardians’  Commitment-­‐  We  fully  commit  to  Rocketship  in  the  following  ways:   • We  will  always  help  our  child  in  the  best  way  we  know  how,  and  we  will  do  whatever  it  takes  for  him/her   to  learn  and  prepare  for  college  and  life  by  supporting  him/her  and  encouraging  him/her  to  adhere  to   his/her  “commitment  to  excellence.”   • We  will  make  sure  our  child  arrives  at  school  on  time  every  school  day.     • We  will  make  arrangements  so  our  child  can  remain  at  school  until  the  end  of  the  school  day  each  day  and   be  picked  up  when  school  ends.   • We  will  follow  all  arrival  and  dismissal  regulations  and  parking  and  busing  procedures.   • We  will  make  sure  our  child  follows  the  Rocketship  dress  code.   • We  will  ensure  that  our  child  is  reading  or  being  read  to  every  night.   • We  will  check  our  child’s  homework  every  night,  sign  his/her  agenda,  and  we  will  carefully  read  and  sign  (if   requested)  all  the  papers  our  school  sends  home  to  us.   • We  will  meet  regularly  with  teachers  to  discuss  our  child’s  progress  and  support  their  work  to  help  our   child  excel.   • We  will  participate  in  as  many  school  activities  including  parent/family  meetings,  exhibition  nights,   community  meetings,  open  house  nights,  conferences,  etc.  as  reasonably  possible.   • We  will  strive  to  contribute  as  many  partnership  hours  to  the  school  community  as  reasonably  possible.   • We,  not  the  school,  are  responsible  for  the  behavior  of  our  child.     Rocketship  Commitment  –  At  Rocketship,  we  fully  commit  to  our  families  and  students  in  the  following  ways:   • We  will  create  a  safe  place  to  learn.   • We  will  respect  the  background,  culture,  and  individuality  of  each  child.   • We  will  communicate  regularly  with  you  about  your  child’s  progress  and  special  needs.   • We  will  hold  high  expectations  for  all  students.   • We  will  work  hard  to  help  your  child  feel  successful  and  increase  their  sense  of  self-­‐worth.   • We  will  provide  your  child  with  the  academic  base  and  moral  compass  they  need  to  be  successful  through   college  and  the  rest  of  their  lives.   • We  will  provide  support  to  you  and  your  child  as  you  determine  the  best  educational  path  upon  graduating   from  Rocketship.  

CODE  OF  CONDUCT   Non-­‐Negotiable  Expectations  for  Rocketship  Rocketeers:   • Adherence  to  the  Rocketship  Commitment  to  Excellence   • Adherence  to  the  Rocketship  Five  Core  Values:     Respect,  Responsibility,  Empathy,  Persistence,  Healthy  Choices   • Adherence  to  the  Rocketship  Creed:      

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I  am  a  Rocketship  Rocketeer  at  home,  at  school,  and  in  my  community   I  am  committed  to  making  healthy  choices  for  my  body  and  mind   I  am  respectful  of  myself,  others,  and  the  environment     I  am  responsible  for  my  learning,  actions  and  achievements   I  am  empathic  to  my  world   And  I  am  persistent  in  attaining  excellence.  

Together,  we  are  all  Rocketship  RocketeersEXPECTATIONS  FOR  OUR   COMMUNITY   At  Rocketship  we  expect  all  community  members  and  their  guests  to:   • Conduct  themselves  in  an  orderly  manner,  demonstrating  respect  to  our  educational  mission,  while  at   school  or  at  a  Rocketship  function.   • Do  the  right  thing  without  being  told.     • Be  prompt  when  bringing  their  children  to  school  or  Rocketship  functions  and  picking  up  their  children   from  school  or  Rocketship  functions.  

SCHOOL  SCHEDULE    

Kindergarten  Schedule:   Regular  Day  Schedule:  7:55  a.m.  to  3:50  p.m.   All  Thursdays  are  on  minimum  day  schedule  with  dismissal  at  1:50  p.m.     First  and  Second  Grade  Schedule   Regular  Day  Schedule:  7:55  a.m.  to  4:00  p.m.   All  Thursdays  are  on  minimum  day  schedule  with  dismissal  at  2:00  p.m.     Third,  Fourth  and  Fifth  Grade  Schedule   Regular  Day  Schedule:  7:55  a.m.  to  4:10  p.m.   All  Thursdays  are  on  minimum  day  schedule  with  dismissal  at  2:10  p.m.    

OFFICE  HOURS     Office  hours  are  set  for  ½  hour  before  the  start  of  school  to  ½  hour  after  the  end  of  the  instructional  day.     Regular  days:  7:30am  –  4:30pm  (Monday,  Tuesday,  Wednesday  Friday)   Minimum  Day:  7:30am-­‐  2:30pm  (Thursdays)      

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CONTACT  INFORMATION:    

2249  Dobern  Avenue       Phone:  408-­‐824-­‐5180     Fax:  408-­‐449-­‐5988                              School  Email:  [email protected]       ***If  your  call  is  sent  to  voice  mail,  please  leave  a  message  and  we  will  return  your  call  within  24  hours***   ***The  Front  Office  is  closed  on  the  days  when  students  do  not  have  school.  These  include:  Holidays,   Professional  Development  for  Teachers,    Parent  Conference  Days,  Winter  Vacation  and  Spring  Break***  

VISITORS   Parents  and  other  visitors  will  need  to  sign-­‐in  at  the  Front  Office  when  they  arrive  on  campus  and  show  an  ID.   Visitors  will  need  to  wear  a  visitor’s  badge  at  all  times  they  are  on  campus  and  sign  out  when  they  leave.         If  you  wish  to  have  a  conference  with  a  staff  member  or  visit  your  child’s  class,  please  make  arrangements  at   least  three  days  in  advance.  Visitors  can  be  disruptive  to  class  time  and  teachers  and  school  leaders  have  many   other  commitments,  so  we  won’t  be  able  to  accommodate  visitors  who  don’t  make  appointments  in  advance.   Please  contact  teachers  and  school  leaders  outside  of  instructional  time  (before  or  after  the  school  day).  A   copy  of  Rocketship’s  Campus  Visitor  Policy  is  included  in  the  Appendix  of  this  document.  

ARRIVAL/DISMISSAL     WALKER/RIDER  CARD   At  the  beginning  of  the  school  year,  parents  are  given  a  “Walker/Rider  Card”  with  the  student’s  name,  grade,   and  homeroom.  During  dismissal,  the  child’s  parent/guardian  (or  other  authorized  individual)  must  present   this  card  to  school  staff  to  pick  up  the  child.  If  you  lose  your  Walker/Rider  Card,  authorized  individuals  will  be   required  to  show  ID  in  the  front  office  to  obtain  a  temporary  pick  pass.  

AUTHORIZING  SOMEONE  TO  PICK  UP  A  STUDENT  (EMERGENCY  CARDS)  

Parents/guardians  and  anyone  who  is  listed  as  an  emergency  contact  on  a  child’s  “Authorization  to  Pick-­‐ Up/Emergency  Contact  Card”  are  considered  authorized  to  pick  up  a  child  unless  the  parent/guardian  tells  the   school  that  this  is  not  true.       Parents  may  list  additional  people  who  are  approved  to  pick  up  their  child  in  the  “Authorization  to  Pick  Up”   section  of  the  “Emergency  Contact  Card.”    A  parent/guardian  can  update  this  card  at  any  time  by  visiting  the   Front  Office.     Rocketship  recognizes  that  there  will  be  situations  when  a  person  not  listed  on  the  “Authorization  to  Pick-­‐ Up/Emergency  Contact  Card”  who  will  need  to  pick  up  a  student  from  school.    In  these  rare  situations,  the   child’s  parent/guardian  MUST  call  the  school  to  let  them  know  that  their  child  can  be  released  to  another   person  on  that  day.  When  possible,  parents  should  also  give  this  person  a  signed  note  that  says  it  is  OK  for   them  to  pick  up  that  child.    If  school  staff  cannot  reach  the  child’s  parent/guardian  by  phone  and  do  not  have  a   signed  note,  we  will  need  to  hold  the  student  at  school  until  a  parent/guardian  can  be  reached.  For  more   information,  refer  to  RSED’s  Student  Release  Policy  in  the  Appendix  of  this  handbook.    

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DROP-­‐OFF   Students  may  be  dropped  off  as  early  as  7:15AM.         From  7:15  –  7:50  –  Parents  drive  through  campus  for  arrival.  Cars  turn  around  on  the  lower  play  area,  and  stop   in  between  the  classrooms  and  office  building.    A  school  leader  and  support  staff  will  open  the  car  door  and   supervise  the  students  at  play.     After  7:50,  the  school  gates  are  closed  and  parents  will  continue  the  drop  off  procedure  at  the  turn  around.     Support  staff  will  help  with  opening  doors  and  leading  students  to  the  launch  area.    Support  staff  will  remain  at   the  turn-­‐around  drop  off  8:15  to  receive  late  students,  but  will  hand  families  a  note  that  advises  them  that   they  are  late,  that  their  student  is  missing  Launch  and  Breakfast,  and  that  this  can  lead  to  truancy  proceedings.     If  your  child  is  dropped  off  late  (after  7:55  AM)  they  MUST  go  to  the  front  office  first  and  get  a  pass  from  the   Office  Manager  before  heading  to  Launch  or  class.    Your  student  will  be  marked  late  in  our  records  if  he/she   arrives  after  7:55  AM.     If  your  child  arrives  30  minutes  after  the  start  of  school,  your  child  will  be  marked  tardy.  If  your  child  is  marked   tardy,  you  may  be  subject  to  disciplinary  procedures  for  tardy  students.  Please  see  the  Attendance  and   Truancy  Policy  in  this  document  for  more  details.  

PICK-­‐UP   If  you  need  to  pick  up  your  child  before  3:30PM  for  an  appointment  or  any  other  reason,  you  will  need  If  you   need  to  pick  up  your  child  for  dismissal,  an  appointment  or  any  other  reason,  you  will  need  to  park  on  the   street  (There  is  no  parent  parking  on  school  campus).       For  safety  and  careful  supervision,  all  students  are  picked  up  directly  from  their  final  class  of  the  day.    Parents   need  to  park  off-­‐site  and  walk  in.    Their  identification  is  checked  both  as  they  enter  campus  and  when  they   receive  their  child.     In  case  of  inclement  weather,  families  will  be  able  to  drive  onto  campus  similar  to  arrival  and  students  will  go   directly  from  classroom  to  the  car.     For  families  that  cannot  park  and  walk  onto  campus,  75  drive-­‐through  permits  are  available.  They  will  be   available,  in  order,  to  families  with  documented  medical  need,  families  with  students  who  have  special  needs,   families  that  are  carpooling  with  4  or  more  students,  and  families  with  other  demonstrated  exceptional  needs.     The  application  for  these  passes  will  available  at  Mandatory  Registration  Day  and  Back-­‐to-­‐School  Nights.  

LATE  PICK-­‐UP   Dismissal  ends  at  4:30  PM  every  day,  except  on  minimum  days  it  ends  at  2:30PM.  When  a  child  is  picked  up   after  the  end  of  dismissal  it  is  considered  a  late  pick-­‐up  and  this  incident  will  be  recorded  and  addressed   according  to  the  Late  Pick-­‐Up  Policy  that  appears  in  the  Appendix  of  this  handbook.  If  you  are  running  late   due  to  an  unforeseen  emergency,  please  call  the  Front  Office.    

  REMINDERS  FOR  ARRIVAL  AND  DISMISSAL   • •   • •

Do  not  conference  with  teachers  or  school  leaders  during  arrival  and  dismissal  time;  make  an     appointment  instead.   Do  not  let  your  child  out  on  the  sidewalk  outside  or  near  our  campus.    YOU  MUST  enter  our   campus  and  let  your  child  out  in  the  designated  drop-­‐off  zone.     Students  may  only  exit  cars  on  the  passengers’  side.   Please  DO  NOT  talk  or  text  on  your  phone  during  this  time.  We  need  to  be  able  to  communicate    

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• •

with  you  for  the  safety  of  the  children.   Display  your  child’s  Walker/Rider  Card  when  picking  up  your  child.     Please  remember  to  leave  adequate  space  between  cars  to  avoid  collision  .    

ATTENDANCE  AND  TRUANCY   It  is  critical  that  Rocketeers  come  to  school  on  time,  ready  to  learn,  every  day.    Students  who  arrive  after  the   start  of  the  school  day  are  considered  late;  if  students  arrive  more  than  30  minutes  after  the  start  of  the  school   day,  they  are  considered  tardy.  Students  who  arrive  late  /tardy  or  miss  days  of  school  without  a  valid  excuse   are  missing  critical  parts  of  the  school  day,  and  parents/guardians  who  allow  students  to  miss  significant  time   at  school  may  be  in  violation  of  mandatory  attendance  laws.       It’s  best  to  schedule  doctor’s  appointments  for  your  child  at  the  very  beginning  of  the  day,  or  at  the  very  end   of  the  day.  Students  should  not  miss  an  entire  day  of  school  for  a  doctor’s  appointment.     Parents/guardians  should  carefully  review  the  Attendance  and  Truancy  Policy  that  appears  in  the  Appendix   of  this  Handbook  for  detailed  information  on  Rocketship’s  approach  to  attendance  and  truancy  and  the   consequences  for  recurring  unexcused  absences,  lates,  and  tardies.    

TRANSPORTATION   All  parents  are  responsible  for  securing  the  transportation  for  of  their  child  to  and  from  school.    In  addition,   parents  must  provide  contact  information  for  any  person  authorized  to  pick  up  their  student.    Parents  must   inform  the  front  office  if  a  child  has  permission  to  walk  home.      

AFTER-­‐SCHOOL   After-­‐school  programming  may  be  available  for  some  students.  Information  on  afterschool  opportunities  will   be  shared  with  families  over  the  summer  and  at  the  beginning  of  the  school  year.    

UNIFORM  POLICY   All  students  are  expected  to  wear  the  Rocketship  uniform  every  day.    The  Rocketship  uniform  consists  of  a   khaki  bottom  (pants,  shorts,  dress,  skirt,  or  skorts)  and  a  white,  dark  green  or  dark  purple  collared  shirt.     Students  may  also  wear  a  Rocketship  polo  shirt,  which  can  be  purchased  from  the  school  Office  Manager.   Students  must  always  be  “Dressed  for  Success,”  by  coming  to  school  in  neat  and  clean  uniforms,  shirts  should   be  tucked  in,  and  all  garments  should  fit  comfortably.  Students  should  also  wear  closed  toe  shoes.    Sandals  are   not  safe  or  appropriate  for  school.         Students  that  do  not  come  to  school  in  their  uniform  may  lose  privileges.    In  addition,  their  parent/guardian   will  be  contacted  and  will  be  asked  to  bring  a  change  of  clothes  for  their  child.       Any  additional  dress  code  requirements  above  and  beyond  what  appears  in  this  policy  will  be  communicated   to  families  by  the  principal  every  year.        

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The  following  are  NOT  permitted  on  campus:   1. Dresses  and  shorts  which  are  shorter  than  mid-­‐thigh     2. Spaghetti  straps  (smaller  than  2’’  or  the  width  of  a  credit  card)   3. Tank  tops  (white,  ribbed  undershirts)     4. Clothing  or  accessories  which  are  sexually  provocative     5. Clothing  or  accessories  which  identify  a  student  with  non-­‐school  clubs,  profanity,  obscenity,     references  to  drugs,  alcohol,  tobacco,  gangs  (red  or  blue  color)  or  prison  culture  name  insignia     6. Attire  with  writing  that  degrades  individuals  or  groups     7. Body  piercings  that  create  a  safety  hazard  are  not  acceptable;  moderate  sized  earrings  are     acceptable     8. Platform  shoes  or  high  heels  over  2.5  inches  high     9. No  underwear  or  undergarment  may  be  seen  at  any  time     10. Tops  must  completely  cover  the  midriff  area  at  all  times     11. Pants  must  be  properly  worn  around  the  waist     12. No  intentionally  torn  pants  or  jeans     13. Shoelaces  must  be  tied     14. Bandanas,  hairnets,  headbands,  dew  rags,  and  non-­‐Marshall  hats  (also  includes  beanies,     baseball  caps,  etc.)     15. Sunglasses  or  Marshall  hats  may  not  be  worn  in  the  building,  but  may  be  worn  outside  to     protect  from  the  sun  

SCHOOL  SUPPLIES   Students  will  need  to  have  the  following  supplies  at  home  to  complete  their  homework:   Pencils,  Papers,  Crayons   At  least  one  book  (may  be  checked  out  from  the  library)   Dictionary  (2nd  grade  students)

PERSONAL  BELONGINGS   Students  are  not  allowed  to  have  the  following  items  at  school:     Gum   Chips,  Candy  or  other  junk  food   Soda   Hats     Hot  Cheetos   Any  illegal  substance   Weapons  and  toy  weapons   Toys,  stuffed  animals  or  dolls   Gameboys  or  any  other  electronic  toys   Radio  or  Walkman  or  MP3  Player   Matches  or  any  flammable  item   Cell  Phones   *On  designated  Fridays  only,  teachers  may  send  home  a  permission  slip  to  celebrate  Birthdays  with  specific   snack  options.    

TELEPHONE  USE   Students  may  not  use  any  school  phone  without  permission  from  a  teacher.  Students  will  only  be  allowed  to   use  the  phone  in  case  of  emergency  or  to  inform  a  parent/  guardian  regarding  a  specific  need.    A  teacher  must   dial  the  number  for  students.    Students  who  use  a  phone  without  permission  from  a  teacher  will  be  subject  to   disciplinary  procedures.  

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MEALS:  LUNCH,  BREAKFAST,  SNACKS     FREE  AND  REDUCED  LUNCH  FORMS   All  families  must  either  fill  out  and  submit  a  federal  free/reduced  lunch  application  or  indicate  that  they  do  not   wish  to  submit  an  FRL  application  during  Mandatory  Registration  Day,  the  summer  before  school  starts.     Families  that  qualify  will  get  free/reduced  pricing  for  lunch  provided  by  the  school  after  their  application  has   been  processed.       If  a  family  submits  an  FRL  form  late  (after  Mandatory  Registration  Day),  benefits  will  take  place  once  the   application  is  processed.  Forms  are  typically  processed  within  5-­‐10  days  after  they  are  submitted.    Families  will   have  to  pay  full  price  for  any  meals  eaten  before  the  reduced  price  or  free  meal  benefit  takes  effect.      

HOME/BAG  LUNCH  

Students  do  not  have  to  eat  breakfast  or  lunch  provided  by  the  school.  Families  may  instead  choose  to  have   their  children  eat  breakfast  at  home  and/or  to  send  a  bag  lunch  to  the  school.  Please  be  aware  that  the  school   does  not  have  refrigerators  available  to  keep  student  lunches  cold.    

PAYING  FOR  LUNCH  AND  BREAKFAST   Our  school  lunch  program  is  supported  by  Rocketship  funds,  government  reimbursement,  and  payment  from   parents.  We  need  parents  to  pay  what  they  owe  for  student  meals  in  advance  in  order  to  keep  this  program   running.     If  your  child  is  going  to  eat  a  lunch  provided  by  the  school,  you  will  need  to  pre-­‐order  and  pre-­‐pay  for  these   meals.  You  will  receive  information  on  how  to  pre-­‐pay  and  pre-­‐order  over  the  summer.  Credit/debit  card  is  our   preferred  form  of  payment.       Families  will  be  charged  according  to  their  FRL  status.  (“Paid”  families  will  pay  full  price  for  their  lunches;   “reduced”  families  will  pay  a  reduced  rate  for  lunches;  “free”  families  will  not  need  to  pay  for  lunch).       Even  if  you  think  your  child  will  not  eat  school  lunch,  please  pre-­‐pay  some  amount  to  cover  the  cost  of   incidental  meals.  At  the  end  of  the  year,  you  can  be  refunded  whatever  is  left  in  your  child’s  account.       Questions  about  Lunch  Billing?  If  you  have  questions  or  concerns  about  lunch  billing  at  your  child’s  school,   reach  out  to  the  Business  Operations  Manager.    

BREAKFAST   Our  school  participates  in  universal  breakfast,  meaning  that  every  student  present  at  school  will  receive  a   meal.  Studies  have  shown  that  students  who  eat  breakfast  have  more  energy,  do  better  in  school,  and  eat   healthier  throughout  the  day.  Students  are  not  required  to  eat  the  breakfast  provided  by  the  school.  

  SNACKS  

Students  may  bring  a  snack  from  home.  Students  may  bring  a  healthy  snack  (fruits,  vegetables,  etc.),  but  may   NOT  bring  items  like  chips,  cookies,  sweets,  candy,  gum,  etc.  If  students  bring  these  items,  they  may  be   confiscated.         Prohibited  Foods:    Rocketship  partners  with  our  local  food  vendor  to  provide  our  Rocketeers  a  healthy  lunch.   With  a  focus  on  healthy  food,  Rocketship  prohibits  the  following  food  products  on  campus:  

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Foods  that  are  NOT  ALLOWED  (and  may  be  confiscated):   Chips  (unless  included  in  a  complete  lunch  i.e.  sandwich,  fruits,  vegetables,  etc.)   Cookies     Gum   Candy       Fast  Food     Soda       Junk  Food     Foods  that  are  encouraged  and  our  Rocketeers  LOVE!:   Salads       Carrots  Celery  Sticks       Apple  slices  and  peanut  butter   Fresh  fruits  and  vegetables     Whole  Grains       Healthy  snack  packs  and  options     *On  designated  Fridays  only,  teachers  may  send  home  a  permission  slip  to  celebrate  Birthdays  with  specific   snack  options.  

FOOD  ALLERGIES  

If  your  child  has  a  known  food  allergy  or  dietary  restriction,  please  let  school  staff  know.  In  some  cases,  it  may   be  possible  to  accommodate  your  child’s  needs  in  our  lunch  orders,  however,  you  will  need  to  provide  a  note   from  your  child’s  physician.  Please  talk  to  your  school  Business  Operations  Manager.       If  your  child  needs  access  to  an  Epi-­‐Pen  or  other  allergy  medication  in  case  of  a  reaction,  you  will  need  to   submit  a  Medication  Authorization  Form  to  your  school  Office  Manager  signed  by  you  and  your  child’s   physician.  Please  contact  the  Front  Office  for  more  information.    

HEALTH  AND  SAFETY   EMERGENCY  CONTACT  CARDS  

Over  the  summer,  parent/guardians  complete  and  submit  an  "Emergency  Contact/Authorization  to  Pick-­‐Up   Card.”  This  card  is  kept  on  file  at  the  school  in  the  Front  Office.    This  card  contains  the  names  and  phone   numbers  of  individuals  who  can  be  contacted  if  a  child  has  an  emergency  and  the  child’s  parent/guardian   cannot  be  reached.    

WEAPONS  AND  FIREARMS   Rocketship  Education  prohibits  any  weapons,  imitation  firearms  or  dangerous  objects  of  any  kind  in  school   buildings,  on  school  grounds  or  buses,  or  at  off  campus  school-­‐related  or  school  sponsored  activities.    

DRUGS,  ALCOHOL,  AND  SMOKE  

Rocketship  Education  is  committed  to  maintaining  campuses  free  of  alcohol,  smoke,  and  illegal  drugs.  Do  not   smoke  on  campus  and  do  not  bring  alcohol  or  illegal  substances  of  any  kind  to  our  school.    

VIDEO  SURVEILLANCE   Video  surveillance  may  be  used  at  our  campuses  where  deemed  necessary.  The  use  of  video  surveillance  at   our  schools  is  solely  for  the  purposes  of  controlling  theft,  ensuring  the  safety  of  Rocketship  students  and  staff,   and  facilitating  the  identification  of  individuals  who  behave  in  a  disruptive  manner  or  commit  a  crime.      

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If  a  visitor  to  a  Rocketship  Education  school  site  has  questions  or  concerns  about  the  use  of  video  surveillance,   he  or  she  should  direct  his/her  questions  to  the  school  principal    

SAFETY  PREPARATION   Safety  is  our  first  priority.  To  make  sure  our  staff  and  students  know  what  to  do  in  case  of  an  emergency,  we   follow  a  rigorous  calendar  of  staff  trainings,  safety  team  meetings,  campus  walkthroughs,  and  safety  drills.   Every  school  is  equipped  with  a  detailed  Health  and  Safety  Plan  that  contains  our  emergency  response  plans,   including  plans  for  earthquakes,  fire,  severe  weather,  and  lockdowns.    

PRIMARY  AND  SECONDARY  EVACUATION  SITES   Our  school  has  two  evacuation  sites.  Our  primary  evacuation  site  is  located  on  campus  in  the  gravel  parking   lot.  We  will  use  this  evacuation  site  when  it  is  safe  to  remain  on  campus.       Our  secondary  evacuation  site  is  located  off  campus  at  Mayfair  Park  and  Community  Center  (see  map  below).     If  there  is  a  disaster  at  the  school  site  or  the  campus  is  unsafe  for  some  reason,  we  will  evacuate  to  this  site.   During  an  emergency  dismissal,  we  may  ask  parents  to  meet  us  at  this  secondary  evacuation  site.  Please  be   familiar  with  this  location  so  you  know  where  to  go  in  case  of  an  emergency  dismissal.      

  EMERGENCIES   In  order  for  us  to  keep  our  campus  safe  during  an  emergency,  we  need  our  families  to  understand  the   following:     • In  the  event  of  an  emergency,  we  will  share  information  with  families  via  our  automated  calling   system.  Please  make  sure  your  updated  contact  information  is  in  our  system.     • If  there  is  an  incident  on  or  near  our  campus,  please  stay  at  home  and  wait  for  instructions  from  our   school  leaders.  We  need  the  public  to  stay  away  while  we  secure  our  campus  and  account  for  all   students.  When  it  is  safe  to  come  to  the  school,  you  will  be  contacted.      

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•

•

After  an  emergency  incident,  we  may  need  to  change  the  way  we  dismiss  students.  You  may  be  asked   to  present  a  photo  ID  in  addition  to  your  child’s  Walker/Rider  card.  Please  wait  for  instructions  from   school  leaders  before  coming  to  campus.     If  the  school  campus  is  not  safe,  we  may  need  to  dismiss  students  from  our  secondary  (off-­‐campus)   evacuation  sites.  It  is  important  that  you  know  where  this  secondary  evacuation  site  is  located  (see   above).  

VACCINATIONS   State  law  requires  that  all  children  entering  or  continuing  attendance  at  elementary  school  be  immunized   against  certain  diseases.  Parents/guardians  must  submit  proof  of  these  immunizations  to  the  school.  These   requirements  can  be  waived  only  if  a  properly  signed  health  or  religious  exemption  is  filed.  NOTE:    If  your  child   has  a  health  or  religious  exemption  they  will  be  excluded  from  school  in  the  case  of  an  outbreak.  To  enter  into   a  Rocketship  School,  children  under  age  eighteen  must  have  immunizations  as  outlined  below:         Polio   Diphtheria,  Tetanus   and  Pertussis  (DTaP,   DTP  or  DT)   Measles,  Mumps   &  Rubella  (MMR)   Hepatitis  B  

Varicella  

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4  doses  at  any  age,  but  3  doses  for  ages  4-­‐6  if  at  least  one  was  given  on  or  after  the  4   nd birthday,  but  3  doses  for  ages  7-­‐17  if  at  least  one  was  given  on  or  after  the  2  birthday.   th

5  doses  at  any  age,  but  4  doses  for  ages  4-­‐6  if  at  least  one  was  given  on  or  after  the  4   birthday.   st

2  doses  on  or  after  1  birthday  for  Transitional  Kindergarten  and  Kindergarten   3  doses  at  any  age  for  Transitional  Kindergarten  and  Kindergarten   1  dose  for  Transitional  Kindergarten  and  Kindergarten.  

  Hearing  and  Vision  Screenings    

At  Rocketship  Education  schools  in  California,  students  are  screened  at  each  school  site  and  at  the  grade  levels   listed  below.  Students  may  also  be  screened  if  a  parent,  teacher  or  staff  suspects  a  vision  or  hearing  problem.   Those  students  who  fail  the  initial  screening  will  be  retested.  Parents  will  be  notified  and  referred  for  further   follow-­‐up  if  necessary.  Parents  may  submit  a  written  request  for  exemption  from  any  health  screening.    

ABSENCE  DUE  TO  ILLNESS  

If  a  child  is  sick  in  the  morning,  Rocketship  expects  him/her  to  stay  home  for  the  day.    Please  call  the  Front   Office  in  the  morning  before  the  start  of  the  school  day  to  inform  us  of  the  child’s  absence  and  to  arrange  a   way  to  pick  up  homework.    Notifying  your  student’s  teacher  of  their  absence  will  not  excuse  the  absence  –  you   MUST  NOTIFY  THE  FRONT  OFFICE.  Please  consult  the  RSED  Attendance/Truancy  Policy  in  the  Appendix  of  this   handbook  for  further  detail.       The  student  will  be  responsible  for  all  missed  assignments.    Please  see  procedures  for  make-­‐up  work  under   academic  policies.  

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HEAD  LICE  &  NIT  PREVENTION   If  a  student  has  been  identified  as  having  live  head  lice  or  nits  (eggs),  the  parent  of  the  student  is  contacted   and  the  student  will  be  sent  home  from  school.  The  Front  Office  will  provide  the  parent  with  information   regarding  Rocketship’s  head  lice  Procedures,  treatment  and  process  of  readmission  requirements  and   resources.  The  student  may  return  to  school  following  treatment  which  in  most  cases  is  the  day  after   administering  treatment.  An  Rocketship  staff  member  will  exam  the  student’s  head  before  re-­‐entry  into  the   classroom.     If  there  are  two  or  more  students  affected  in  any  class,  an  exposure  notice  will  be  sent  home  to  parents  and   guardians  of  children  in  the  class.     Please  refer  to  the  RSED  Head  Lice  in  the  Appendix  of  this  handbook  for  information.  

ILLNESS  OR  INJURY  DURING  SCHOOL  HOURS   If  a  child  becomes  ill  or  injured  during  the  school  day  and  is  not  well  enough  to  stay  in  class,  the  child’s   parent/guardian  will  be  called  to  pick  the  child  up.  We  do  not  have  the  capacity  to  watch  over  and  care  for  ill   or  injured  children,  so  parents/guardians  will  be  expected  to  pick  up  their  child  within  as  soon  as  possible.   Please  make  sure  that  we  have  updated  phone  numbers  on  your  child’s  Emergency  Card  on  file  in  the  school   office.    If  your  child  has  an  emergency,  we  must  be  able  to  reach  you  –  if  you  move  or  change  your  phone   number(s),  please  let  us  know  immediately.     Please  be  sure  that  the  school  has  updated  contact  and  health  information.    If  your  child  has  needs  we  do  not   know  about,  we  cannot  provide  for  those  needs.    

MEDICATIONS   Rocketship  staff  CANNOT  assist  in  administering  any  medication  (prescription  or  over-­‐the-­‐counter)  unless  the   school  has  a  medication  authorization  form  signed  by  the  child’s  parent  and  physician.  If  your  child  needs  to   take  medication  at  school,  please  ask  your  Office  Manager  for  a  copy  of  this  form.       Bring  the  completed  form  to  the  Office  Manager  at  your  child’s  school  along  with  the  medication  and   prescription.  You  must  keep  the  medication  in  its  original  packaging  from  the  pharmacy.     The  Office  Manager  will  administer  medication  to  your  child  or  appoint  a  designee  to  administer  medication  if   he/she  is  unavailable.  The  school  will  keep  a  record  of  every  time  your  child  receives  a  medication.  For  more   information,  you  can  request  a  copy  of  our  Medication  Authorization  Policy.    

FIRST  AID   The  school  will  provide  basic  first  aid  to  your  child  in  case  of  an  incident.  If  your  child  is  sick  or  seriously  injured   and  you  receive  a  call  to  pick  up  your  child,  you  will  be  expected  to  pick  up  your  child  as  soon  as  possible.      

FAMILY  INVOLVEMENT    

In  addition  to  the  duties  listed  in  the  signed  contract,  parents  are  requested  to  participate  in  their  children’s   learning  in  the  following  ways:      

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PARENT  PARTNERSHIP  HOURS   Engaged  parents  are  a  core  pillar  of  Rocketship’s  model  and  critical  to  our  Rocketeers  and  their  long-­‐term   success.    By  actively  being  included  and  involved  in  our  schools  and  their  Rocketeers  learning,  parents  become   integrated  into  the  fabric  of  the  school  community.    An  active  partnership  between  families  and  Rocketship   faculty  and  staff  benefits  our  Rocketeers  as  they  see  their  parents  on  campus,  and  families  as  they  gain  a   deeper  understanding  of  Rocketship’s  model  and  are  positioned  to  reinforce    Rocketship’s  core  characteristics   at  home.       Rocketship  asks  that  families  participate  in  30  Parent  Partnership  Hours  each  year,  supporting  or  participating   in  various  school  activities.    Some  of  these  Parent  Partnership  Hours  are  realized  during  school  activities  that   occur  after  hours  or  on  weekends  in  order  to  accommodate  the  work  and  daily  schedules  of  our  parents.     Parents  are  able  to  realize  these  hours  by  participating  in  critical  activities  regarding  their  Rocketeer’s  success   and  achievement  like  home  visits  or  parent  conferences.       Moreover,  parents  may  realize  Parent  Partnership  Hours  by  helping  out  on  campus,  chaperoning  a  field  trip,   attending  community  meetings  around  various  agenda  items  that  are  intended  to  create  deeper  transparency   and  partnership  with  families.       Volunteering  is  not  required,  and  neither  students  nor  families  are  penalized  for  not  doing  so.    If  families  do   not  realize  30  Parent  Partnership  Hours  annually,  there  are  no  consequence  or  penalty.    Finally,  the  safety  of   our  Rocketeers  always  comes  first.    Thus,  in  regards  to  actively  volunteering  on  campus  or  off  campus  at   Rocketship  sponsored  events  such  as  fieldtrips  both  within  and  outside  normal  school  hours,  every  parent,   guardian,  or  family  member  must  apply  to  become  a  volunteer,  and  participation  is  encouraged  only  after  he   or  she  has  cleared  a  background  check.       Please  refer  to  the  RSED  Volunteer  Policy  in  the  Appendix  of  this  handbook  for  information  on  the   background  clearance  process  for  families  who  choose  to  volunteer.      

PARENT/GUARDIAN,  STUDENT,  TEACHER  CONFERENCES   A  parent/guardian  must  attend  conferences  to  meet  with  teachers  to  go  over  student’s  progress  report  and/or   report  card.      

EXHIBITION  NIGHTS   All  parents/guardians  should  attend  the  scheduled  Exhibition  Nights.  If  you  cannot  attend,  a  family   representative  can  attend  in  your  place.  During  these  meetings,  parents  have  the  opportunity  to  see  student   presentations  and  discover  what  their  child  has  learned  for  the  past  9-­‐12  weeks.  

COMMUNITY  MEETINGS   All  parents/guardians  are  invited  and  strongly  encouraged  to  attend  the  scheduled  Community  Meetings.     These  meetings  will  help  you  stay  informed  regarding  your  school  procedures  and  policies  and  become  actively   involved  in  further  developing  the  school’s  mission.      

PARENT/FAMILY  MEETINGS   All  parents/guardians  are  invited  and  strongly  encouraged  to  attend  the  scheduled  Parent/Family  Meetings  to   maintain  an  active  role  in  their  child’s  learning.    These  meetings  are  open  to  the  entire  family  and  typically  take   place  on  the  weekends  or  on  a  weeknight.    

MANDATORY  REGISTRATION  DAY   Before  school  begins  each  year,  parents  will  receive  an  invitation  to  a  Mandatory  Registration  Day.  All  parents   must  attend  this  event.    

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ACADEMICS   CURRICULUM   The  curriculum  at  Rocketship  is  driven  by  clear  performance  standards  for  what  students  should  know  and  be   able  to  do  at  each  grade  level  to  be  successful  in  top  quality  middle  schools,  high  schools,  and  colleges.    For   each  grade  level,  standards  are  based  on  national  and  state  curriculum  frameworks.  Teachers  will  use  regular   assessments  to  measure  how  well  students  are  mastering  the  standards.     We  use  knowledge  about  student  skills  to  shape  whole  class  instruction,  small  group  work,  and  small  group   tutoring.  Using  individual  student  data,  instruction  can  be  targeted  to  better  meet  individual  student  needs.       Teachers  will  give  students  and  parents/guardians  ongoing  feedback  about  student  performance.  Teachers  will   often  send  work  home  for  parents/guardians  to  sign,  and  teachers  will  contact  parents/guardians  if  they  see  a   significant  slip  in  academic  performance  or  a  special  skill  that  needs  extra  practice  at  school  and  home.   Parents/guardians  will  also  regularly  receive  progress  reports  and  report  cards.    You  should  feel  free  to  contact   any  of  your  child’s  teachers  regarding  his/her  progress  at  any  time.    

CHEATING   Cheating  is  a  serious  offense.    If  a  student  copies  another  student’s  work  or  if  a  student  gives  another  student   his/her  work,  it  is  considered  cheating.         A  student  caught  cheating  is  not  only  being  dishonest  but  is  in  violation  of  many  of  our  core  values.    Each  case   will  be  handled  on  an  individual  basis;  however,  cheating  is  considered  grounds  for  suspension.    

HOMEWORK   Homework  must  be  completed  every  night.     Rocketeers  have  homework  every  night.    Preparation  is  an  important  part  of  our  curriculum,  and  no  student  is   excused  from  any  assignment  without  the  permission  of  his  or  her  teacher  prior  to  the  due  date.         Students  who  do  not  complete  their  homework  will  be  assigned  to  attend  a  Family  Workshop.    Parents  must   accompany  their  students  to  the  Family  Workshop.    These  sessions  will  be  held  at  a  Rocketship  campus.     Parents  will  be  notified  at  least  48  hours  in  advance  of  the  time  and  location  of  the  Family  Workshop  they   must  attend.  

MAKE-­‐UP  WORK   Complete  all  missed  work.       It  is  a  Rocketeer’s  responsibility  to  consult  with  each  of  his/her  teachers  to  make  sure  s/he  is  aware  of  all   assignments.  The  time  generally  allowed  to  complete  this  work  will  be  the  number  of  days  the  student  was   absent.    For  example,  if  a  student  was  absent  for  one  day,  then  he  or  she  will  have  one  day  to  make  up  any   missed  work.

Appendix:  School  Policies   The  procedures  and  policies  described  in  this  appendix  and  in  this  handbook  as  a  whole  may  change  from  time   to  time.  Please  contact  the  school  front  office  for  the  most  updated  copy  of  any  policy  contained  in  this   handbook  and/or  to  clarify  any  questions  you  have  about  the  content  of  this  handbook.  

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ANNUAL  NOTIFICATION  OF  FERPA     Rocketship  Education  will  issue  an  annual  notice  of  the  Family  Educational  Rights  and  Privacy  Act  (FERPA)  (20   U.S.C.  §  1232g;  34  CFR  Part  99)  and  the  rights  it  provides  parents  and  students.  This  notice  shall  be  included  in   the  Rocketship  Education  Parent  Handbook.     Notification  to  Families   FERPA  is  a  Federal  law  that  protects  the  privacy  of  student  education  records.  The  law  applies  to  all  schools   that  receive  funds  under  an  applicable  program  of  the  U.S.  Department  of  Education,  including  Rocketship   Education  schools.     FERPA  gives  parents/guardians  certain  rights  with  respect  to  their  children's  education  records.  These  rights   transfer  to  the  student  when  he  or  she  reaches  the  age  of  18  or  attends  a  school  beyond  the  high  school  level.   Students  to  whom  the  rights  have  transferred  are  "eligible  students."   •

•

•

•

Parents/guardians  or  eligible  students  have  the  right  to  inspect  and  review  the  student's  education   records  maintained  by  the  school.  Rocketship  Education  will  provide  the  requesting  parent/guardian  or   eligible  student  the  requested  education  records  within  45  days  of  receiving  the  request.  Schools  are   not  required  to  provide  copies  of  records  unless,  for  reasons  such  as  great  distance,  it  is  impossible  for   parents  or  eligible  students  to  review  the  records.  Schools  may  charge  a  fee  for  copies.   Parents  or  eligible  students  have  the  right  to  request  that  a  school  correct  records  which  they  believe   to  be  inaccurate  or  misleading.  If  the  school  decides  not  to  amend  the  record,  the  parent  or  eligible   student  then  has  the  right  to  a  formal  hearing.  After  the  hearing,  if  the  school  still  decides  not  to   amend  the  record,  the  parent  or  eligible  student  has  the  right  to  place  a  statement  with  the  record   setting  forth  his  or  her  view  about  the  contested  information.   Generally,  schools  must  have  written  permission  from  the  parent  or  eligible  student  in  order  to  release   any  information  from  a  student's  education  record.  However,  FERPA  allows  schools  to  disclose  those   records,  without  consent,  to  the  following  parties  or  under  the  following  conditions  (34  CFR  §  99.31):   • School  officials  with  legitimate  educational  interest;   • Other  schools  to  which  a  student  is  transferring;   • Specified  officials  for  audit  or  evaluation  purposes;   • Appropriate  parties  in  connection  with  financial  aid  to  a  student;   • Organizations  conducting  certain  studies  for  or  on  behalf  of  the  school;   • Accrediting  organizations;   • To  comply  with  a  judicial  order  or  lawfully  issued  subpoena;   • Appropriate  officials  in  cases  of  health  and  safety  emergencies;  and   • State  and  local  authorities,  within  a  juvenile  justice  system,  pursuant  to  specific  State  law.   Parents/guardians  and  eligible  students  have  a  right  to  file  a  complaint  with  the  U.S.  Department  of   Education  concerning  alleged  failures  by  a  Rocketship  school  to  comply  with  the  requirements  of   FERPA.  These  complaints  should  be  directed  to  the  Family  Policy  Compliance  Office  of  the  U.S.   Department  of  Education:     Family Policy Compliance Office   U.S. Department of Education   400 Maryland Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20202-8520  

Schools  may  disclose,  without  consent,  "directory"  information  such  as  a  student's  name,  address,  telephone   number,  date  and  place  of  birth,  honors  and  awards,  and  dates  of  attendance.  However,  schools  must  tell   parents  and  eligible  students  about  directory  information  and  allow  parents  and  eligible  students  a  reasonable  

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amount  of  time  to  request  that  the  school  not  disclose  directory  information  about  them.  Schools  must  notify   parents  and  eligible  students  annually  of  their  rights  under  FERPA.     This  notice  will  be  included  in  the  Parent  Handbook  published  by  each  school.  Additional  or  alternate  means  of   notification  (special  letter,  newsletter,  or  newspaper  article)  are  left  to  the  discretion  of  each  school.  

ANNUAL  NOTICE  OF  CHILD  FIND  ACTIVITIES     Rocketship  Education  provides  a  free,  appropriate  public  education  to  students  with  disabilities  according  to   state  and  federal  mandates.  To  be  eligible  for  special  education  services,  the  child  must  be  of  school  age,  need   specially  designed  instruction,  and  meet  eligibility  criteria  for  one  or  more  of  the  following  disabilities  as  set   forth  in  the  Individuals  with  Disabilities  Education  Improvement  Act  (the  federal  law  which  outlines  legal   responsibilities  related  to  special  education):       •  Autistic-­‐like  Behaviors     •  Blindness/Visual  Impairment     •  Deaf  Blindness     •  Deafness/Hearing  Impairment     •  Emotional  Disturbance     •  Intellectual  Disability     •  Multiple  Disabilities     •  Orthopedic  Impairment     •  Other  Health  Impairment     •  Physical  Disability     •  Specific  Learning  Disability       •  Speech  and  Language  Impairment     •  Traumatic  Brain  Injury       Rocketship  has  adopted  an  inclusion  model,  which  means  that  students  with  disabilities  are  educated  in   general  education  classrooms.    Each  student  with  a  disability  has  a  case  manager,  who  is  a  credentialed  special   education  teacher  that  works  with  classroom  teachers  to  design  the  student’s  education  plan.    The  extent  of   special  education  services  and  the  location  for  the  delivery  of  such  services  are  determined  by  the  IEP  team   (which  includes  parents).    Rocketship  Education  also  provides  any  related  services,  such  as  physical  therapy,   adapted  physical  education,  occupational  therapy,  etc.  that  are  required  to  enable  the  student  to  derive   educational  benefits.     Rocketship  has  systems  in  place  that  assist  the  school  in  determining  whether  a  student  may  have  a  disability.     These  include  a  specific  “Child  Find”  form  that  is  completed  by  parents  upon  enrollment  in  a  Rockethip  school.     This  also  includes  an  SST,  or  pre-­‐referral,  process  in  which  school  teams  identify  students  who  are  struggling   academically,  socially,  or  behaviorally  and  develop  interventions  to  support  the  student.      Rocketship  has   additional  interventions  that  are  made  available  to  students  who  require  it;  these  include  both  differentiated   instruction  in  the  classroom  and  supplemental  interventions  in  the  learning  lab  and  classroom.    School  teams   monitor  the  progress  of  every  child  who  receives  intervention  services  in  order  to  be  able  to  identify  any   student  who  is  not  responding  to  interventions.    Our  model  makes  every  effort  to  support  the  student  within   the  general  education  setting  while  at  the  same  time  monitoring  student  progress  to  identify  students  who   may  have  disabilities.         If  you  have  a  concern  regarding  your  child’s  academic  or  social  functioning,  contact  his  or  her  classroom   teacher,  or  a  school  leader  at  your  school  site.      

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  Revocation  of  Consent:   Parents  of  children  who  have  been  identified  with  a  disability  have  the  right  to  revoke  consent  for  special   education  services,  meaning  that  they  no  longer  want  the  school  to  provide  special  education  services  to  their   child.  If  a  parent  withdraws  their  consent  for  special  education  and  related  services  by  notifying  the  Rocketship   in  writing,  the  district  still  has  the  responsibility  to  identify,  locate,  and  evaluate  a  child  who  is  suspected  of   having  a  disability  and  in  need  of  special  education  and  related  services.  As  part  of  our  Rocketship’s  child  find   obligations  in  regards  to  your  child,  please  know  that  you  maintain  the  right  to  subsequently  request  an   evaluation  to  determine  if  your  child  is  a  child  with  a  disability  who  needs  special  education  and  related   services.         Rocketship  cannot  proceed  with  an  evaluation  or  with  the  initial  provision  of  special  education  and  related   services  without  the  written  consent  of  the  parents.    Giving  written  consent  is  voluntary.    You  can  withdraw   your  written  consent  at  any  time  by  notifying  the  school  in  writing.

PARENTS  RIGHT  TO  KNOW  POLICY     Parents  have  the  right  under  Federal  law  to  request  information  specific  to  teacher  qualifications.  In   addition,  No  Child  Left  Behind  (NCLB)  places  an  emphasis  on  parents’  right  to  know  about  the   professional  qualifications  of  their  child’s  classroom  teachers.  Parents  have  the  right  to  request  the   following  information  about  the  instructional  staff  working  with  their  child:     •

Whether  a  teacher  has  met  state  certification  for  the  grades  and  subjects  that  he  or  she  is   teaching.  

•

 Whether  a  teacher  is  working  with  an  emergency  or  conditional  certificate.    

•

 What  the  baccalaureate  degree  major  and  any  other  graduate  certification  or  degrees  held  by   a  Rocketship  teacher  are.    

•

What  level  of  qualifications  paraprofessionals  have  whom  are  working  with  their  child.  

  In  addition,  a  school  that  receives  Title  I  funds  must  provide  parents:   •

Information  on  the  level  of  achievement  the  child  has  made  on  all  state  assessments;  and  

•

Timely  notice  to  the  parents  that  the  child  has  been  assigned  or  taught  for  4  or  more   consecutive  weeks  by  a  teacher  who  is  not  highly  qualified.  

  Rocketship  Education  is  committed  to  providing  quality  instruction  for  all  students.  It  does  so  by   employing  highly  qualified  individuals  to  teach  and  support  each  student  in  the  classroom.  If  you  would   like  to  receive  any  of  the  information  listed  above,  please  contact  the  Rockethship  Education  Human   Resources  department  by  emailing  [email protected]  with  “Right  to  Know  Request”  as  the  subject  of  your   email,  or  call  (877)  806-­‐0920  Ext.  117.  

DISCIPLINE  POLICY   Rocketship  relies  on  proactive,  preventative  supports  to  promote  positive  behavior  at  school.    We  implement  a   Positive  Behavior  Interventions  and  Supports  (PBIS)  framework  in  all  schools.    The  fundamental  purpose  of  

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PBIS  is  to  create  learning  environments  that  are  more  consistent,  predictable,  positive,  and  safe.    This  is   accomplished  through  the  following  key  practices:     • Behavioral  expectations  that  are  clearly  defined,  taught,  and  reinforced.     • Systems  for  recognizing  and  reinforcing  positive  behaviors.     • Consequences  that  are  clearly  defined  and  consistently  implemented.     • Data  based  decision  making   • Multi-­‐tiered  systems  of  support  (MTSS)     Core  Social-­‐Emotional  Learning  (SEL)  Programs:     A  key  component  of  our  PBIS  approach  at  Rocketship  is  the  implementation  of  core  SEL  programming  at  all   grade  levels.    We  will  be  implementing  the  following  two  programs:     1) Kimochi’s  (lower  grades)    “Feelings  can  be  messy…  Kimochi’s  can  help!”       Kimochi’s  is  a  social-­‐emotional  learning  program  which  helps  students  identify,  communicate,  and   regulate  feelings,  as  well  as  develop  appropriate  social  skills.    The  program  teaches  skills  through  five   characters:  Cloud,  Cat,  Lovey  Dove,  Huggatapus,  and  Bug.       Two  of  the  central  components  of  the  Kimochi’s  program  include  the  Keys  to  Communication  (e.g.  “Be   brave  and  redo  hurtful  moments,”  and  “Assume  the  best”),  and  “kotowazas”  (e.g.    “It’s  okay  to  be   mad,  but  it’s  not  okay  to  be  mean,”  and  “Be  brave  enough  to  stand  up  and  speak  or  brave  enough  sit   down  and  listen.”     2) The  Ruler  Approach  (upper  grades)     The  Ruler  Approach  is  a  social-­‐emotional  learning  program  which  teaches  “emotional  literacy”  to   students  by  teaching  them  to:     • Recognize  emotions  in  oneself  and  others   • Understand  the  causes  and  consequences  of  emotions   • Label  the  full  range  of  emotions  using  a  rich  vocabulary   • Express  emotions  appropriately  in  different  contexts   • Regulate  emotions  effectively  to  foster  healthy  relationships  and  achieve  goals   The  Ruler  Approach  utilizes  four  “Anchors  of  Emotional  Literacy,”  which  include  a  class  charter,  The   Mood  Meter,  Meta-­‐Moments,  and  The  Blueprint.       Rocketship  classrooms  also  use  a  variety  of  management  systems  to  communicate  behavior  (both  positive  and   negative)  to  students  and  families.    The  specific  systems  can  vary  by  classroom,  but  examples  include  color-­‐ coded  card  chart  systems  and  “Class  Dojo.”    Families  are  notified  of  student  behavior  (both  positive  and   concerns)  via  home-­‐school  communication  systems  such  as  logs,  phone  calls,  conferences,  and  school  visits.         In  the  event  that  our  proactive  systems  are  ineffective  and  behavior  infractions  occur,  Rocketship  utilizes  a   progressive  discipline  system.    Consequences  range  in  severity  based  on  the  particular  behavior.       Major  infractions  that  threaten  the  safety  or  health  of  students,  staff  or  others,  such  as,  weapons,  threats,  the   use  of  a  dangerous  instrument,  possession  of,  or  use  of  any  illegal  drugs,  may  be  cause  for  immediate   suspension  or  expulsion.  Decisions  over  these  consequences  will  be  made  by  the  school  Principal,  in   accordance  with  the  regional  RSED  Suspension/Expulsion  Policy.     Rocketship  considers  student  disciplinary  decisions  a  private  matter.    

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BULLYING/HARASSMENT  POLICY   Bullying  is  prohibited  at  Rocketship  schools.  This  policy  applies  to  all  Rocketship  students.   Bullying  is  harassing,  threatening,  or  hurting  another  student  or  staff  member.  Bullying  can  be  physical,   written,  verbal,  or  electronic  (“cyberbullying”).       If  a  student  is  being  bullied,  it  should  be  reported  immediately  to  a  school  staff  member.  School  staff  will   quickly  investigate  any  complaint  of  bullying  or  cyberbullying  and  will  take  action  if  the  bullying/cyberbullying   is  verified.  Bullying/cyberbullying  complaints  will  be  kept  confidential.   For  more  information,  request  a  copy  of  the  regional  RSED  Bullying/Harassment  Policy  from  your  school.  

HEAD  LICE  POLICY   If  student  is  suspected  of  having  head  lice,  a  trained  school  employee  may  examine  the  hair  of  the  suspected   student  or  other  members  of  that  student’s  household  to  look  for  nits  or  lice.  If  a  student  is  positive  for  live   head  lice,  the  student  is  to  be  sent  home  with  information  to  the  parents  regarding  treatment  and  control   measures.       If  there  are  two  or  more  students  affected  in  any  class,  an  exposure  notice  with  information  about  head  lice   shall  be  sent  home  to  all  parents/guardians  of  those  students.  Staff  shall  maintain  the  privacy  of  students   identified  as  having  head  lice  and  excluded  from  attendance.       Excluded  students  may  return  to  school  when  reexamination  shows  that  all  nits  and  lice  have  been  removed.  

HUMAN  RIGHTS  STATEMENT    

Rocketship  brings  together  a  diverse  group  of  individuals.    It  is  guided  by  the  principle  that  respect  and   consideration  for  all  individuals  is  foremost  in  all  school  activities.      It  is  unlawful  to  discriminate  against  any   individual  based  on  race,  color,  religion,  sex,  nationality,  sexual  orientation,  age  or  handicap  status.    Rocketship   is  not  only  obligated  to  uphold  the  law  concerning  equal  opportunity  but  regards  the  spirit  of  these  laws  to  be   the  very  core  of  its  values.         Rocketship  wishes  to  stress  that  it  is  the  responsibility  of  every  member  of  the  Rocketship  community  to   observe  and  uphold  the  principles  of  equal  opportunity  as  they  affect  staff,  faculty  and  students  in  all  aspects   of  school  life.    It  is  the  responsibility  of  every  member  of  the  Rocketship  community  to  actively  promote   appropriate  workplace  behavior.    Any  form  of  coercion  or  harassment  that  insults  the  dignity  of  others  or   impedes  their  freedom  to  work  and  learn  will  not  be  tolerated.    Any  such  form  of  coercion  or  harassment  will   result  in  appropriate  discipline,  up  to  and  including,  discharge.    

CHILD  ABUSE/NEGLECT     All  school  personnel  are  mandated  reporters  of  suspected  abuse  and/or  neglect.    Mandated  reporters  are   required  to  report  suspected  child  maltreatment  immediately  when  they  have  reasonable  cause  to  believe   that  a  child  who  is  17  years  of  age  or  younger  and  known  to  them  in  a  professional  or  official  capacity  has  been  

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harmed  or  is  in  danger  of  being  harmed  –  physically,  sexually,  or  through  neglect  –  and  that  a  caregiver  either   committed  the  harm  or  should  have  taken  steps  to  prevent  the  child  from  harm.           No  one  in  the  workplace,  even  a  supervisor,  is  permitted  to  suppress,  change,  or  edit  a  report  of  abuse.    A   mandated  reporter  who  fails  to  report  suspected  incidents  of  child  abuse  or  neglect  is  subject  to  license   suspension  or  revocation,  and  commits  a  misdemeanor.    For  more  information,  request  a  copy  of  the  RSED   regional  Mandated  Reporter  Policy  from  your  school.  

INTERNET  SAFETY  (CIPA)     It   is   the   policy   of   Rocketship   Education   (“Rocketship”)   and   each   school   in   the   Rocketship   Education   school     network    (individually    and    collectively,     the    “Schools”)    to:         (a)    prevent    user    access     over    its  computer   network   to,   or   transmission   of,   inappropriate   material   via   Internet,   electronic   mail,   or   other   forms   of   direct   electronic   communications;   (b)   prevent   unauthorized   access   and   other   unlawful   online   activity;   (c)   prevent   unauthorized   online   disclosure,   use,   or   dissemination   of   personal   identification   information   of   minors;  and  (d)  comply  with   t he  C hildren’s  Internet  Protection  Act  [Pub.  L.  No.  106  -­‐554  and  47  USC  254(h)].     DEFINITIONS   Key  t erms  are  as  defined  in  the  Children’s  Internet  Protection  Act.*   ACCESS  TO  INAPPROPRIATE  MATERIALS   To   the   extent   practical,   technology   protection   measures   (or   “Internet   filters”)   shall   be  used   to   block   or   filter  Internet,  or  other  forms  of   electronic  communications,  access  to  inappropriate  information.     Specifically,   as   required   by   the   Children’s   Internet   Protection   Act,   blocking   shall   be   applied   to   visual   depictions   of   material   deemed   obscene   or   child   pornography,   or   to   any   material   deemed   harmful   to   minors.     Subject   to  staff  supervision,  technology  protection   measures  may  b e  disabled  for  adults   or,  in  the  case  of   minors,  minimized  only  for  bona  fide  research  or  other  lawful  purposes.     INAPPROPRIATE  NETWORK  USAGE   To   the   extent   practical,   steps   shall   be  taken   to   promote  the  safety   and   security   of   users   of   the   Internet   access  at  t he  Schools   when  using  electronic  mail,  chat  rooms,  instant   messaging  and  other  forms   of   direct   electronic  communications.     Specifically,   as   required   by   the  Children’s   Internet   Protection   Act,   prevention   of   inappropriate   network   usage  includes:     (a)  unauthorized  access,   including  s o-­‐called  ‘hacking’  and  other   unlawful  activities;   and  (b)   unauthorized  disclosure,   use,   and  dissemination  of  p ersonal  identification  information  regarding  minors.     EDUCATION,  SUPERVISING,  AND  MONITORING   It   shall  b e  t he  r esponsibility   of  all   members   of  t he  Schools  staff  to   educate,  supervise  and   monitor   appropriate  usage  of  t he  access   t o  the  Internet  in  accordance  with  this   p olicy,  the  Children’s   Internet   Protection   Act,  the  Neighborhood  Children’s   Internet   Protection   Act,  and  the  Protecting  Children  in  the   21st   Century  Act   Procedures   for  the  disabling   or  otherwise  modifying  any  t echnology  protection   measures   s hall   b e  t he   responsibility   of  Rocketship’s   Chief  Schools   Officer   or   designated   representatives   of  Rocketship   or   the   Schools.    

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The   Rocketship   Regional   Business   Director   or   designated   representatives   of   Rocketship   or   the   School  will   provide  age-­‐appropriate  training  for   students   who   use  the  School’s   Internet   facilities.     The  training  provided   will  be  designed  t o  promote  the  School’s  commitment  to:   The  standards  and  acceptable  use  of  Internet  services   as  set  forth  in  the  School’s  Internet  Safety  Policy;   Student  safety  with  regard  to:  Safety  on  the  Internet;  Appropriate  behavior   while  online,   on  social   networking   Web   sites,   and   in  chat   rooms;  and  Cyberbullying  awareness  and  response.     Compliance  with  the  E -­‐Rate  requirements   of  the  Children’s  Internet  Protection  Act  (“CIPA”).     Following  r eceipt  of  t his   training,  the  student  will   acknowledge  t hat   he/she  received  t he  training,  understood   it,  and  will  follow  t he  provisions  of  Rocketship’s  acceptable  use  policies.     ADOPTION   This   Internet   Safety   was   adopted  by  the  Board   of  Rocketship   Education  at   a   public   meeting,   following   normal  public  notice  on  May  15,  2012.     *  CIPA  DEFINITIONS  OF  TERMS     MINOR.   The  term  ‘minor’   means  any  individual  who  has  not  attained  the  age  of  17  years.     TECHNOLOGY   PROTECTION   MEASURE.       The   term   ‘technology   protection   measure’   means   a   specific  t echnology  that  blocks  or  filters  Internet  access  to  visual  depictions  that  are:   1.       OBSCENE,  as  that  term  is  defined  in  s ection  1460  of  title  18,  United  States  Code;   2.       CHILD  PORNOGRAPHY,  as  that  term  is   defined  in  s ection  2256  of  t itle  18,  United  States  Code;   or   3.       Harmful  to  minors.     HARMFUL  TO  MINORS.     The  t erm  ‘harmful  t o  minors’   means  any  p icture,  image,  graphic  image  file,  or  other   visual  depiction  that:   1.  Taken   as   a   whole   and   with   respect   to   minors,   appeals   to   a   prurient   interest   in   nudity,   sex,   or  excretion;   2.       Depicts,  describes,  or  represents,  in  a  patently  offensive  way  with  respect  to  what   is  suitable  for  minors,     an   actual    or    simulated   sexual    act     or    sexual    contact,    actual    or    simulated    normal    or  perverted  s exual  acts,   or  a  lewd  exhibition  of  the  genitals;  and   3.       Taken  as  a  whole,  lacks  serious  literary,  artistic,  political,  or  scientific  value  as  to  minors.     SEXUAL  ACT;   SEXUAL  CONTACT.     The  t erms   ‘sexual  act’   a nd  ‘sexual   contact’  have  t he  meanings  given  such   terms  in  section  2246  of  title  18,  United  States  Code.  

FAMILY  CUSTODY  POLICY     It  is  Rocketship's  policy  to  remain  impartial  during  custody  disputes.       It  is  the  responsibility  of  parents  to  provide  the  school  with  accurate  and  updated  information  on  the  custody   rights  of  their  children.  Updated  court  orders  should  be  provided  to  the  Office  Manager  as  soon  as  possible.     All  documentation  provided  to  the  school  will  be  kept  private.       Without  a  court  order,  Rocketship  will  assume  that  separated  or  divorced  parents  of  a  child  have  joint  custody.   Without  a  court  order  or  proof  of  adoption,  a  child’s  stepparents  will  not  be  considered  to  have  custody  of  a   child.      

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If  one  parent  does  not  wish  to  allow  the  other  parent  the  right  to  remove  the  child  from  school  or  visit  the   child  in  school,  the  school  must  be  given  a  court  order  limiting  the  other  parent’s  rights.  For  more  information,   please  request  a  copy  of  the  Rocketship  Family  Custody  Policy  from  your  school.  

CAMPUS  ACCESS  AND  VISITOR  POLICY   Rocketship  Education  (“RSED”)  strives  to  create  campuses  that  are  welcoming  to  families,  volunteers,  and   community  members  while  maintaining  a  safe  and  secure  environment  for  students  and  staff.       To  ensure  the  campus  safety  and  minimize  interruption  of  the  instructional  program,  Rocketship  has   established  the  following  procedures  to  facilitate  visits  during  regular  school  days:       Front  Entrance   At   all   times   during   the   school   day,   the   front   office   to   a   Rocketship   school   will   be   manned   by   a   Rocketship   staff   member.  For  the  purpose  of  this  policy,  the  school  day  is  defined  as  a  period  of  time  that  starts  30  minutes   before  the  beginning  of  the  instructional  day  and  ends  30  minutes  after  the  end  of  the  instructional  day.     Ensuring  that  the  front  office  is  manned  at  all  times  is  a  primary  responsibility  of  the  school’s  Office  Manager.   If   the   Office   Manager   is   unable   to   be   at   the   front   desk   for   some   reason,   he/she   is   responsible   for   finding   another  Rocketship  staff  member  to  be  present.  Individuals  who  are  not  RSED  staff  members  should  NOT  be   asked  to  man  the  front  desk.     Visitor  Registration  and  Passes/Badges   All  visitors  (including  RSED  regional  and  national  staff  members)  are  required  to  register  with  the  front  office   immediately  upon  entering  any  school  building  or  grounds  during  school  hours.   After  registering  in  the  Front  Office,  visitors  who  are  not  RSED  employees  will  be  issued  a  Visitor’s  Pass  that   they  must  display  at  all  times  while  on  campus.     RSED   regional/national   staff   (“Network   Support”)   will   receive   personal   identification   badges   from   the   Rocketship  Human  Resources  Department.  Network  Support  staff  must  display  their  badge  on  their  persons  at   all   time   while   at   a   school   site.   If   a   Network   Support   staff   member   forgets   his   or   her   badge,   he   or   she   will   need   to  obtain  a  Visitor’s  Pass.     All  visitors  must  also  sign  out  when  leaving  the  campus.     Any  visitor  may  be  asked  to  provide  personal  identification  at  any  time.     Arranging  for  a  Campus  Visit   Visits  during  school  hours  by  non-­‐RSED  staff  should  be  arranged  with  the  teacher  and  Principal  (or  designee)  at   least  three  (3)  days  in  advance.  Teacher  conferences  should  be  arranged  by  appointment  at  least  three  (3)  days   in  advance  and  must  be  scheduled  to  take  place  during  non-­‐instructional  time.       Parent/guardians   who   want   to   visit   a   classroom   during   school   hours   must   first   obtain   written   approval   from   the  classroom  teacher  and  the  Principal  or  designee.  

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For  grounds  for  removal/refusal  of  a  visitor  at  a  school  site,  request  a  complete  copy  of  the  RSED  Campus   Access/Visitor  Policy  from  your  school.    

SCHOOL  CANCELLATION  AND  CLOSURE    

On  rare  occasions,  the  decision  may  be  made  to  alter  the  regular  schedule  of  the  school  day  by  closing  school   for  a  day,  starting  the  school  day  late,  or  releasing  students  early  at  one  or  several  Rocketship  Education   schools  due  to  snow,  rain,  severe  weather,  natural  disasters,  or  other  emergency  conditions.  In  general,   Rocketship  schools  will  observe  the  same  decisions  as  local  districts  in  case  of  closure  or  early  closure  due  to   weather  conditions.  That  is  to  say,  if  the  local  school  district  announces  a  decision  to  close  or  release  students   early  from  schools  due  to  weather,  Rocketship  principals  should  do  the  same.       Decisions  to  close  school  or  start  school  late  due  to  weather  conditions  will  be  made  public,  whenever   possible,  by  6:45  AM  on  the  morning  when  school  will  be  closed.  The  principal  should  alert  the  local  news   media  when  deciding  to  cancel  school.     Families  are  responsible  for  providing  the  school  with  updated  contact  information  so  that  they  can  be   reached  in  case  of  change  to  the  school  schedule.     For   more   information,   request   a   complete   copy   of   the   RSED   School   Cancellation   and   Closure   Policy   from   your  school.    

STUDENT  RELEASE  POLICY     Rocketship  Education  (RSED)  wants  to  ensure  that  our  students  get  home  safely  to  their  families.  This  policy   describes  the  rules  and  regulations  for  releasing  students  from  our  schools.         A. Walker/Rider  Cards     At  or  before  the  beginning  of  the  school  year,  parents/guardians  shall  be  issued  a  “Walker/Rider  Card”  with   the  student’s  name  and  grade.  Parent/guardians  or  other  individuals  authorized  to  pick  up  a  child  (see  below)   will  display  this  card  to  school  staff  during  dismissal.  If  a  parent/guardian  or  other  authorized  individual  forgets   to  bring  the  Walker/Rider  Card  to  dismissal,  they  may  need  to  check  in  with  the  front  office  and  provided  an  ID   in  order  to  get  a  new  Walker/Rider  Card  or  a  temporary  pass.       B. Emergency  Cards       At  the  beginning  of  the  school  year,  parent/guardians  shall  complete  and  submit  an  "Emergency  Contact  Card"   to  be  kept  on  file  at  the  school.  Parents/guardians  will  be  asked  to  include  the  names  of  individuals  to  be   contacted  in  case  of  an  emergency  if  attempts  to  contact  the  parent/guardian  fail.    Any  person  listed  as  an   Emergency  Contact  will  also  be  considered  to  be  authorized  by  the  child’s  parent/guardian  to  regularly  pick   them  up  from  school  unless  the  parent/guardian  indicates  otherwise.       C. Authorizing  Someone  to  Pick  Up  a  Child       Parents/guardians  may  authorize  Rocketship  to  release  their  child  to  other  people  by  completing  the  attached   “Authorization  to  Pick  Up”  section  of  the  “Emergency  Contact  Card”.    Parents/guardians  are  asked  to  include   the  name,  phone  number  and  relationship  to  the  child  for  each  person  they  wish  to  allow  their  child  to  be  

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released  to.    This  section  of  the  “Authorization  to  Pick  Up”  may  be  updated  by  the  parent/guardian  at  any  time   by  visiting  the  school  front  office.    Rocketship  staff  may  ask  the  authorized  individuals  for  identification  when   they  pick  the  child  up  from  school.     Rocketship  recognizes  that  there  will  be  situations  in  which  a  person  not  listed  on  the  “Emergency  Contact   Card”  will  need  to  pick  the  student  up  from  school.    In  these  rare  instances,  the  parent/guardian  should  call   the  school  to  inform  school  staff  that  they  authorize  school  staff  to  release  the  student  to  another  person  that   day.    If  a  person  that  is  not  listed  on  the  “Emergency  Contact  Card”  form  comes  to  pick  the  student  up  and  the   school  has  not  already  been  contacted  by  the  parent/guardian,  the  school  will  need  to  speak  to  the   parent/guardian  by  phone  prior  to  releasing  the  student.  In  addition,  whenever  feasible,  parents/guardians   should  provide  the  authorized  person  with  a  signed  note  indicating  their  desire  to  have  the  person  pick  the   child  up  on  the  day  in  question.     D.            Emergency  Dismissal   In  case  of  an  emergency  dismissal,  parents/guardians  must  wait  for  instructions  from  school  leaders  before   coming  to  campus  to  pick  up  their  child.  School  leaders  will  provide  parents/guardians  with  updated   information  on  the  dismissal  process  using  the  automated  calling  system.  Parents/guardians  should  expect   that  the  dismissal  location  and  procedures  will  be  different  than  on  a  regular  day.  Parents/guardians  should  be   prepared  to  present  photo  identification  when  picking  up  a  child  after  an  emergency  on  campus.       E.  Bussing   If  bussing  is  offered  at  a  Rockethsip  school,  parents/guardians  should  refer  to  that  school’s  process  and   guidelines  for  running  dismissal  with  buses.      

LATE  PICK-­‐UP   It  is  Rocketship  Education’s  goal  to  dismiss  our  students  safely,  efficiently,  and  responsibly.  We  need  the   support  and  partnership  of  our  families  to  attain  this  goal.       Parent/guardians  are  responsible  for  ensuring  that  their  children  are  picked  up  on  time  every  day.  Even  if  the   parent/guardian  has  designated  another  authorized  individual  to  pick  up  his/her  child  on  that  day,  it  is  still  the   responsibility  of  the  child’s  parent/guardian  to  make  sure  his/her  child  is  picked  up  on  time.       We  understand  that  there  are  occasional  family  emergencies  that  will  cause  a  child  to  be  picked-­‐up  late  from   school,  but  cannot  tolerate  students  being  left  on  campus  late  consistently.  Failing  to  pick  up  your  child  on   time  is  costly  to  the  school  and  disrespectful  to  the  school  staff;  it  may  also  constitute  child  neglect.         If  a  parent/guardian  has  a  family  situation  that  makes  it  difficult  to  arrive  on  time  to  pick  up  his/her  children  on   time,  the  parent/guardian  should  reach  out  to  a  school  leader  to  discuss  possible  solutions.         This  policy  explains  our  policy  and  process  for  addressing  late  student  pick-­‐ups.     Late  Pick-­‐Up:  A  child  who  has  not  been  picked  up  after  the  end  of  dismissal  will  be  considered  a  late  pick-­‐up   unless  he/she  is  part  of  an  afterschool  program  or  is  staying  late  at  the  request  of  a  school  staff  member.       Picking  up  a  Student  Late:  School  staff  will  attempt  to  contact  a  child’s  parent/guardian  if  a  child  is  left  on   campus  after  dismissal  ends,  per  guidelines  set  by  the  school.  When  a  parent/guardian  (or  otherwise   authorized  individual)  comes  to  pick  up  a  child  after  the  end  of  dismissal,  he  or  she  will  need  to  complete  a   “Late  Pick-­‐Up  Incident  Report”  (see  below)  and  submit  it  to  the  staff  member  supervising  their  child  before  

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leaving  campus.  These  reports  will  be  kept  on  file  at  the  school  as  a  record  of  why  the  child  was  picked  up  late   on  that  day.       Notifying  the  School:  Staying  late  at  work,  running  into  car  problems,  or  getting  stuck  in  traffic  are  not  excuses   for  picking  up  a  student  late.  Parents/guardians  are  expected  to  make  arrangements  for  their  children  to  be   picked  up  on  time  every  day.  That  said,  we  do  understand  that  there  may  be  unpredictable  situations  that   could  cause  a  parent/guardian  to  pick  up  a  student  late  on  a  given  day.  In  these  cases,  we  ask  that  a  child’s   parent/guardian  contact  the  school  by  phone  to  let  the  staff  know  that  their  child  will  be  picked  up  late  that   day.  The  parent/guardian  will  still  be  required  to  complete  a  Late  Pick  Up  Incident  Report  when  they  come  to   collect  their  child.       Extremely  Late  Pick-­‐Up:  If  a  child  is  still  on  campus  more  than  an  hour  after  the  end  of  dismissal  and  staff   members  have  not  been  in  contact  with  a  child’s  parent/guardian,  Rocketship  staff  must  assume  that  the   family  has  suffered  an  emergency.  Staff  will  contact  the  local  police  and  call  the  individuals  listed  on  the  child’s   emergency  contact  card  to  find  out  what  happened.  Staff  may  release  the  child  to  an  authorized  individual  or   the  authorities.       Recurring  Late  Pick-­‐Ups     Rocketship  will  follow  a  tiered  series  of  interventions/consequences  for  families  who  persistently  pick  up  their   children  late.       Late  Pick-­‐Up  (Every  Time)   Must  complete  a  “Late  Pick-­‐Up  Incident  Report”  before  leaving   campus   Recurring  Late  Pick-­‐Up  (3  times)   Parent/guardian  must  attend  a  meeting  with  a  school  leader  to   review  Late  Pick-­‐Up  Incident  Reports  and  create  a  verbal   agreement  and  plan  to  prevent  late  pick-­‐ups  in  the  future.  The   school  leader  may  refer  the  family  to  local  counseling  or  truancy   resources.     Habitual  Late  Pick-­‐Up  (6  times)   -­‐  A  letter  will  be  sent  home  to  the  child’s  parent/guardian   specifying  the  date,  time,  and  location  of  a  meeting  with  a  school   leader   -­‐  Parent/guardian  must  attend  meeting  with  a  school  leader  and   sign  an  agreement  to  pick  up  their  child  on  time   Chronic  Late  Pick  Up  (More  than  6   -­‐  Referral  to  Child  Protective  Services,  at  the  discretion  of  the   times)   school  leader  

ATTENDANCE  AND  TRUANCY     It  is  very  important  for  your  Rocketeer  to  be  on  time  and  present  every  school  day.    Tardiness  and  unexcused   absences  have  a  negative  effect  on  your  child’s  educational  achievement.  Since  public  funding  is  also  tied  to   student  attendance,  your  child’s  absence  also  impacts  your  school’s  budget.       Late,  Tardy,  Unexcused  Absences     Late:  A  student  arriving  during  the  first  30  minutes  of  school  is  considered  late.  That  student  will  be  marked   late  on  that  day’s  attendance.    Once  a  student  accumulates  10  late  arrivals  they  will  be  required  to  attend  a   mandatory  family  workshop  and/or  meet  with  a  School  Leader  to  discuss  ways  to  ensure  they  arrive  to  school   promptly  each  day  

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Tardy:  A  student  arriving  to  class  30+  minutes  after  the  start  of  school  is  considered  tardy.  That  student  will  be   marked  tardy  on  that  day’s  attendance.    When  a  student  is  tardy,  he  or  she  is  missing  significant  parts  of  the   school  day.     Unexcused  absences:  Proper  notification  and/or  documentation  is  required  for  a  student’s  absence  from   school  to  be  considered  excused  and  to  be  marked  as  excused  on  the  child’s  attendance  record.  Some  kinds  of   absences  may  not  be  considered  excused,  even  with  proper  documentation.  These  include  but  are  not  limited   to  the  following:  non-­‐documented  appointments,  sick  days  with  no  parent  notification  of  the  school,   oversleeping,  car  problems,  extra-­‐curricular  activities  not  approved  by  principal.   The  chart  below  explains  the  type  of  notification  and/or  documentation  required  to  “excuse”  a  child’s  absence   for  different  reasons.     Reason  

Documentation  Needed  

Other  Info.  

Illness  

Parent  call  to  school  required.    A   Doctor’s  note  for  3  or  more   consecutive  sick  days.    

When  a  student  has  had  more  than   10  absent  days  in  the  school  year   due  to  illness  a  Doctor’s  note  is   required  for  any  additional  sick  days.  

Quarantine  

As  directed  by  Department  of   Health  

 

Health  related   appointments/treatments  

Doctor’s  office  signed  note  

 

3  days  maximum  if  service  held  in   state   Approved  participation  by  school   required  

Independent  Study  available  for   absence  of  more  than  3  days   Approved  at  the  discretion  of  the   Principal  

Parents’  notification  required.  

Approved  at  the  discretion  of  the   Principal  

Parent  call  to  school  required  

 

Note  from  Principal  required  

 

Attending  funeral  services     Extra-­‐curricular  activities   Personal/family   emergencies  (Principal’s   discretion)   Religious   Holiday/Ceremony   Any  absence  accompanied   by  prior  approval  from  the   Principal   Court  appearances  

Notice  from  court  required       Late  Arrivals  Policy   10  late  arrivals  in  a  semester  will  result  in  a  mandatory  Family  Workshop.  15  late  arrivals  in  a  semester  will   result  in  a  second  mandatory  Family  Workshop.  More  than  fifteen  late  arrivals  in  a  semester  will  result  in  an   attendance  meeting  with  a  Rocketship  representative,  an  attendance  contract  and  a  third  mandatory  Family   Workshop.  

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10  Late   arrivals  in  a   semester  

First  mandatory   Family   Workshop  

15  Late   arrivals  in  a   semester  

Second   mandatory   Family   Workshop  

>15  Late   arrivals  in  a   semester  

Azendance   mee{ng  with   Rocketship   representa{ve.  

Azendance   contract  

Third   mandatory   Family   Workshop  

      Homework  when  Absent   Absent  students  are  responsible  for  completing  all  classroom  assignments  while  they  are  absent.  Absent   students  are  expected  to  get  their  work  from  the  Teachers.       Leaving  School  During  the  Day   Under  no  circumstances  may  a  student  go  home  without  the  permission  of  a  parent  or  guardian.  It  is  expected   that  parents/guardians  will  make  every  effort  to  schedule  appointments  after  school.  However,  if  an   appointment  during  the  school  day  is  unavoidable,  the  student  must  bring  a  signed  note  from  his/her   parent/guardian  that  includes  the  reason  for  the  partial  absence,  the  time  of  departure  from  school,  and  the   estimated  time  of  the  student’s  return  to  school.  If  the  student  has  a  doctor’s  appointment  the  student  must   bring  a  note  from  the  doctor  upon  return.  Students  who  become  ill  at  school  must  check  in  at  the  office  and   remain  at  school  until  the  child’s  parent/guardian  arrives/gives  permission  for  the  student  to  leave  campus.       Vacations   Rocketship  has  vacations  built  into  its  school  calendar.  Vacations  should  be  planned  around  these  dates.   Students  who  take  additional  vacation  time  are  not  assured  make-­‐up  work  or  credit.       “No  Show”  Policy:   If  your  child  misses  15+  consecutive  school  days  without  notifying  the  school  of  the  reason  for  the  absence  we   will  drop  your  child  student  from  the  school’s  roster  and  his/her  space  will  be  given  to  a  student  on  the  wait   list.  For  extended  absences  Independent  Studies  may  be  available.    Contact  your  teacher/principal  for  more   information.       Appendix  A:  California  Truancy  Consequences     Rocketship  California  (Santa  Clara  County)  

 

3+  Unexcused  Absences/Tardy  is  considered  truant  in  California.    This  results  in  Family  Workshop  and/or   a  Parent/School  Leader  meeting.  Chronic  truancy  can  result  in  referral  of  case  to  Santa  Clara  County   District  Attorney’s  office.    

 

Truant  Student  (3  unexcused   absences/tardies)  

•

Parent(s)  required  to  meet  with  school  leader  at  a   scheduled  meeting  and  review  attendance   expectations/truancy  policy  

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Habitual  Truant  (6  unexcused   absences/tardies)  

• • • •

Chronically  Truant  (9  Unexcused   Absences/Tardies)  

• • • •

Student  Attendance  Review  Board   (“SARB”)  meeting  (10  unexcused   absences/tardies)  

• • • •

Referral  to  Santa  Clara  County  DA   office  of  Truancy  (10+  Unexcused   Absences/Tardies  

•

Verbal  agreement  to  improve  attendance   Mandatory  parent  workshop   Certified  letter  with  meeting  date  mailed  to  parent   Parent  required  to  meet  with  school  leader  and  sign  an   Attendance  Contract   Second  mandatory  Family  Workshop   Certified  letter  with  meeting  date  sent  to  parent   Final  meeting  with  school  leaders  and  Principal  to  improve   attendance.  Attendance  contract  signed.   Family  referred  to  free  parenting  classes  and  other   community  resources  to  improve  attendance.   Certified  letter  with  meeting  date  mailed  to  parent   Parent  require  to  meet  with  representative  of  Rocketship   SARB  Board  at  Regional  Office   SARB  contract  signed  clearly  stating  further  truancy  will   result  in  DA  referral   Third  mandatory  Family  Workshop  and/or  mandatory   parenting  class   Summons  to  appear  in  court,  possible  court  ordered   parenting  class,  fine,  and/or  misdemeanor  charge  

VOLUNTEER  POLICY   A.  Purpose     Engaged  parents  are  a  core  pillar  of  Rocketship’s  model  and  critical  to  our  Rocketeer’s  and  their  long-­‐term   success.    By  actively  being  included  and  involved  in  our  schools  and  their  Rocketeer’s  learning,  parents  become   integrated  into  the  fabric  of  the  school  community.    An  active  partnership  between  families  and  Rocketship   faculty  and  staff  benefits  our  Rocketeers  as  they  see  their  parents  on  campus,  and  families  as  they  gain  a   deeper  understanding  of  Rocketship’s  model  and  are  positioned  to  reinforce    Rocketship’s  core  characteristics   at  home.       Rocketship  asks  that  families  participate  in  30  Parent  Partnership  Hours  each  year,  supporting  or  participating   in  various  school  activities.    Some  of  these  Parent  Partnership  Hours  are  realized  during  school  activities  that   occur  after  hours  or  on  weekends  in  order  to  accommodate  the  work  and  daily  schedules  of  our  parents.     Parents  are  able  to  realize  these  hours  by  participating  in  critical  activities  regarding  their  Rocketeer’s  success   and  achievement  like  home  visits  or  parent  conferences.       Moreover,  parents  may  realize  Parent  Partnership  Hours  by  helping  out  on  campus,  chaperoning  a  field  trip,   attending  community  meetings  around  various  agenda  items  that  are  intended  to  create  deeper  transparency   and  partnership  with  families.       Volunteering  is  not  required,  and  neither  students  nor  families  are  penalized  for  not  doing  so.    If  families  do   not  realize  30  Parent  Partnership  Hours  annually,  there  is  no  consequence  or  penalty.    Finally,  the  safety  of  our   Rocketeers  always  comes  first.    Thus,  in  regards  to  actively  volunteering  on  campus  or  off  campus  at   Rocketship  sponsored  events  such  as  fieldtrips  both  within  and  outside  normal  school  hours,  every  parent,   guardian,  or  family  member  must  apply  to  become  a  volunteer,  and  participation  is  encouraged  only  after  he   or  she  has  cleared  a  background  check.    

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B.  Definitions     Parent  Partnership  Hours:  Rocketship  recognizes  the  immeasurable  value  of  partnering  with  parents,  especially   as  they  are  their  Rocketeers  first  teacher.  For  this  reason,  we  encourage  families  to  actively  participate  in   school  activities  (during  and  after  school  hours)  for  30  hours  each  year.  In  realizing  these  Parent  Partnership   hours,  families  may  have  extended  family  members  (grandparents,  aunts/uncles,  cousins,  siblings,  etc.)   participate  in  the  school  activities  and  realize  these  hours.    In  addition,  to  encourage  participation  by  all   families  and  further  build  community,  Rocketship  permits  the  family  of  each  student  to  designate  one  person   to  be  Background  Checked  at  Rocketship’s  expense  in  case  they  wish  to  actively  volunteer  during  school  hours.     Any  additional  family  members  wishing  to  volunteer  will  need  to  be  Background  Checked  at  their  own  expense   (typically  $20-­‐$35  per  person).    Some  activities  where  Parent  Partnership  Hours  can  be  realized  such  as   community  meetings  and  public  hearings  do  not  require  a  background  check.    For  more  information  on  which   activities  do  and  do  not  require  background  checks,  please  consult  with  your  Rocketship  Principal  or  Office   Manager.     Background  Check  Clearance:  In  California,  the  Department  of  Justice  provides  an  automated  service  to   conduct  criminal  background  checks  through  the  use  of  Live  Scan.    Rocketship  will  provide  volunteers  with  a   Live  Scan  form  which  will  be  taken  to  a  certified  Live  Scan  facility.    Live  Scan  technology  allows  digitally   scanned  fingerprints  and  related  information  to  be  submitted  electronically  to  the  Department  of  Justice   within  a  matter  of  minutes  and  allows  criminal  background  checks  to  be  processed  automatically,  usually   within  72  hours.    After  receiving  the  Live  Scan  results,  Rocketship  will  notify  those  volunteers  who  are  required   to  undergo  a  background  check  if  they  have  received  clearance  to  volunteer  at  Rocketship  schools.   Volunteer  Types:   • Parent/Guardian  Volunteer:    A  person  who  has  legal  custody  of  a  Rocketship  student  and  who   volunteers  on  a  Rocketship  campus  or  on  any  Rocketship  field  trip.   • Community  Volunteer:    An  individual,  other  than  a  parent/guardian,  who  volunteers  on  a  Rocketship   campus  or  on  any  Rocketship  field  trip.   • Family  Volunteer:    A  person  within  four  degrees  of  relationship  of  the  Rocketship  student.    Please  see   Appendix  A  for  a  list  of  individuals  who  are  within  four  degrees  of  relationship.     Megan’s  Law  Clearance:  California's  Megan's  Law  provides  the  public  with  certain  information  on  the   whereabouts  of  sex  offenders  so  that  members  of  our  local  communities  may  protect  themselves  and  their   children.    Rocketship  will  search  the  Megan’s  Law  database  for  information  about  possible  past  offenses.    If  the   search  returns  no  objectionable  information,  the  volunteer  will  be  considered  to  have  received  Megan’s  Law   Clearance.     C.  Parent/Guardian  Volunteer  Requirements     Parent/Guardian  Volunteers  will  fall  into  one  of  two  categories.       Green:  Parents/Guardian  Volunteers  who  have  received  Background  Check  Clearance.    Green  Volunteers  may   interact  and  be  alone  with  students  without  being  under  the  direct  supervision  of  a  Rocketship  school   employee  and  go  on  overnight  field  trips.    Each  Rocketship  school  Principal  may  select  a  number  of   Parent/Guardian  Volunteers  who  will  receive  Background  Check  Clearance  at  Rocketship’s  expense  (usually   $20-­‐$35  per  person),  thereby  becoming  Green  Volunteers.       Purple:  Parents/Guardian  Volunteers  who  have  not  received  Background  Check  Clearance.    Purple  Volunteers   must  serve  in  roles  that  do  not  require  them  to  be  alone  with  or  supervise  students  on  campus  or  go  on   overnight  field  trips.    In  addition,  Purple  Volunteers  will  be  asked  to  sign  a  form  acknowledging  that  Rocketship  

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will  conduct  a  search  of  their  name  in  the  California  Megan’s  Law  database.    Purple  Volunteers  will  be  notified   if  they  receive  Megan’s  Law  Clearance.     D.    Family  Volunteer  Requirements     Family  Volunteers  must  serve  in  roles  that  do  not  require  them  to  be  alone  with  students  on  campus.    Family   Volunteers  must  sign  a  form  acknowledging  that  Rocketship  will  conduct  a  search  of  their  name  in  the   California  Megan’s  Law  database.    Family  Volunteers  will  be  notified  if  they  receive  Megan’s  Law  Clearance.    If   a  Family  Volunteer  desires  to  go  on  an  overnight  field  trip,  he/she  must  first  receive  Background  Check   Clearance.     E.  Community  Volunteer  Requirements     All  Community  Volunteers  must  obtain  Background  Check  Clearance  in  order  to  provide  volunteer  services  at   Rocketship  schools  or  go  on  field  trips.    Community  Volunteers  may  not  interact  with  or  supervise  students   without  the  direct  supervision  of  a  Rocketship  school  employee  even  after  receipt  of  a  successful  Background   Check.     F.  Minor  Volunteer  Requirements     Minor  Volunteers  CAN  ONLY  serve  in  roles  that  do  not  allow  them  to  be  alone  with  or  otherwise  supervise   Rocketship  students.    Minor  Volunteers  cannot  go  on  field  trips.  The  Rocketship  school  leader  at  the  school   where  the  Minor  Volunteer  wishes  to  volunteer  has  total  discretion  to  accept  or  reject  a  prospective  Minor   Volunteer.    Minor  Volunteers  will  need  to  complete  the  following  requirements:   • A  Volunteer  Application  signed  by  the  Minor  Volunteer  and  the  Minor  Volunteer’s  parent/guardian.   • Rocketship  alumni  will  need  one  letter  of  recommendation  from  a  teacher/school  leader  at  their   current  school,  plus  a  letter  of  recommendation  from  a  former  Rocketship  teacher  or  school  leader.   • Minor  Volunteers  who  are  not  Rocketship  alumni  will  need  two  letters  of  recommendation  from   teachers/school  leaders  at  their  current  school.   • A  behavior  contract  (available  from  the  Office  Manager)  signed  by  the  Minor  Volunteer,  the  Minor   Volunteer’s  parent/guardian,  and  the  school  leader  at  the  school  where  the  Minor  Volunteer  will  be   volunteering.     H.  Field  Trips     As  discussed  above,  any  Volunteers  who  are  attending  an  overnight  field  trip,  including  all  Parent/Guardian   Volunteers,  are  required  to  provide  proof  of  a  Background  Check  prior  to  the  date  of  the  field  trip.  Family  and   Parent/Guardian  Volunteers  for  day  field  trips  are  NOT  required  to  be  Background  Checked  but  they  need  to   be  Megan’s  Law  cleared.    Community  Volunteers  for  day  field  trips  MUST  be  Background  Checked.     I.  Tuberculosis  Testing     All  Volunteers  who  volunteer  in  a  Rocketship  classroom  for  at  least  ten  hours  each  month  will  be  required  to   complete  a  “Symptom  Screening  Questionnaire”.    The  results  of  the  questionnaire  will  be  examined  by  a   healthcare  professional  and  individuals  with  a  positive  symptom  screen  will  be  referred  for  further  evaluation   prior  to  returning  to  volunteer  in  such  a  role.    Only  volunteers  with  a  negative  symptom  screen  will  be  cleared   to  continue  to  volunteer  in  Rocketship  classroom  for  over  ten  hours  a  month.    Volunteers  who  are  not   required  to  complete  the  Symptom  Screening  Questionnaire  or  who  fail  to  complete  the  Symptom  Screening   Questionnaire  are  restricted  to  9  or  fewer  classroom  hours  per  month,  or  an  unlimited  number  of  hours  

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outside  the  classroom.    All  Rocketship  procedures  will  comply  with  the  Tuberculosis  Testing  requirements   promulgated  by  the  Santa  Clara  County  Public  Health  Department.     Appendix  A     Degrees  of  Relationship      

1st   Degree  

Rocketship   Student  

2nd   Degree  

3rd   Degree  

4th   Degree  

Grandparents  

Aunts/Uncles  

First  Cousins  

Parent/ Guardian   Siblings  

    Definitions     “Parent/Guardian”:  The  person  who  has  legal  custody  of  the  student.     “Grandparents”:  Parent/Guardians  of  the  student’s  Parent/Guardians.     “Siblings”:  Other  individuals  over  whom  the  student’s  Parent/Guardians  maintain  legal  custody.     “Aunts/Uncles”:  Siblings  of  the  student’s  Parent/Guardian.     “First  Cousins”:  Individuals  over  who  Aunts/Uncles  have  legal  custody.  

COMPLAINT  POLICY  AND  PROCEDURES     Rocketship  Education  (RSED)  takes  all  concerns  and  complaints  seriously.  RSED  values  the  concerns  of  our   parents,  staff,  students  and  community.  Complaints  are  respected  and  honored;  there  are  no  negative   consequences  for  filing  a  complaint.    No  reprisals  or  retaliation  shall  be  invoked  against  any  student,  parent  or   employee  for  processing,  in  good  faith,  a  complaint,  either  on  an  informal  or  formal  basis,  or  for  participating   in  any  way  in  these  complaint  procedures.    Every  attempt  is  made  to  resolve  complaints  informally  and  at  the   lowest  level  possible.  In  the  instances  when  that  is  not  possible,  a  formal  process  is  in  place.    

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Uniform  Complaint  Process  Concerning  Categorical  Aid  Programs  (Appendix  A)   For  violations  of  federal  or  state  law  or  regulations  governing  educational  institutions  including  allegations  of   unlawful  discrimination,  pupil  fee  complaints,  harassment,  intimidation  or  bullying.       Step  1:  Informal  Resolution   Step  2:  File  a  formal  written  complaint   Step  3:  Investigation  by  RSED  Compliance  Officer   Step  4:  Written  response  by  RSED  Compliance  Officer   Step  5:  Appeal  to  California  Department  of  Education     Williams  Uniform  Complaint  Procedure  (Appendix  B)   For  complaints  relating  to  instructional  materials,  teacher  vacancy  or  misassignment,  or  facility  conditions,  fill   out  a  Williams  Complaint  Form.     Complaint  Procedure  for  Parents,  Students,  Employees  and  Residents  (Appendix  C)   For  any  concern  or  complaint  against  any  Rocketship  Education  policy,  practice,  or  procedure;  any  school  site   practice  or  procedure;  or  RSED  employee.      

Uniform  Complaint  Process  Concerning  Categorical  Aid  Programs  (Appendix  A)   (California)  

  This  document  contains  rules  and  instructions  about  the  filing,  investigation  and  resolution  of  a  Uniform   Complaint  Procedures  (UCP)  complaint  regarding  an  alleged  violation  by  a  local  educational  agency  of  federal   or  state  laws  or  regulations  governing  educational  programs,  including  allegations  of  unlawful  discrimination,   harassment,  intimidation,  bullying  and  noncompliance  with  laws  relating  to  pupil  fees.     This  document  presents  information  about  how  Rocketship  Education  (RSED)  processes  UCP  complaints   concerning  particular  programs  or  activities  in  which  RSED  receives  state  or  federal  funding.       Definitions  and  Clarifications   A  complaint  is  a  written  and  signed  statement  by  a  complainant  alleging  a  violation  of  federal  or  state  laws  or   regulations,  which  may  include  an  allegation  of  unlawful  discrimination,  harassment,  intimidation,  bullying  and   charging  pupil  fees  for  participation  in  an  educational  activity.  A  complainant  is  any  individual,  including  a   person's  duly  authorized  representative  or  an  interested  third  party,  public  agency,  or  organization  who  files  a   written  complaint  alleging  violation  of  federal  or  state  laws  or  regulations,  including  allegations  of  unlawful   discrimination,  harassment,  intimidation,  bullying  and  noncompliance  with  laws  relating  to  pupil  fees.  If  the   complainant  is  unable  to  put  the  complaint  in  writing,  due  to  a  disability  or  illiteracy,  RSED  shall  assist  the   complainant  in  the  filing  of  the  complaint.     Programs  or  activities  in  which  Rocketship  Education  receives  state  or  federal  funding  are:     Consolidated  Categorical  Aid  Programs   Child  Care  and  Developmental  Programs   Child  Nutrition  Programs   Special  Education  Programs     A  pupil  fee  is  a  fee,  deposit,  or  other  charge  imposed  on  pupils,  or  a  pupil's  parents  or  guardians,  in  violation  of   state  codes  and  constitutional  provisions  which  require  educational  activities  to  be  provided  free  of  charge  to   all  pupils  without  regard  to  their  families'  ability  or  willingness  to  pay  fees  or  request  special  waivers.   Educational  activities  are  those  offered  by  a  school,  school  district,  charter  school,  or  county  office  of  

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education  that  constitute  a  fundamental  part  of  education,  including,  but  not  limited  to,  curricular  and   extracurricular  activities.  (See  also  RSED  Pupil  Fee  Policy)     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.     This  document  also  applies  to  the  filing  of  complaints  which  allege  unlawful  discrimination,  harassment,   intimidation,  and  bullying  against  any  protected  group  as  identified  under  Education  Code  section  200  and  220   and  Government  Code  section  11135,  including  those  with  actual  or  perceived  characteristics  such  as  age,   ancestry,  color,  ethnic  group  identification,  gender  expression,  gender  identity,  gender,  disability,  nationality,   national  origin,  race  or  ethnicity,  religion,  sex,  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  program  or  activity   conducted  by  a  local  agency,  which  is  funded  directly  by,  or  that  receives  or  benefits  from  any  state  financial   assistance.     The  following  complaints  shall  be  referred  to  other  agencies  for  appropriate  resolution  and  are  not  subject  to   RSED’s  UCP  process  set  forth  in  this  document  unless  these  procedures  are  made  applicable  by  separate   interagency  agreements:     Allegations  of  child  abuse  shall  be  referred  to  County  Dept  of  Social  Services  (DSS),  Protective  Services  Division   or  appropriate  law  enforcement  agency.  Health  and  safety  complaints  regarding  a  Child  Development  Program   shall  be  referred  to  Dept  of  Social  Services  for  licensed  facilities,  and  to  the  appropriate  Child  Development   regional  administrator  for  licensing-­‐exempt  facilities.  Employment  discrimination  complaints  shall  be  sent  to   the  State  Dept  of  Fair  Employment  and  Housing  (DFEH).  Allegations  of  fraud  shall  be  referred  to  the  Legal,   Audits  and  Compliance  Branch  in  the  California  Department  of  Education  (CDE).       The  Responsibilities  of  Rocketship  Education       Rocketship  Education  (RESD)  has  the  primary  responsibility  to  insure  compliance  with  applicable  state  and   federal  laws  and  regulations.  RSED  shall  investigate  complaints  alleging  failure  to  comply  with  applicable  state   and  federal  laws  and  regulations  and/or  alleging  discrimination,  harassment,  intimidation,  bullying  and   charging  pupil  fees  for  participation  in  an  educational  activity  and  seek  to  resolve  those  complaints  in   accordance  with  our  UCP  procedures.   In  regards  to  complaints  of  noncompliance  with  laws  relating  to  pupil  fees,  if  RSED  finds  merit  in  a  complaint  a   remedy  will  be  provided  to  all  affected  pupils,  parents  and  guardians,  that,  where  applicable,  will  include   reasonable  efforts  by  RSED  to  ensure  full  reimbursement  to  all  affected  pupils,  parents  and  guardians.     RSED’s  UCP  policies  shall  ensure  that  complainants  are  protected  from  retaliation  and  that  the  identity  of  a   complainant  alleging  discrimination,  harassment,  intimidation,  and  bullying  remain  confidential  as  appropriate.   RSED  submitted  these  UCP  policies  and  procedures  to  the  Rocketship  Education  Board  for  approval  and   adoption.    

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The  person  responsible  for  receiving  and  investigating  complaints  and  ensuring  our  compliance  with  state  and   federal  laws  and  regulations  is:   General  Counsel   Address:  350  Twin  Dolphin  Drive,  Suite  109  Redwood  City,  CA  94065   Phone  Number:  877-­‐806-­‐0920     RSED  ensures  that  the  person  above,  who  is  responsible  for  compliance  and/or  investigations,  is   knowledgeable  about  the  laws/programs  that  he/she  is  assigned  to  investigate.  Complaints  of  noncompliance   with  laws  relating  to  pupil  fees  are  filed  with  a  principal  of  a  school.     RSED  shall  annually  notify  in  writing  to  pupils,  employees,  parents  or  guardians  of  pupils,  and  other  interested   parties  of  the  UCP  process  regarding  an  alleged  violation  by  a  local  agency  of  federal  or  state  law  or  regulations   governing  educational  programs,  including  allegations  of  unlawful  discrimination,  harassment,  intimidation,   bullying  and  noncompliance  with  laws  relating  to  pupil  fees.  The  UCP  Annual  Notice  will  be  disseminated  to  all   of  these  required  groups  each  year  and  will  include  information  on  how  to  appeal  to  the  CDE.  An  appeal  is  a   request  made  in  writing  to  a  level  higher  than  the  original  reviewing  level  by  an  aggrieved  party  requesting   reconsideration  or  a  reinvestigation  of  the  lower  adjudicating  body's  decision.     RSED’s  UCP  Annual  Notice  shall  also  advise  the  recipient  of  any  civil  law  remedies  that  may  be  available  under   state  or  federal  discrimination,  harassment,  intimidation,  and  bullying  laws,  if  applicable,  and  of  the  appeal   pursuant  to  Education  Code  section  262.3.  This  UCP  Annual  Notice  shall  be  in  English  and  in  the  primary   language,  pursuant  to  section  48985  of  the  Education  Code,  or  mode  of  communication  of  the  recipient  of  the   notice.     A  copy  of  this  UCP  complaint  policies  and  procedures  document  shall  be  available  free  of  charge.     Filing  a  UCP  complaint  with  Rocketship  Education     Except  for  Williams  Complaints  regarding  instructional  materials,  emergency  or  urgent  facilities  conditions  that   pose  a  threat  to  the  health  or  safety  of  pupils  or  staff,  and  teacher  vacancies  or  misassignments,  and   complaints  that  allege  discrimination,  harassment,  intimidation,  and  bullying,  any  individual,  public  agency  or   organization  may  file  a  written  complaint  with  the  Rocketship  CEO  or  his  or  her  designee  alleging  a  matter   which,  if  true,  would  constitute  a  violation  by  RSED  of  federal  or  state  law  or  regulation  governing  a  program.  A   complaint  of  noncompliance  with  laws  relating  to  pupil  fees  may  be  filed  with  the  principal  of  a  school  under   the  Uniform  Complaint  Procedures  and  may  be  filed  anonymously  if  the  complaint  provides  evidence  or   information  leading  to  evidence  to  support  an  allegation  of  noncompliance  with  laws  relating  to  pupil  fees.     An  investigation  of  alleged  unlawful  discrimination,  harassment,  intimidation,  and  bullying  shall  be  initiated  by   filing  a  complaint  no  later  than  six  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,  and  bullying.  The  time  for  filing  may  be  extended  in  writing  by  the   Rocketship  CEO  or  his  or  her  designee,  upon  written  request  by  the  complainant  setting  forth  the  reasons  for   the  extension.       The  period  for  filing  may  be  extended  by  the  Rocketship  CEO  or  his  or  her  designee  for  good  cause  for  a  period   not  to  exceed  90  calendar  days  following  the  expiration  of  the  six-­‐month  time  period.  The  Rocketship  CEO  shall   respond  immediately  upon  a  receipt  of  a  request  for  extension.    

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The  complaint  shall  be  filed  by  one  who  alleges  that  he  or  she  has  personally  suffered  unlawful  discrimination,   harassment,  intimidation,  and  bullying  or  by  one  who  believes  an  individual  or  any  specific  class  of  individuals   has  been  subjected  to  discrimination,  harassment,  intimidation,  and  bullying  prohibited  by  this  part.     An  investigation  of  a  discrimination,  harassment,  intimidation,  and  bullying  complaint  shall  be  conducted  in  a   manner  that  protects  confidentiality  of  the  parties  and  maintains  the  integrity  of  the  process.     Except  for  Williams  Complaints,  within  60  calendar  days  from  the  date  of  the  receipt  of  the  complaint,  RSED   shall  conduct  and  complete  an  investigation  of  the  complaint  in  accordance  with  these  UCP  policies  and   procedures  and  prepare  a  written  Decision;  also  known  as  a  final  report.  This  time  period  may  be  extended  by   written  agreement  of  the  complainant.     The  investigation  shall  include  an  opportunity  for  the  complainant,  or  the  complainant's  representative,  or   both,  to  present  the  complaint(s)  and  evidence  or  information  leading  to  evidence  to  support  the  allegations   of  non-­‐compliance  with  state  and  federal  laws  and/or  regulations.     Refusal  by  the  complainant  to  provide  the  investigator  with  documents  or  other  evidence  related  to  the   allegations  in  the  complaint,  or  to  otherwise  fail  or  refuse  to  cooperate  in  the  investigation  or  engage  in  any   other  obstruction  of  the  investigation,  may  result  in  the  dismissal  of  the  complaint  because  of  a  lack  of   evidence  to  support  the  allegations.     Refusal  by  RSED  to  provide  the  investigator  with  access  to  records  and/or  other  information  related  to  the   allegation  in  the  complaint,  or  to  otherwise  fail  or  refuse  to  cooperate  in  the  investigation  or  engage  in  any   other  obstruction  of  the  investigation,  may  result  in  a  finding  based  on  evidence  collected  that  a  violation  has   occurred  and  may  result  in  the  imposition  of  a  remedy  in  favor  of  the  complainant.     RSED  shall  issue  a  Decision  based  on  the  evidence.  The  Decision  shall  be  in  writing  and  sent  to  the  complainant   within  60  calendar  days  from  receipt  of  the  complaint  by  RSED.  The  Decision  should  contain:   (i)  the  findings  of  fact  based  on  the  evidence  gathered,   (ii)  conclusion  of  law,   (iii)  disposition  of  the  complaint,   (iv)  the  rationale  for  such  disposition,   (v)  corrective  actions,  if  any  are  warranted,   (vi)  notice  of  the  complainant's  right  to  appeal  RSED’s  Decision  to  the  CDE,  and   (vii)  procedures  to  be  followed  for  initiating  an  appeal  to  the  CDE.     Nothing  in  this  document  shall  prohibit  anyone  involved  in  the  complaint  from  utilizing  alternative  methods  to   resolve  the  allegations,  such  as  mediation.  Nor  is  RSED  prohibited  from  resolving  complaints  prior  to  the   formal  filing  of  a  written  complaint.  Mediation  is  a  problem  solving  activity  whereby  a  third  party  assists  the   parties  to  the  dispute  in  resolving  the  complaint.     If  the  complainant  appeals  RSED’s  resolution  to  the  California  Department  of  Education,  the  appeal  must  be   filed  within  15  days  of  the  receipt  of  RSED’s  Final  Report.   ________________________________________   Federal  and  State  Laws  cited:   34  Code  of  Federal  Regulations  [CFR]  §§  300.510-­‐511   California  Code  of  Regulations  [CCR]  Title  5  §§  4600–4687   California  Code  of  Regulations  [CCR]  Title  5  §  4610(b)   California  Code  of  Regulations  [CCR]  Title  5  §  4622   California  Code  of  Regulations  [CCR]  Title  5  §§  4630−4631  

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California  Education  Code  [EC]  §§  200,  220,  262.3   California  Education  Code  [EC]  §§  234  –  234.5   California  Education  Code  [EC]  §  35186   California  Education  Code  [EC]  §  48985   California  Education  Code  [EC]  §§  49010  -­‐  49013   California  Government  Code  [GC]  §§  11135,  11138   California  Penal  Code  (PC)  §  422.55  

SUSPENSION/EXPULSION  POLICY     Governing  Law:    The  procedures  by  which  pupils  can  be  suspended  or  expelled—California  Education  Code   Section  47605(b)(5)(J)    

Introduction This Student Suspension and Expulsion Policy has been established in order to promote learning and protect the safety and well-being of all students at all Rocketship Education (RSED) Schools. When the Policy is violated, it may be necessary to suspend or expel a student from regular classroom instruction. School staff shall enforce disciplinary rules and procedures fairly and consistently among all students. This policy may be amended from time to time without the need to amend the charter so long as the amendments comport with legal requirements. This policy and its procedures will be printed and distributed as part of the Parent Handbook and will clearly describe discipline expectations. Rocketship shall ensure that students and their parents/guardians are notified in writing upon enrollment of all discipline policies and procedures. The notice shall state that these policy and administrative procedures are available on request at the school office. Discipline includes but is not limited to advising and counseling students, conferring with parents/guardians, detention during and after school hours, use of alternative educational environments, suspension and expulsion. Corporal punishment shall not be used as a disciplinary measure against any student. Corporal punishment includes the willful infliction of or willfully causing the infliction of physical pain on a student. For purposes of the Policy, corporal punishment does not include an employee's use of force that is reasonable and necessary to protect the employee, students, staff or other persons or to prevent damage to school property. Suspended or expelled students shall be excluded from all school and school-related activities unless otherwise agreed during the period of suspension or expulsion. A student identified as an individual with disabilities or for whom RSED has a basis of knowledge of a suspected disability pursuant to the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act ("IDEIA") or who is qualified for services under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (“Section 504”) is subject to the same grounds for suspension and expulsion and is accorded the same due process procedures applicable to regular education students except when federal and state law mandates 40

additional or different procedures. RSED will follow Section 504, the IDEIA, and all applicable federal and state laws including but not limited to the special education provisions of the California Education Code, when imposing any form of discipline on a student identified as an individual with disabilities or for whom RSED has a basis of knowledge of a suspected disability or who is otherwise qualified for such services or protections in according due process to such students. Rocketship shall notify the District of the suspension of any student identified under the IDEIA (or for whom there may be a basis of knowledge of the same) or as a student with a disability under Section 504 and shall coordinate with the District the manifestation determination process prior to the expulsion of any such student as well. A.

Grounds for Suspension and Expulsion of Students A student may be suspended or expelled for prohibited misconduct if the act is related to school activity or school attendance occurring at a Rocketship School or at any other school or a School sponsored event at any time including but not limited to: a) while on school grounds; b) while going to or coming from school; c) during the lunch period, whether on or off the school campus; d) during, going to, or coming from a school-sponsored activity. A student may also be suspended or expelled for activities considered to be “social media bullying”.

B.

Enumerated Offenses Students may be suspended or expelled for any of the following acts when it is determined the pupil: 1.

Caused, attempted to cause, or threatened to cause physical injury to another person or willfully used force of violence upon the person of another, except self-defense.

2.

Possessed, sold, or otherwise furnished any firearm, knife, explosive, or other dangerous object unless, in the case of possession of any object of this type, the students had obtained written permission to possess the item from a certificated school employee, with the Principal/Administrator or designee’s concurrence.

3.

Unlawfully possessed, used, sold or otherwise furnished, or was under the influence of any controlled substance, as defined in Health and Safety Code 11053-11058, alcoholic beverage, or intoxicant of any kind.

4.

Unlawfully offered, arranged, or negotiated to sell any controlled substance as defined in Health and Safety Code 11053-11058, alcoholic beverage or intoxicant of any kind, and then sold, delivered or otherwise furnished to any person another liquid substance or material and represented same as controlled substance, alcoholic beverage or intoxicant.

5.

Committed or attempted to commit robbery or extortion.

6.

Caused or attempted to cause damage to school property or private property.

7.

Stole or attempted to steal school property or private property.

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8.

Possessed or used tobacco or any products containing tobacco or nicotine products, including but not limited to cigars, cigarettes, miniature cigars, clove cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, snuff, chew packets and betel.

9.

Committed an obscene act or engaged in habitual profanity or vulgarity.

10.

Unlawfully possessed or unlawfully offered, arranged, or negotiated to sell any drug paraphernalia, as defined in Health and Safety Code 11014.5.

11.

Disrupted school activities or otherwise willfully defied the valid authority of supervisors, teachers, administrators, other school officials, or other school personnel engaged in the performance of their duties.*

12.

Knowingly received stolen school property or private property.

13.

Possessed an imitation firearm, i.e.: a replica of a firearm that is so substantially similar in physical properties to an existing firearm as to lead a reasonable person to conclude that the replica is a firearm.

14.

Committed or attempted to commit a sexual assault as defined in Penal Code 261, 266c, 286, 288, 288a or 289, or committed a sexual battery as defined in Penal Code 243.4.

15.

Harassed, threatened, or intimidated a student who is a complaining witness or witness in a school disciplinary proceeding for the purpose of preventing that student from being a witness and/or retaliating against that student for being a witness.

16.

Unlawfully offered, arranged to sell, negotiated to sell, or sold the prescription drug Soma.

17.

Engaged in or attempted to engage in hazing of another. For the purposes of this subdivision, “hazing” means a method of initiation or preinitiation into a pupil organization or body, whether or not the organization or body is officially recognized by an educational institution, which is likely to cause serious bodily injury or personal degradation or disgrace resulting in physical or mental harm to a former, current, or prospective pupil. For purposes of this section, “hazing” does not include athletic events or school-sanctioned events.

18.

Aiding or abetting as defined in Section 31 of the Penal Code, the infliction or attempted infliction of physical injury to another person may be subject to suspension, but not expulsion, pursuant to this section, except that a pupil who has been adjudged by a juvenile court to have committed, as an aider and abettor, a crime of physical violence in which the victim suffered great bodily injury or serious bodily injury shall be subject to discipline pursuant to subdivision (1) above.

19.

Made terrorist threats against school officials and/or school property. For purposes of this section, "terroristic threat" shall include any statement, whether written or oral, by a person who willfully threatens to commit a crime which will result in death, great bodily injury to another person, or property damage in excess of one thousand dollars ($1,000), with the specific intent that the statement is to be taken as a threat, even if 42

there is no intent of actually carrying it out, which, on its face and under the circumstances in which it is made, is so unequivocal, unconditional, immediate, and specific as to convey to the person threatened, a gravity of purpose and an immediate prospect of execution of the threat, and thereby causes that person reasonably to be in sustained fear for his or her own safety or for his or her immediate family's safety, or for the protection of school property, or the personal property of the person threatened or his or her immediate family. 20.

Committed sexual harassment, as defined in Education Code Section 212.5. For the purposes of this section, the conduct described in Section 212.5 must be considered by a reasonable person of the same gender as the victim to be sufficiently severe or pervasive to have a negative impact upon the individual's academic performance or to create an intimidating, hostile, or offensive educational environment. This section shall apply to pupils in any of grades 4 to 12, inclusive.

21.

Caused, attempted to cause, threatened to cause, or participated in an act of hate violence, as defined in subdivision (e) of Section 233 of the Education Code. This section shall apply to pupils in any of grades 4 to 12, inclusive.

22.

Intentionally harassed, threatened or intimidated a student or group of students to the extent of having the actual and reasonably expected effect of materially disrupting class work, creating substantial disorder and invading student rights by creating an intimidating or hostile educational environment. This section shall apply to pupils in any of grades 4 to 12, inclusive.

23.

Engaged in an act of bullying, including, but not limited to, bullying committed by means of an electronic act, as defined in subdivisions (f) and (g) of Section 32261 of the Education Code, directed specifically toward a pupil or school personnel.

Alternatives to suspension or expulsion will first be attempted with students who are truant, tardy, or otherwise absent from assigned school activities. * Students in Grades TK-3 cannot be suspended or expelled for willful defiance or disruption of school activities. Students in Grades 4-5 cannot be expelled for willful defiance or disruption of school activities. C.

Suspension Procedure Suspensions shall be initiated according to the following procedures: 1.

Conference Suspension shall be preceded, if possible, by a conference conducted by the Principal or the Principal's designee with the student and his or her parent and, whenever practical, the teacher, supervisor or school employee who referred the student to the Principal. The conference may be omitted if the Principal or designee determines that an emergency situation exists. An "emergency situation" involves a clear and present danger to the lives, safety or health of students or school personnel. If a student is 43

suspended without this conference, both the parent/guardian and student shall be notified of the student's right to return to school for the purpose of a conference. At the conference, the pupil shall be informed of the reason for the disciplinary action and the evidence against him or her and shall be given the opportunity to present his or her version and evidence in his or her defense. This conference shall be held within three (3) school days, unless the pupil waives this right or is physically unable to attend for any reason including, but not limited to, incarceration or hospitalization. No penalties may be imposed on a pupil for failure of the pupil's parent or guardian to attend a conference with school officials. Reinstatement of the suspended pupil shall not be contingent upon attendance by the pupil's parent or guardian at the conference. 2.

Notice to Parents/Guardians At the time of the suspension, the Principal or designee shall make a reasonable effort to contact the parent/guardian by telephone or in person. Whenever a student is suspended, the parent/guardian shall be notified in writing of the suspension and the date of return following suspension. This notice shall state the specific offense committed by the student. In addition, the notice will also state the date and time when the student may return to school. If school officials wish to ask the parent/guardian to confer regarding matters pertinent to the suspension, the notice may request that the parent/guardian respond to such requests without delay.

3.

Suspension Time Limits/Recommendation for Expulsion Suspensions, when not including a recommendation for expulsion, shall not exceed five (5) consecutive school days per suspension. The total number of days for which a pupil may be suspended from school shall not exceed 20 schooldays in any school year. Upon a recommendation of Expulsion by the Principal or Principal’s designee, the pupil and the pupil's guardian or representative will be invited to a conference to determine if the suspension for the pupil should be extended pending an expulsion hearing. This determination will be made by the Principal or designee upon either of the following determinations: 1) the pupil's presence will be disruptive to the education process; or 2) the pupil poses a threat or danger to others. Upon either determination, the pupil's suspension will be extended pending the results of an expulsion hearing.

D.

Authority to Expel The   full   authority   of   the   Board   of   Directors   to   hear   and   conduct   expulsions   shall   be   granted   to   the   Academic  Affairs  Committee,  a  committee  of  the  RSED  Board  of  Directors.    The  Academic  Affairs   Committee   shall   consist   of   three   board   directors   of   the   RSED   Board.     The   Academic   Affairs   Committee  may  expel  any  student  found  to  have  committed  an  expellable  offense.     Instead  of  conducting  the  hearing  itself,  the  Academic  Affairs  Committee  may  appoint  an  impartial   administrative   panel,   none   of   whom   is   a   member   of   the   board   or   employed   on   the   staff   of   the   school  in  which  the  pupil  is  enrolled.  The  Academic  Affairs  Committee  will  pre-­‐appoint  a  panel  of   at   least   five   certificated   persons,   each   from   different   Rocketship   school   sites.     Should   any   of   the  

44

persons   appointed   to   the   panel   be   employed   by   the   staff   of   the   school   in   which   the   pupil   is   enrolled,  he/she  will  recuse  him/herself  from  the  proceedings.  The  panel  conducting  the  hearing   must  consist  of  at  least  three  of  the  persons  pre-­‐appointed  by  the  Committee.    

E.

Expulsion Procedures Please see Attachment A to this policy for guidance around offenses the require mandatory expulsion. Students recommended for expulsion are entitled to a hearing to determine whether the student should be expelled. The hearing shall be held within thirty (30) school days after the Principal or designee determines that the Pupil has committed an expellable offense, unless the pupil requests, in writing, that the hearing be postponed. In the event an administrative panel hears the case, it will, within ten days of the hearing, make a recommendation to the Academic Affairs Committee for a final decision whether or not to expel. The hearing shall be held in closed session unless the student makes a written request for a public hearing three (3) days prior to the hearing.  

Written notice of the hearing shall be forwarded to the student and the student's parent/guardian at least ten (10) calendar days before the date of the hearing. Upon mailing the notice, it shall be deemed served upon the pupil. The notice shall include:

F.

1.

The date and place of the expulsion hearing;

2.

A statement of the specific facts, charges and offenses upon which the proposed expulsion is based;

3.

A copy of RSED' disciplinary rules which relate to the alleged violation;

4.

Notification of the student's or parent/guardian's obligation to provide information about the student's status at the school to any other school district or school to which the student seeks enrollment;

5.

The opportunity for the student or the student's parent/guardian to appear in person or to employ and be represented by counsel or a non-attorney advisor;

6.

The right to inspect and obtain copies of all documents to be used at the hearing;

7.

The opportunity to confront and question all witnesses who testify at the hearing;

8.

The opportunity to question all evidence presented and to present oral and documentary evidence on the student's behalf including witnesses.

Special Procedures for Expulsion Hearings Involving Sexual Assault or Battery Offenses RSED may, upon a finding of good cause, determine that the disclosure of either the identity of the witness or the testimony of that witness at the hearing, or both, would subject the witness to an unreasonable risk of psychological or physical harm. Upon this determination, the testimony 45

of the witness may be presented at the hearing in the form of sworn declarations which shall be examined only by RSED or the hearing officer. Copies of these sworn declarations, edited to delete the name and identity of the witness, shall be made available to the pupil. 1. The complaining witness in any sexual assault or battery case must be provided with a copy of the applicable disciplinary rules and advised of his/her right to (a) receive five days notice of his/her scheduled testimony, (b) have up to Three (3) adult support persons of his/her choosing present in the hearing at the time he/she testifies, which may include a parent, guardian, or legal counsel, and (c) elect to have the hearing closed while testifying. 2. RSED must also provide the victim a room separate from the hearing room for the complaining witness' use prior to and during breaks in testimony. 3. At the discretion of the person or panel conducting the hearing, the complaining witness shall be allowed periods of relief from examination and cross-examination during which he or she may leave the hearing room. 4. The person conducting the expulsion hearing may also arrange the seating within the hearing room to facilitate a less intimidating environment for the complaining witness. 5. The person conducting the expulsion hearing may also limit time for taking the testimony of the complaining witness to the hours he/she is normally in school, if there is no good cause to take the testimony during other hours. 6. Prior to a complaining witness testifying, the support persons must be admonished that the hearing is confidential. Nothing in the law precludes the person presiding over the hearing from removing a support person whom the presiding person finds is disrupting the hearing. The person conducting the hearing may permit any one of the support persons for the complaining witness to accompany him or her to the witness stand. 7. If one or both of the support persons is also a witness, RSED must present evidence that the witness' presence is both desired by the witness and will be helpful to RSED. The person presiding over the hearing shall permit the witness to stay unless it is established that there is a substantial risk that the testimony of the complaining witness would be influenced by the support person, in which case the presiding official shall admonish the support person or persons not to prompt, sway, or influence the witness in any way. Nothing shall preclude the presiding officer from exercising his or her discretion to remove a person from the hearing whom he or she believes is prompting, swaying, or influencing the witness. 8. The testimony of the support person shall be presented before the testimony of the complaining witness and the complaining witness shall be excluded from the courtroom during that testimony. 9. Especially for charges involving sexual assault or battery, if the hearing is to be conducted in the public at the request of the pupil being expelled, the complaining witness shall have the right to have his/her testimony heard in a closed session when testifying at a public meeting would threaten serious psychological harm to the complaining witness and there are no alternative procedures to avoid the threatened harm. The alternative procedures may 46

include videotaped depositions or contemporaneous examination in another place communicated to the hearing room by means of closed-circuit television. 10. Evidence of specific instances of a complaining witness' prior sexual conduct is presumed inadmissible and shall not be heard absent a determination by the person conducting the hearing that extraordinary circumstances exist requiring the evidence be heard. Before such a determination regarding extraordinary circumstance can be made, the witness shall be provided notice and an opportunity to present opposition to the introduction of the evidence. In the hearing on the admissibility of the evidence, the complaining witness shall be entitled to be represented by a parent, legal counsel, or other support person. Reputation or opinion evidence regarding the sexual behavior of the complaining witness is not admissible for any purpose. G.

Record of Hearing A record of the hearing shall be made and may be maintained by any means, including electronic recording, as long as a reasonably accurate and complete written transcription of the proceedings can be made.

H.

Presentation of Evidence While technical rules of evidence do not apply to expulsion hearings, evidence may be admitted and used as proof only if it is the kind of evidence on which reasonable persons can rely in the conduct of serious affairs. A recommendation by the Administrative Panel and decision by the Board to expel must be supported by substantial evidence that the student committed an expellable offense. Findings of fact shall be based solely on the evidence at the hearing. While hearsay evidence is admissible, no decision to expel shall be based solely on hearsay and sworn declarations may be admitted as testimony from witnesses of whom the Board, Panel or designee determines that disclosure of their identity or testimony at the hearing may subject them to an unreasonable risk of physical or psychological harm. If, due to a written request by the expelled pupil, the hearing is held at a public meeting, and the charge is committing or attempting to commit a sexual assault or committing a sexual battery as defined in Education Code Section 48900, a complaining witness shall have the right to have his or her testimony heard in a session closed to the public. The decision of the Administrative Panel shall be in the form of written findings of fact and a written recommendation to the Academic Affairs Committee, who will make a final determination regarding the expulsion. The decision by the Academic Affairs Committee shall be made within ten (10) school days following the conclusion of the hearing. If the expulsion hearing panel decides not to recommend expulsion, the pupil shall immediately be returned to his/her educational program.

I.

Written Notice to Expel

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The Principal or designee following a decision of the Board to expel shall send written notice of the decision to expel, including the Board's adopted findings of fact, to the student or parent/guardian. This notice shall also include the following: 1.

Notice of the specific offense committed by the student

2.

Notice of the student's or parent/guardian's obligation to inform any new district in which the student seeks to enroll of the student's status with RSED.

The   Principal   or   designee   shall   send   a   copy   of   the   written   notice   of   the   decision   to   expel   to   the   District.  

This notice shall include the following:

J.

a)

The student's name

b)

The specific expellable offense committed by the student

Additionally, in accordance with Education Code Section 47605(d)(3), upon expulsion of any student, the Rocketship shall notify the superintendent of the school district of the pupil’s last known address within 30 days, and shall, upon request, provide that school district with a copy of the cumulative record of the pupil, including a transcript of grades or report card and health information. Disciplinary Records RSED shall maintain records of all student suspensions and expulsions at Rocketship Schools. Such records shall be made available to the District upon request.

K.

Right to Appeal If an administrative panel is used, the pupil/family shall have the right to appeal the decision to expel the student from Rocketship directly to the Academic Affairs Committee. The request to appeal must be made in writing and shall be submitted to the Academic Affairs Committee within fifteen business days of being made aware of the decision to expel the student. The appeal shall be heard by the Academic Affairs Committee within thirty days of receipt of the appeal. If the Academic Affairs Committee hears the expulsion without the use of an administrative panel, or the decision of the administrative panel to expel is upheld by the Academic Affairs Committee, the pupil/family may request a final appeal to the RSED Executive Committee. The request to appeal must be made in writing and shall be submitted to the Executive Committee within fifteen business days of being made aware of the decision to uphold the expulsion of the student. The appeal shall be heard by the Executive Committee within thirty days of receipt of the appeal.

L.

Expelled Pupils/Alternative Education Pupils who are expelled shall be responsible for seeking alternative education programs including, but not limited to, programs within the County or their school district of residence. 48

M.

Rehabilitation Plans At the time of the expulsion order, students who are expelled shall be given a rehabilitation plan, to be developed by the Academic Affairs Committee in conjunction with Rocketship staff, which may include, but is not limited to, periodic review as well as assessment at the time of review for readmission. The rehabilitation plan should include a date not later than one year from the date of expulsion when the pupil may reapply to RSED for readmission.

N.

Readmission The decision to readmit a pupil or to admit a previously expelled pupil from another school, school district or charter school shall be in the sole discretion of the Board following a meeting with the Principal and the pupil and guardian or representative to determine whether the pupil has successfully completed the rehabilitation plan and to determine whether the pupil poses a threat to others or will be disruptive to the school environment. The Principal shall make a recommendation to the Board following the meeting regarding his or her determination. The pupil's readmission is also contingent upon RSED' capacity at the time the student seeks readmission.

O.

Special Procedures for the Consideration of Suspension and Expulsion of Students with Disabilities i.

Notification  of  District   Rocketship  shall  immediately  notify  the  District  and  coordinate  the  procedures  in  this  policy   with  the  District  for  the  discipline  of  any  student  with  a  disability  or  student  who  Rocketship   or   the   District   would   be   deemed   to   have   knowledge   that   the   student   had   a   disability   who   is   suspended  for  more  than  ten  (10)  school  days  during  a  school  year.      

ii.

Services  During  Suspension     Students   suspended   for   more   than   ten   (10)   school   days   in   a   school   year   shall   continue   to   receive  services  so  as  to  enable  the  student  to  continue  to  participate  in  the  general  education   curriculum,  although  in  another  setting,  and  to  progress  toward  meeting  the  goals  set  out  in   the  child's  IEP;  and  receive,  as  appropriate,  a  functional  behavioral  assessment  or  functional   analysis,   and   behavioral   intervention   services   and   modifications,   that   are   designed   to   address   the   behavior   violation   so   that   it   does   not   recur.     These   services   may   be   provided   in   an   interim   alterative  educational  setting.      

iii.

Procedural  Safeguards/Manifestation  Determination     Within  ten  (10)  school  days  of  any  decision  to  change  the  placement  of  a  child  with  a  disability   because   of   a   violation   of   a   code   of   student   conduct   a   manifestation   determination   shall   take   place.   “Change   of   Placement”   includes   a   recommendation   for   expulsion   or   a   cumulative   removal   of   more   than   ten   (10)   school   days   in   a   school   year.     Rocketship,   the   parent,   and   relevant  members  of  the  IEP  Team  shall  review  all  relevant  information  in  the  student's  file,   including  the  child's  IEP,  any  teacher  observations,  and  any  relevant  information  provided  by   the  parents  to  determine:  

49

a) If  the  conduct  in  question  was  caused  by,  or  had  a  direct  and  substantial  relationship  to,  the   child's  disability;  or    

b) If   the   conduct   in   question   was   the   direct   result   of   the   local   educational   agency's   failure   to   implement  the  IEP.   If  Rocketship,  the  parent,  and  relevant  members  of  the  IEP  Team  determine  that  either  of  the   above  is  applicable  for  the  child,  the  conduct  shall  be  determined  to  be  a  manifestation  of  the   child's  disability.   If  Rocketship,  the  parent,  and  relevant  members  of  the  IEP  Team  make  the  determination  that   the  conduct  was  a  manifestation  of  the  child's  disability,  the  IEP  Team  shall:   a) Conduct   a   functional   behavioral   assessment   or   a   functional   analysis   assessment,   and   implement   a   behavioral   intervention   plan   for   such   child,   provided   that   the   school   had   not   conducted   such   assessment   prior   to   such   determination   before   the   behavior   that   resulted   in   a   change  in  placement;     b) If   a   behavioral   intervention   plan   has   been   developed,   review   the   behavioral   intervention   plan   if   the   child   already   has   such   a   behavioral   intervention   plan,   and   modify   it,   as   necessary,   to   address  the  behavior;  and     c) Return  the  child  to  the  placement  from  which  the  child  was  removed,  unless  the  parent  and   the   school   agree   to   a   change   of   placement   as   part   of   the   modification   of   the   behavioral   intervention  plan.   If  the  school,  the  parent,  and  relevant  members  of  the  IEP  team  determine  that  the  behavior   was  not  a  manifestation  of  the  student’s  disability  and  that  the  conduct  in  question  was  not  a   result  of  the  failure  to  implement  the  IEP,  then  the  school  may  apply  the  relevant  disciplinary   procedures  to  children  with  disabilities  in  the  same  manner  and  for  the  same  duration  as  the   procedures  would  be  applied  to  students  without  disabilities.       iv.

Due  Process  Appeals     The  parent  of  a  child  with  a  disability  who  disagrees  with  any  decision  regarding  placement,   or   the   manifestation   determination,   or   the   school   believes   that   maintaining   the   current   placement  of  the  child  is  substantially  likely  to  result  in  injury  to  the  child  or  to  others,  may   request  an  expedited  administrative  hearing  through  the  Special  Education  Unit  of  the  Office   of  Administrative  Hearings.   When  an  appeal  relating  to  the  placement  of  the  student  or  the  manifestation  determination   has  been  requested  by  either  the  parent  or  the  school,  the  student  shall  remain  in  the  interim   alternative   educational   setting   pending   the   decision   of   the   hearing   officer   or   until   the   expiration   of   the   forty-­‐five   (45)   day   time   period   provided   for   in   an   interim   alternative   educational  setting,  whichever  occurs  first,  unless  the  parent  and  the  school  agree  otherwise.  

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v.

Special  Circumstances     Rocketship   personnel   may   consider   any   unique   circumstances   on   a   case-­‐by-­‐case   basis   when   determining   whether   to   order   a   change   in   placement   for   a   child   with   a   disability  who   violates   a  code  of  student  conduct.   The  Principal  or  designee  may  remove  a  student  to  an  interim  alternative  educational  setting   for  not  more  than  forty-­‐five  (45)  days  without  regard  to  whether  the  behavior  is  determined   to  be  a  manifestation  of  the  student’s  disability  in  cases  where  a  student:   a)     Carries  or  possesses  a  weapon,  as  defined  in  18  USC  930,  to  or  at  school,  on  school  premises,   or  to  or  at  a  school  function;   b)     Knowingly  possesses  or  uses  illegal  drugs,  or  sells  or  solicits  the  sale  of  a  controlled  substance,   while  at  school,  on  school  premises,  or  at  a  school  function;  or     c)     Has  inflicted  serious  bodily  injury,  as  defined  by  20  USC  1415(k)(7)(D),  upon  a  person  while   at  school,  on  school  premises,  or  at  a  school  function.        

vi.

Interim  Alternative  Educational  Setting   The   student's   interim   alternative   educational   setting   shall   be   determined   by   the   student's   IEP   team.    

vii.

Procedures  for  Students  Not  Yet  Eligible  for  Special  Education    Services     A  student  who  has  not  been  identified  as  an  individual  with  disabilities  pursuant  to  IDEIA  and   who   has   violated   the   School’s   disciplinary   procedures   may   assert   the   procedural   safeguards   granted   under   this   administrative   regulation   only   if   Rocketship   had   knowledge   that   the   student  was  disabled  before  the  behavior  occurred.     Rocketsihp  shall  be  deemed  to  have  knowledge  that  the  student  had  a  disability  if  one  of  the   following  conditions  exists:   a)     The  parent/guardian  has  expressed  concern  in  writing,  or  orally  if  the  parent/guardian  does   not  know  how  to  write  or  has  a  disability  that  prevents  a  written  statement,  to  Rocketship   supervisory  or  administrative  personnel,  or  to  one  of  the  child’s  teachers,  that  the  student  is  in   need  of  special  education  or  related  services.     b)     The  parent  has  requested  an  evaluation  of  the  child.     c)     The  child’s  teacher,  or  other  Rocketship  personnel,  has  expressed  specific  concerns  about  a   pattern  of  behavior  demonstrated  by  the  child,  directly  to  the  director  of  special  education  or   to  other  Rocketship  supervisory  personnel.     If  the  school  knew  or  should  have  known  the  student  had  a  disability  under  any  of  the  three   (3)  circumstances  described  above,  the  student  may  assert  any  of  the  protections  available  to   IDEIA-­‐eligible  children  with  disabilities,  including  the  right  to  stay-­‐put.       If  the  school  had  no  basis  for  knowledge  of  the  student’s  disability,  it  shall  proceed  with  the   proposed  discipline.    The  school  

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 shall  conduct  an  expedited  evaluation  if  requested  by  the  parents;  however  the  student  shall   remain   in   the   education   placement   determined   by   Rocketship   pending   the   results   of   the   evaluation.      

Rocketship shall not be deemed to have knowledge of that the student had a disability if the parent has not allowed an evaluation, refused services, or if the student has been evaluated and determined to not be eligible.

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Must Recommend Expulsion (Mandatory) Act must be committed at school or at a school activity. 1. Firearm a.

Possessing firearm when a district employee verified firearm possession and when student did not have prior written permission from a certificated employee which is concurred with by the principal or designee. b. Selling or otherwise furnishing a firearm. Brandishing a knife at another

Shall Recommend Expulsion Unless Particular Circumstances Render Inappropriate (Expulsion Expected) Act must be committed at school or school activity. Administrator shall recommend expulsion for the following violations: 1. Causing serious physical injury to another person, except in selfdefense. 2.

3.

person. Unlawfully selling a controlled substance listed in Health and Safety Code Section 11053 et. seq.

Possession of any knife, explosive, or other dangerous object of no reasonable use to the pupil. Possession and/or use of any substance listed in Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 11053) of Division 10 of the Health and Safety Code, except for the first offense for possession of not more than one avoirdupois ounce of marijuana other than concentrated cannabis.

Committing or attempting to commit a sexual assault as defined in subdivision B(14) above.

4.

Robbery or extortion.

Possession of an explosive.

5.

Assault or battery, or threat of, on a school employee.

The recommendation for expulsion shall be based on one or both of the following: 1. Other means of correction are not feasible or have repeatedly failed to bring about proper conduct. 2.

Due to the nature of the act, the presence of the pupil causes a continuing danger to the physical safety of the pupil or others.

May Recommend Expulsion (Discretionary) Acts committed at school or school activity or on the way to and from school or school activity. a. Inflicted physical injury b.

Possessed dangerous objects

c.

Possessed drugs or alcohol (policy determines which offense)

d.

Sold look alike substance representing drugs or alcohol

e.

Committed robbery/extortion

f.

Caused damage to property

g.

Committed theft

h.

Used tobacco (policy determines which offense)

i.

Committed obscenity/profanity/vulgarity

j.

Possessed or sold drug paraphernalia

k.

Disrupted or defied school staff

l.

Received stolen property

m.

Possessed imitation firearm

n.

Committed sexual harassment

o.

Harassed, threatened or intimidated a student witness

p.

Sold prescription drug Soma

q.

Committed hazing

r.

Engaged in an act of bullying, including, but not limited to, bullying committed by means of an electronic act, as defined in subdivisions (f) and (g) of Section 32261, directed specifically toward a pupil or school personnel.

The recommendation for expulsion shall be based on one or both of the following: 1. Other means of correction are not feasible or have repeatedly failed to bring about proper conduct. 2.

Due to the nature of the act, the presence of the pupil causes a continuing danger to the physical safety of the pupil or others.

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SCHOOL  FEE  POLICY     Rocketship  Education,  as  the  operator  of  CA  public  charter  schools,  adopts  this  policy  in  compliance  AB1575.    It   is  the  policy  of  Rocketship  Education  not  require  students  or  their  families  to  pay  a  pupil  fee  for  participation  in   an  educational  activity.    For  more  information,  you  can  request  a  complete  copy  of  the  RSED  School  Fee   Policy  from  the  Front  Office  of  your  school.                      

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