I. EDUCATION PROGRAM
	I. A. Organization
	I. B. Implementation
	I. B. 1. Calendar
	I. B. 2. Schedules
	I. B. 3. Teaching Controversial Issues
	I. B. 4. Libraries & Media Center
	I. B. 5. Co-Curricular & Field Trips
	I. B. 6. Athletic Activities (Inter scholastic)
	I. B. 7. Homework
	I. B. 8. Complaints (Procedure)
	I. B. 9. Parental Involvement
	I. B. 10. ISTEP
	II. TEXTBOOK ADOPTION POLICY
	III. VOCATIONAL EDUCATION
	IV. SPECIAL EDUCATION (S-1 Procedures)
	V. SPECIAL EDUCATION - LEARNING DISABILITIES
	VI. STUDENT REFERRALS TO NON-SCHOOL AGENCIES
	VII. SCHOOL AGE CHILD CARE (LATCHKEY) PROGRAM
	VIII. ACCESS TO ON-LINE ELECTRONIC INFORMATION, SERVICES, AND NETWORKS

I. EDUCATION PROGRAM

I A. Organization
The Trustees of the School City of Hobart intend that curriculum and instruction in Hobart schools shall meet or exceed the requirements of the Indiana State Board of Education and shall meet the goals of the School City of Hobart as established in the Trustee's Mission Statement.

The Board of School Trustees is responsible for curriculum and instruction in Hobart schools. This authority is delegated to the administration to be exercised in accordance with Board Policy. The Board ratifies administrative decisions on curriculum and instruction by: allocating funds in the budget process, approving staffing decisions, formally adopting particular programs, accepting grants for particular programs, adopting textbooks, and setting academic requirements. Once the Board thus ratifies curricular decisions, these decisions become operative as Board approved curriculum or program.

I B. Implementation

I B 1. Calendar

I B 1a. The fiscal and statistical year shall begin on the first day of July in each year and end on June 30 of the following year.

I B 1b. The calendar for the succeeding year shall be recommended by the school administration and submitted by the superintendent to the Board for consideration and approval. The length of the school year shall be set by the administration and the Board.



I B 2. Schedules

Noon Hour. Provision shall be made in each building to care for and supervise the children who remain at school for lunch.

Unauthorized Early Arrivals. Unauthorized early arrival pupils should be firmly discouraged. Pupils who do not ride the bus should be encouraged to arrive after the first bell (doors open).

Buses. Provision shall be made in each building for the care and supervision of pupils who ride the early and/or late buses.

Bad Weather. In rainy, blizzardy or extremely cold weather pupils who arrive early or remain late are to be permitted to wait inside the entrance doors, in the all-purpose room, in the gymnasium, or in any other sheltered place designated by the principal.

I B 2a. School Day

1 B 2b. Emergencies

I B 2b 1. The decision to close schools is to be made by the superintendent of schools or his delegated representative. He is to determine when conditions are such that the health, welfare and safety of children are in danger and will order the school closed. Conditions which would usually necessitate the emergency closing of schools are as follows:

1 B 2b 1a. Extreme weather conditions: snow, ice or tornado.
1 B 2b 1b. Fire, explosion or flood.
1 B 2b 1c. Mechanical failure of building equipment: loss of power, water or heat.
1 B 2b 1d. An enemy attack by bomber, missile, or nuclear explosion.

1 B 2c. Released time for religious instruction
The United States Supreme Court on June 17, 1963, declared: "In the relationship between man and religion, the state (and the school as agent of the state) is firmly committed to a position of neutrality." Applying this rule the Justices ordered: There must be no required recitation of the Lord's Prayer or of the Bible reading in publicly supported educational institutions.

1 B 3. Teaching of Controversial Issues

1 B 4. Libraries and Media Center

1 B 5. Co-curricular and Field Trips

1 B 6. Athletic Activities (Inter scholastic)

1 B 7. Homework

1 B 8. Complaints (Procedure)

1 B 9. Parental Involvement (changed 8/31/95)

I B 9A. Parental Right of Inspection
All instructional material, including:
I B 9A a) teacher's manuals;
I B 9A b) student texts;
I B 9A c) films or other video materials;
I B 9A d) tapes; or
I B 9A e) other materials;

which will be used in connection with:
I B 9A a) any instructional program;
I B 9A b) any research or experimentation program or project; or
I B 9A c) any survey, analysis or evaluation as part of any school program or curriculum;

shall be available for inspection by the parents or guardians of the children engaged in such activity, at such times and in such manner established by the administration as shall not materially interfere with the educational process. Sources: 20 USC 1232H(a) and IC 20-10.1-4-15(a).

I B 9B. Parental Agreement Required
No student shall be required to participate in an analysis, an evaluation, or a survey, as part of any school program or curriculum that is not directly related to academic instruction, if such analysis, evaluation, or suvery reveals or attempts to affect the student’s attitudes, habits, traits, opinions, beliefs, or feelings concerning:
1 B 9B 1.political affiliations;
I B 9B 2. religious beliefs;
I B 9B 3.mental and psychological problems that may embarrass the student or the student’s family;
I B 9B 4. sexual behavior and attitudes;
I B 9B 5. illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating or demeaning behavior;
I B 9B 6. critical appraisals of other individuals with whom the student has a close family relationship;
I B 9B 7. legally recognized privileged or confidential relationships, such as those with lawyers, physicians, and ministers; or
I B 9B 8. income (other than that required by law to determine eligibility for participation in a program or for receiving financial assistance under such program.);

without the prior consent of the student (if the student is an adult or emancipated minor) or the prior written consent of the student’s parent or guardian (if the student is an unemancipated minor).

1 B 9C. The administration is requested to develop procedures for parental inspection of materials under subsection (A) of this policy, and to develop consent forms for use under subsection (B) of this policy.

I B 10. ISTEP (5/5/88)

I B 10a) INDIANA STATEWIDE TESTING FOR EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS (ISTEP).
The Board of School Trustees recognizes its obligation under the provisions of the law and regulation relating to ISTEP.

I B 10b) INDIANA STATEWIDE TESTING FOR EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS (ISTEP) REMEDIATION. It is expected that students who fail to pass the ISTEP test will participate in the remediation program unless a waiver is granted by the school administration.

In the event that a vacant position occurs for a student in the summer remediation program, the school administration may substitute a student who could benefit from such program due to deficiencies.

II. TEXTBOOK ADOPTION POLICY
II A. Instructional Materials Selection
II B. Textbook Adoption Procedure

III. VOCATIONAL EDUCATION

IV. SPECIAL EDUCATION (S-1 PROCEDURES)

V. SPECIAL EDUCATION - LEARNING DISABILITIES

VI. STUDENT REFERRALS TO NON-SCHOOL AGENCIES

VII. SCHOOL AGE CHILD CARE (LATCHKEY) PROGRAM (3/19/92)

VII A. Scope of Program
As required by I.C. 20-5-2-1.5, the School City of Hobart shall provide for a School Age Child Care (Latchkey) Program for children who attend kindergarten through grade six that, at a minimum, operates after the school day and is available to all children in the applicable grades levels within the school corporation. It is the intent of this policy that the program may exceed the minimum requirements for age groups served or hours of operation.

VII B. Conduct of Program
The Latchkey Program may be conducted either directly or by contract with not-for-profit or for-profit organization(s) to provide the services required under this article.

VII C. Use of School Facilities by Service Provider
In the event the Latchkey Program is conducted under contract by an outside organization, the rental provisions of Article X of this policy shall apply to such facility use. The program shall be considered a school-approved program for purposes of paragraphs A(8) and C(19) of Article X. Specific compliance with paragraphs C(7) and C(15) of Article X relating to insurance is mandated.

VII D. Adult-Child Ratios
Any Latchkey Program conducted under this article shall meet the adult-to-child ratios specified in Indiana Administrative Code 490 IAC 3-1-6.

VIII. ACCESS TO ON-LINE ELECTRONIC INFORMATION, SERVICES, AND NETWORKS (Adopted 1/4/96, modified 2/1/96)

VIII A. Purpose of Access
Freedom of expression is a constitutional right, and the foundation of self government. Freedom of expression encompasses the right to freedom of speech and the corollary right to receive information. Such rights extend to minors as well as adults. Schools facilitate the exercise of these rights by providing access to information regardless of format or technology. In a free and democratic society, access to information is a fundamental right of citizenship.

In making decisions regarding student access to on-line electronic services or networks, such as the Internet, the School City of Hobart considers its stated educational mission, goals, and objectives. Electronic information research skills are now fundamental to preparation of citizens and future employees. Access to such on-line networks enable students to explore thousands of libraries, databases, bulletin boards, and other resources while exchanging messages with people around the world. The Board expects that faculty will blend thoughtful use of on-line resources throughout the curriculum and will provide guidance and instructions to students in their use. As much as possible, access from school to on-line resources should be structured in ways which point students to those resources which have been evaluated prior to use. While students will be able to move beyond those resources to others that have not been previewed by staff, they shall be provided with guidelines and lists of resources particularly suited to learning objectives.

VII B. Acceptable Use Standards
Students utilizing school-provided Internet or network access must have permission of and be monitored by the School City of Hobart's professional staff. Students are responsible for good behavior on-line just as they are in a classroom or other area of the school. The same rules for behavior and communication apply.

The purpose of such access is to facilitate communications in the support of research and education. To remain eligible as users, students' use must be in support of and consistent with the educational objectives of the School City of Hobart. Access is a privilege, not a right. Access entails responsibility.

VIII C. No Expectation of Privacy
Users should not expect that files stored on school-based computers will be private. Electronic messages and files stored on school-based computers may be treated like school lockers. Administrators and faculty may review files and messages to maintaim system integrity and insure that users are acting responsibly.

VIII D. Prohibited Uses and Sanctions
The following uses of school-provided on-line access are not permitted:

a.to access, upload, download, or distribute pornographic, obscene, or sexually explicit material;
b. to transmit obscene, abusive, or sexually explicit language;
c. to violate any local, state, or federal statute;
d. to vandalize, damage, or disable the property of another individual or organization;
e.to access another individual's materials, information, or files without permission; and,
f. to violate copyright or otherwise use the intellectual property of another individual or organization without permission.

VIII E. Disclaimer
The School City of Hobart makes no warranties of any kind, neither expressed or implied, for the on-line access it is providing. The School City of Hobart will not be responsible for any damages users suffer, including -- but not limited to -- loss of data resulting from delays or interruptions in service. The School City of Hobart will not be responsible for the accuracy, nature, or quality of information gathered through school-provided on-line access. The School City of Hobart will not be responsible for unauthorized financial obligations resulting from District-provided access to the Internet.

VIII F. Parental Authority
Ultimately, parents and guardians of minors are responsible for setting and conveying the standards that their children should follow when using media and information sources. Toward that end, the School City of Hobart makes its complete policy and procedures available on request for review by all parents, guardians, and other members of the community; and provides parents and guardians the option of requesting for their minor children alternative activities not requiring on-line access.