No Child Left Behind
They include:
Parents shall have the right to inspect all instructional materials, including teacher’s manuals, audiovisuals, or other supplementary instructional material, used in the instructional program in accordance with Board policy. Instructional materials do not include tests or academic assessments. Such requests shall be made in writing and submitted to the building principal.
Parents have the right to inspect, upon request, a survey created by a third party prior to administration or distribution to a student. Such request shall be made in writing and submitted to the building principal.
Parents have the right to inspect material and opt out the student from participating in any activity that result in the collection, disclosure, or use of personal information for purposes of marketing or selling that information. This does not apply to the collection, disclosure, or use of personal information for purposes of marketing or selling that information. This does not apply to the collection, disclosure, or use of personal information collected from students for the exclusive purpose of developing, evaluating or providing educational products or services for or to students.
The school district shall provide a program for each student whose dominant language is not English for the purpose of facilitating the student’s achievement of English proficiency and the academic standards. Parents who believe their child qualifies for this program should contact the ESL Coordinator, Mrs. Schu.
The school district shall provide a program to address the needs and provide appropriate services to migrant students attending the district schools. Parents who believe their child qualifies for this program should contact the Superintendent’s Office.
The school district shall provide a program to address the needs and provide appropriate services to homeless students attending the district schools. Parents who believe their child qualifies for this program should contact the Superintendent’s Office
According to the School Health Law and the School Board Policy, medical examinations are required for those children upon original entry into school, and in Grade 6, and Grade 11. These examinations are conducted by either a private physician at the parent’s expense or the school physician. Dental examinations are required for those children upon original entry into school, and in Grade 3, and Grade 7. These examinations are conducted by either a private dentist at the parent’s expense or the school district. In addition, each student shall receive yearly height and weight measurements and vision screenings. Students in grades K-4, Kindergarten, 1, 2, 3, 7, 11 and those in special ungraded classes shall receive hearing screenings. Students in grades 6 and 7 shall receive scoliosis screenings.
The School Board permits the disclosure of required student information about secondary students to representatives of postsecondary institutions and to representatives of the armed forces of the United States. The disclosed information to recruiters routinely includes names, addresses, and telephone numbers. Parents have the right to request that information not be disclosed without prior written consent. Parents who desire to request that the district withhold this information should notify the building principal in writing within 30 days of new enrollment or by October 1st.
Parents shall receive, upon request, information regarding the qualifications and academic degrees of any professional or paraprofessional who provides instruction/instructional support to their child. Parents desiring this information should submit a written request to the superintendent.
Gifted Services: As of December 2000, the regulations governing special education for gifted students have changed. New regulations removed the gifted education provisions from Chapters 14 and 342. The State Board of Education added Chapter 16-Special Education for the Gifted Students to the State Board regulations. This new chapter acknowledges that students in Pennsylvania, who are gifted and therefore need specially designed instruction, are considered to be children with exceptional abilities entitled to certain protections.
The regulation in Chapter 16 list specific criteria that would qualify a student for specially designed instruction. Chapter 16 defines the term mentally gifted as “including a person who has an IQ of 130 or higher and when multiple criteria indicate gifted ability”. A person with an IQ lower than 130 may be gifted when other education criteria in the child’s profile strongly indicate gifted ability.
The Mount Carmel Area School District is committed to meeting the unique educational needs of gifted students. If you believe your child is gifted and may qualify for specially designed instruction, please contact your child’s guidance counselor. They will be willing to discuss the evaluation process and answer any specific questions you may have. Please call Paul Ryan, 339-1500, ext. 3007 or Winifred Fracalossi at 339-1500 ext. 3169.
Pest Management Notification: In compliance with the notification/record keeping requirements of EPA’s 40 CFR, Park 763.93(g)(4) Asbestos Containing Materials in School Law (more commonly known as AHERA-Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act), we are notifying individuals of the availability of the Pest Management Plans. A copy of the district’s management plan is available in the Superintendent’s Office or by calling Mr. Dave Fegley at 339-1500 ext. 3170.
Notification of Rights under FERPA: The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords parents and students over 18 years of age (“eligible students”) certain rights with respect to the student’s education records. They are:
The right to inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days of the day the Mount Carmel Area School District receives a written request for access. Parents or eligible students should submit to the school principal or Director of Special Education a written request that identifies the record(s) they wish to inspect. The school Principal or Special Education Coordinator will make arrangements for access and will notify the parent or eligible student of the time and place where the records may be inspected.
The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the parent or eligible student believes are inaccurate or misleading. Parents or eligible students may ask the Mount Carmel Area School District to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate or misleading. They should write the school Principal or Special Education Coordinator, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. If the Mount Carmel Area School District decides not to amend the record as requested by the parent or eligible student, the Mount Carmel Area School District will notify the parent or eligible student of the decision and advise them of their right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the parent or eligible student when the Mount Carmel Area School District is notified of the request for a hearing.
The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. One exception which permits disclosure without consent is disclosure to school officials with legitimate education interest. A school official is a person employed by the Mount Carmel Area School District as an administrator, supervisor, instructor, or support staff member (including health or medical staff and law enforcement unit personnel); a person serving on the School Board; a person or company with whom the Mount Carmel Area School District has contracted to perform a special task (such as attorney, auditor, medical consultant, or therapist); or a parent or student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school officials in performing his or her tasks. A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility. Upon request, the school discloses education records without consent to officials of another school in which a student seeks or intends to enroll.
The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education Concerning alleged failures by the school system to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the Office that administers FERPA is: Family Policy Compliance, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20202-4605.
Student Information: The Mount Carmel Area School District may disclose certain information, known as directory information, at its discretion without consent. Parents or eligible students may refuse to let the Mount Carmel Area School District release any or all of this information. If you do not want this information released, you must send written notice annually to the District Office before October 1. Forms are available from the District Office. The following information regarding students is considered directory information (1) name, (2) photo, (3) e-mail address, (4) home address, (5) telephone number, (6) date and place of birth, (7) major field of study, (8) participation in officially recognized activities and sports, (9) weight and height of members of athletic teams, (10) dates of attendance, (11) degrees and awards received, (12) the most recent previous educational agency or institution attended by the student. Parents must notify the Principal in writing within thirty days of new enrollment or by October 1st of each school year.
Parents who do not want their child’s Photo/Video released to media such as school newspaper, school website, school news broadcast, local newspapers, etc. should notify the principal in writing by October 30th or 30 days after enrollment.
Revised 2/22/07