Overview

It is necessary that a safe and orderly learning environment be maintained in a school. No student, at any age, has the right to disrupt the learning process of another student. Parents and guardians have the responsibility to provide the appropriate home training for students. The parents and guardians continue to have the primary responsibility for the behavior of their children at school and on the way to and from school, walking or riding buses.

The school staff will strive to effectively and personally communicate with parents whenever a student demonstrates any misconduct. They will also strive to instill in the student the importance of good conduct and a respect for the rights of others. It is, however, the parents or guardians who have the final responsibility for the behavior of their child.

Successful schools, effective schools, are characterized by certain positive qualities. One important quality found in all effective schools is good student discipline. While no single positive quality ensures success for a school, the existence of good student discipline facilitates the development of the type of school climate necessary for other positive qualities to flourish.

It is the intent of Alternative Academic Achievement Academy to promote good discipline. Because, many students attending Alternative Academic Achievement Academy have not succeeded in their home schools with meeting behavioral expectations, Alternative Academic Achievement Academy stresses strong discipline in developing a good school climate.

Attendance

If a student does not come to school, we place a call to the parent or guardian that morning to find out why the student is absent. To become successfully students, they must attend school every day. Parents must phone AAA Academy to notify of a student's absence no later than 7:30 a.m.. If a student accumulates three or more absences, parents or guardians will be asked to come in to discuss the situation. Three or more absences will require a doctor's excuse. Five or more consecutive absences can result in a report to the regional truant officer, the home school district, case-worker, and/or probation officer.

Dress Code

Students shall be dressed in clothing appropriate for instruction. Clothing which disrupts the learning environment is expressly prohibited. Dress must reflect appropriateness as to time and place.

Students, parents, and guardians are expected to comply with the following dress guidelines:

1. All students shall wear the uniform shirts provided by the Academy daily.Only one white, black or dark blue t-shirt may be worn under uniform shirt. Students MUSTwear uniform pants and skirts (Black or Navy).  Wearing  jeans of any color is prohibited.

2. Dark blue or black uniformpants or skirts are to be worn with the uniform shirts. Skirts MUSTbe knee length. Any item of clothing or jewelry containing a symbol of a gang, or which, by its manner of display, constitutes a symbol of a gang, shall not be permitted. Such clothing may include, but is not limited to: medallions, necklaces, rings or other jewelry, shoelaces, caps, hats, and T-shirts. For purposes of these guidelines “gang” refers to any group of two or more persons whose purposes included the commission, conspiracy, or advocacy of illegal acts. Wearing of jeans is NOT ALLOWED.

3. Dress must reflect appropriateness as to time and place. For example, toes and heelsmust be protectively covered. Clothing and footwear must not have ornamentation that will damage furniture or floors or create a safety hazard to the student or to other students. Immodest clothing will not be permitted. All students pants must be worn at the waistline, with ablack or blue beltNO OTHER COLOR, DECORATION OR ORNAMENTS ON BELT ACCEPTED.Oversized clothing is not permitted. Pants are not to be cut at the bottom.

4. The wearing of hats, sweatbands, head scarves, visors, sunglasses, coats, jackets, windbreakers,hoodsor any other outer clothing are not  permitted in the school building.

5. Male students are not permitted to wear earrings of any kind. This includes strings in the ear, toothpicks, or any other material. Female students that wear earrings must wear those that will not pose a  disruption to the educational environment. Females may wear only 1 set of earrings in their ears.No other jewelry is allowed.  All other types of visible body piercings or tattoos are prohibited for all students.

6. Any clothing with language or pictures conveying expressedor implied obscenities or sexual vulgarities, promoting the use of  tobacco, alcohol, or other illegal drugs,  inciting violence or other illegal acts, or conveying other messages inconsistent with the Academy’s  values will not be permitted.Clothing displaying any advertising is prohibited.

7. Uniform shorts, in dark blue or black color, that are knee length may be worn during warm weather.  Socks must be matching dark blue, black or white.

8. Hair styles for ALLstudents MUST be neat in appearance, age appropriate and natural color, MOHAWKS, designs in hair including lines, twists, puff and braids are prohibited.  Male hair must be neatly cut. No cuts in eyebrows are allowed.

9.  Females can wear one  small hair accessory. That accessory must be one color only. No feathers or head scarves may be worn. Headbands should be no more than 1 inch wide with no large ornaments attached.
 

 The Academy is NOT responsible for any jewelry or personal items students bring to school.

Lunch

Searches and Seizure

The school retains the right to and will search and seize cell phones and other electronic devices, drugs, weapons,  check for gum, candy, food, drink, money,  contrabands and any and all non-academic items in the possession of a student.  Such possession is in violation of the rules enacted by the Academy, and local, state and federal laws.  Students who possess such items will be held subject to all current discipline codes. 

The school will assist local government authorities by reporting such possessions.  Students in possession of cell phones and other electronic devices, gum, candy, food drink, and any non-academic items will be subject to the Discipline Code. The school expressly retains the right to search at anytime on a daily basis.

Leaving without permission

Transportation

Anti-Bulling Policy

Policy No. 201009

The Alternative Academic Achievement Academy believes that providing an educational environment for all students, employees, and volunteers, free from harassment, intimidation, or bulling supports a total learning experience.  This environment promotes personal growth, healthy interpersonal relationships, wellness and freedom from discrimination and abuse.  Therefore, harassment, intimidation and bulling are forms of dangerous and disrespectful behavior that will not be tolerated.

Definitions:

“Bullying” is any repeated and pervasive written, verbal or, physical act or gestures, or a pattern of behavior that is intended to cause distress upon one or more students in the school and school vehicles.  Bullying includes, but is not limited to, harassment, intimidation of a student which may, but need not be based on the student’s sex, race, color, ethnicity, religion, national origin, age, disability or sexual orientation.

“Harassment” means knowingly pursuing a pattern of conduct that is intended to threaten alarm or terrorize another person.

“Disability Harassment” is defined as intimidation or abusive behavior toward another person based on disability that creates a hostile environment by interfering with or denying a student’s participation in, or opportunities within the school.  Harassment and Disability Harassment include, but are not limited to:

· Verbal acts, teasing, and inappropriate use of mockery or humilating jokes

· Inappropriate physical restraint by adults. [Please refer to updated Procedures for  Crisis Response, CPI Interventions.]

“Racial Harassment” Consists of physical or verbal conduct  relating to an individual’s race when the conduct:

· Has the purpose or effect of creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive academic environment;

· Has the purpose or effect of substantially or unreasonably interfering with an individual’s academic performance;

· Otherwise adversely affects an individual’s academic opportunities.

“Sexual Harassment” means any unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other inappropriate verbal, written, or physical conduct of a sexual nature.  Sexual harassment may take place under any of the following circumstances:

· When giving in to such conduct is made plainly or outright, an expression or condition of obtaining an education; or

· Submission to or rejection of that conduct or communication by an individual is used to factor in decisions affecting that individual’s education.