CREIGHTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 14

FA

PARENTAL RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

LOCAL

Note: This policy encompasses many, but not all, rights held by parents of Arizona public school children.

Pursuant to A.R.S. 1-602, the state, any political subdivision of this state, or any other governmental entity shall not infringe on these rights without demonstrating that the compelling governmental interest as applied to the child involved is of the highest order, is narrowly tailored and is not otherwise served by a less restrictive means. All parental rights are exclusively reserved to a parent of a minor child without obstruction or interference. The Parent Bill of Rights is detailed in A.R.S. 1-602

1. The right to direct the education of the minor child.
2. All rights of parents identified in title 15, including the right to access and review all records relating to the minor child.
3. The right to direct the upbringing of the minor child.
4. The right to direct the moral or religious training of the minor child.
5. The right to make all health care decisions for the minor child, including rights pursuant to sections 15-873, 36-2271 and 36-2272, unless otherwise prohibited by law.
6. The right to request, access, and review all written and electronic medical records of the minor child unless otherwise prohibited by law or unless the parent is the subject of an investigation of a crime committed against the minor child and a law enforcement official requests that the information not be released.
7. The right to consent in writing before a biometric scan of the minor child is made pursuant to section 15-109.
8. The right to consent in writing before any record of the minor child's blood or deoxyribonucleic acid is created, stored or shared, except as required by section 36-694, or before any genetic testing is conducted on the minor child pursuant to section 12-2803 unless authorized pursuant to section 13-610 or a court order.
9. The right to consent in writing before this state or any of its political subdivisions makes a video or voice recording of the minor child, unless the video or voice recording is made during or as a part of a court proceeding by law enforcement officers during or as part of a law enforcement investigation, during or as part of an interview in a criminal or child safety services investigation or to be used solely for any of the following:
   1. Safety demonstrations, including the maintenance of order and discipline in the common areas of a school or on pupil transportation vehicles.
   2. A purpose related to a legitimate academic or extracurricular activity.
   3. A purpose related to regular classroom instruction.
   4. Security or surveillance of buildings or grounds.
   5. A photo identification card.
10. The right to be notified promptly if an employee of this state, any political subdivision of this state, any other governmental entity or any other institution suspects that a criminal offense has been committed against the minor child by someone other than a parent, unless the incident has first been reported to law enforcement and notifying the parent would impede a law enforcement or child safety services investigation.  This paragraph does not create any new obligation for school districts and charter schools to report misconduct between students at school, such as fighting or aggressive play, that is routinely addressed as a student disciplinary matter by the school.
11. The right to obtain information about a child safety services investigation involving the parent pursuant to section 8-807.

PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT

The Superintendent, in consultation with parents, teachers, and administrators, shall develop procedures for outreach and involvement of all parents and family members in the school(s).  The district and school parent and family engagement procedures (student/parent handbook) shall include:

1. A written parent and family engagement plan designed to support student academic and social-emotional success in school, with a focus on such areas as student learning, attendance, and behavior.  The plan shall be developed and implemented in consultation with parents.  The plan shall:
   1. Identify District and school expectations and objectives for meaningful parent and family engagement;
   2. Include how it will be communicated to all parents in a language they can understand and made available to the local community;
   3. Provide for the annual evaluation of the content and effectiveness of parent and family engagement.  The annual evaluation of parent and family engagement will identify -
      1. Needs of parents and family members to assist with their children;
      2.  Barriers to participation by all parents (with a focus on parents who are economically disadvantaged, disabled, have limited English proficiency, limited literacy, or are of any racial or ethnic minority background; strategies to support successful school and family interactions; and
      3. Procedures for the administration of an annual parent-teacher satisfaction survey.
   4.  Include methods for using the evaluation findings to design evidence-based strategies for more effective parent and family engagement and to revise the parent and family engagement policy, as needed; and
   5.  Include strategies to ensure the effective engagement of all parents.
2. A method by which parents may learn about the curriculum used in the school, the forms of academic assessment used to measure student process, and the achievement levels of the challenging State academic standards; and the method by which parents can review learning materials, including the source of any supplemental educational materials.
3. A procedure by which parents who object to any learning material or activity on the basis that it is harmful may withdraw their children from the activity or from the class or program in which the material is used and request an alternative assignment.  Objection to a learning material or activity on the basis that it is harmful includes objection to a material or activity because it questions beliefs or practices in sex, morality, or religion or because of sexual content, violent content, or profane or vulgar language.
4. A procedure by which parents or guardians of students enrolled in the District shall have access in advance to the instructional materials, learning materials, and activities currently used by, or being considered for use by, the District.
5. A procedure by which the District shall obtain signed, written consent from a student's parent or guardian before using video, audio, or electronic materials that may be inappropriate for the age of the student.
6. Procedures to prohibit the School District from providing sex education instruction to a student unless the student's parent provides written permission for the student to participate in the sex education curricula if the School District offers any sex education curricula pursuant to A.R.S. 15-711 on the requirement to include instruction to students in grades seven (7) through twelve (12) on laws relating to sexual conduct with a minor or 15-716 concerning instruction on immune deficiency syndrome, or pursuant to any rules adopted by the State Board of Education.
7. Procedures by which parents will be notified in advance of and given the opportunity to withdraw their children from any instruction or presentations regarding sexuality in courses other than formal sex education curricula.
8. Procedures by which parents may learn about the nature and purpose of clubs and activities that are part of the school curriculum, extracurricular clubs, and activities that have been approved by the school.
9. Procedures by which parents may learn about parental rights and responsibilities under the laws of this state, including the following:

1. 1. The right to opt into a sex education curriculum if one is provided by the District.
   2. Open enrollment rights pursuant to A.R.S. 15-816.01, relating to the District policies on open enrollment.
   3. The right to opt out of assignments pursuant to A.R.S. 1-601, Parents Bill of Rights.
   4. The right to opt a child out of immunizations as authorized by A.R.S. 15-873, relating to an outbreak of a communicable disease.
   5. The promotion requirements prescribed in A.R.S. 15-701 for students in grades one (1) through eight (8).
   6. The minimum course of study and competency requirements for graduation from high school as prescribed in A.R.S. 15-701.01.
   7. The right to opt out of instruction on the acquired immune deficiency syndrome as provided by A.R.S. 15-716.
   8. The right to review their child's standardized norm-referenced test results pursuant to A.R.S. 15-743.
   9. The right to participate in gifted programs pursuant as prescribed by A.R.S. 15-779.01.
   10. The right to access instructional materials as directed by A.R.S. 15-730.
   11. The right to receive the school's annual report card pursuant to A.R.S. 15-746.
   12. The school attendance and age requirements for children prescribed in A.R.S. 15-802, 15-803 and 15-821.
   13. The right to public review of courses of study and textbooks in the common schools (preschool programs through eight grade), as prescribed in A.R.S. 15-721.
   14. The right to be excused from school attendance for religious purposes as described by A.R.S. 15-806.
   15. Policies related to parental involvement pursuant to A.R.S. 15-102 and set out herein.
   16. The right to seek membership on school councils pursuant to A.R.S. 15-351, describing the purpose, duties, and membership of a school council. 
   17. The right to participate in a parental satisfaction survey is to be distributed to the parent of every child enrolled at the school, pursuant to A.R.S. 15-353.
   18. Information about the student accountability information system (SAIS) as prescribed in section 15-1042.
   19. The right to access the failing schools tutoring fund pursuant to A.R.S. 15-241.

ACCESS TO RESUMES

Resumés of all current and former instructional personnel shall be maintained and available for inspection by parents and guardians of pupils enrolled.  The resumé shall include individual educational and teaching background and experience in a particular academic content subject area.

PARENT DEFINITION

For the purposes of this policy parent means the natural or adoptive parent or legal guardian of a minor child.

ACCESS TO RECORDS

Parents may request the written and electronic records accessible under A.R.S. 15-143 from the District office, including, but not limited to, all of the following:

1. Attendance records.
2. Test scores of school-administered tests and statewide assessments.
3. Grades.
4. Extracurricular activities or club participation.
5. Disciplinary records.
6. Counseling records.
7. Psychological records.
8. Applications for admission.
9. Health and immunization information, including any medical records that are maintained by a health clinic or medical facility operated or controlled by the school district or charter school or that are located on school district or charter school property.
10. Teacher and counselor evaluations.
11. Reports of behavioral patterns.
12. E-mail accounts.
13. Online or virtual accounts or data.

Also see Policy FL

CUSTODY AND VISITATION MATTERS

The custodial parent is responsible for providing the school with a certified copy of the custody decree and any superseding court order. If the noncustodial parent provides such documentation to the school, the custodial parent shall be informed and given an opportunity to verify the documents.

When a conflict arises regarding noncustodial parent access to a child, the most recent court order or decree in the district's possession shall prevail.

Requests by a noncustodial parent to visit with or talk to a child shall be subject to the court order or decree in the District's possession.

In cases of joint custody, the school will follow the provisions of the joint custody agreement when questions impacting the school arise regarding a child in joint custody.  The residential parent is responsible for providing the school with a copy of the joint custody agreement. In some cases, the child resides with parents on an alternating basis.  In such cases, both parents are equally responsible for providing the joint custody agreement to the school.  In cases where the parents reside in two (2) different District attendance areas, the parents must designate one (1) school of attendance.

LEGAL

A.R.S.
1-601
1-602
15-101
15-102
15-110
15-113
15-117
15-249
15-341
15-351
15-721
15-722
15-730