State and Federal Programs

1.         The right to inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days of  the day the district receives a request for access. Parents or eligible students should submit to the school principal (or appropriate school official) a written request that identifies the record(s) they wish to inspect. The principal will make arrangements for access and notify the parent or eligible student of the time and place where the records may be inspected.

2.         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 school district to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate or misleading. They should write the school principal, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. If the district decides not to amend the record as requested by the parent or eligible student, the 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 notified of the right to a hearing.

3.         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 educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the 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 district has contracted to perform a special task (such as an 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 official 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 district discloses education records without consent to officials of another school district in which a student seeks or intends to enroll.

4.         The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the district to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the office that administers FERPA is:

Family Policy Compliance Office

U.S. Department of Education

400 Maryland Avenue, S.W.

Washington, D.C. 20202-4605

NOTICE CONCERNING DIRECTORY INFORMATION

The district may disclose directory information. The types of personally identifiable information that the district has designated as directory information are as follows: student’s name, address, telephone listing, electronic mail address, photograph, date of and place of birth, major fields of study, dates of attendance, grade level, enrollment status (e.g., undergraduate or graduate, full-time or part-time), participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of members of athletic teams, degrees, honors and awards received, and most recent previous educational agency or institution attended. A parent or eligible student has the right to refuse to let the district designate any or all of those types of information about the student as directory information. The period of time within which a parent or eligible student has to notify the district in writing that he or she does not want any or all of those types of information about the student designated as directory information is as follows: two weeks from the time this information is first received. The district may disclose information about former students without meeting the conditions in this section.

ADDITIONAL NOTICE CONCERNING DIRECTORY INFORMATION

The district’s policy is for education records to be kept confidential except as permitted by the FERPA law, and the district does not approve any practice which involves an unauthorized disclosure of education records. In some courses student work may be displayed or made available to others. Also, some teachers may have persons other than the teacher or school staff, such as volunteers or fellow students, assist with the task of grading student work and returning graded work to students. The district does not either approve or disapprove such teaching practices, and designates such student work as directory information and as non-education records. Each parent and eligible student shall be presumed to have accepted this designation in the absence of the parent or eligible student giving notification to the district in writing in the manner set forth above pertaining to the designation of directory information. Consent will be presumed to have been given in the absence of such a notification from the parent or eligible student.

Notice Concerning Disclosure of Student Recruiting Information:

The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 requires Sutton Public Schools to provide military recruiters and institutions of higher education access to secondary school students’ names, addresses, and telephone listings. Parents and secondary students have the right to request that Sutton Public Schools not provide this information (i.e., not provide the student’s name, address, and telephone listing) to military recruiters or institutions of higher education, without their prior written parental consent. Sutton Public Schools will comply with any such request.

Notice Concerning Staff Qualifications:

The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 gives parents/guardians the right to get information about the professional qualifications of their child’s classroom teachers. Upon request, Sutton Public Schools will give parents/guardians the following information about their child’s classroom teacher:

1.         Whether the teacher has met State qualifications and licensing criteria for the grade levels and subject areas in which the teacher provides instruction.

2.         Whether the teacher is teaching under an emergency or provisional teaching certificate.

3.         The baccalaureate degree major of the teacher. You may also get information about other graduate certification or degrees held by the teacher, and the field of discipline of the certification or degree. We will also, upon request, tell parents/guardians whether their child is being provided services by a paraprofessional and, if so, the qualifications of the paraprofessional. The request for information should be made to an administrator in your child’s school building. The information will be provided to you in a timely manner. Finally, Sutton Public Schools will give timely notice to you if your child has been assigned, or has been taught for four or more consecutive weeks by a teacher who does not meet the requirements of the Act.

Student Privacy Protection Policy: 

It is the policy of Sutton Public Schools to develop and implement policies which protect the privacy of students in accordance with applicable laws.  The District’s policies in this regard include the following:

Right of Parents to Inspect Surveys Funded or Administered by the United States Department of Education or Third Parties:  Parents shall have the right to inspect, upon the parent’s request, a survey created by and administered by either the United States Department of Education or a third party (a group or person other than the District) before the survey is administered or distributed by the school to the parent’s child.

Protection of Student Privacy in Regard to Surveys of Matters Deemed to be Sensitive:  The District will require, for any survey of students which contain one or more matters deemed to be sensitive (see section headed “Definition of Surveys of Matters Deemed to be Sensitive”), that suitable arrangements be made to protect student privacy (that is, the name or other identifying information about a particular student). For such surveys, the District will also follow the procedures set forth in the section entitled: “Notification of and Right to Opt-Out of Specific Events.”

Right of Parents to Inspect Instructional Materials:  Parents shall have the right to inspect, upon reasonable request, any instructional material used as part of the educational curriculum for their child.   Reasonable requests for inspection of instructional materials shall be granted within a reasonable period of time after the request is received.  Parents shall not have the right to access academic tests or academic assessments, as such are not within the meaning of the term “instructional materials” for purposes of this policy.  The procedures for making and granting a request to inspect instructional materials are as follows: the parent shall make the request, with reasonable specificity, directly to the building principal.  The building principal, within five (5) school days, shall consult with the teacher or other educator responsible for the curriculum materials.  In the event the request can be accommodated, the building principal shall make the materials available for inspection or review by the parent, at such reasonable times and place as will not interfere with the educator’s intended use of the materials.  In the event there is a question as to the nature of the curriculum materials requested or as to whether the materials are required to be provided, the building principal shall notify the parent of such concern, and assist the parent with forming a request which can reasonably be accommodated.  If the parent does not formulate such a request, and continues to desire certain curriculum materials, the parent shall be asked to make their request to the Superintendent.

Rights of Parents to be Notified of and to Opt-Out of Certain Physical Examinations or Screenings.  The general policy and practice of the District is to not administer physical examinations or screenings of students which require advance notice or parental opt-out rights under the applicable federal laws, for the reason that the physical examinations or screenings to be conducted by the District will usually fit into one of the following exceptions: (1) hearing, vision, or scoliosis screenings; (2) physical examinations or screenings that are permitted or required by an applicable State law; and (3) surveys administered to students in accordance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.  For physical examinations or screenings which do not fit into the applicable exceptions, the District will follow the procedures set forth in the section entitled: “Notification of and Right to Opt-Out of Specific Events.”

Protection of Student Privacy in Regard to Personal Information Collected from Students:  The general policy and practice of the District is to not engage in the collection, disclosure, or use of personal information collected from students for the purpose of marketing or for selling that information.  The District will make reasonable arrangements to protect student privacy to the extent possible in the event of any such collection, disclosure, or use of personal information. “Personal information” for purposes of this policy means individually identifiable information about a student including: (1) a student or parent’s first and last name, (2) home address, (3) telephone number, and (4) social security number.  The term “personal information,” for purposes of this policy, does not include information collected from students for the exclusive purpose of developing, evaluating, or providing educational products or services for, or to, students or educational institutions.  This exception includes the following examples: (i) college or postsecondary education recruitment, or military recruitment; (ii) book clubs, magazines, and programs providing access to low-cost literary products; (iii) curriculum and instructional materials used by elementary schools and secondary schools; (iv) tests and assessments used by elementary schools and secondary schools to provide cognitive, evaluative, diagnostic, clinical, aptitude, or achievement information about student, or to generate other statistically useful data for the purpose of securing such tests and assessments, and the subsequent analysis and public release of the aggregate date from such tests and assessments; (v) the sale by student of products or services to raise funds for school-related or education-related activities; (vi) student recognition programs.

Parental Access to Instruments used in the Collection of Personal Information: While the general practice of the District is to not engage in the collection, disclosure, or use of personal information collected from students for the purpose of marketing or for selling that information, parents shall have the right to inspect, upon reasonable request, any instrument which may be administered or distributed to a student for such purposes.  Reasonable requests for inspection shall be granted within a reasonable period of time after the request is received.  The procedures for making and granting such a request are as follows: the parent shall make the request, with reasonable specificity, directly to the building principal and shall identify the specific act and the school staff member or program responsible for the collection, disclosure, or use of personal information from students for the purpose of marketing that information.  The building principal, within five (5) school days, shall consult with the school staff member or person responsible for the program which has been reported by the parent to be responsible for the collection, disclosure, or use of personal information from students.  In the event such collection, disclosure, or use of personal information is occurring or there is a plan for such to occur, the building principal shall consult with the Superintendent for determination of whether the action shall be allowed to continue.  If not, the instrument for the collection of personal information shall not be given to any students.  If it is to be allowed, such instrument shall be provided to the requesting parent as soon as such instrument can be reasonably obtained.

Annual Parental Notification of Student Privacy Protection Policy:  The District shall provide parents with reasonable notice of the adoption or continued use of this policy and other policies related to student privacy.  Such notice shall be given to parents of students enrolled in the District at least annually, at the beginning of the school year, and within a reasonable period of time after any substantive change in such polices.

Notification to Parents of Dates of and Right to Opt-Out of Specific Events:  The District shall directly notify the parents of the affected children, at least annually at the beginning of the school year, of the specific or approximate dates during the school year when any of the following activities are scheduled, or are expected to be scheduled:

            The collection, disclosure, or use of personal information collected from students for the     purpose of marketing or for selling that information. (Note: the general practice of the District is to not engage in the collection, disclosure, or use of personal information       collected from students for the purpose of marketing or for selling that information).

            Surveys of students involving one or more matters deemed to be sensitive in accordance   with the law and this policy; and,

            Any non-emergency, invasive physical examination or screening that is required as a         condition of attendance; administered by the school and scheduled by the school in           advance; and not necessary to protect the immediate health and safety of the student or of    other students.  (Note: the general practice of the District is to not engage in physical             examinations or screenings which require advance notice, for the reason that the physical examinations or screenings to be conducted by the District will usually fit into one of the         following exceptions to the advance notice requirement and parental opt-out right: (1)             hearing, vision, or scoliosis screenings; (2) physical examinations or screenings that are             permitted or required by an applicable State law, and (3) surveys administered to students in accordance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act ).

Parents shall be offered an opportunity in advance to opt their child out of participation in any of the above listed activities.

In the case of a student of an appropriate age (that is, a student who has reached the age of 18, or a legally emancipated student), the notice and opt-out right shall belong to the student.

Definition of Surveys of Matters Deemed to be Sensitive:  Any survey containing one or more of the following matters shall be deemed to be “sensitive” for purposes of this policy:

            1.         Political affiliations or beliefs of the student or the student’s parent;

            2.         Mental or psychological problems of the student or the student’s parent;

            3.         Sex behavior or attitudes;

            4.         Illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating or demeaning behavior;

5.         Critical appraisals of other individuals with whom the student has close family relationships;

6.         Legally recognized privileged or analogous relationships, such as those of lawyers, physicians, and ministers;

            7.         Religious practices, affiliations, or beliefs of the students or the student’s parent;

            8.         Income (other than that required by law to determine eligibility for participation in a program or for receiving financial assistance under such program).

Parental Involvement Policies:

A.         General - Parental/Community Involvement in Schools:

            Sutton Public School welcomes parental involvement in the education of their children. We recognize that parental involvement increases student success. It is Sutton Public Schools’ policy to foster and facilitate, to the extent appropriate and in their primary language, parental information about, and involvement in, the education of their children. Policies and regulations are established to protect the emotional, physical and social well-being of all students.

1.         Parental involvement is a part of the ongoing and timely planning, review and improvement of district and building programs.

2.         Parents are encouraged to support the implementation of district policies and regulations.

3.         Parents are encouraged to monitor their student’s progress by reviewing quarterly report cards and attending parent-teacher conferences.

4.         Textbooks, tests and other curriculum materials used in the district are available for review by parents upon request.

5.         Parents are provided access to records of students according to law and school policy.

6.         Parents are encouraged to attend courses, assemblies, counseling sessions and other instructional activities with prior approval of the proper teacher or counselor and administrator. Parents’ continued attendance at such activities will be based on the students’ wellbeing.

7.         Testing occurs in this school district as determined to be appropriate by district staff to assure proper measurement of educational progress and achievement.

8.         Parents submitting written requests to have their student excused from testing, classroom instruction and other school experiences will be granted that request when possible and educationally appropriate. Requests should be submitted to the proper teacher or administrator within a reasonable time prior to the testing, classroom instruction or other school experience and should be accompanied by a written explanation for the request. A plan for an acceptable alternative shall be approved by the proper teacher and administrator prior to, or as a part of, the granting of any parent request.

9.         Participation in surveys of students occurs in this district when determined appropriate by district staff for educational purposes. Parents will be notified prior to the administration of surveys in accordance with district policy. Timely written parental requests to remove students from such surveys will be granted in accordance with district policy and law. In some cases, parental permission must be given before the survey is administered.

10.        Parents are invited to express their concerns, share their ideas and advocate for their children’s education with board members, administrators and staff.

11.        School district staff and parents will participate in an annual evaluation and revision, if needed, of the content and effectiveness of the parental involvement policy.

B.         Title I Parental Involvement Policy: 

This Title I Parental Involvement Policy is established in compliance with the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. Sutton Public Schools has a parental involvement policy applicable to parents of all children.  The parental involvement policy applicable to parents of all children is not replaced by this Title I Parental Involvement Policy and shall continue to be applicable to all parents, including parents participating in Title I programs.

It is the policy of Sutton Public Schools to implement programs, activities, and procedures for the involvement of parents in Title I programs consistent with the Title I laws.  Such programs, activities, and procedures shall be planned and implemented with meaningful consultation with parents of participating children.

Expectations for Parental Involvement:  It is the expectation of Sutton Public Schools that parents of participating children will have opportunities available for parental involvement in the programs, activities, and procedures of the District’s Title I program.  The term “parental involvement” means the participation of parents in regular, two-way, and meaningful communication involving student academic learning and other school activities, including ensuring–(A) that parents play an integral role in assisting their child’s learning; (B) that parents are encouraged to be actively involved in their child’s education at school; (C) that parents are full partners in their child’s education and are included, as appropriate, in decision making and on advisory committees to assist in the education of their child; and (D) the carrying out of other activities, such as those described in this parental involvement policy.  The District intends to meet this expectation through the following activities:

1.         Involving parents in the joint development of the District’s Title I plan and the processes of school review and school improvement.

2.         Providing coordination, technical assistance, and other support necessary to assist participating schools in planning and implementing effective parental involvement activities to improve student academic achievement and school performance.

            3.         Building the schools’ and parents’ capacity for strong parental involvement.

            4.         Coordinating and integrating parental involvement strategies under Title I with parental involvement strategies under other programs.

5.         Conducting, with the involvement of parents, an annual evaluation of the content and effectiveness of the parental involvement policy in improving the academic quality of the schools served under the Title I program, including identifying barriers to greater participation by parents in Title I programs, with particular attention to parents who are economically disadvantaged, are disabled, have limited English proficiency, have limited literacy, or are of any racial or ethnic minority background, and use the findings of such evaluation to design strategies for more effective parental involvement, and to revise, if necessary, the parental involvement policies of the District.

            6.         Involving parents in the activities of the schools served under Title I.

Policy Involvement:  Each school served under the Title I program shall:

1.         Convene an annual meeting, at a convenient time, to which all parents of participating children shall be invited and encouraged to attend, to inform parents of their school’s participation under the Title I program and to explain the requirements of the Title I program.

2.         Offer a flexible number of meetings, such as meetings in the morning or evening.  If sufficient funds are provided for this purpose, the District may assist parental involvement in such meetings by offering transportation, child care, or home visits.

3.         Involve parents, in an organized, ongoing, and timely way, in the planning, review, and improvement of Title I programs.

4.         Provide parents of participating children:  (1) timely information about programs under Title I, (2) a description and explanation of the curriculum in use at the school, the forms of academic assessment used to measure student progress, and the proficiency levels students are expected to meet; and (3) if requested by parents, opportunities for regular meetings to formulate suggestions and to participate, as appropriate, in decisions relating to the education of their children, and respond to any such suggestions as soon as practicably possible.

5.         If the District operates a schoolwide program under Title I and such plan is not satisfactory to the parents of participating children, submit any parental comments on the plan when the school makes the plan available to the District.

Shared Responsibilities for High Student Academic Achievement:  As a component of the District’s parental involvement policy, each school served under the Title I program shall jointly develop with parents for all children served under the Title I program a school-parent compact that outlines how parents, the entire school staff, and students will share the responsibility for improved student academic achievement and the means by which the school and parents will build and develop a partnership to help children achieve the State’s high standards.  Such compact shall:  (1) describe the school’s responsibility to provide high-quality curriculum and instruction in a supportive and effective learning environment that enables the children served under Title I to meet the State’s student academic achievement standards and the ways in which each parent will be responsible for supporting their children’s learning, such as monitoring attendance, homework completion, and television watching; volunteering in their child’s classroom; and participating, as appropriate, in decisions relating to the education of their children and positive use of extracurricular time; and (2) address the importance of communication between teachers and parents on an ongoing basis through, at a minimum:  (i) parent-teacher conferences in elementary schools, at least annually, during which the compact shall be discussed as the compact relates to the individual child’s achievement; (ii) frequent reports to parents on their children’s progress; and (iii) reasonable access to staff, opportunities to volunteer and participate in their child’s class, and observation of classroom activities.

Building Capacity for Involvement:  To ensure effective involvement of parents and to support a partnership among the District, parents, and the community to improve student academic achievement, each school participating in the Title I program and the District:  (1) shall provide assistance to participating parents, as appropriate, in understanding such topics as the State’s academic content standards and State student academic achievement standards, State and local academic assessments, the requirements of Title I and how to monitor a child’s progress and work with educators to improve the achievement of their children;  (2) shall provide materials and training to help parents work with their children to improve their children’s achievement, such as literacy training and using technology, as appropriate, to foster parental involvement; (3) shall educate teachers, student service personnel, principals, and other staff, with the assistance of parents, in the value and utility of contributions of parents, and in how to reach out to, communicate with, and work with parents as equal partners, implement and coordinate parent programs, and build ties between parents and the school; (4) shall, to the extent feasible and appropriate, coordinate and integrate parent involvement programs and activities with Head Start, Reading First, Early Reading First, Even Start, the Home Instruction Programs for Preschool Youngsters, the Parents as Teacher Program, and public preschool and other programs, and conduct other activities, such as parent resource centers, that encourage and support parents in more fully participating in the education of their children; (5) shall ensure that information related to school and parent programs, meetings, and other activities is sent to the parents of participating children in a format, and to the extent practicable, in a language the parents can understand; (6) may involve parents in the development of training for teachers, principals, and other educators to improve the effectiveness of such training; (7) may provide necessary literacy training from funds received under Title I if the District has exhausted all other reasonably available sources of funding for such training; (8) may pay reasonable and necessary expenses associated with parental involvement activities, including transportation and child care costs, to enable parents to participate in school-related meetings and training sessions; (9) may train parents to enhance the involvement of other parents; (10) may arrange school meetings at a variety of times, or conduct in-home conferences between teachers or other educators, who work directly with participating children, with parents who are unable to attend such conferences at school, in order to maximize parental involvement and participation; (11) may adopt and implement model approaches to improving parental involvement; (12) may establish a district-wide parent advisory council to provide advice on all matters related to parental involvement in programs supported under Title I; (13) may develop appropriate roles for community-based organizations and businesses in parent involvement activities; and (14) shall provide such other reasonable support for parental involvement activities under Title I as parents may request.

Accessibility:  In carrying out the parental involvement activities for this Title I Parental Involvement policy, the District shall provide full opportunities for the participation of parents with limited English proficiency, parents with disabilities, and parents of migratory children, including providing information and school reports required under Title I in a format and, to the extent practicable, in a language such parents understand. 

Use, Distribution, and Updating of this Policy:  This Title I Parental Involvement Policy shall be incorporated into the District’s Title I plan, shall be distributed to parents of participating children, shall be made available to the local community, and shall be updated periodically to meet the changing needs of the parents and the school. 

Homeless Students Policy: 

Homeless children for purposes of this Policy generally include children who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, as further defined by applicable federal and state law.

No Stigmatization or Segregation of Homeless Students:  It is the District’s policy and practice to ensure that homeless children are not stigmatized or segregated by the District on the basis of their status as homeless. 

Homeless Coordinator:  The Superintendent shall serve as the District’s designated Homeless Coordinator.  The Homeless Coordinator shall serve as the school liaison for homeless children and youth and shall ensure that:  (1) homeless children are identified by school personnel; (2) homeless children enroll in, and have a full and equal opportunity to succeed in, school; (3) homeless children and their families receive educational service for why they are eligible and referrals to health, dental, and mental health services and other appropriate services; (4) the parents or guardians of homeless children are informed of the educational and related opportunities available to their children and provided with meaningful opportunities to participate in the education of their children; (5) public notice of the educational rights of homeless children is disseminated where such children receive services under the federal homeless children laws, such as schools, family shelters, and soup kitchens; (6) enrollment disputes are mediated in accordance with law; and (7) the parents or guardians of homeless children, and any unaccompanied youth, are fully informed of transportation services available under law. The Homeless Coordinator shall coordinate with State coordinators and community and school personnel responsible for the provisions of education and related services to homeless children. The Homeless Coordinator may designate duties hereunder as the Homeless Coordinator determines to be appropriate.

Enrollment of and Services to Homeless Children:   A homeless child shall be enrolled in compliance with law and be provided services comparable to services offered to other students in the school in which the homeless child has been placed.  Placement of a homeless child is determined based on the child’s “school of origin” and the “best interests” of the child.  The “school of origin” means the school that the child attended when permanently housed or the school in which the child was last enrolled.  Placement decisions shall be made according to the District’s determination of the child’s best interests, and shall be at either: (1) the child’s school of origin for the duration of the child’s homelessness (or, if the child becomes permanently housed during the school year, for the remainder of that school year) or (2) the school of the attendance area where the child is actually living.   To the extent feasible, the placement shall be in the school of origin, except when such is contrary to the wishes of the homeless child’s parent or legal guardian. If the placement is not in the school of origin or a school requested by the homeless child’s parent or legal guardian, the District shall provide a written explanation of the placement decision and a statement of appeal rights to the parent or guardian.  If the homeless child is an unaccompanied youth, the Homeless Coordinator shall assist in the placement decision, consider the views of the unaccompanied youth, and provide the unaccompanied youth with notice of the right to appeal. In the event of an enrollment dispute, the placement shall be at the school in which enrollment is sought, pending resolution of the dispute in accordance with the dispute resolution process. The homeless child shall be immediately enrolled in the school in which the District has determined to place the child, even if the child is unable to produce records normally required for enrollment, such as previous academic records, medical records, proof of residency, or other documentation.  The District shall immediately contact the school last attended by the homeless child to obtain relevant academic and other records.  If the homeless child needs to obtain immunizations or medical records, the District shall immediately refer the parent or guardian of the homeless child to the Homeless Coordinator, who shall assist in obtaining necessary immunizations or medical records.  The District may nonetheless require the parent or guardian of the homeless child to submit contact information.

Transportation will be provided to homeless students, to the extent required by law and comparable to that provided to students who are not homeless, upon request of the parent or guardian of the homeless child, or by the Homeless Coordinator in the case of an unaccompanied youth, as follows:  (1) if the homeless child’s school of origin is in the Sutton Public School District, and the homeless child continues to live in the Sutton Public School District, transportation to and from the school or origin shall be provided by Sutton Public School and (2) if the homeless child lives in a school other than the Sutton Public School District, but continues to attend Sutton Public Schools based on it being the school of origin, the new school and Sutton Public Schools shall agree upon a method to apportion the responsibility and costs for providing the child with transportation to and from the school of origin and, if they are unable to agree, the responsibility  and cost for transportation shall be shared equally.

Lunch Program: 

The Sutton Public School Distrct has agreed to participate in the National School Lunch Program and accepts responsibility for providing free and reduced price meals to eligible children in the schools under its jurisdiction.  The school food authority assures the State Department of Education that the school system will uniformly implement the following policy to determine children's eligibility for free and reduced price meals in all National School Lunch Programs.  In fulfilling its responsibilities the school food authority:

1.         Agrees to serve meals free to children from families whose income meets eligibility guidelines.

2.         Agrees to serve meals at a reduced price to children from families whose income falls between free meal scale and the poverty guidelines.

3.         Agrees to provide these benefits to any child whose family’s income falls within the criteria in Attachment A after deductions are made for the following special hardship conditions which could not reasonably be anticipated or controlled by the household: Unusually high medical expenses; shelter costs in excess of 30 percent of reported income; special education expenses due to the mental or physical condition of a child; disaster or casualty losses.

4.         In addition, agrees to provide these benefits to children from families who are experiencing strikes, layoffs and unemployment which cause the family income to fall within the criteria set forth in federal guidelines.

5.         Agrees there will be no physical segregation of, nor any other discrimination against, any child because of his inability to pay the full price of the meal.  The names of the children eligible to receive free and reduced price meals shall not be published, posted or announced in any manner and there shall be no overt identification of any such children by use of special tokens or tickets or any other means.  Further assurance is given that children eligible for free or reduced price meals shall not be required to:  Work for their meals; use a separate lunch room; go through a separate serving line; enter the lunchroom through a separate entrance; eat meals at a different time; or eat a meal different from the one sold to children paying the full price.

6.         Agrees in the operation of child nutrition programs, no child shall be discriminated against because of race, sex, color, or national origin.

7.         Agrees to establish and use a fair hearing procedure for parental appeals to the school's decisions on applications and for school officials' challenges to the correctness of information contained in an application or to be continued eligibility of any child for free or reduced price meals.  During the appeal and hearing the child will continue to receive free or reduced priced meals.  A record of all such appeals and challenges and their dispositions shall be retained for three (3) years.  Prior to initiating the hearing procedures, the parent or local school official may request a conference to provide an opportunity for the parent and school official to discuss the situation, present information, and obtain an explanation of data submitted in the application and decisions rendered.  Such a conference shall not in any way prejudice or diminish the right to a fair hearing.  The hearing procedure shall provide the following:

A publicly-announced, simple method for making an oral or written request for a hearing.

                        An opportunity to be assisted or represented by an attorney or other person.

An opportunity to examine, prior to and during the hearing, the documents and records presented to support the decision under appeal.

Reasonable promptness and convenience in scheduling a hearing and adequate notice as to the time and place of the hearing.

An opportunity to present oral or documentary evidence and arguments supporting a position without undue interference.

An opportunity to question or refute any testimony or other evidence and to confront and cross-examine any adverse witnesses.

            The hearing be conducted and the decision made by a hearing official who did not participate in the decision under appeal or in any previous conference.

            The parties concerned and any designated representative thereof be notified in writing of    the decision of the hearing official.

            8.         Agrees to designate the Superintendent to review applications and make determinations of eligibility.  This official will use the criteria outlined in this policy to determine which individual children are eligible for free or reduced price meals.

9.        Agrees to develop and send to each child's parent or guardian a letter as outlined by State Department of Education including an application form for free or reduced price meals at the beginning of each school year.  Applications may be filed at any time during the year.  All children from a family will receive the same benefits.

            The following attachments will be available in the office of the Superintendent:

            ●          Eligibility criteria for free and reduced meals

            ●          Parent letter and application

            ●          Public release

            ●          Collection procedure